Your Guide to Academics at Berry College

1
Your Guide to Academics at Berry College

• 2006

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Academic Policies

• The best guide to academic policies is the
  College Catalog, available at http//www.berry.edu
  /catalog/05-07.asp
• This presentation will highlight information
  found in the catalog.

3
Grading at Berry

• Berry uses a plus/minus grading system for its
  courses.
• A student remains in good standing when his or
  her Berry grade-point average is at least a 2.0.
  If the GPA falls below that, a student is placed
  on academic probation.

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• The Berry GPA is determined by classes taken at
  Berry College. This GPA is used for determining
  good standing and for continuation of academic
  scholarships.
• If students transfer grades from other
  institutions to Berry, they become part of the
  cumulative GPA. That GPA is used at graduation to
  determine honors.

5

• Georgia residents who are HOPE Scholars have a
  third GPAthe HOPE GPA. It is determined by
  recalculating Berry grades to a non-plus/minus
  scale.
• That GPA may be higher or lower than the Berry
  GPA, depending on the number of pluses and
  minuses that are converted.

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Academic Achievement

• Students who earn a 3.5 GPA during a term are
  placed on the Deans List at Berry.
• Students who graduate with a 3.5 cumulative GPA
  and at least a 3.5 Berry GPA will graduate with
  honors, ranging from cum laude to summa cum laude.

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Academic Integrity

• The Berry community supports academic integrity
  as an integral reflection of our colleges
  mission and as a foundation of college life and
  experience.
• A detailed Academic Integrity policy is included
  in the Catalog.

8
Course Attendance

• Attending classes regularly is a necessity for
  success as a Berry student.
• Faculty members will detail the attendance
  policies for their courses on each course
  syllabus.
• Failure to attend class may lead to
  administrative withdrawal from the class or the
  college.

9
Academic Programs

• The Catalog offers information about the required
  curriculum and each major and minor program
  offered at Berry.
• This presentation will highlight some of the
  general academic requirements.

10
The General-Education Core

• Each Berry student must complete the
  general-education core, which includes courses in
  communication, humanities, behavioral and social
  sciences, natural sciences and mathematics, and
  health and physical education.
• There may be additional courses required to
  complete requirements for the B.A. or B.S. degree.

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Majors and Minors

• Each student must complete the courses in at
  least one major program of study.
• Some students may choose to double major.
• A minor is optional for Berry students, although
  many students complete one or two minor programs.

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Writing-Intensive Program

• Berry is committed to helping to develop written
  and oral communication skills of students.
• Each student must complete two courses in English
  composition and at least two writing-intensive
  courses in their major programs or schools.

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Cultural Events

• To augment the liberal-arts core found in the
  general-education program, Berry offers a number
  of cultural events on campus. The events include
  lectures, films, plays, concerts and exhibitions.
• Students must attend at least 3 events for each
  semester of full-time enrollment.

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Information Literacy

• Many courses require students to conduct research
  and investigate critical questions.
• Each student must demonstrate proficiency in
  using library resources, both print and digital,
  by completing a Library Skills workshop and
  exercise during the first term of enrollment.

15
Foreign-Language Proficiency

• Entering students are offered the opportunity to
  earn Credit by Examination in Spanish, French or
  German through successful performance on an
  examination.
• Up to 8 hours of credit may be earned.

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Academic Procedures

• A variety of programs are available to provide
  support for students as they make progress toward
  graduating from Berry.
• This presentation will provide an overview of
  some of these programs.

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Registration for Fall 2006

• How will your classes for fall be chosen?
• Complete the Fall 2006 Registration Planning
  Guide (included on this CD), and return it to the
  college as indicated.
• Your fall schedule will be planned based on your
  choices, class availability, and your indicated
  major.
• Some course changes will be available during SOAR
  and at the first of fall term.

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Viking Web

• Berrys Internet-based student database provides
  you with 24/7 access to your academic records.
  You can monitor your progress toward graduation
  using its audit capabilities.
• Your grades each term will be posted to your
  account, and you will register online for next
  springs classes using Viking Web.

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Academic Advising

• Each student is assigned a full-time faculty or
  staff member as an advisor.
• This fall, the instructor of your BCC 100
  First-Year Seminar course will be your advisor.
• After the first term, if your advisor is not
  within your chosen major, you will be assigned to
  a new advisor in your field.

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College Registrar

• Need a transcript or an insurance-verification
  form completed?
• Need to check progress toward graduation? A staff
  member and your advisor will help you file an
  Undergraduate Degree Plan and an Application for
  Graduation.
• Need to change classes at the beginning of the
  term? This is the office.
• Contact registrar Linda Tennant, at 706.236.2282.

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First-Year Experience

• The Office of First-Year Experience will plan
  many support activities for you, including BCC
  100, First-Year Service Day and the Summer
  Reading.
• Contact director Katherine Powell, at
  706.236.1707.

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Academic Support Center

• Need help developing stronger study skills or
  honing your time management?
• Need accommodation in the classroom because of a
  disability?
• Need a tutor in a course to help you get that A
  or B?
• Contact director Martha Van Cise, at 706.233.4080.

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Honors Program

• Want to enrich your academic experience at Berry
  through special seminars, lectures, discussions?
• Want to complete a senior thesis?
• Want to graduate with an Honors diploma?
• Contact director Dr. Michael Cooley, at
  706.233.4078

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International Programs

• Want to study abroad for a term, a year or during
  the summer at universities in Europe, Latin
  America, Africa and Asia?
• Want to compete for scholarship support for your
  international travel and study?
• Contact director Sarah Egerer, at 706.233.4065.

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Academic Services

• A variety of other academic support is available,
  from the resources of the Memorial Library to the
  Writing Center and Math Lab to the Offices of the
  Provost and Associate Provost.
• We look forward to helping you succeed at Berry!

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Contents

• Academic Policies
• Grading
• Academic Achievement
• Academic Integrity
• Course Attendance
• Academic Programs
• General Education
• Majors and Minors
• Writing Intensive Courses
• Cultural Events
• Foreign Language Proficiency

• Academic Procedures
• Registration
• Viking Web
• Academic Advising
• Resources and Services
• Registrar
• First-Year Experience
• Academic Support Center
• Honors Programs
• International Programs
• Academic Services