Opening and Arrival for Fall Term

New Faces

184 new students will join the College this fall. Together, first-year and transfer students represent 33 states and 20 countries: Bangladesh, Brazil, Cambodia, Cameroon, El Salvador, Eswatini, Georgia, Ghana, India, Iraq, Jamaica, Kazakhstan, Kyrgyzstan, Nepal, Pakistan, South Sudan, Turkey, Uganda, United Kingdom, and the United States.

The new students will be your classmates and housemates, collaborators, and friends. Please welcome them to the college community. 

Arriving on Campus/Opening of School

Key pickup times/locations

  • All returning students can check in on or after their assigned check-in date. You can confirm your check-in date by logging into StarRez and viewing your upcoming booking. Please note that you *must* check-in within 72 hours of your assigned check-in date or your card will stop working to provide access to your house, and your meal plan will be blocked. If you need to adjust your check-in date, please contact Student Life.
  • For check-in during the business day (8:00 a.m. - 6:00 p.m. Monday - Friday), please stop by the IT@Bennington Help Desk on the first floor of Commons. All other times, please stop into the Campus Safety Booth at the entrance to campus to check-in and to collect your key.
  • Please note that the Financial Aid office cannot process your aid package in Populi until you are checked in via StarRez.

The Bennington Card

To access your account or add funds to your Bennington Card account, go to the cardholder account center.

Getting a New ID card

All students who need a new ID will need to contact the HelpDesk or call 802-440-4476 as soon as possible. A replacement will be printed and available for pickup when you arrive on campus or from the Helpdesk located on the first floor of Commons during regular business hours.

Proof of Health Insurance and Vaccination

  • Proof of Health Insurance was due August 1. If you have had a change in insurance coverage, it is required that you submit new information in the Patient Fusion portal. Students who do not have a current proof of insurance on record by the first day of class will be charged a $50 late fee. Read our student health insurance policy.

Financial Aid

Financial aid funds will not be disbursed until aid is accepted, document requests are completed, students are fully checked in via StarRez and have picked up their room key from Student Life. Please review your aid status at My Financial Aid.

Billing Questions

Please be sure to check that your account has been paid accordingly (you can check your account online in the student portal, Populi). Please contact Michelle Rollins in the Business Office with any billing questions, and Financial Aid for aid-related questions.

Beginning-of-Term Schedule

In addition to what is listed below, please check out the academic calendar and the event calendar for information about the upcoming year.

Please note: Convocation, a community welcome to the start of the academic year, will take place the morning of Tuesday, September 2 at 11:00 am

Sunday, August 31
  • Returning students start arriving on campus.
  • 1:00–4:00 pm The Postal Station will be open for package pickup.
  • 1:00 pm onward | Key pickup at the Campus Safety Booth.
Monday, September 1
  • Labor Day | Several administrative offices are closed. The Postal Station will be closed.
  • 8:00 am–6:00 pm | Key Pickup at IT@Bennington Help Desk on the first floor of Commons. All other times, please stop into the Campus Safety Booth at the entrance to campus to check-in and to collect your key.
  • 1:30–3:30 pm | Advising for all students
  • 3:30 pm | Add/drop begins
Tuesday, September 2
  • 8:00 am–6:00 pm | Key Pickup at IT@Bennington Help Desk on the first floor of Commons. All other times, please stop into the Campus Safety Booth at the entrance to campus to check-in and to collect your key.
  • 9:00 am–5:00 pm | Bookstore open
  • 10:00 am–4:00 pm | Package pickup, located in Buildings and Grounds, will be open
  • 11:00 am–12:30 pm | Convocation
  • 2:10 pm | Classes begin
Wednesday, September 3
  • 8:00 am–6:00 pm | Key Pickup at IT@Bennington Help Desk on the first floor of Commons. All other times, please stop into the Campus Safety Booth at the entrance to campus to check-in and to collect your key.
  • 10:00 am–4:00 pm | Package pickup, located in Buildings and Grounds, will be open

Albany to Bennington Transportation

There is a twice daily bus direct from Albany Transit hubs (airport, bus station and train station) to the Bennington Bus Station, arriving at 12:50pm and 7:45pm. Book bus tickets here. The Community Shuttle (802-430-8506) is available for free transportation to and from the Bennington Bus Station, please call 45-60 minutes in advance. For more information, visit the “Getting to and From Transit Hubs” section of the Transportation page.