Opening and Arrival for Fall Term

New Faces

198 new students will join the College this fall. Together, first-year and transfer students represent 34 states and 14 countries: Afghanistan, Bosnia and Herzegovina, Brazil, China, Georgia, Germany, India, Nepal, Pakistan, Palestine, Poland, Russia, 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

All students, staff, and faculty are required to be vaccinated for the fall term.

If you are vaccinated, please make sure to submit your vaccination card to Health Services if you have not done so already.

Key pickup times/locations

• Sunday, September 1, 1:00pm–5:00pm and Monday, September 2, 9:00am–5:00 pm in the Student Life Office, Barn 113. After 5:00 pm, students may pick up their keys at the Campus Safety booth.
• Tuesday, September 4 through Friday, September 7, 9:00am–5:00pm in the Student Life Office, Barn 113.  After 5:00 pm, students may pick up their keys at the Campus Safety booth.

StarRez Portal

When you pick up your key, be sure to check into StarRez using your @bennington.edu email and password. From here you'll be able to access and manage all housing-related forms and information.  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 third 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.
• Proof of COVID-19 Vaccination was due August 1: Please make sure to submit this if you have not done so already. Please see the Health Requirements page for additional information. 

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 3 at 11:00 am