Summer

General Guidelines: Summer School and Summer Practicum

Degree-seeking students enrolled in summer school are required to work at least 10 hours per week. Summer practicum students are on campus to work, up to 40 hours per week, measured Sunday through Saturday, though departments are encouraged to schedule students for no more than 37.5 hours per week; the emphasis of a summer practicum is on work and the learning outcomes, both transferable and position-specific, that come from engaging in a practical educational experience. All students participating in the Work College Program during the summer are paid a standard disbursement rate of $10.50 per hour.*

Rate subject to change from year to year.

*Implies registration in an 8-week, quarter-credit course.

Important to Note

• All students are required to work a minimum of 10 hours per week.
• To have students work over the summer, departments must have allocated summer hours.
• Fees are assessed when a student is enrolled in summer school or a summer practicum.
• Departments should avoid scheduling a student beyond 40 hours per week; see Overtime under Scheduling for why this matters and how it can affect a student's financial aid.

Graduating Seniors

Graduating seniors must have met a minimum of 160 hours by the last day of classes in their final term. A student who is behind on this requirement will be required to complete community service hours in order to receive their academic and Work College Program transcript. The Work College Program will notify students if community service is required.

A student taking a summer course to satisfy a September graduation requirement is not eligible for a summer practicum, nor may they work more than 20 hours per week while enrolled in that summer class. Graduating seniors are not eligible to work beyond the last day of classes. Once all coursework is completed and degree requirements have been satisfied, a student is no longer permitted to work through the Work College Program.

Summer Practicum Reassignment

Supervisors depend on summer practicum students for summer assistance and are unlikely to replace a student once the summer has begun. Students are encouraged to take their summer commitments seriously and to share all summer plans, including any class plans, with their supervisor before accepting a position, so those plans can be factored into the hiring decision.

If a student leaves a summer practicum position under negative circumstances, such as failing to fulfill their commitment or performing unsatisfactorily, the College reserves the right to deny that student the opportunity to secure another summer practicum position. A supervisor may also submit a Student Evaluation documenting the negative work performance. Even in the case of a mutual release, a student is expected to give their supervisor advanced notice.

Summer Off-Campus Work-Learning Experience Funding

Students may be able to secure funding to work in their home community, or another community, during the summer. This funding allows students to maximize their summer earnings while giving back to a community through work and service. Funding is limited and requires an application. Eligibility requirements include:

• Must be registered for the upcoming fall term
• Must not be registered for any class on campus during the funded period
• Cannot be on any form of probation
• Placement is normally a minimum of 8 weeks and a maximum of 10 weeks
• Available for domestic experiences only
• Priority is given to students seeking to work with a federally recognized nonprofit, government, or service agency

Students participating in a summer off-campus work-learning experience through this funding will receive an evaluation of their work performance.

Please reach out to the Work College Program Office for more information workcollege@berea.edu