How the Field Work Term Process Changed in the Fall Term

Field Work Term (FWT) is key to a student’s education at Bennington College; an immersive experience where a student may gain hands-on experience they can apply to their education. But what happens when changes are made? How do students navigate these changes, and where can they find support? 

The fall term has brought many changes to the FWT process, straying from the blueprint that older students were familiar with. The most notable change is the decrease in time requirements, which has dropped from 200 hours to only 160 during the 6-week program. This is a 6-hour weekly difference that allows for more flexibility in planning and may offer students more days off without potentially falling short of their hour requirements. Additionally, a student may use up to 20 hours of sick time over any given FWT period. 

These 160 hours must now be completed within one FWT site; this has prompted strong feelings among students, many of whom only managed to meet these requirements due to a split FWT site. Students are now wondering whether the lessened hours will still be achievable at a singular site, and whether exceptions will be made. 

One of the most surprising changes for many students was the shift away from House Chairs and First Year Forum Co-Leaders being eligible to use their experiences as a substitute for a FWT: students holding these positions must now complete four FWTs during their time at Bennington. Though this was a newer addition with the emergence of COVID-19, it is one that many Bennington students hoped would continue.

Among the less shocking adjustments is the revision of FWT preparation documents, which students can use to help plan their experience for the upcoming period. Additionally, the FWT Office is open from 9 a.m. to 5 p.m. on weekdays. Students may schedule an appointment or drop in as needed. 

The yearly stipend for eligible students remains the same, at $500 per FWT period. Eligible students have already been contacted. If a student is eligible, regardless of when they intend to pursue their FWT, they must have completed the ACH payment form no later than October 31st, 2025. 

Registrations for this year’s Winter FWT are due to the FWT Office promptly on Friday, November 7th. There will be few accommodations for those who submit FWT experiences late. Due to recent faculty and staff layoffs across campus, there are fewer individuals in the FWT Office who can attend to the work: the same work load now falls upon a diminished staff, according to the House Chair of Fels. 

As Bennington continues to evolve, its Field Work Term will follow suit, adapting to the needs of Bennington students and the working world around them.