Volunteer

Volunteer programs

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• Admissions

  The Admissions staff aims to attract the most engaged, creative, and unique students to Bennington College, and alumni can support their efforts in the following ways:

  • Answer this short questionnaire about your Bennington experience and your life post-Bennington so that Admissions staff can share your story with prospective students and their families;
  • Share admissions materials with counselors at local independent or high schools or prospective students. Email us to request Bennington’s most recent admissions packet;
  • Talk up Bennington to high school students, parents, and grandparents as well as your friends, co-workers, and acquaintances;
  • Meet a counselor traveling in your region. Admissions counselors regularly travel throughout the country, and the international admissions staff meets with students and secondary schools in Europe, Asia, the Middle East, and Africa
  • Email Admissions if you would like to meet with a counselor traveling in your region.

  Time commitment: Varies depending on level of involvement.

  Contact us if you would like to be involved as an Admissions volunteer or have other ideas or questions.

• The Mentor Program

  The newly re-launched Mentor Program connects students and alumni in career transition with other alumni willing to share their professional experiences, knowledge of an industry or geographic region, and general career guidance. A mentor can be a tremendously valuable resource by advising mentees on seeking FWT experiences, preparing for life after graduation, considering a career change, or building a professional network. Participation takes a variety of forms as described below, and the amount of time spent and form of communication will be determined by the mentor:

  • Communication with a mentee (or mentees) through email, phone conversation, job shadowing, occasional meeting; and/or
  • Return to campus to participate in Senior Conference, a series of workshops and discussions with seniors to provide guidance on graduate school transition, career, and industries.

  How the Mentor Program works

  • Begin by filling out the Mentor Program questionnaire and agreeing to the mentor guidelines;
  • Once the questionnaire has been processed and approved, you will be invited to join the Bennington College Mentor subgroup on the Bennington College Alumni LinkedIn page;
  • Students and alumni will search for and connect with mentors directly based on industry and/or geographic location.
  • For alumni who wish to be mentored, please fill out the mentee application, and read and agree to the mentee guidelines;

  Time commitment: Time involvement will be directed by the mentor as answered on the Mentor Program questionnaire. For more information, please contact Marie Leahy, Director of Alumni Programs

• Field Work Term (formerly NRT)

  Through seven-week full-time work experiences during Field Work Term (FWT), students gain confidence and practical knowledge in their chosen fields. Alumni have provided FWT positions or connections for students, or housing throughout the College's 80-year history.

  If you think you might be interested in working with a Bennington student, please read about current FWT requirements or submit a job posting. If you can offer housing, please fill out this form.

• Fundraising

  The Office of External Relations welcomes alumni involvement in seeking alumni support of The Bennington Fund, the fund that annually supports all aspects of the College. Alumni participation is a critical benchmark for foundations as they consider making grants to the College. Each academic year, more than a third of the College’s expenses will be covered by private philanthropy from alumnae/i, parents, and friends, past and present.

  Alumni are compelling advocates for the College, making peer solicitations an effective way to seek gifts. As a Bennington Fund volunteer you:

  • Choose to make a gift to The Bennington Fund each year;
  • Encourage friends to give by reposting and tweeting online appeals and videos;
  • Work closely with annual giving staff to help contact alumni from the years around your class; and
  • Provide additional creative ways to encourage alumni giving.

  Time commitment: Approximately 5 hours in the fall, and 5 hours in the spring, depending on number of alumni the volunteer is contacting

  Please contact Cindy Luce, Annual Giving Manager, for more information on The Bennington Fund Alumni Volunteer program.

• Regional Events

  Events help to foster the connections between alumni and with the College. Bennington hosts a number of small and large alumni events in major metropolitan cities for social gatherings and to showcase faculty, alumni, or staff presentations/performances throughout the year. The Alumni Relations Office also supports alumni who wish to self-organize events in their region and will provide lists and invitation assistance. The following are just a few of the ways volunteers can be involved:

  • College-organized events in major metropolitan areas: Assist with programming ideas, venues, encourage attendance among alumni, or serving on a host committee;
  • Alumni-organized regional gatherings: Coordinate a cocktail party at a bar or restaurant; gather alumni to see a performance or discussion; host a potluck dinner or brunch at your home. The College can provide email lists and nametags, and, depending on timing and location, send a Bennington faculty or staff member attend the event to provide updates from campus.

  Time commitment: Depending on the event and partnership with the College, volunteers may spend between 3-10 hours to plan and coordinate a gathering.

  Please contact Marie Leahy, Director of Alumni Programs, for further information or to plan a regional event.

• On-Campus Reunion Weekend in Fall 2013 (September 27-29, 2013)

  Alumni have overwhelmingly indicated their wish to celebrate on-campus reunions with friends from surrounding years. While the College invites Pioneers and alumnae for their 50th and 60th reunion to campus every year, the next All-Alumni Reunion is in 2013. We need your involvement in planning this celebration, which will recognize milestone classes (10th, 20th, 25th, 30th, 40th) and we welcome all alumni back to experience Bennington today and to reengage with alumni from their time at the College. Alumni involvement opportunities:

  • Serve on the Reunion Committee to help plan the programming/classes/events for the weekend;
  • Gather a group of friends to join you; and
  • Help to plan class parties and milestone gatherings over the weekend.

  Time commitment: 5-15 hours, depending on involvement. Please be in touch with Marie Leahy, Director of Alumni Programs, or Eissa Saeed '12, Alumni Relations and Development Intern if you would like to be involved in planning or have ideas for the alumni weekend.

• On-Campus Mini-Reunions

  In non all-class reunion years, the College encourages alumni to organize mini-reunions on campus, and is happy to arrange accommodations at the Davis Alumni House and possibly in a student house during off-term times. Depending on schedules, discussions with faculty may also be scheduled. Please contact Marie Leahy, Director of Alumni Programs, if you would like to plan such a gathering.

  Time commitment: Up to 5-10 hours working with the College on coordinating programming and accommodations, depending on the time of year the mini reunion is scheduled.