Berea College facts for kids

Quick facts for kids
Berea College

Official logo of Berea College
Motto	God has made of one blood all peoples of the earth.
Type	Private liberal arts work college
Established	1855; 170 years ago (1855)
Academic affiliations	Space-grant
Endowment	$1.2 billion (2021)
President	Cheryl L. Nixon
Academic staff	139
Undergraduates	1,454
Location	Berea , Kentucky , United States 37°34′23″N 84°17′31″W / 37.573°N 84.292°W / 37.573; -84.292
Campus	Exurban (140 acres)
Colors	Blue and White
Nickname	Mountaineers
Sporting affiliations	NCAA Division III—CCS

Berea College is a special kind of college in Berea, Kentucky. It's a private liberal arts and work college. This means it's not run by the government, focuses on a wide range of subjects, and requires students to work.

Berea College was started in 1855. It was the first college in the southern United States to welcome both male and female students. It was also the first to be open to students of all races. This was very unusual for its time. The college was integrated from 1866 until 1904, and then again after 1954.

One of the most amazing things about Berea is that it covers all tuition costs for its students. This is done through a special work-study grant. Students also get help with other costs like housing and food. Most students come from the southern Appalachia region. However, students also come from over 40 U.S. states and 70 other countries. About one-third of the students are people of color.

Berea College offers 33 different bachelor's degrees. All students must work at least 10 hours a week for the college. This is part of their learning experience.

College History: A Pioneer in Education

Berea College was founded in 1855 by John Gregg Fee. He was an abolitionist, someone who worked to end slavery. The college started as a small, one-room schoolhouse. This building also served as a church on Sundays. The land was given to Fee by another abolitionist, Cassius Marcellus Clay. Fee named the new community after a place mentioned in the Bible, Berea.

In 1859, the school officially became a college. However, Fee and the teachers were forced to leave the area that same year. This happened because people who supported slavery did not like their ideas.

During the Civil War, Fee worked to raise money for the school. He also helped freed slaves and their families at Camp Nelson. He provided facilities, teaching, and preaching for them.

An advertisement for Berea College from 1900, placed in a Black newspaper in Minnesota.

In 1866, after the war, Berea College had 187 students. This included 96 Black students and 91 white students. It was one of the only colleges in the South that was not segregated by race. In 1869, the first college-level students were admitted. The first bachelor's degrees were given out in 1873.

Sadly, in 1904, a new state law called the Day Law forced Berea to become a segregated school. This meant only white students could attend. The college fought this law in court, even going to the U.S. Supreme Court. But they lost. So, Berea became an all-white school. To help Black students, the college raised money to start the Lincoln Institute in 1912. This new school was for Black students. In 1950, the Day Law changed. Berea College quickly went back to its original policy of welcoming students of all races.

During World War II, Berea was one of 131 colleges that took part in the V-12 Navy College Training Program. This program helped students become officers in the Navy.

Before 1968, Berea College also had elementary and high school programs. These were stopped so the college could focus only on college-level education.

College Presidents Through the Years

Here are the leaders who have guided Berea College:

Academics: Learning and Growing

Draper Building

Berea College offers 33 different majors and 39 minors. A major is your main area of study. A minor is a secondary area. If students want to study something not on the list, they can create their own major. They just need to meet certain rules and get approval.

Some of the most popular majors in 2021 were:

• Business Administration and Management
• Computer and Information Sciences
• Biology/Biological Sciences
• Psychology
• Human Development and Family Studies
• Mass Communication/Media Studies
• Engineering Technologies/Technicians
• Political Science and Government

Berea College helps students study abroad. This means they can learn in another country. The college provides a lot of money to make this possible. Students can also apply for the Thomas J. Watson Fellowship. This gives money for a year of study abroad after they graduate.

Berea College uses a "course credit" system instead of semester hours.

• A 1.00 credit course is like 4 semester hours.

All students must attend full-time. This means taking at least 3.00 course credits. To be on the Dean's list, students need 4.00 course credits. Students can also take classes in the summer. To graduate, students need a GPA (Grade Point Average) of 2.0 or higher in their major.

Students must attend at least 7 "convocation" events each semester. These events are like special lectures, concerts, or performances. They help students learn outside of regular classes. These events are free for students and open to the public.

College Rankings and Student Success

Berea College is often recognized as a top college. In 2021, Washington Monthly ranked Berea 13th among liberal arts colleges. This was for its public good, like helping students succeed and promoting public service.

U.S. News & World Report ranked Berea 30th overall among liberal arts colleges in 2022. It was also ranked:

• 1st in "Service Learning"
• 2nd for "Most Innovative Schools"
• Tied for 13th in "Best Undergraduate Teaching"
• Tied for 6th in "Top Performers in Social Mobility" (meaning it helps students from all backgrounds succeed).

