New Student Orientation Schedule

New International Students Arrive
International Student Orientation Begins

1:00–5:00 pm: Arrival and check-in

2:00 pm: Meet and greet

3:00 pm: Campus tour - optional

5:00 pm: Dinner 

7:00 pm: House Chair meet and greet

7:30 pm: Outdoor games and activities

International Student Orientation

8:00–9:00 am: Breakfast

10:00 am: Shopping trip - optional

1:00–5:00 pm: New arrival check-ins

3:00 pm: Campus tour - optional

5:00 pm: Dinner

7:30 pm: Summer snacks and game night

International Student Orientation

8:00–9:00 am: Breakfast

12:00 pm: Lunch 

1:00–5:00 pm: New arrival check-ins

5:00 pm: Dinner

7:30 pm: Outdoor games and activities

New Domestic Students Arrive
New Domestic Student Orientation Begins
Meal Plan Starts

9:00–11:30 am: Move In 
Location: Lower Student Center

• Family Name A - L 
  • 9:30–11:00 am
• Family Name M - Z
  • 10:00–11:30 am

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

11:00-11:45 am Campus Tour (optional)

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

1:00-1:45 pm Campus Tour (optional)

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

2:30-4:45 pm Meet Your House Chairs and Your Peers | End of the World and Commons Lawn 

*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

3:45-4:45 pm The Whole Person Approach: Keeping the Student at the Center of Education | Greenwall Auditorium, VAPA

4:45-5:00 pm Family Send-Off | Greenwall Auditorium, VAPA

*All events after this are for students only.

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

8:00-9:00 pm House Coffee Hour | House Common Area

8:00-8:45 am Breakfast | Commons Dining Hall 

9:30-10:30 am Introduction to Academic Experience at Bennington | Greenwall Auditorium, VAPA

10:30 am-12:00 pm Mindfulness and Getting the Most out of Your Co-Curricular Experience | Greenwall Auditorium, VAPA

12:00-1:15 pm Lunch | Commons Dining Hall

There are three concurrent afternoon sessions. Please go to the session according to your academic standing/program.

1:30-3:00 pm First-Year Forum Introductory Class (for students with first- or second-term standing) | Your FYF classroom’s location is in your folder 

1:30-3:00 pm The Transfer and Exchange Student Experience (for transfer and exchange BA students with 3rd-7th term status) | Commons Atrium (3rd Floor)

1:30-3:00 pm The BFA in Dance Experience | Martha Hill Dance Theater, VAPA

3:30-4:30 pm We’re All in This Together | Starting at Greenwall Auditorium, VAPA, and ending at your house

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

8:00-9:00 pm Story Circle | House Common Area

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

10:00-11:30 am Community Standards and Restorative Justice | Greenwall Auditorium

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

1:00-4:00 pm Excursions to Bennington/N. Bennington and Campus Activities

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

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

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

10:00-11:00 am Resource Scavenger Hunt | Tishman Auditorium

11:30 am-1:30 pm Brunch | Commons Dining Hall 

There are three concurrent afternoon sessions. Please go to the session according to your academic standing/program.

2:00- 5:00 pm Faculty Workshop | Designated Classrooms

2:00-5:00 pm Transfer and exchange student program | Commons Atrium (3rd Floor)

2:00-5:00 pm  BFA Dance Experience | Martha Hill Dance Theater, VAPA

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

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

Some Administrative Offices are Closed

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

9:00-10:00 am Faculty Advising | Individual Faculty Member’s Office

9:00-10:00 am Working On-Campus | Tishman Auditorium

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

Students in FYF sections with instructors:

Pitcher, Bowen, Shapiro, and Rouxel-Cubberly - Tishman Auditorium

Guthrie, Dummanis, Scully, and Alfano - Barn 100

Demyanenko, Alpar, and Child - CAPA Symposium

BFA in Dance - EAC 1 (Behind Campus Safety booth)

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

1:30-3:30 pm Faculty Advising | Individual Faculty Member’s Office

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

9:30-10:45 am First-Year-Forum Class 1 | Your FYF classroom location is in your folder

9:30-10:45 am Field Work Term Planning for Transfer BA Students | Tishman Auditorium

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

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

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)
• Career Development and Field Work Term Office, Barn 112
• Campus Safety
• Crossett Library
• Financial Aid, Barn 104
• IT Help Desk, Commons Lower Level
• Student Health Center
• Student Life Office, Barn 113
• Office of Diversity, Equity, and Inclusion, EAC-West
• Academic Services: First-year student support, Barn 106
• Academic Services: Transfer student support, exchange student support, academic accommodations, study away, grants and fellowships advising, Barn 120

2:10 pm Classes Begin