The Berea College Board of Trustees has authorized the college administration to move forward with an application for a “Qualified Historic Site License” that would permit the sale of alcoholic beverages by the drink at historic Boone Tavern Hotel & Restaurant. After the Board of Trustees carefully considered the action for more than a year, the final decision took place during the board meeting on February 21 and 22, and followed an extensive process in which the college’s administration received input and opinions from faculty, staff, students, local officials, community leaders and citizens on the subject. We did not choose to survey our complete alumni community, because we do not have a means of doing that systematically, but we do have quite a number of alumni who are faculty and staff at the College. Those alumni who are employed by the College responded to the survey with the same level of support for moving forward with alcohol sales at Boone Tavern, as non-alumni who work at the College. The survey showed strong overall support for moving forward, but of course not unanimity, because this is an issue on which reasonable people do not find ready agreement. Continue reading Berea College to Move Forward with “Qualified Historic Site License” for Boone Tavern →
Author: Jay Buckner
Berea College Accepted as NCAA Division III Provisional Member
The National Collegiate Athletic Association (NCAA) has granted Berea College (Ky.) provisional membership in Division III, beginning September 1. This move will allow the college to better align its athletics program to compete with other institutions that share a similar philosophy of intercollegiate athletics. The NCAA Division III philosophy is founded on the student-athlete’s overall educational experience. Institutions within the division are not permitted to award financial aid on the basis of a student’s athletic ability. Continue reading Berea College Accepted as NCAA Division III Provisional Member →
Berea College Earns “Fair Trade” Status
Berea College has been named as Kentucky’s second Fair Trade University by Fair Trade USA. Fair Trade is a movement that works to reduce poverty, support the ethical treatment of workers and farmers and promote environmentally sustainable practices while helping producers in developing countries obtain fair prices for their products. Fair Trade USA recognizes towns, schools and congregations across the country for embedding Fair Trade practices and principles into policy and into the social and intellectual foundations of their communities. Continue reading Berea College Earns “Fair Trade” Status →
Partners for education program awarded Americorps Grant
Partners for Education at Berea College has been selected by the Corporation for National and Community Service (CNCS) as a recipient of an AmeriCorps grant. Partners for Education’s program, PartnerCorps: STEM, will increase student competency in the science, technology, engineering and mathematics, or “STEM” fields. Partners for Education will place 20 AmeriCorps members in three Madison County high schools: Berea Independent, Madison Central, and Madison Southern. PartnerCorps: STEM members will mentor high school students, provide in-school and out-of-school tutoring to students taking algebra courses while connecting the math to STEM careers. Continue reading Partners for education program awarded Americorps Grant →
Two Renowned Authors Offer ‘Advice from Appalachian Intellectuals’ to Berea College Graduates, May 4
Watch the live video stream on the day of commencement.
bell hooks, a celebrated author and social activist, and Silas House, a best-selling novelist and environmental activist, will address 271 members of Berea College’s 142nd graduating class during a special commencement service titled “Advice from Appalachian Intellectuals.” Both commencement speakers are faculty members in Berea College’s Loyal Jones Appalachian Center. Continue reading Two Renowned Authors Offer ‘Advice from Appalachian Intellectuals’ to Berea College Graduates, May 4 →
A Record 13 Berea College Students Awarded Prestigious Gilman Scholarship to Study Abroad
Thirteen Berea College students join more than 1,100 American undergraduate students from 358 colleges and universities across the country as recipients of the prestigious Benjamin A. Gilman International Scholarship, sponsored by the U.S. Department of State’s Bureau of Educational and Cultural Affairs. Continue reading A Record 13 Berea College Students Awarded Prestigious Gilman Scholarship to Study Abroad →
Aspen Institute Names Partners for Education at Berea College to National Network to Disrupt Poverty for Children and Parents
