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Labor Enrollment Agreement

Signed by each student upon entering Berea College, the agreement outlines the expectations of the student and the College with regard to the Labor Program and serves as the student’s acknowledgement of work as a core requirement of enrollment and an integral/required part of their educational program. Below is the present version of the agreement:

Labor Enrollment Agreement

The Labor Program, a comprehensive Work-Learning-Service program, is an integral and stated part of Berea College’s educational philosophy and program. Upon entering Berea College, all students sign a Labor Enrollment Agreement outlining the basic commitments of the student and the College concerning the student’s required participation in the Labor Program. This agreement is completed one time and remains in effect for the entire period of enrollment.

THE STUDENT, IN ACCEPTING ADMISSION TO THE COLLEGE, AGREES TO:

  1. Participate in the Labor Program as defined in the online handbook Tools: A Guide to the Berea College Labor Program and other policy statements http://www.berea.edu/laborprogramoffice/tools/default.asp.
  2. Fulfill a first-year labor assignment as assigned by the College and, in subsequent years, to secure or accept a student labor position from among those available.
  3. Work no less than ten (10) hours a week throughout the term and adhere to the work schedule required by the position and arranged with the supervisor.
  4. Complete a Status Form (labor position participation agreement) for each position held, or for any change in position, as a supplement to the Labor Enrollment Agreement and as approved by the Labor Program and Student Payment Office.
  5. Work all hours as defined by the status form(s) including adhering to the work schedule required by the position(s).
  6. Secure approval for continuously working more than fifteen (15) hours per week, as specified in the labor overload approval process.
  7. Secure approval for absences from work and arrange to make up hours in advance of the absence, if possible, and to immediately notify the supervisor of any unexpected absence.
  8. Strive to meet duties, responsibilities, and standards required by the labor position as defined by the supervisor.
  9. Complete Labor Experience Evaluation(s) for academic year and summer positions.

THE COLLEGE AGREES TO:

  1. Provide each registered student with opportunities for work-learning-service experiences fostering the goals of the Labor Program. Note: Summer practicum positions are dependent on department budgets and need.
  2. Provide each registered student the opportunity to earn a work scholarship by working in the labor program. A portion of the scholarship, the Labor Grant, is applied directly to the full tuition scholarship. The remainder, a smaller portion, consists of direct payments based on hours worked.
  3. Offer opportunities for advancement in skill and responsibility as defined by Work-Learning-Service levels.
  4. Provide a Labor Transcript documenting the student’s participation, experience and performance in the program and to maintain labor records in accordance with general College policies and relevant legislation.
  5. Conduct, using the “Student Labor Evaluation”, individual student work evaluations and to record final performance scores on the Labor Transcript.
  6. Provide opportunity for students to evaluate their labor experience(s) by completing the “Labor Experience Evaluation”.
  7. Conduct assessment at the supervisor, department, and program level to improve the educational and institutional value of the program.
  8. Provide a labor grievance procedure whereby complaints can be resolved.

STUDENT STATEMENT

By signing, I agree to perform my labor assignments to the best of my ability. I understand and agree to the conditions set forth in this agreement. In addition, I am aware that failure to meet the requirements and conditions of this agreement can result in disciplinary action up to and including suspension. Also, I understand that this agreement is effective for the length of my enrollment and the signed document will be placed in my student file. A copy of the agreement can be requested/obtained through the Labor Program Office.

_______________________________________________Student Signature

______________________Date

________________________________________________Student Printed Name

Hour Contracts

During each academic term, students have the following hour expectation based on their contractual hours:


 Contract Total Hour Expectation 
 10 hour contract 160 total term hours
 12 hour contract 180 total term hours 
 15 hour contract 225 total term hours 

A Summer Assistance Grant is offered for students who meet the following requirements:

  1. The possible grant assistance is $250 for each four-week term or $500 for the eight week term.
  2. Students must contract and work for 20 hours per week during the term to qualify for the grant.  Only students who are contracted for 20 hours will be reviewed to see if they have met the requirements for labor.
    1. Students who are under the 80 hours for the four-week term or 160 hours for the eight weeks will not receive the grant.
    2. Students must not exceed 22 hours per week (average) during the terms to receive the grant (e.g., 4 weeks no more than 88 hours or 8 weeks no more than 176 hours). 
  3. Students must be registered and attending class for at least one credit during the four-week term or two credits during the eight-week term.
  4. If a student completes two four-week sessions, they can receive a total of $500 which equates to $250 for each four-week term.
  5. The maximum Assistance Grant that a student can receive is $500.
  6. The grant will be applied to the student's account upon completion of the appropriate payrolls and determination made confirming the labor and academic requirements have been fulfilled.
  7. By the end of each term, a student must pay down their account to the amount of the grant for which they are applying.
  8. If a student doesn't fulfill the requirements to receive the grant, then their student account must be paid by August 10.
  9. If a student doesn't receive the grant, they may apply for a loan through the Student Financial Aid Services Office (SFAS) which will determine if there is eligibility for a loan.  Applications for a loan must be filed with SFAS by August 1.



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

First year students are defined as freshmen, International, Exchange, and transfer students.  In other words, any student who is attending Berea College for the first time.  

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.