Orientation
First-year students are provided a general overview of the Labor Program during summer orientations known as "Summer Connections" and again during the Fall Orientation that includes labor related topics. The last day of Fall Orientation (typically the Tuesday before classes begin on Wednesday) includes a Labor Program mandatory training session and time is allotted for labor departmental orientation and/or training. Labor Departments are encouraged to utilize this last day of fall orientation to require continuing students to attend department orientation and/or training sessions which includes using the department-controlled afternoon session to introduce the first-year student(s) to the other student workers and begin the process of integrating the new members into the department’s workforce. offer several afternoon training sessions that can be utilized by departments. Notification will be sent to supervisors through campus e-mail.
Important to Note: Continuing students can be scheduled to work and attend department orientation or training sessions on the “Continuing Students Arrive” day. This day falls on the last day of fall orientation, which is the day before the start of classes
In subsequent weeks after the start of the term or summer period, supervisors should establish clear expectations for the workplace and for the specific positions- including not only position responsibilities and the evaluation process, but topics such as scheduling, timekeeping, absence reporting, etc. For more information, examples, or assistance in creating orientation and workplace materials, please contact the Training Team by emailing training@berea.edu.
Labor supervisors should not expect students to arrive at the position with all pertinent knowledge and professional skills. Supervisors should take an active role in developing their abilities and integrating them into the workforce. Setting clear expectations is critical to good communication and creates a foundation that can be used to assess student progress throughout the year.
Departmental Labor Meetings
The purpose of the departmental labor meeting is to provide dedicated time for planning, reflection, team building, and training. It is also a forum for students to learn more about the Labor Program and about their specific labor assignments. Departmental labor meetings are generally led by supervisors, mentors, or invited guests. The Labor Program Office can assist by facilitating activities and discussion on general topics such as team building, communication, conflict resolution, ethics, delegation, and leadership, as well as topics specific to individual labor departments (e.g., customer service). In addition, the Labor Program Office can coordinate training efforts so that departments who have similar needs are able to share in joint training experiences. A list of departments willing to present at labor meetings is available on the Labor Office website. The Labor Program Office also provides supervisors with calendars focusing on soft skills that can be emphasized at labor meetings.
Each Tuesday from 4:00pm – 5:00pm is reserved for departmental labor meetings and no other academic, athletic, or College requirements should be scheduled at that time. While departments may elect to hold meetings at alternate times, this is the only hour that is reserved campus-wide for this purpose and to avoid any conflicts that may arise. Students should not be penalized if they aren't able to attend a departmental meeting outside the protected Tuesday hour from 4:00 - 5:00 p.m.
On-the-job training is provided by the labor supervisors and mentors, as they are the experts in the work of the department. Even so, the Labor Program Office is happy to consult with department leaders to improve or enhance internal training programs and to connect departments for exploration of best practices.