At Berea College, the Labor Program is an integral and stated part of the educational program as mandated by the Department of Education Work Colleges legislation. It is a competency-based (rather than credit-hour-based) model of learning. It has clearly defined student learning goals and expected outcomes, regularly reviewed by the Labor Program Council. The council has comprehensive responsibility for major programmatic changes that affect experiential learning in the program, with specific responsibility regarding the evaluation and assessment of labor. They are also available on the Labor Program’s Goals and Purposes web page, which includes the program objectives. The labor supervisor is responsible for articulating, to the student worker, the actual descriptors utilized in evaluating a performance expectation.
Learning, Service and Work Well Done
Learning, Service, and Work Well Done
Through the leadership of the Dean of Labor, the Labor Program Council, and countless supervisors and mentors, Berea's Labor Program reflects a unified vision of labor as student and learning centered, as service to the College and broader community, and as necessary work well done.
The Labor Program, a comprehensive Work-Learning-Service program, is an integral and stated part of Berea College's educational philosophy and program and is designed to serve the following purposes:
The Labor Program is designed to serve the following purposes:
• Support the total educational program at Berea College through experiences providing the learning of skills, responsibility, habits, attitudes, and processes associated with work;
• Provide and encourage opportunities for students to pay costs of board (meals), room, and related educational expenses;
• Provide opportunities for service to the community and others through labor;
• Establish a lifestyle of doing and thinking, action, and reflection, and serving and learning that carries on beyond the college years.
Designed to serve these multiple purposes, the program reflects a unified vision of labor as a student- and-learning-centered service to the College and broader community and, as necessary, work well done. The administration of the program is the responsibility of the Dean of Labor.
Labor assignments function very much like classes. Beginning at entry levels of work, students are expected to progress to more skilled and responsible levels. Through these experiences, it is expected that student workers will:
• develop good work habits and attitudes;
• gain an understanding of personal interests, skills, and limitations; and
• exercise creativity, problem-solving, and responsibility. Students may also learn leadership qualities, standard setting, and effective supervision.
The Labor Program makes it possible for students to know each other as co-workers and classmates. More importantly, linking the Academic and Labor programs establishes a pattern of learning through work that continues long after college.
Labor Supervisor
The Labor Supervisor is the practicaleducatorwithin Berea’s labor program, a comprehensive work-learning-service program federally recognized under the work college legislation*. The labor supervisor utilizes the learning outcomes from the department work assignments to educate the studentregardingsoft skills (teamwork, initiative, attendance, etc.) andposition-specific skills. The supervisor is also responsible for the certification of the time the student has worked and a mid-point and final evaluation of the student’s performance during theassignment.When evaluating thestudent’s work performance, thesupervisorconsidersthe labor learning goals, workplace expectations, and the seven performance expectations (attendance, accountability, teamwork, initiative, respect, learning, and position-specific requirements). The final evaluation score is uploaded to the Labor Transcript.
Supervisors are responsible for helping meet the requirements of the Labor Program, which is driven by Federal Work Study and Work Colleges regulations. Failure to meet the administrative functions of supervision (timely and accurate approval of student-employee time, status forms, evaluations, etc.) may result in the loss of student-employee positions in your department.
* Federal legislation defines a Work College as a special type of degree-granting institution where a “comprehensive work-learning-service program” is “an integral and stated part of the institution’s educational philosophy and program,” a “valuable educational approach” and an “integral part of the institution’s educational program and part of a financial aid plan that decreases reliance on grants and loans and encourages students to participate in community service activities.” Berea is one of ten federallyrecognized work colleges.
Supervisor Agreement
Supervisors are required to sign an annual agreement outlining their responsibilities as student employment supervisors. All supervisors must have a signed agreement on file no later than the end of August. The process will be conducted via DocuSign, and these agreements will be kept on file with HR. Supervisors who fail to sign will be ineligible to serve in their supervisory roles.
Supervisor Communications
Strong communication between the supervisor and the student is vital for the success of the Work-Learning-Service relationship. Supervisors are expected to communicate continually and consistently about workplace expectations, deadlines, benchmarks, evaluations, and anything else that supports the development of workplace skills.
The Labor Program prioritizes two preferred methods of communication: Microsoft Teams and Outlook.
Labor Learning Goals
The Identification of Expected Outcomes (Student Learning Goals)
At Berea College, the Labor Program is an integral and stated part of the educational program as mandated by the Department of Education Work Colleges legislation. It is a competency based (rather than credit hour based) model of learning. It has clearly defined student learning goals and expected outcomes which are regularly reviewed by the Labor Program Council. The council has comprehensive responsibility for major programmatic changes that affect experiential learning in the program, with specific responsibility regarding evaluation and assessment of labor. They are also available on the Labor Program’s Goals and Purposes web page which includes the program objectives. The labor supervisor is responsible for articulating, to the student worker, the actual descriptors utilized in evaluating a performance expectation.
