2277 Martha Berry Hwy NW

Mount Berry, GA 30149

CAMPUS AT A GLANCE & 

KEY FACTS

 

Enrollment: 2,100 (undergraduate)

 

Founded in 1902 as a school for impoverished children who lacked access to public education in Northwest Georgia, Berry College has developed into one of the nation's most successful educational experiments, combining academic study, student work, and interdenominational Christian religious emphasis.

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BONNER PROGRAM AT A GLANCE

 

Type of Program: Bonner Scholars Program

Year Began: 1991

Bonner Scholars Program website: https://www.berry.edu/admission/scholarships-and-aid/bonner

Bonner Center for Community Engagement - Academic Affairs

Number of Bonner Scholars: 80

 

Bonner Scholars performed 15,305 hours of community work (excluding required program meetings) with over 30 community agencies in Rome-Floyd County, GA during the academic year.  Based on the Independent Sector’s Value of Volunteer Time ($31.80/hour), Bonner Scholars contributed the equivalent of $486,699 in economic impact to Northwest Georgia.

 

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HIGHLIGHTED BONNER SPECIFIC PROGRAMS

• Issue-Based research teams began in 2011 in an effort to have Bonner Scholars understand global social issues more fully and how the issues affect local communities. Each team, comprised of twelve to fourteen students, examines a particular social issue at both the macro and micro levels, implementing a service project related to the issue, and educating the campus community. The student groups then present posters representing their work at the Symposium on Student Scholarship during the spring semester of each academic year.  Students on these teams have collaborated with campus and community experts to host evening panels focusing on social justice issues and their impacts on Rome and Floyd County. These series have increased visibility and understanding of the Bonner Scholars Program campus-wide. Bonner Scholars desire to further empower their peers to respond to community issues in appropriate ways and become more civically engaged.

• First Year Service trip is planned by the Berry Program's Coordinator, Director, Peer Counselors, and Freshman Class Representatives coordinating with a myriad of nonprofits in a chosen area to aid in service during their stay. The change in location allows First Year students to identify the needs of a different community in order to gain a better grasp of the range of social justice issues that combat the livelihood of different communities. Afterwards, deep, thought-provoking reflection activities on service completed during the week are led by the freshmen students and leadership to ensure students gain the most from their service experience in this new location. 

CAMPUS-WIDE ENGAGEMENT AT A GLANCE

• Berry College Volunteer Service is a student-led office dedicated to service for the community. The office coordinates several volunteer opportunities across campus to engage students, faculty, and staff with Berry College, the City of Rome as well as the greater Floyd County area. Opportunities can be episodic or on-going commitments. BCVS works with individuals, groups (clubs, organizations, departments, and residence halls), and community partners to fulfill the Berry motto, “Not to be ministered unto, but to minister” in every service event.

 

• Year of Service Cottages are a part of the living-learning communities through our Residence Life department. The program promotes direct links between Berry students and the local Rome/Floyd County community. The goal is to provide students the opportunity to participate in sustained service with a community partner as well as engage the Berry community in the opportunities, challenges, and needs of our community partners. 

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KEY CONTACTS

 

President

Dr. Steven Briggs

 

Program Staff

 

• Berry College originally attained Community Engagement Classification by the Carnegie Foundation in 2010.  The school was reclassified in 2020.
•  Berry College is the largest college campus in the world with approximately 27,000 contiguous acres. 
• College Motto: "Not to be ministered unto, but to minister." 

Student Leadership Plans

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Bonner Leadership Team

The Berry College Bonner Scholars Program has been intentional in empowering students to become involved in both visioning and implementing a program that reflects students’ passions for community engaged work.  The Bonner Leadership Team (BLT) is a group of program participants that guide the direction of the campus’ program and its special projects.  Specifically, the BLT focuses on group cohesion, deeper student reflection, and increased community awareness via issue-based teams.  The 12 members of the BLT meet weekly; serve on committees including but not limited to community fund management and BonnerLove (care for scholars;) facilitate issue-based team meetings monthly; and plan community building events for class cohorts.  

 

In reviewing our student leadership structure, we are convinced that the Bonner Scholars Program could not continue to be innovative without student voice. Additionally, our leadership model includes multiple entry points and a developmental progression with deliberative coaching by Bonner staff.  All of what works at Berry is tied to the desire of our students to be involved in co-creating a Bonner community built upon the common interest of doing well and doing good together.  Students challenge each other; students help each other.  Bonner staff are merely the guides.  The Bonner Scholars Program, consequently, is ever-evolving and looking for avenues to act more thoughtfully, care more deeply, and engage others more frequently.