Diversity, Equity, and Inclusion

"The College affirms the intersecting identities of all its community members—students, faculty, staff, and alumni—and recognizes their contributions to the vitality of our unique living and learning environment. The College’s approach to pluralism and inclusivity—both as fields of inquiry and practice—is to prioritize flexible thought, and to invite the examination of access, value, and power through its institutional policies and areas of study."

- Bennington College's Vision Statement for Institutional Pluralism and Inclusion

Mission Statement 

The Office of Diversity, Equity, & Inclusion (ODEI) warmly and intentionally embraces collective and collaborative approaches that nurture a just, equitable, vibrant, and intellectually stimulating educational atmosphere, along with fostering a culture of critical and compassionate campus engagement rooted in antiracism and social justice.

In pursuit of this mission, ODEI concentrates on four key areas of involvement:

    •    Fostering a sense of belongingness and community
    •    Connecting theory and practice
    •    Ensuring inclusive recruitment and retention
    •    Advocating for systemic and progressive change

Land Acknowledgment 

Bennington College sits on land which has served as a site of meeting and exchange among indigenous peoples since time immemorial. The Western Abenaki and Mohican people are the traditional caretakers of these Vermont lands and waters, which they call Ndakinna, or “homeland.” We remember their connection to this region and the hardships they continue to endure. We give thanks for the opportunity to share in the bounty of this place and to protect it.

Diversity at Bennington

Diversity is a natural condition of the modern world, and something that we celebrate at Bennington. And, not coincidentally, it is a foundational part of a Bennington education and our community.
(Data below from January, 2023) 

Total undergraduates: 785

• 63% Female
• 23% U.S. students of color
• 15% International
• 50 countries represented (including the US)
• 95% from out of state (among domestic students)
• Top 5 states represented: NY, MA, CA, VT, TX

Resources

U.S. Department of Education Reminds Schools of Their Legal Obligation to Address Discrimination, Including Harassment (Press Release)

Combating Antisemitism

• Antisemitism Education Resources (Berkeley Center for Jewish Studies)
• Antisemitism on Social Media: Challenges for academics and policy-makers (World Jewish Congress) 

On Anti-Arab Bias and Combating Islamophobia 

• Presumptively Antisemitic: Islamophobic Tropes in the Palestine–Israel Discourse (Rutgers Center for Security, Race and Rights)
• Resources for Combating Islamophobia (Columbia University)
• What is Islamophobia (Georgetown University Bridge Initiative)

Our Team