Partners for Education at Berea College was announced today as a member of the Aspen Institute Ascend Network, a new network of leading organizations using two-generation approaches to disrupt poverty and create economic mobility for families. Partners for Education at Berea College is one of the initial 58 organizations, selected from 24 states and the District of Columbia, that represent the leading edge of a national movement around two-generation approaches. Two-generation approaches look at the whole family’s needs and provide opportunities for children and their parents together. Continue reading Aspen Institute Names Partners for Education at Berea College to National Network to Disrupt Poverty for Children and Parents →
Economics and Business Program Hosts 16th Annual Caudill Luncheon
On April 24, the economics and business program hosted the 16th Annual Alfred & Shirley Wampler Caudill Luncheon at historic Boone Tavern Hotel & Restaurant. Continue reading Economics and Business Program Hosts 16th Annual Caudill Luncheon →
Berea College’s “Deep Green” Residence Hall Earns World’s Highest LEED Score
Berea College’s Deep Green Residence Hall has earned Leadership in Energy and Environmental Design (LEED) v2009 Platinum Certification and a score of 90 points, making the facility the highest-scoring, LEED-certified residence hall in the world. The LEED certification denotes independent verification from the U.S. Green Building Council that a building is designed and constructed “using strategies aimed at achieving high performance in key areas of human and environmental health.” Continue reading Berea College’s “Deep Green” Residence Hall Earns World’s Highest LEED Score →
Debate Team Ends Season on High Note
The Berea College Speech and Debate Team completed a highly successful 2013-14 season at the Pi Kappa Delta National Forensics Championship this past weekend. The team had already achieved a number of significant milestones, including a top 10 national ranking by the National Parliamentary Debate Association and tripling the number of awards won in the past 13 years. Continue reading Debate Team Ends Season on High Note →
Service and Learning on Spring Break 2014
While students on many campuses used spring break to enjoy the sun and beaches, a small number of Berea College students, faculty, and staff traveled to Montgomery and Selma, Alabama for a spring break of service. Continue reading Service and Learning on Spring Break 2014 →
Interview: Dr. Gordon Gray on Asia, Asian Studies and Berea
Dr. Gordon Gray is an Assistant Professor of Media and Culture in Berea College’s Asian Studies program. He got his bachelor’s degree in Anthropology from the University of Edinburgh in Scotland, and his PhD in Film Studies from Napier University also in Scotland. He has been teaching at Berea since 2011. Continue reading Interview: Dr. Gordon Gray on Asia, Asian Studies and Berea →
Berea College Annual Concert Choir Spring Concert, April 5 & 6
The annual Spring Concert by the Berea College Concert Choir and Chamber Singers, conducted by Dr. Stephen Bolster, will be held on Saturday, April 5, at 8 p.m. and Sunday, April 6, at 3 p.m. in Gray Auditorium on the Berea College campus. The choral concert will be accompanied by Lindsay Clavere on the piano and organ. There is no admission charge. Continue reading Berea College Annual Concert Choir Spring Concert, April 5 & 6 →
Berea College Service Award Recipients to be Recognized at Annual Service Convocation
On Thursday, March 27 at 3 p.m. in Phelps Stokes Chapel, during the annual Berea College Service Convocation, the 2014 Berea College Service Award will be presented to Henry Red Cloud and Carolyn Sundy. The Berea College Service Award honors persons who in their daily lives and their service to humanity have exemplified Berea’s Great Commitments. The award honors practical service by persons in all walks of life. Continue reading Berea College Service Award Recipients to be Recognized at Annual Service Convocation →
Empty Bowls Fill Local Food Bank Coffers
On Wednesday March 19, members of the Berea community will have the opportunity to help address hunger by purchasing a simple meal of soup and a hand-made bowl from the Berea College Ceramic Apprenticeship Program or donated by local potters. Continue reading Empty Bowls Fill Local Food Bank Coffers →
Pharaoh’s Daughter Returns to Berea
The second Stephenson Memorial Concert of the spring semester features Pharaoh’s Daughter on March 13 at 8 p.m. in Phelps Stokes Chapel. The event is free and open to the public. Continue reading Pharaoh’s Daughter Returns to Berea →
Concert Choir Fundraising Concert for International Tour
