What are the responsibilities and job description for the BereaCorps First-Year Experience Communications & Events Associate position at Berea College?
Please note that references provided at the time of application for staff positions will not be contacted until the applicant has been offered the position.
Description
The FYE Communications & Events Associate is a full-time BereaCorp position that supports the programmatic, operational and communications functions of the First-Year Experience (FYE) office. This role serves as a key connector between the FYE team and Berea College's incoming and enrolled first-year student population — managing post-deposit and ongoing student communications, coordinating event logistics, and supporting the planning and execution of first-year programming throughout the academic year. The FYE Associate works under the direct supervision of the Associate Director of First-Year Experience and collaborates closely with the full FYE team and campus partners. This position offers a meaningful opportunity for a recent graduate to develop professional competencies in higher education communications, program coordination, and student-centered event management within Berea's distinctive work-learning-service model.
Your Key Responsibilities
Education required to ensure success in this position:
BereaCorps positions are grant-funded, one-year contract positions from June 1, 2026 – May 31, 2027, with the possibility of a one-year extension. This position is only available to 2025 and May 2026 Berea College graduates that have completed all of their coursework by May 2026.
Founded in 1855, Berea College is nationally recognized as the first coeducational and interracial college in the South. Berea has a longstanding commitment to interracial education and is one of the most racially diverse private liberal arts colleges in the United States. With an emphasis on service to Appalachia and beyond, Berea enrolls more than 1,500 students from 46 states and U.S. territories and more than 70 countries. Berea College admits students who are unable to afford tuition and provides all of them with a no-tuition promise. Berea’s students excel in the College’s supportive yet demanding academic environment, and most are the first in their families to attend college. As one of only ten federally recognized Work Colleges, all Berea students are expected to work 10-12 hours weekly in various positions across campus. Berea College is also the only institution in Kentucky to receive the 5-Star Rating from Money Magazine, 2025. Washington Monthly has named Berea College the #1 Best College in the nation in its 2025 College Guide. Berea College appears in their rankings as #1 College (overall): Best College for your Tuition (and Tax) Dollars, #1 Best-in Class College, #1 Liberal Arts College and #1 Best Bang for the Buck Southern College.
Located where the Bluegrass Region meets the Cumberland Mountains, the town of Berea (pop. 16,000) lies forty miles south of Lexington and is approximately two hours from Cincinnati, Louisville, and Knoxville. More information about Berea College is available at www.berea.edu.
Berea College, in light of its mission in the tradition of impartial love and social equality, welcomes all people of the earth to learn and work here.
Berea College is always looking for talented, self-motivated individuals to join our team. If you think you are ready to be a part of an exciting team, then we encourage you to continue with this applicant friendly, online job application!
Berea College is an Equal Opportunity Employer that recruits and hires qualified candidates without regard to race, religion, sex, sexual orientation, age, national origin, ancestry, citizenship, disability, or veteran status.
Our Benefits
Berea College offers a comprehensive benefits package to eligible employees and their families including health care, dental, vision, retirement, health savings accounts, flexible spending accounts, life insurance, short-term disability, long-term disability and an Employee Assistance Program. The benefit package also includes access to the Child Development Laboratory for children of College Staff, ages 6 weeks to 6 years, Seabury Center Membership, Staff Development Funds and Tuition Reimbursement.
Eligible staff employees also receive paid holidays, vacation, and sick leave.
Part-time employees who work an average of 24 hours per week over the course of a year, receive benefits on a pro-rated basis.
To learn more details, visit our benefits page at https://www.berea.edu/human-resources/employee-benefits.
Our Unique Culture
Berea College strives to be a place where people with various Christian interpretations, different religious traditions, and no religious traditions work together in support of Berea's Great Commitments.
