New Student Orientation

Friday, Aug 28 - Tuesday, Sep 1 2026, 9:00 AM - 5:00 PM, Bennington Campus
Contact:
Student Life

Friday, Aug 28 2026 9:00 AM Tuesday, Sep 1 2026 5:00 PM America/New_York New Student Orientation Bennington Campus Bennington College

View the new student orientation schedule for:

International Student Orientation will begin Tuesday, August 25. Please see the International Student Orientation schedule for more information.

Friday, August 28

9:00 am–12:00 pm: Check In and Resource Fair | Lower Student Center

  • Arriving students can pick up their orientation materials, room key, and Bennington student ID card.
  • Representatives from Academic Services, Admissions, the Business Office, Campus Safety, Counseling and Psychological Services, Crossett Library, Financial Aid, Health Services, Information Technology, Program and Activity Council (PAC) & Student Engagement, Registrar’s Office, Residence Life, Student Employment, and others will be available to answer questions.  

12:00–2:00 pm: Lunch | Commons Dining Hall

  • 12:00-1:00 pm: Family Name A-L
  • 12:45-1:45 pm: Family Name M-Z

2:00–2:30 pm: Welcome | Greenwall Auditorium, Visual and Performing Arts Center

  • Dr. R. Danielle Egan, President, and Dr. Alfredo Medina, Jr., Vice President for Inclusive Culture and Belonging, will welcome new students and families to the Bennington community; Introduction by Dr. Alison Tartaglia, Associate Dean of Student Life and Director of Integrative Wellness.

2:30–3:30 pm: Meet Your House Chairs and Your Peers | End of the World and Commons Lawn

  • Meet House Chairs, who are your resources during New Student Orientation and throughout the academic year, and other new students during an afternoon of lawn games, alternative campus tours, and the first question-and-answer session with returning Bennington students.

3:30–4:30 pm: We’re All in This Together | Starting at the Student Center, and ending at your house

  • What is the role of the Campus Safety team at Bennington? What do you do when a fire alarm sounds? How do you keep your laptop from being stolen? Paul Baker-Porazinski, Director of Campus Safety, Grayson Connery, Associate Director of Campus Safety, and Justin Yarnal, Campus Safety Fire Lead, will lead this interactive session, which ends with a round of campus-wide fire drills.

The following three sessions are designed for families:

  • 2:30–3:30 pm: Myths and Realities: What a Bennington Education is Really About | Greenwall Auditorium, VAPA        
    • Dr. John Bullock, Vice President of Academic Affairs and Dean of Faculty, will discuss the essential elements of a Bennington education, with a focus on the aspects of what a self-directed education means for all students. Introduction by Jenny Crowell, Assistant Director of Student Engagement.
  • 3:45–4:45 pm: The Whole Person Approach: Keeping the Student at the Center of Education | Greenwall Auditorium, VAPA
    • Noelle Murphy, Dean of Studies, Dr. Alison Tartaglia, Associate Dean and Director of Integrative Wellness, and a current student House Chair will discuss the transition to college and how families can support their student’s intellectual, social, and emotional growth.
  • 4:45–5:00 pm: Family Send-Off | Greenwall Auditorium, VAPA
    • Dr. Zeke Bernstein, Vice President of Strategic Initiatives and Dean of the College, will address families as they depart campus.

Student only events: 

  • 5:30–6:30 pm: Dinner and Check-in | Commons Dining Hall
    • Remember to bring your Bennington ID Card and sit with your House Chairs and housemates!
  • 6:30–7:30 pm: House/Roommate Agreements | House Common Areas
    • Come learn about your house and residence life expectations, including reviewing and signing roommate agreements.
  • 8:00–9:00 pm: House Coffee Hour | House Common Area
    • Get to know your House Chairs and your house culture. 

Saturday, August 29

8:30–9:30 am: Continental Breakfast | Commons Dining Hall 

  • Remember to bring your Bennington ID Card.

9:30–10:30 am: Academic Life at Bennington | Greenwall Auditorium, VAPA

  • Join Dr. John Bullock, Vice President of Academic Affairs and Dean of Faculty, and Noelle Murphy, Dean of Studies, for a conversation about academic life at the College and what it means to design your own education. How is Bennington’s approach distinctive in the larger landscape of higher education? What does the Plan process teach students? What makes this a self-directed education? Who will help you along the way? 

11:30 am–12:30 pm: Brunch | Dining Hall

  • Remember to bring your Bennington ID Card. You will meet and sit with your FYF and Be the Change Co-Leaders. Your faculty advisor’s and co-leader’s names are in your folder.

