Understanding the Academic Calendar at Berea College
Berea College structures its academic year using a term system, distinguishing it from institutions that operate on semesters. This article provides a comprehensive overview of Berea College's academic calendar, detailing its key components, important dates, and relevant policies.
Term Structure: Fall, Spring, and Summer
Berea College operates on an academic calendar consisting of two fifteen-week terms: a Fall term and a Spring term. Because the College is on a term system, the school does not refer to these sessions as semesters. In addition to the regular Fall and Spring terms, Berea College offers optional Summer opportunities for students to engage in study. These include the May term (usually four weeks) and the Summer term (usually seven weeks).
Credit System
Berea College does not award credit in semester hours but rather as course units. One Berea course credit equals four semester hours or six quarter hours. To maintain Satisfactory Academic Progress, students normally enroll in four course credits in the Fall Term and four in the Spring Term. Students may take between one quarter (.25) and three and one quarter (3.25) credits in Summer. In order to earn 32 credits in 8 regular terms a student must average at least 8 credits per academic year.
Key Dates and Deadlines
A Fall or Spring term is considered completed on the last day of regular classes. Summer terms are considered completed one day prior to the last day of classes in each respective term. Students who withdraw after the last day to withdraw without final grades being recorded, as defined here and indicated on the Academic Calendar published by the Office of the Registrar, will be considered enrolled for the entire term. The Academic Calendar, published by the Office of the Registrar, is the definitive source for all important dates and deadlines.
Reading Periods
Several features of the fall and spring terms are worthy of special note. During the fall term, a two-day Reading Period is scheduled. This time, which includes a Monday and Tuesday and the preceding weekend, is set aside for students to review course materials in preparation for final examinations. During the spring term, Reading Period is one day prior to the beginning of Final Exams. No classes or other course meetings are held during this time. Reading Period is followed by four days of examinations. The schedule is developed so that most students will have no more than two examinations each day.
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Breaks and Holidays
There are several vacation, holiday periods, and special events during the year. During one week in October classes are not scheduled for two days to provide a Mid-Term Reading Period. The observance of Thanksgiving begins on Wednesday and extends through Sunday. The break between the fall and spring terms lasts two weeks or somewhat longer. Spring Break occupies one week in mid-March. The College also observes other special days of celebration when no classes are held. On Mountain Day, in October, faculty, students, and staff join to enjoy outdoor activities and the heritage of the Appalachian region. On Martin Luther King, Jr., Day, recognized on the date of the national holiday in January, faculty, students, and staff join in various activities to celebrate and learn about those who sacrificed for Civil Rights. The College reserves a day in the spring term for the purpose of exploring labor, academic, and co-curricular opportunities (known as Labor Day).
Office of the Registrar
The Office of the Registrar assists students, faculty and alumni with a variety of services. We maintain academic records on all students, manage registration, program degree audits, supervise declaration of major and evaluate transfer credit. We provide transcripts, enrollment verifications, and answer any questions about these transactions. We also create the academic calendar, produce the class schedule and update and validate the college catalog and handle school compliance with the Family Educational Rights and Privacy Act (FERPA).
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