Over the past century, various leaders of the College have applied the College’s inclusive scriptural foundation and spirit to their expanding world and welcomed those whose beliefs were consistent with the Christian gospel of impartial love. Therefore, Berea College today affirms its inclusive Christian tradition even as it respects the traditions of Jews, Muslims, Buddhists, and Hindus, as well as other faiths, and those holding no religious beliefs. We strive not to ignore our differences, but rather seek to understand each other honestly and respectfully, and together create a climate where anyone can openly discuss what they believe without fear of sanction. To that end, all persons who are willing to share in the spirit and the work of the Great Commitments as shaped by its preamble are welcome to study, to teach, and to work at Berea
Labor Supervision
In support of Berea College’s great commitments, staff and faculty serve as labor supervisors. Our fourth great commitment, The Dignity of Labor, promotes learning and serving in community through the student Labor Program, honoring the dignity and utility of all work, mental and manual, and taking pride in work well done. Student Labor Supervision includes scheduling, assigning, and approving student work, developing students' workplace acumen, and providing tangible work experience. To learn more about the labor program office please see the following link Labor Program Office.
Description
The FYE Communications & Events Associate is a full-time BereaCorp position that supports the programmatic, operational and communications functions of the First-Year Experience (FYE) office. This role serves as a key connector between the FYE team and Berea College's incoming and enrolled first-year student population — managing post-deposit and ongoing student communications, coordinating event logistics, and supporting the planning and execution of first-year programming throughout the academic year. The FYE Associate works under the direct supervision of the Associate Director of First-Year Experience and collaborates closely with the full FYE team and campus partners. This position offers a meaningful opportunity for a recent graduate to develop professional competencies in higher education communications, program coordination, and student-centered event management within Berea's distinctive work-learning-service model.
Your Key Responsibilities
- Post-Deposit Communications Support: Build, design, and maintain communications for committed students within Slate, including email campaigns, online modules, and informational content. Design and update print and digital materials to support the post-deposit experience.
- First-Year Mass Communications: Manage ongoing mass email communications on behalf of the FYE team throughout the academic year, including event announcements, reminders, program notifications, and student-facing updates. Maintain an organized calendar of outgoing communications and ensure timely, accurate delivery to appropriate student audiences through Outlook and other approved platforms.
- First-Year Programs Coordination: In collaboration with FYE professional and student staff, develop and lead first-year programming in alignment with the five Summit competencies: Academic Engagement, Social and Cultural Connection, Personal Growth, Career and Professional Development, and Health and Wellbeing. Assist in preparing materials, logistics, and communications for program sessions throughout the academic year.
- Student Labor Support: Provide student labor support for the events and programming student team aligning all programs and events within the FYE pillars.
- Event Logistics & Operations Support: Provide comprehensive operational support for all FYE events, including coordinating catering orders, submitting room reservations, scheduling meetings, and managing materials preparation. Collaborate with the Associate Director of FYE in planning and execution of all major FYE events including Mountaineer Meetups, Welcome Week, and recurring school-year programming.
- Content & Materials Development: Create and update program materials, flyers, digital content, and presentations using tools such as Canva and Microsoft Teams. Ensure all materials reflect Berea's commitment to equity, inclusion, and the distinctive needs of first-generation and limited-income students.
- Data & Systems Support: Support the FYE team in maintaining accurate records and communications within EAB Navigate and Slate. Assist with tracking event attendance, program participation, and communication engagement.
- Professional Development: Engage in opportunities to grow professionally within the field of higher education student success and first-year experience programming. Participate in relevant campus committees, training, and learning opportunities as available.
Education required to ensure success in this position:
- Bachelor's degree earned from Berea College in the last two years
- Student leadership or student management experience required
- Hospitality, customer, or guest services experience
- Experience planning or assisting in programs or events
- Affinity for people and energetic attitude about serving students
- Strong organizational and task management skills
- Capacity to engage information software systems
- Demonstrated initiative and follow-through of projects and tasks
- Attentive to details
- A deep and genuine commitment to working directly with students to facilitate their development, provide educational opportunities and foster engagement and success to motivate students to meet their full potential.
- Strong written and oral communication, collaboration, and teamwork skills.
- Ability to work effectively with staff across the institution with an understanding of the perceptions and needs of these areas.
- A willingness to work evening and weekend hours for student-facing programming.
- Ability to maintain strict confidentiality and comply with the Family Educational Rights and Privacy Act (FERPA).
- Valid Driver’s License
- Required background checks
- Ability to navigate campus grounds and buildings independently
- Ability to travel independently
- Ability to lift up to 20lbs for student programming and events
- Professional office environment with interruptions and noise due to frequent visitors, students, staff, and faculty
- Some travel is required for meetings, conferences, etc.
