Labor Enrollment Agreement
Upon admission to Berea College, all students sign a Student Labor Enrollment Agreement that remains in effect throughout the period of enrollment. In signing this contract, each student agrees to:
- work a minimum of 10 hours a week and adhere to the work schedule as required by the position and arranged with the supervisor;
- work any additional contracted hours as scheduled and secure approval for contracts for more than 15 hours per week;
- complete a labor status change form (individual position contract) for each position held, or for any change in a position, as a supplement to the Student Labor Contract.
Records concerning student labor are kept in the Labor Program Office and become part of the student’s file. These records include evaluations of student performance.
Labor Status Form (Labor Position Participation Agreement)
The Labor Status Form (academic term or labor-only) establishes the work status of a student for a set period of time. The status form defines the individual position contract for a position in a Labor Department, which includes hours per week (academic term 10, 12, 15) or hours per day (summer labor-only). The chart below indicates the contracted/required hours for 10-, 12-, and 15-hour contracts during the Fall, Spring and Summer academic terms. To remain in good standing in the Labor Program, students are expected to complete within a term the contracted/required hours by working 10-15 hours per week through the end of the term as scheduled, as arranged by the supervisor, and as required by the position. Failure to have worked the contracted level by the end of a term can warrant placement of the student on Labor Probation (see Labor Probation and Suspension).
Hour Contracts
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cademic terms
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10-hour contract
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12-hour contract
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15-hour contract
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Fall or Spring
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150 hours
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180 hours
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225 hours
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Summer One
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40 hours
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48 hours
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60 hours
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Summer Two
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80 hours
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96 hours
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120 hours
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Labor Overloads
A labor overload is defined as more than 15 hours of labor per week during the regular academic year. Overloads may not be approved retroactively and are subject to periodic review. Approval may be revoked if primary labor hours, labor performance, or academic performance become less than satisfactory. Forms may be secured in the Student Service Center, or Labor Program Office, and should be submitted to Financial Aid for preliminary review. Labor overloads may be continued from term to term within an academic year, provided that the approval guidelines can still be met. Student records will be reviewed mid-year and students will be notified if the overload is discontinued. Students may work up to 20 hours during January’s short term without special approval.
Guidelines for Approval:
- Sophomore, junior, or senior classification
- Meeting Labor Program requirements in the primary position
- Not on any form of probation
- Enrolled in less than 5 course credits with less than 8 preparations (fall and spring terms only)
- Have a 2.50 GPA, both cumulative and for the previous full term; the required 2.50 cumulative GPA may be waived if a 3.00 GPA is earned during the previous full term.
Requests for over 20 hours are subject to the following additional guidelines:
- Junior or senior classification
- 3.00 GPA in the major, overall, and for the previous term
- Submission of a letter outlining the reason for requesting more than 20 hours
- Approval of the Dean of Labor and the Student Admissions and Academic Standing Committee.
These approval guidelines may be waived in cases where student parents must work 20 hours per week in order to receive state childcare benefits (e.g., KTAP), but the application must still be submitted and reviewed.
During periods of non-enrollment (vacation periods, summer practicum), hours must not exceed 40 per week.
First-Year Labor Assignments
All first-year students are assigned WLS level 1, ten-hour positions, which they will hold until the end of the first academic year. At the conclusion of the first year, and each year thereafter, students are charged with securing their own position placements. Academic studies and work through the Labor Program are the primary concern of students attending Berea College and constitute a full-time load. Accordingly, work outside the Labor Program on a regular basis while enrolled as a student is not permitted without the approval of Dean of Labor or his designate in consultation with appropriate academic and financial-aid officials.
Exchange, Part-Time, and Non-Degree Students
Exchange students are required to participate fully in the Labor Program. Part-time students are required to participate, but a reduction in hours may be approved by the Dean of Labor depending on the circumstances. Non-degree students are permitted to participate in the College’s Labor Program provided funding is available and all degree-seeking students have been assigned.
Last Day to Release from a Labor Position
Signing a primary position status form obligates a student to remain in a labor position for the entire academic year, for the summer term, or, in the case of a December graduate, for the fall term. Should a student holding a Sophomore- Senior classification petition for an early release due to special circumstances, the labor supervisor of the primary position may consider and approve the request for a release on or before the last day to drop a class without a “W” appearing on the transcript. (This dates occurs one week after the first day of class in Fall and Spring terms and earlier in Summer One and Summer Two terms. Please refer to the academic calendar for the official dates.)
Primary supervisors are not obligated to approve a student’s request for release. Rare exceptions may be considered after this deadline and will require approval from the Labor Program Office. The current primary supervisor must complete a “Change of Labor Position Request Form” and submit it to the Labor Program Office, Fairchild Hall, Room 10, for review. Note: First Year Students are assigned to a labor position for an entire academic year and may not be released from any position without approval from the Labor Program Office.