November 6, 2026

Here are some of the key takeaways from our meeting: 

• Bennington is not going anywhere, but we need to take action now in order to ensure the college’s continued success. 
• The current state of the College is akin to many small colleges in New England and across the country. Colleges nationally face declining enrollment, rapidly-shifting federal policies, new requirements from accreditors, and rising costs in order to deliver a world-class education. 
• Bennington’s educational model is special. We are offering something distinct: a combination of self-directed learning, real-world experience, and unparalleled faculty mentorship. Our graduates leave ready to lead meaningful and successful lives. This is why we are doing everything we can to set the College on a path to thrive long into the future.  
• In contrast to many other colleges that have closed in recent years, our debt structure is favorable. We have a low-interest USDA loan, and we are making payments on time. This debt cannot be recalled early, which protects us from one common threat faced by many other institutions. 
• Unfortunately, Bennington also has an $18 million structural deficit—a persistent annual gap between revenue and expenses. While continued fundraising is essential to help bridge this gap, it is not sufficient to meet our operating costs or to build an endowment that could augment financial stability. 
• We are regularly reviewing our discretionary spending, which has already led to budgeted expense reductions of $1.3 million. While necessary, these reductions are insufficient: we need to make further difficult choices to effectively manage Bennington’s finances.
• Our current student-faculty ratio is 8:1. This is  unsustainable given the institution’s size and financial limitations. Our target is a student-faculty ratio of 12:1. We will continue our commitment to providing exceptional mentoring, instructional support, and a vibrant learning environment. Over the past several years, countless colleges across the country have made difficult decisions like these: we are doing everything possible to learn from their experiences, while ensuring that students and faculty receive the support they need.
• We began by offering our faculty voluntary separation and early-retirement incentives. Unfortunately, we expect that the number of volunteers will be insufficient to meet our 12:1 requirement. Our next step is to carefully evaluate our students’ needs and academic goals, and then to make intentional faculty reductions informed by all relevant data. The impacted faculty members will be notified individually, but we will continue to share information about our process and timeline in the coming weeks. Bennington staff experienced similar reductions in Summer 2025—our goal is to manage this process with clarity and support for our community.
• It’s important to note that this process will adhere to the terms set forth in the Collective Bargaining Agreement the College established with Bennington College United.
• Even as Bennington makes reductions in some areas, it will continue to grow in others. We are building programs to address in-demand roles both within Vermont and nationally, including essential training programs for teachers and mental health care providers. We will also leverage our strongest offerings to develop new programs, as with the launch of an MFA in Screenwriting, which further expands Bennington’s prominence in educating outstanding writers.
•  We will continue to pursue every opportunity to grow revenue, manage expenses, and raise funds in support of our students and the wider college community. These efforts include widening our base of engaged alumni, while also cultivating new academic and philanthropic partnerships. Earlier this fall, our Cabinet-level leaders, which includes the president, pledged a $150,000 donation to the college, reflecting their deep commitment to the institution.

The next several months will not be easy, and we will need to work together to forge a better path ahead. There will be phases of grief and adaptation, but I am confident we can guide our community toward brighter days. For nearly a century, this college has weathered challenges and navigated periods of instability. Together, we can find our way through moments like this one, while ensuring that Bennington remains special for generations to come.

As you have questions and suggestions, I invite you to contact me at president@bennington.edu. In the coming months, we need to hear from the many thoughtful voices that define our community. When in doubt, we can always begin by sitting together in conversation.

Danielle Egan
President