- Standard office equipment: computer, fax, phone, etc.
- Golf Cart
- Vehicle-college cars/vans
BereaCorps positions are grant-funded, one-year contract positions from June 1, 2026 – May 31, 2027, with the possibility of a one-year extension. This position is only available to 2025 and May 2026 Berea College graduates that have completed all of their coursework by May 2026.
Founded in 1855, Berea College is nationally recognized as the first coeducational and interracial college in the South. Berea has a longstanding commitment to interracial education and is one of the most racially diverse private liberal arts colleges in the United States. With an emphasis on service to Appalachia and beyond, Berea enrolls more than 1,500 students from 46 states and U.S. territories and more than 70 countries. Berea College admits students who are unable to afford tuition and provides all of them with a no-tuition promise. Berea’s students excel in the College’s supportive yet demanding academic environment, and most are the first in their families to attend college. As one of only ten federally recognized Work Colleges, all Berea students are expected to work 10-12 hours weekly in various positions across campus. Berea College is also the only institution in Kentucky to receive the 5-Star Rating from Money Magazine, 2025. Washington Monthly has named Berea College the #1 Best College in the nation in its 2025 College Guide. Berea College appears in their rankings as #1 College (overall): Best College for your Tuition (and Tax) Dollars, #1 Best-in Class College, #1 Liberal Arts College and #1 Best Bang for the Buck Southern College.
Located where the Bluegrass Region meets the Cumberland Mountains, the town of Berea (pop. 16,000) lies forty miles south of Lexington and is approximately two hours from Cincinnati, Louisville, and Knoxville. More information about Berea College is available at www.berea.edu.
Berea College, in light of its mission in the tradition of impartial love and social equality, welcomes all people of the earth to learn and work here.
Berea College is always looking for talented, self-motivated individuals to join our team. If you think you are ready to be a part of an exciting team, then we encourage you to continue with this applicant friendly, online job application!
Berea College is an Equal Opportunity Employer that recruits and hires qualified candidates without regard to race, religion, sex, sexual orientation, age, national origin, ancestry, citizenship, disability, or veteran status.
Our Benefits
Berea College offers a comprehensive benefits package to eligible employees and their families including health care, dental, vision, retirement, health savings accounts, flexible spending accounts, life insurance, short-term disability, long-term disability and an Employee Assistance Program. The benefit package also includes access to the Child Development Laboratory for children of College Staff, ages 6 weeks to 6 years, Seabury Center Membership, Staff Development Funds and Tuition Reimbursement.
Eligible staff employees also receive paid holidays, vacation, and sick leave.
Part-time employees who work an average of 24 hours per week over the course of a year, receive benefits on a pro-rated basis.
To learn more details, visit our benefits page at https://www.berea.edu/human-resources/employee-benefits.
Our Unique Culture
Berea College strives to be a place where people with various Christian interpretations, different religious traditions, and no religious traditions work together in support of Berea's Great Commitments.
Over the past century, various leaders of the College have applied the College’s inclusive scriptural foundation and spirit to their expanding world and welcomed those whose beliefs were consistent with the Christian gospel of impartial love. Therefore, Berea College today affirms its inclusive Christian tradition even as it respects the traditions of Jews, Muslims, Buddhists, and Hindus, as well as other faiths, and those holding no religious beliefs. We strive not to ignore our differences, but rather seek to understand each other honestly and respectfully, and together create a climate where anyone can openly discuss what they believe without fear of sanction. To that end, all persons who are willing to share in the spirit and the work of the Great Commitments as shaped by its preamble are welcome to study, to teach, and to work at Berea
Labor Supervision
In support of Berea College’s great commitments, staff and faculty serve as labor supervisors. Our fourth great commitment, The Dignity of Labor, promotes learning and serving in community through the student Labor Program, honoring the dignity and utility of all work, mental and manual, and taking pride in work well done. Student Labor Supervision includes scheduling, assigning, and approving student work, developing students' workplace acumen, and providing tangible work experience. To learn more about the labor program office please see the following link Labor Program Office.