Summer FAQ

If you plan to hire the same summer positions (e.g., # of students, job classification types, average hours per week, timeframes, etc) that were either approved or hired in summer 2025, no new requests are necessary. 

After winter break, senior leaders (VPs, Deans, etc) will invite change requests, so stay tuned for next steps if you are requesting a change.

Senior leaders will communicate approvals by February 27th. If unsure, you may reach out directly to your senior leader or contact us at summer@berry.edu.

Please refer to this list of position approval contacts by department: 

Senior Leader List

The Summer Undergraduate Research Fellowship (SURF) program will follow its regular application and approval process instead of filling out this form.  The Provost’s Office will coordinate directly with LifeWorks to incorporate SURF positions.

Supervisors requesting changes to their student teams should ensure that their requests are for jobs that contribute to critical campus operations in the summer months. Examples of these jobs include, but are not limited to, the following:

• Facilities (e.g., Grounds, Housekeeping, etc.)
• Animal Units
• Welcome Center
• Food / Dining / Auxiliary Services
• BITS

Jobs that fulfill essential college programming over the summer months. Examples of these jobs include, but are not limited to, the following:

• SOAR leaders
• Admissions Ambassadors
• Student Support / Programming
• Gate & LifeWorks Scholarship Leaders

Jobs that align with the current strategic priorities / initiatives of the college. Examples of these jobs include, but are not limited to, the following:

• Undergraduate Research (e.g., SURF, etc.)
• Auxiliary Partnerships (e.g., The Spires, Rome Tennis Center, etc.)
• Strategic Employer & Community Engagement Partnerships (TBD)
• Revenue Generating Opportunities (e.g., Camps, Conferences, etc.)

Non-meaningful work positions are jobs that do not consistently meet the following criteria of meaningful work in the summer months:

• Clear Responsibilities and Goals: Do student employees have defined tasks and responsibilities that contribute value to their department or the college, with specific goals and measurable outcomes?
• Intentional Development: Are there structured opportunities and support systems for students to enhance their professional skills, with clear expectations for their performance and growth?
• Consistent Engagement: Are student employees primarily involved in their job tasks (or professional development activities) during work hours, avoiding distractions like personal phone use, scrolling online, doing homework or other unrelated activities?

• Students who have achieved, or will achieve, significant training and/or certifications necessary to complete their job requirements (e.g., BITS, Salesforce, Animal Units, etc.)
• Students in work-based scholarship (e.g. Gate & LifeWorks Scholars)
• Students who have been hired for positions with strategic community partners or employers (see list above)

If you are in the critical summer operational LifeWorks job, your supervisor will communicate with you directly. There will also be an opportunity in the Summer Housing Application to request staying on campus during the transition block (July 25 – August 8); approval is not guaranteed.

Why is Berry closing the residence halls for this time period?

The reason for this change is to ultimately improve the residential experience by:

• Providing additional time for deferred and preventive maintenance and cleaning.
• Significantly reduce the number of summer students after Block B and before early arrivals, which will reduce the number of times students will need to move into temporary spaces.
• Ensuring that Fall spaces are ready for when students move in, including early arrivals.
• Providing structured downtime for students working during the summer to recharge before the start of the Fall semester.

• Students working full-time in an approved LifeWorks or C&I position
  • Full-time = consistently working 30-40 of hours per week per summer block
• Students taking in-person summer classes
• Students enrolled in an academic internship in the Rome-Floyd County area
• Students who need to be on campus to fulfill scholarship obligations
  • Gate / LifeWorks Scholars (for work hours requirements)
  • Bonner Scholars (for service requirements)
• Students who meet the above criteria must also agree to abide by Res Life’s summer guidelines / policies
  • Be available to move during identified time periods published by Res Life
  • Students in residence will be re-evaluated each summer block

• Students working in a non-approved LifeWorks job or virtual internship
• Students enrolled in virtual summer classes
• Student consistently working under 30 hours a week in an approved LifeWorks job
• Students working an off-campus job not affiliated with LifeWorks 
• Student who will not agree to abide by Res Life’s summer guidelines / policies (including move dates: see below)

See below for move-in/out dates:

Transition to summer A: Students can either remove all belongs and check out of their Spring space by the standard end of spring dates and then return once their Summer A space is ready, or they need to remain in Rome and be prepared to move to their summer space as soon as it is ready.  Students choosing to stay until their summer space is ready may not leave the Rome area during this time.

Summer A move out: noon on June 19.

Summer B move in: June 21.

Summer B move out: noon on July 25.

Transition to Fall: Students approved to remain on campus during the transition block between Summer B and the Fall semester are not permitted to leave Rome until they have completed the move to their Fall space.