Berea’s student chaplains greet first-year students as they exit Phelps Stokes on their first day on campus in August 2023. Photo by Crystal Wylie ʼ05
Berea College is unique compared to other institutions in many ways, from its financial aid model to required participation in the Labor Program. As high school seniors wrap up their final year of school, incoming Berea students may struggle to navigate the complexities that make up the Berea experience. Berea maintains the Office of Student Success and Transition (SST) to mitigate those struggles and ensure student success.
SST’s unique role on campus is defined by its support for students. “From the moment students commit to Berea, our office welcomes them and works to design a transition experience that will lay a foundation for success,” said Elle Keys, coordinator of first-year programs. “Once here, we help students align their academic experiences with their goals, whether that be through study skills development, help with time management, supplemental academic advising or other types of support.”
SST runs various programs designed to assist students in areas like academic major exploration and interview preparation. In addition to unique events they can attend throughout their first semester, the office also hosts academic coaching, supplemental advising and syllabus navigation to ease the burden of figuring out which buildings their classes will be in.
Some of the notable events the SST puts on are meant to reach out to students proactively. Events like Welcome Week and Summer Connections serve as orientations for new students. SST staff members also serve as professors, teaching GST 101. New students can take this course to learn how to be successful college students and get a leg up on studying strategies to help them prepare for higher-level courses.
“[GSTR 101] teaches students what to expect in college and how to balance the responsibilities of being a college student,” Keys said. “Topics for this course include stress management, choosing classes, time management, how college differs from high school and exposure to campus resources.”
SST also connects with new students through strategies designed to react to potential warning signs before they become issues. The most prevalent example is counseling for students struggling with GPA maintenance. SST staff can intervene in these instances, providing academic counseling, academic major advising and general aid to students.
While SST is most known for its help with transitioning students into and out of Berea College, it is also set up to be a resource while the student is here. SST holds the Major Exploration Fair, an event where most or all of Berea’s 35 academic majors set up tables and present their department for new and returning students. In addition to the fair, SST hosts one-on-one course registration for first-year students’ second semester, for which more than 100 students volunteer to receive advising for their next semester of classes.
Whether students are fresh out of high school or enrolling after a gap year, SST remains active on Berea’s campus to help them navigate this historic and unique institution.