Labor Learning Goals
| Goal 1 |
To develop and apply the six soft skills (attendance, accountability, teamwork, initiative, respect, learning) directly related to the work-learning-service level, the description of duties and the learning opportunities sections of the job description.
Expected Outcome: In their labor positions, students will exhibit the good habits of attendance, accountability, teamwork, initiative, respect, and life-long learning. |
| Goal 2 |
To develop and apply the hard skills articulated in the work-learning-service level, the description of duties and the learning opportunities sections of the job description.
Expected Outcome: In their labor positions, students will demonstrate through their work, the specific skills and/or attitudes set forth in their job description. |
| Goal 3 |
To develop and apply, whenever possible, the four core general education goals (Writer, Speaker, Researcher, Critical Thinker).
Expected Outcome: In each labor position, whenever possible, students will: exhibit skills in writing that applies to their work; successfully communicate information, thoughts and ideas; identify through discovery, data or ideas that support advances in their work; and demonstrate the ability to analyze and interpret ideas that benefit the work place. |
| Goal 4 |
To work in labor positions that support the student’s academic goal and/or field of interest.
Expected Outcome: Students will develop skills and professional attitudes related to their academic major, career, and or personal interests. |
| Goal 5 |
To progress over time to more skilled and responsible levels of work, as defined by the seven Work-Learning-Service levels.
Expected Outcome: Students, upon graduation, will have advanced to a WLS leadership level (4, 5, 6, or UC). |
Workplace Expectations
The Workplace Expectations were adopted by the Administrative Committee in 1998 as a means of articulating common expectations for work and learning at Berea College. Faculty, staff and students comprise one workforce at Berea, and all are charged with upholding these guiding principles:
Exhibit Enthusiasm for Learning:
Striving to learn and to grow both intellectually and personally so everyone is a learner.
Act with Integrity and Caring:
Exhibiting honesty, trustworthiness, and compassion in one’s work and relationships.
Value all People:
Working to create an inclusive and respectful workplace that models the Great Commitments and seeks to find the best in all people.
Work as a Team:
Developing collaborative and team oriented abilities that will create a community of mutual respect, common vision, and shared accomplishments.
Serve Others:
Nurturing a climate of excellence in service that is responsive to others needs.
Encourage Plain and Sustainable Living:
Promoting a sustainable way of life through policies and practices in the workplace.
Celebrate Work Well Done:
Striving for excellence in all aspects of work and celebrating individual and collective accomplishments.
Position Description
In addition to general workplace expectations, the College establishes position descriptions to set expectations for specific positions. All student employee positions must have a job description per Federal Work Study guidelines under the Department of Education. Each position description contains the following information: department name, position title, assigned work hours per week, WLS Levels, itemized description of duties, list of learning opportunities, and outline of basic and desirable qualifications.
Position descriptions are prepared by each department in consultation with the Labor Program Office. Copies are centrally maintained for all departments, and a new draft must be submitted whenever a department upgrades an existing position description or creates a new one. Departmental job descriptions should be reviewed annually in consultation with the Labor Program Office. All students should be familiar with their position descriptions to understand the position’s expectations and opportunities. This aids in establishing exceptional work habits and in developing language for resumes and position interviews on campus and job interviews off campus.
Financial Aid
A crucial form of financial assistance at Berea College is provided through the Student Labor Program. All students enrolled in an academic term (Fall, Spring, Summer) or working a summer practicum earn a Berea Work Scholarship which is applied directly to the cost of education (tuition) each term. The amount applied is $4,500 in Fall, $4,500 in Spring, and $4,700 in Summer for students enrolled in summer courses or working 8 weeks or more.
In addition to this scholarship, students also receive direct payments based on the number of hours they work each pay period. Students can earn up to $3,000 per year to assist with educational expenses such as room, food, fees, books, and other personal expenses.
Students who work during the summer but do not attend classes (labor only) are expected to save a portion of their earnings to help cover educational expenses during their next term of enrollment. Student Financial Aid Services will determine the expected savings amount by deducting students' job-related costs from their total summer earnings.
Note: The direct scholarship payments received are not subject to tax withholding or FICA. However, a scholarship tax liability may apply and is dependent on the total amount of grants and scholarships received during the year compared to the amount of qualified expenses incurred. Student Financial Aid Services provides an annual tax letter to assist students/families in determining the amount of taxable aid income received.