Next, there are four concurrent afternoon sessions. Please go to the session according to your academic standing/program.

  • 1:00–2:15 pm: First-Year Forum (FYF) Introductory Class (for students with first- or second-term standing)
    • This is your introductory class to the First-Year Forum (FYF). Your co-leader will walk with you to the assigned location where Dr. Barbara Alfano, Associate Dean of Advising and FYF, will lead this session. This is an opportunity to ask questions and complete important work for your year-long FYF course. 
  • 1:00–2:30 pm: The Transfer Student Experience (for transfer BA students with 3rd-8th term status) | Commons 319 (3rd Floor)
    • Stephanie Meyer, Assistant Director of Academic Services, will discuss the transfer student experience and understanding your academic pace and progression through Bennington. We will explore the Plan Process and the support resources that will be available to you in order to engage with the process based upon your term of entry, and will review how the Plan Process connects to your term standing and anticipated graduation date to determine the ways in which you will move through your studies at Bennington. 
  • 1:30–3:00 pm: The 3rd-7th Term BFA Experience (for BFA students with 3rd-7th term status) | Commons 303
  • 1:00–2:30 pm: Free Time for BFA-CW students and Exchange students

3:00–3:30 pm: Incoming First-Year Survey | Student Center

  • Every year, Bennington College gathers information from incoming students about new students’ background, high school experiences, attitudes, behaviors, and expectations for college. Gathering this information allows Bennington College to examine our current support structures and to make appropriate changes to meet the various needs of our diverse student population. Please bring your laptop. 

3:30–4:30 pm: Community Standards and Mindfulness and Getting the Most out of Your Co-Curricular Experience | Student Center

  • Join Donnie Redd, Director of Residence Life and Community Standards, to learn more about Bennington’s community standards and how we utilize restorative justice to build relationships and community. Learn helpful skills and where to find resources that will assist you in creating a positive co-curricular experience. This interactive session will be co-facilitated by Dr. Ali Tartaglia, Associate Dean and Director of Integrative Wellness, and Steven Young, Associate Director of Student Outreach and Support. Bring your questions! 

5:30–6:30 pm: Dinner and Check-in | Commons Dining Hall

  • Remember to bring your Bennington ID Card and sit with your House Chairs and housemates!

8:00–9:00 pm: Game Night | Student Center (optional)

  • Join your fellow students to play arcade games, ping-pong, billiards, and other games in the Student Center.

Sunday, August 30

8:30–9:30 am: Continental Breakfast | Commons Dining Hall 

  • Remember to bring your Bennington ID Card.

10:00–11:15 am: Field Work Term Planning | Tishman Auditorium (for all students except BFA-CW  students)

  • Dr. John Link, Dean of Integrated Learning & Career Readiness, will answer your questions about planning your first Field Work Term experience. You will learn about Handshake and other resources to help you discover and prepare for opportunities and discuss all the ways the Career Development and Field Work Term office can support you in finding meaningful work-integrated learning experiences.

10:00 am–11:15 am: Free time for BFA-CW students

11:30 am–12:30 pm: Brunch | Dining Hall

  • Remember to bring your Bennington ID Card. Please sit with your FYF co-leader, who will help you find your Faculty Workshop location after brunch.

12:30 pm–1:30 pm: The BFA Creative Writing Program Experience (for all BFA-CW students) | Cricket Hill 228

  • BFA Creative Writing students will meet with Michael Dumanis, Jenny Boully, and Stephanie Meyer (Academic Services) to discuss the details of their BFA program, understand processes like add/drop and class selection, and plan for their first term on campus!

1:30–4:30 pm: Faculty Workshop (for all students, including first-year, exchange, and transfer students) | Designated Classrooms

  • A window into the Bennington classroom experience.

5:30–6:30 pm: Dinner and Check-in | Commons Dining Hall

  • Remember to bring your Bennington ID Card and sit with your House Chairs and housemates!

8:30–10:30 pm Movie Night | Commons Lawn (optional)

  • Grab a friend, bring a blanket, and enjoy the outdoor film over free popcorn. In case of rain, the location will move to the Student Center. 

Monday, August 31

8:00–9:00 am: Breakfast | Commons Dining Hall

  • Remember to bring your Bennington ID Card.

9:00–10:00 am: Faculty Advising for first-year students and transfer students enrolled in “Be the Change” sections  | Individual Faculty Member’s Office

  • Your First-Year Forum and “Be the Change” faculty will email you to schedule your first one-on-one meeting (approximately 20 minutes in length). Come prepared to share your academic interests, what you know about yourself as a learner, and your fall term course schedule.

