History and Program Overview Founded in 1987, the New Opportunity School For Women, Inc. grew out of an emerging need for women in Kentucky and the south central Appalachian region to become better educated and employed. The program is offered at no cost to participants and funds for childcare and transportation are provided. During the three-week residential sessions, participants stay in campus housing and dine in the Berea College cafeteria. Each morning participants are in class from eight until noon. Each afternoon participants have an internship related to their career interests.
Weekends are devoted to cultural events and the arts.
In the past fourteen years, over 350 women have completed the School's residential sessions. Graduates of the New Opportunity School are now employed in areas such as social work, counseling, education, public relations, business and healthcare vocations such as nursing and respiratory therapy. Program evaluations are conducted at the close of each three-week session to examine curriculum content, instructors, and facilities. A follow-up survey of program graduates is conducted every two years.