Berry College

School mission (as provided by the school):

Berry College challenges students to embrace a firsthand education uniting strong academic programs with opportunities for meaningful work experience, spiritual and moral growth, and significant service to others. One of Berry's many distinguishing features is its campus, which spans more than 26,000 acres of meadows, woodlands, hills and watersheds in Northwest Georgia. This amazing environment provides endless opportunities for study and research, relevant work experience, recreation and exploration, and nurturing one's spirit. A member of the Annapolis Group of leading liberal arts colleges, Berry offers programs in the sciences, humanities, arts and social sciences as well as the professional areas of business and teacher education. All are characterized by high academic expectations and extraordinary mentoring relationships between faculty and students. Science students, for example, conduct sophisticated research projects alongside faculty members in first-rate laboratories; in field projects involving the wildlife and forests of Berry's ecosystem; and in on-campus equine, dairy and beef facilities. As a result, opportunities for those studying animal science and environmental science are among the nation's best. Students in the humanities and social sciences also flourish, working closely with faculty to complete major projects while distinguishing themselves though participation in Berry's highly accomplished forensics, Model U.N., College Bowl, communication and fine arts programs. Education students have the opportunity to hone their teaching skills at Berry's on-campus elementary/middle school and child development center, while business students apply what they have learned through collaborative research projects and other relevant activities. As a result of the unique blend of conceptual and practical learning that Berry offers, students who wish to do so regularly gain admission to graduate programs and professional schools nationwide. Students also benefit from the experience they gain through voluntary participation in the nation's premier Work Experience Program. Every student is eligible for a paid position on campus, regardless of family income. First-year work opportunities often involve service to the campus community. Upper-level positions offer increased levels of responsibility involving supervision, project management and technical expertise. There are more than 300 different types of jobs available, including positions in research laboratories, information technology, business offices, facilities and land resources, the equine and dairy centers, residence life and campus leadership, recreation and fitness, campus communications, public relations and marketing, and outdoor adventure. In addition, Berry offers a vibrant program of campus activities and intramural sports, many of which are student initiated and managed, as well as a successful intercollegiate athletic program that is currently transitioning to NCAA Division III. A new initiative, Student-Operated Campus Enterprises, has earned national acclaim by providing participants from various majors with the opportunity to work together in support of a specific product or service. The college also supports and encourages student entrepreneurship and community service. From the first semester they arrive on campus, students are asked to consider what it means to live a worthy life, one that makes a difference, through a structured planning process and an ongoing schedule of campus speakers, concerts and events. An independent, coeducational college of more than 2,000 students, Berry is grounded in Christian values and a Christian perspective. Our belief is that a college education should involve the whole person, and we invite students from all backgrounds to enjoy the benefits of an educational experience that is both comprehensive and purposeful.