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Students First
Two Berea College students outside

Students First

Students, we put you first!  As we work to launch new initiatives, we are taking a “Students First” approach—student ideas and insights are the core of Berea, must take priority, and will shape our brave future.  

What ideas do you have for Berea’s next chapter? What do you want Berea to focus on? What are your hopes, dreams, and imaginings for Berea? You provide the answers to these questions—and we’ll bring them to life! Please join a Student Vision team, connect at an in-person outreach event, submit the form below, or send an email to studentsfirst@berea.edu.

Our Community of Care

Our top Students First priority is student health, wellness, and essential needs. Berea is creating a community of care that provides holistic support for all aspects of the student experience.  For example, we have worked to: 

Student Gathering Spaces

Berea College students sit outside the library
Berea College bonfire

Our student-created and student-led Student Vision teams provide the ideas that transform our campus!  Based on your ideas, we are creating new outdoor gathering spaces—and will continue to create more.  Look around campus, and you’ll see these student designed ideas:

Access & Affordability

Educational opportunity is at the heart of our Great Commitments. We are proud to be the #1 college in the nation for College Access (New York Times) and the #1 college in the nation for graduating students with the least debt (US News & World Report). And, we want to make college even more affordable!  To that end, our initiatives include, for every student:

The Berea Difference

$4,000
The average amount provided to each student for an internship experience.

Berea College funds internship opportunities that help students grow, learn and find their career paths.

#1
college in the nation for graduating students with the least debt, according to US News & World Report

$400
Stipend provided for professional clothing

We provide juniors and seniors with funds to buy professional clothing, and we even take them to a department store where a representative helps them make the best choices.

Spread Joy

As we build our “One Blood, All Peoples” campus community together, let’s make sure we spread joy! Let’s provide new forms of connection and support! Let’s invent new opportunities to engage and interact! Some of the new ways we’ve connected to spread joy include:

Berea College ice cream social
berea college sunday supper

Students First: Materials

Campus materials relating to Students First are available in this password protected folder.

Students First: Ideas and Input

Submit via form below or via email at studentsfirst@berea.edu.