Berea College - "God Has Made of One Blood All Peoples of the Earth"

Berea College is a unique place, and has always been one. Founded in 1855, it became the first interracial and co-educational college in the south. The town of Berea and its college, founded in the foothills of Kentucky, was the dream of abolitionist preacher Rev. John G. Fee. Berea sought to educate women and blacks alongside white men when Kentucky was still a slave holding state.

What started as a one room school house quickly grew into a college; a college that defies stereotypes. Its motto, "God has made of one blood all peoples of the earth" (Acts 17:26), is a call for understanding and tolerance between the all people. While Berea identifies itself as a Christian college, people of all religious practices are accepted. The motto is reflected in Berea College's commitment to diversity and serving the disadvantaged. Berea's founders recognized two groups of disadvantaged students, the poor of the Appalachian Mountains, and the freed-slaves. The mission has changed with the times but college policy still requires that 80% of the incoming class come from the Appalachian region and adjoining areas. The college also seeks to enroll a high percentage of minority students. In a state where 91% of residents are White, it is no small accomplishment that 19% students are African-American and 7% of are international students from the developing world.

To serve these groups Berea had to create a system that would make it possible for students to work their way through school. All students admitted receive a full-tuition scholarship, and in many cases, a partial room and board scholarship. To do this Berea College has one of the largest per student endowments of any college; operates a historic hotel and restaurant, The Boone Tavern; and requires all student to participate in the labor program. Students are required to work a minimum of 10 hours with a starting pay of $3.50 an hour (don't worry, it goes up, and eventually you could make minimum wage). While the first job is assigned, after that year students can apply to work in any of the campus departments ranging from public relations to woodcraft. Speaking of crafts, many students are employed as woodworkers, weavers, potters, and broom-makers who make a variety of products that are sold to support the college. While being tuition-free would seem like enough, thanks to an agreement with Dell computers, all students are given a laptop computer to use, which is replaced during their junior year with a laptop that will be theirs to keep when they graduate. And they will graduate almost debt-free.

I have not mentioned the academics at Berea College, but incase you are thinking that it will fall short in the field you will be happy to know that Berea College has been ranked by U.S. News and World Report as the number one comprehensive college in the South. It boasts a student/faculty ratio of 10/1, which means your professors know your name and are available to talk. None of the classes are taught by teacher's assistants; however teacher's assistants are available to help students in labs and lead exam study sessions. A new requirement of Berea College is an active learning experience. These can take the form of an internship, undergraduate research, or a specially designed class so that students graduate with some real experience working in their field. Many of these experiences involve working with non-profit organizations.

This small, Christian college in the Appalachian foothills of Kentucky is surprising in many ways and such a necessary thing in the face of globalization and the rising costs of college. The Berea College experience is one that I whole-heartedly recommend to everyone.

About Berea College(2006) Retrieved (05-06-2007)
Berea College again ranked #1 by U.S.News & World Report (2006) Retrieved (05-06-2007)