PAGE 2, CAMPUS CARRIER news January 28, 2010

Retention
continued from pg. 1
Sophomore Dana Amore said she is transferring because
of Berry’s price.
“The cost of Berry is way too high,” Amore said. “I have
an academic scholarship, but the only other thing they
offered me was to take out student loans, which my fam-
ily doesn’t want to do. I feel like they could do a lot more
to keep students at Berry. Also, the residence life policy
requiring students to live on campus takes away the pos-
sibility of cutting a lot of the cost.”
Financial concerns are not the only issues Berry stu-
dents are faced with.
“A lot of students who left in the past were unsuccessful
academically,” Powell said.
Provost Katherine Whatley said there are efforts to sta-
bilize the amount of students who leave because of aca-
demic struggles.
“We did a pilot study this year in BCC 100 classes, offer-
ing extra tutoring through some selected academic course
sections,” Whatley said. “We are still looking at the results
of this study, but they are showing improvement in stu-
dents’ grades.”
This study included chemistry, biology and animal
science majors, giving them opportunities to be tutored
by their mentors. Bressette said the results have been
positive.
“We looked at the percentage of students who earned a
‘D’ or an ‘F’ in the course,” Bressette said. “We then com-
pared the grades in the past with the groups from this year,
and we have seen significantly better grades this year.”
Administrators said that being involved is very impor-
tant to a student’s success at Berry.
“One of the most important things for a student’s col-
lege experience is being engaged in some way with the
campus,” Debbie Heida, dean of students, said. “We want
to try to give every student a meaningful connection with
people at Berry, whether that is through a faculty member,
the president of a student-run organization, or their BCC
100 mentor.”
“If students are fully aware of their options, they will
see the real value of a small campus,” Registrar Linda Ten-
nant said.
While there may be some issues that are stronger than
others, Berry administrators said retention is never the
immediate focus.
“There is no magic button to fix retention rates,” What-
ley said. “We want to be very careful in our admissions
efforts to let students know very clearly what they are get-
ting themselves into. Then, we want to ensure they have
opportunities.”
“We have all been working together as smoothly and
efficiently as possible,” Bressette said. “We’re also looking
at ways we can build relationships with students on a more
personal level.”
Students who stay at Berry mention the strong sense of
community as a reason for staying.
“I really like the size of Berry and the community that
it creates,” sophomore Clare Conway said. “The people are
amazing and I really like the academics.”
“I love the community that Berry has,” sophomore Sarah
Huffman said. “It is small enough to get to know a lot of
people, but big enough to have many different friends and
experiences.”
Bressette said retaining students is a byproduct of each
department doing its job well.
“We will always be asking ourselves how we can make
a student experience the best it could be,” Bressette said.
“If we keep doing that, then students will want to stay
at Berry because there’s something really good here they
want to be a part of.”

Retention Rates
Number of Entering Freshmen vs. Returning Sophomores
600
Number of Students

500
400
300
200
100

2004 2005 2006 2007 2008 2009

Entering Freshmen Returning Sophmores

GTEG There’s No Hope

times. “It’s obvious that people who pay taxes
would rather have their money spent on some-
thing they actually can see and be a part of,”

with No Vote!
Brantley said. “But unlike the national govern-
continued from pg. 1
ment, we can’t run a deficit. Our budget has to be
completely balanced every year, and I think this
Briggs also said the cut is based on an incor-
was the governor’s best effort to do that.”
rect assumption of affluence among private uni-
Dean of Students Debbie Heida said students
versity students.
could impact the decision-making process and
“I think they assume that private school stu-
make great strides toward saving the GTEG.
dents can come up with $600 to $1000,” he said.
“Obviously this cut is a mistake, and I think
“But for some students that is most certainly not
our students realize that,” she said. “But students
the case.”
should also realize that their voices can and will
Brantley said that, so far, the backlash regard-
make a difference.”
ing the proposal has come from the colleges
Heida said there will be tables set up in Kran-
themselves.
nert Thursday and Friday for students to write
“I’m not sure how many people actually know
letters to their state legislators.
about this yet or how much the word has gotten
Residence Life and SGA will also be sponsor-
out,” Brantley said. “But we have mostly heard
ing residence hall socials to encourage students
from college administrators and financial aid
to contact state legislators.
directors about their opposition to the proposal.”
Briggs said he hopes students understand the
Farish said she understands the rationale
magnitude of this proposal.
behind the cut to an extent, but she would rather
“The money that they’re proposing taking
see the money used than simply removed from
away is not Berry’s money; it’s your money,”
the budget altogether.
Briggs said.
“I want to know that my $1000 is at least going
towards something worthwhile rather than being
eliminated altogether,” she said. “It shouldn’t
be just about the government trying to save a For more information on Elections for Vice President of Campus
dime.” GTEG and ways you can Services and Vice President of Student
Because the GTEG is funded solely by taxpay-
ers, unlike HOPE, which is funded by the Geor- make your voice heard, visit Services will be held TODAY! Check
gia Lottery, Brantley said it is reasonable for some
to express concern over the cuts.
www.vikingfusion.berry.edu your e-mail for the official ballot.
But, he said, the governor made every effort to
present a stable budget during tough economic