Next, there are multiple concurrent morning programs. Please go to the sessions according to your academic standing/program.

10:30–11:30 am: Academic Resources and Support on Campus | Location based on First-Year-Forum section

  • Did you know that Bennington College provides students with access to counselors who can help with managing your time and organizing your work, research librarians, and peer tutors for writing, mathematics, languages, and more? Join your Academic Services Counselor for a nuts-and-bolts review of academic resources on campus.
    • Tishman Auditorium: First-Year Students in FYF sections with instructors Alfano/Bullock, Guthrie, Ononiwu, and Rouxel-Cubberly
    • EAC2: First-Year Students in FYF sections with instructors Bowen, McIntyre/Mirza, and Pitcher
    • Barn 100: BFA Creative Writing Students or Transfer Students in “Be the Change” sections with instructors Shapiro and Creighton
    • Barn 020: Term 6/7/8 Transfer Students with no FYF class assignments
    • Barn 2nd floor: BFA Dance Lab students 

12:00–1:00 pm: Lunch | Commons Dining Hall

  • Remember to bring your Bennington ID Card.

1:00–4:30pm: Academic Services Open Hours | Barn 106 and Barn 120

  • Barn 106: First-year and sophomore student support
  • Barn 120: Juniors, seniors, and transfer student support, exchange student support, academic accommodations, study away, grants and fellowships advising

1:00–5:30 pm: BFA Dance Preview Workshop | Lower Student Center

  • This workshop will be a time for BFA students to learn about both Performance Pedagogies of Dance (POD) and Thinking/Making/Doing: Practice & Process courses. Students will be introduced to the process methodologies and course content of faculty/visiting artists in the BFA program. POD courses involve the creation of new choreographic works to be shared with the public, while Practice and Process courses orient around the study of improvisation, composition, and performance as practice.

1:30–3:30 pm: Faculty Advising for all BA students | Individual Faculty Member’s Office

  • Your First-Year Forum and “Be the Change” faculty advisors will email you to schedule your first one-on-one meeting (approximately 20 minutes in length). Come prepared to share your academic interests, what you know about yourself as a learner, and your fall term course schedule.  

3:30 pm: Add/Drop opens

5:30–6:30 pm: Dinner | Commons Dining Hall

  • Remember to bring your Bennington ID Card.

7:00-9:00 pm: Transcendence in Motion | Student Center

  • Join D’Antony Gray ‘26 for an evening of intentional social dance. Meet others as you experience a sense of community in a new way.

Tuesday, September 1

8:00–9:00 am: Breakfast | Commons Dining Hall

  • Remember to bring your Bennington ID Card.

Next, there are concurrent morning sessions. Please go to the session according to your academic standing/program.

8:30-10:20 am: Class 1 for “Be the Change - The Art of Asking Questions” | Your classroom location is in your folder

9:30–10:45 am: First-Year-Forum Class 1 for:

  • The Same and not The Same: A Close Read of Primo Levi’s The Periodic Table
  • Poems! Poets! Poetics! 
  • Improv Your Life
  • We, a Learning Community
  • Your classroom location is in your folder. All other FYF sections and “Be the Change” sections: your Class 1 schedules and locations are in your folder.  

9:30–10:45 am: Free Time for Exchange Students and transfer BFA students with 3rd-7th term status  

11:00 am–12:00 pm: Convocation | Greenwall Auditorium

  • A community tradition to celebrate the start of the academic year. 

12:00–1:00 pm: Lunch | Commons Dining Hall

  • Remember to bring your Bennington ID Card!

2:00–5:00 pm: Open Office Hours

Connect with administrative offices that are essential to your success at Bennington. 

  • Buildings and Grounds (near Meyer Rec Barn)
  • Campus Safety
  • Career Development and Field Work Term Office, Barn 112
  • Crossett Library
  • Financial Aid, Barn 104
  • International Student Services, UpCaf
  • IT Help Desk, Commons Lower Level
  • Office of Diversity, Equity, and Inclusion, EAC-West
  • Student Employment, Barn 112
  • Student Engagement Office, UpCaf
  • Student Health Center
  • Student Life Office, Barn 113

2:10 pm: Classes Begin

Information about Drama, Dance, and Music auditions and Language placement can be found in the Digital Coffee Hour online under “All Things Academic for Fall Term” under Auditions & Placement Tests.