After graduating from Berea College, students earn a median salary of about $40,000 ten years later. This is based on 2022 data. Many graduates earn more than typical high school graduates in their area.

Scholarships and the Work Program

Berea College is unique because it offers full-tuition scholarships to all students. This means students don't pay for their classes. Many students also get help with room and board (housing and food). The college only accepts students who need financial help. This usually means families whose income is in the lowest 40% in the U.S.

About 75% of new students come from the Appalachian region. About 8% are international students. Usually, only one student from each country is admitted per year. This helps make sure students from over 70 different countries are represented. All international students also receive full scholarships.

Berea College has a large amount of money saved to support its scholarship program. This money comes from donations from former students and other supporters.

Berea is a "work college." This means all students must work on campus. They work at least 10 hours per week. Berea is one of only nine federally recognized work colleges in the United States. Students can work in many different jobs. They might bus tables at the Boone Tavern Hotel, which the college owns. They might give campus tours or make crafts like brooms and ceramics. Other jobs include cleaning, gardening, helping in offices, or working in technology. This work program helps students learn important skills.

As of 2022, students are paid an hourly wage for their work. The college increases this pay each year. Students are not allowed to work off-campus jobs. This is because their schoolwork and campus job take up a lot of time.

Christian Identity and Values

Berea College was started by Protestant Christians. It still has a Christian identity today, but it is not tied to one specific Christian group. The college's motto is: "God has made of one blood all peoples of the earth." This comes from the Bible (Acts 17:26).

All students must take a course about Christian faith. These courses are taught in a way that respects everyone's beliefs. This means they are sensitive to students and teachers from all backgrounds.

Library Collections

The Hutchins Library at Berea College has a large collection of books, old documents, and music. These items are all about the history and culture of the Southern Appalachian region. The Southern Appalachian Archives has records, personal papers, and photos.

Student Life: Beyond the Classroom

Since 2002, all students at Berea College receive a laptop computer. They get to keep the laptop when they graduate! Students do not have to pay for the computers. They pay a small fee to help support the college's technology. Students usually need a special permit to have a car on campus. First and second-year students rarely get these permits.

Since 1875, Berea College has celebrated "Mountain Day." This is a special holiday where students take a break from classes. They often hike to the top of Pinnacle Mountain at sunrise. They also enjoy games, performances, and food.

Another unique holiday is "Labor Day." This day celebrates the value of student work. It also helps students find jobs for the next school year. It helps graduating students prepare for life after college.

Athletics: The Mountaineers

College grounds

Berea College's sports teams are called the Mountaineers. They compete in Division III of the National Collegiate Athletic Association (NCAA). This means they do not offer athletic scholarships. Starting in the 2022–23 school year, they compete in the Collegiate Conference of the South (CCS).

Berea has 14 different sports teams.

• Men's sports include baseball, basketball, cross country, golf, soccer, tennis, and track & field.
• Women's sports include basketball, cross country, soccer, softball, tennis, track & field, and volleyball.

Historic Moments in Men's Basketball

On February 4, 1954, Irvine Shanks played for Berea against Ohio Wilmington. This was a big moment because he broke the color barrier in college basketball in Kentucky.

Notable Alumni and Faculty

Many interesting people have studied or taught at Berea College:

• Daniel S. Bentley (1850–1916) – a minister, writer, and newspaper founder.
• John "Bam" Carney – an educator and politician.
• John Fenn – won the Nobel Prize in Chemistry in 2002.
• Derby Chukwudi - Miss New Jersey USA 2023.
• Finley Hamilton – a U.S. Representative from Kentucky.
• Alix E. Harrow — a science fiction writer who won a Hugo Award.
• bell hooks (Gloria Jean Watkins) – a famous professor and author of many books.
• Julia Britton Hooks – one of the first African-American women to graduate from college in the U.S.
• Silas House – an author and activist.
• Juanita M. Kreps – served as the U.S. Secretary of Commerce.
• Tharon Musser – a lighting designer who won a Tony Award.
• Willie Parker – an activist for reproductive rights.
• Jeffrey Reddick – a screenwriter who created the Final Destination movies.
• Jack Roush – the founder and owner of a NASCAR racing team.
• Tijan Sallah - a poet, writer, and economist from Gambia.
• Djuan Trent – Miss Kentucky 2010.
• Rocky Tuan – a vice-chancellor at the Chinese University of Hong Kong.
• Muse Watson – an American actor.
• Billy Edd Wheeler – a songwriter and performer.
• Carter G. Woodson – an important African American historian and co-founder of Black History Month.