Association of Vermont
    Independent Colleges

Vermont Independent Colleges | Community Impact

Hurricane Katrina Relief Efforts

Bennington College
Bennington College, located in southwestern Vermont, is offering to support undergraduate students displaced by Hurricane Katrina. They will be offering a place to any students who believe that Bennington could be the right place for them--either because they live nearby or because they can pursue a course of study consistent with their current academic plan.

Since each student's situation will be different, they are dealing with them on a case-by-case basis and as space allows.

Applications are being accepted through Thursday, September 15, 2005, for the fall term; applications for spring term are due by November 15, 2005. Application fee is being waived. Undergraduate students should contact Ken Himmelman, Dean of Admissions, by calling 800-833-6845, or emailing khimmelman@bennington.edu or faxing 802-440-4320, or mailing to Bennington College, One College Drive, Bennington, Vermont 05201.

They have room for a limited number of students to live on campus; they ask students to cover the cost of room and board if they are able to do so; those who were receiving financial aid at their home institution and cannot cover this expense will be given consideration on a case-by-case basis.

Faculty and administration positions are also available for those displaced by hurricane Katrina. Those positions can be found on Bennington's website at www.bennington.edu

Champlain College
Champlain College will extend its online and on-campus offerings to undergraduate students who cannot attend college this semester due to the destruction of Hurricane Katrina.

Recognizing that the College is located many miles from the areas that were hardest hit, Champlain officials chose to offer its comprehensive online program to adult students in addition to an on-campus option for traditional-aged students. Champlain College will collect no tuition; instead, the College will accept students who have already paid their tuition to their home college, which will desperately need the funds.

In both cases, students will be accepted on a space-available basis. Adult learners interested in online courses must act by Friday, September 9, as classes have already started. For any student who chooses to live on the Vermont campus, the College will only collect fees for room and board.

Students interested in Champlain College's on-campus offerings should contact the Admissions office at (800) 570-5858. Adult students interested in the online courses offered through Champlain's Center for Online & Continuing Education should call toll-free (888) 545-3459 or visit http://www.champlain.edu/coce to see the selection of courses for "Fall 2005 -- 15-week online classes." Those interested in online courses must act by Friday, September 9, as classes have already started.

Marlboro College
Marlboro College is offering places on campus for five students from colleges and universities unable to operate this semester in the aftermath of Hurricane Katrina.

Students enrolled at affected four-year accredited institutions will be accepted on good faith and charged the same tuition and fees as at their home institutions. Financial aid packages will be awarded on a case by case basis. Federal aid applications will be processed and awarded in accordance with developing information from the Department of Education.

To apply, students should send a letter via email or fax to Alan Young, Dean of Enrollment and Financial Aid expressing their interest in attending Marlboro College. The letter should identify the student's home institution, and include current grade level, academic interests and a list of classes the student was enrolled in. The application deadline is September 12, with an enrollment deadline of September 15.

Applications should be emailed to Alan Young at ayoung@marlboro.edu or faxed to the Admissions Office at (802) 451-7555. For questions, please call Kirsten Camp at (802) 258-9236.

Norwich University
All NU Alumni affected by Hurricane Katrina are encouraged to contact Norwich University for assistance. Your alma mater stands by you and is willing to help. If you are an alum, or know of one who needs help, contact Laura Amell at 802.485.2335 or email lamell@norwich.edu.

Faculty and administration positions are also available for those displaced by hurricane Katrina. To find out about those positions please email jobs@norwich.edu with your inquiry.

Saint Michael's College
Faculty and administration positions are available for those displaced by hurricane Katrina. Those positions can be found on Saint Michael's website at http://www.smcvt.edu/about/hr/faculty.asp

Vermont Law School
Vermont Law School is waiving fall semester tuition for up to ten law students from the gulf region. VLS is currently in discussion with three Tulane Law School (New Orleans) students, including one second year, J.D. program student, and two LL.M. (post J.D. program) students.

Numerous members of the VLS community, including faculty, staff, and students, have offered temporary, free housing and other necessities to law students from the gulf region. VLS is working with other Vermont institutions to arrange more permanent housing, if it is needed, and with the U.S. Department to provide financial aid assistance for the students.

VLS has offered a fall semester visiting professor position to the Tulane Law School faculty; salary and duties for the individual would be commensurate with VLS regular faculty. Faculty offices and housing would be arranged as needed.

Vermont Law School is located off Rte. 14 in the village of South Royalton, between exit 2 and exit 3 of I-89. For more information please call (802) 831-1309, or visit Vermont Law School on the Web at www.vermontlaw.edu.

Vermont Independent Colleges and Universities have a positive impact on Vermont communities and the state. Some examples include the following:

• Enrolls 16,000 students, or 44% of all students enrolled in Vermont

• Confer 51% of the degrees awarded in Vermont each year

• Graduate more students within 5 years than the state colleges and universities

• Offer geographical diversity and access to all students, with baccalaureate degree programs at colleges throughout Vermont

• Serves a student population that is remarkably similar, in terms of family income, gender and age, to the student population at state colleges and universities

• Provides 70% of Vermont's teacher preparation programs

• Makes access possible to baccalaureate degree programs throughout Vermont

• Offers many educational, recreational, cultural opportunities, free or at minimal cost, to their communities

• Some colleges provide direct municipal services, such as ambulance service and water supply

• Make their facilities available to community members and groups