The Berea College Concert Choir will travel on a 15-day concert tour to Spain and Portugal from May 7-May 21, 2014. Music faculty members Dr. Stephen Bolster, conductor; Lindsay Clavere, pianist; Dr. Javier Clavere, organist, and math professor Sandra Bolster, chaperone, will lead choir members on a trip to several Spanish and Portuguese cities, including Barcelona, Valencia, Cordoba, Granada, Seville, Faro and Lisbon. The concert tour will be a “dream come true” for the students. It will include extensive, professionally guided tours of each city and excursions to museums and World Heritage Sites to allow the students to see great treasures of Moorish, Christian and Muslim cultures. The choir will perform high-profile concerts in several of the cities. Continue reading Concert Choir Fundraising Concert for International Tour →
Dr. Rocky S. Tuan, successful Life Science Researcher and Alumnus Visited Campus
At 9 a.m. on Thursday February 20, Room 106 of the Hall Science Building hosted Dr. Rocky Tuan’s presentation on integrating life sciences with engineering and medicine. Dr. Tuan began his presentation at by relating back to the time where he had to sit on the opposite side of the hall as a student and strive to stay awake, and hoped he would not bore the audience to sleep this time around. The audience included President Lyle Roelofs, faculty members of the science programs and several students. Continue reading Dr. Rocky S. Tuan, successful Life Science Researcher and Alumnus Visited Campus →
Vanderbilt University and Berea College Partner on Humanities Initiative
Berea College is partnering with Vanderbilt University to establish a new faculty development initiative to support specialized training for new Vanderbilt Ph.D.’s in preparing students for teaching at liberal arts colleges and historically black colleges and universities. Continue reading Vanderbilt University and Berea College Partner on Humanities Initiative →
The Onyx Returns to Campus
The Black Student Union recently announced plans to reintroduce The Onyx to the Berea College campus community. The first publication is set to be released on February 28, 2014, and it will share information pertaining to the importance of the publication and the black community on campus, among other topics. Continue reading The Onyx Returns to Campus →
Phi Kappa Phi Inducts New Members
The Berea College chapter of Phi Kappa Phi, an honor society for all academic disciplines, held its spring banquet on February 18 in the Woods-Pennimen Commons. Continue reading Phi Kappa Phi Inducts New Members →
Board of Trustees Decision on Boone Tavern
The Berea College Board of Trustees has authorized the college administration to move forward with an application for a “Qualified Historic Site License” that would permit the sale of alcoholic beverages by the drink at historic Boone Tavern Hotel & Restaurant. This action took place during the board meeting on February 21 and 22, and follows an extensive process in which the college’s administration received input and opinions from faculty, staff, students, community leaders and citizens on the subject. Continue reading Board of Trustees Decision on Boone Tavern →
Kiplinger Ranks Berea College The Country’s #1 Best Value
For the second consecutive year, Berea College tops Kiplinger’s list of the country’s best-value private colleges where students pay less than $20,000 a year. In determining the ranking, Kiplinger cited Berea College’s generous financial aid and commitment to providing an education to students with limited financial resources. Continue reading Kiplinger Ranks Berea College The Country’s #1 Best Value →
Chris Green: Making a Difference in Appalachia
Dr. Chris Green
Chris Green is a busy man. This is most readily evidenced by the titles he holds: Director of the Loyal Jones Appalachian Center (LJAC), Associate Professor of Appalachian Studies, Program Coordinator of Appalachian Studies, Continue reading Chris Green: Making a Difference in Appalachia →
Buddhism and Hip-hop: Dr. Chris Haskett Spoke on February’s Asian Studies Colloquium
This year, the Asian Studies Program is celebrating its fifteenth year anniversary. Hence, the Program is organizing several events on campus which are both continual and unique to the celebration. One of these events took place on Wednesday February 5th in Room 101 of the Science Building. Right from the beginning, the room was filled by an audience of students and faculty. The occasion was February’s Asian Studies Colloquium which focused on Buddhism and Hip-hop as presented by Dr. Chris Haskett of Centre College. Continue reading Buddhism and Hip-hop: Dr. Chris Haskett Spoke on February’s Asian Studies Colloquium →