An Update on Winter Break & Field Work Term

Due to the additional pressures of the pandemic and travel restrictions more broadly, we anticipate that more students will need to remain on campus for the duration of Winter Break & Field Work Term (FWT). The College is prepared to support a larger than usual number of students on campus.    

We need to work together to provide the safest experience for students whose only option is to remain on campus. The College will not be able to allow students who leave campus at the end of the term or during Winter Break to return to campus prior to the start of the Spring 2021 term (February 14). This is to minimize the risk of introducing the virus to the campus and to comply with recently updated Vermont mandatory guidance.   

Please note that all students staying for Winter Break and FWT will need to participate in a quarantine period at the beginning of the spring term with the students who are returning to campus.

Please review the information below regarding the campus resources offered to students who need to remain on-campus during this time. If you are a student who needs to remain on campus for Winter Break or the Winter Break and FWT period, please complete this form by November 2.  

If you have any questions, please reply to this email or be in touch with Christine Winget (christinewinget@bennington.edu).  

Housing 

The cost of housing for the FWT period is $600 and is placed on the student bill.  For a second year, the College is adding additional financial support for students who have significant financial need as determined by the Office of Financial Aid. These students will have a reduction in the cost of their FWT housing to $400, $200 or $0.  This reduction will occur automatically through an increase in the amount of financial aid offered and those students who are eligible for the reduced cost of housing. Students will be contacted individually by the Financial Aid Office about the amount of their reduction. 

Students with questions about how their financial aid will impact their housing and food stipends are encouraged to reach out to Heather Clifford (hclifford@bennington.edu) for assistance. 

Additionally, due to COVID-19, the Writing Seminars will be held remotely and the College is not contracting with outside conferences for use of campus during the Winter Break and FWT period.  This temporary change will allow us to relax the requirement for students living in Bingham, Fels, Merck, Noyes, Paris-Borden, Perkins and Sawtell to move out of their rooms at the end of the Fall 2020 term as long as they are returning for the spring term.  

Students approved to remain on campus for the Winter Break and FWT period, with some exceptions based on house capacity and safety, will be permitted to remain in their Fall 2020 term housing instead of being relocated and consolidated into one house community.  

Students may either elect to stay for only Winter Break (December 14-January 2) or Winter Break AND FWT (December 14-February 13). Any student who would like to stay on campus for these periods of time need to fill out the Winter Break/FWT form here.

Meals

The Student Dining Hall will be closed during this period and students will need to prepare meals for themselves. 

Due to limited opportunities for income for students during the Winter Break & FWT period, the College will provide a food stipend to eligible students to help supplement the cost of meals during this time.  Like the housing fee structure, the food stipend will be issued based on demonstrated student need through the Financial Aid office.  Eligible students can receive a full stipend of $675 for the Winter Break and FWT period or a reduced food stipend depending on their financial situation. Students will be contacted individually by the Financial Aid Office with the amount of their stipend.  

We are in the process of creating an in-house grocery store in Commons and Chef Steve will be working with the students who are staying on campus to stock the store for preferred items. In addition to Hannaford, students will have the options to spend the stipend at this in-house grocery. 

Student Employment

The College is not able to offer campus employment during the Winter Break & FWT period.  A few previously hired stipend positions in Admissions and Student Life will continue, but no positions will be posted on Handshake.  Students seeking income during the winter period may consider applying to a wide range of paid remote freelance listings on Handshake and Parker Dewey. For support, please book a career counseling appointment on Handshake.

Student Health Center

The Student Health Center will not be open regular hours during Winter Break & FWT, however the College is able to expand some services to students during this time:

Emergency On-Call Psychological Services will be available during Winter Break & FWT.  Students should access the on-call therapist through Campus Safety as they do during the term.  

Support groups that have been running during Fall 2020 will continue during Winter Break & FWT. Days and times may change but the format will remain virtual. Please follow and utilize Student Health Promotion social media for specific information. Students may also schedule individual times with Ali Tartaglia (alisontartaglia@bennington.edu), to assist with skill based behavior change related to wellbeing.  

Health Services will be open 1 day a week for in-person appointments and Dr. Randy Anselmo will be available for assessment and consultation regarding COVID-19 symptoms and concerns.  

Additionally, access to SVMC ExpressCare for health needs can be serviced through the Campus Shuttle. For emergencies, Campus Safety continues to be the first point of contact. 

Testing

COVID-19 Testing will be conducted during Winter Break and FWT. Students staying on campus and commuting students with approved independent studies requiring the use of campus facilities and/or on campus employment during this period will need to participate in weekly testing for COVID-19.  

Transportation

The Campus Shuttle will be available again this year during Winter Break and FWT with limited hours.  Due to COVID-19 restrictions, there will continue to be a limited number of riders per vehicle, masks and distancing are required.  

Additional Information

Students remaining on campus for Winter Break and Field Work Term will receive an email in mid-November with additional information about campus spaces and services including specific details such as hours of operation.