FAQs
Campus and Residential Life
Are there opportunities to participate in community service?
Yes, at Bentley, community service is an important part of living and learning. Through our Service-Learning Center, students have the opportunity to be a part of community programs such as America Clicks!, Waltham Boys and Girls Club and America Reads. The opportunities are endless when it comes to finding the experience that best fits your needs. Service-Learning can also be combined with academics to give you the ultimate experience in giving to the community and enriching your knowledge. Many Bentley students work with Habitat for Humanity and spend their spring break away, helping with the mission of an organization.
My spirituality is an important aspect of my life.
Does Bentley offer religious services or support?
While Bentley is not religiously affiliated, its Spiritual Life Center offers advisers from the Catholic, Jewish, Protestant, Muslim, Hindu, and Buddhist faiths. In addition, the staff assists students from other faith traditions in finding faith communities. The Bentley Sacred Space, housed in the Student Center, is an attractive, inviting area for interdenominational worship. Organized worship services and meditations are held here regularly, but students are welcome to use the space at their leisure for quiet reflection and prayer as well.
Do students leave campus on the weekends?
Bentley is not a suitcase school. Every weekend, Bentley’s 100+ student organizations plan programs that range from athletic competitions, concerts, plays, and themed events. The Student Center is a great place to find students watching movies, organizing events in the student activities offices or working on a radio show. In Spruce Hall, The Backstage is usually hopping with live musicians, DJs, movies and fun contests. Given that Boston is one of the largest college towns in the world, Bentley students organize several events that invite other students to campus.
Can I have a car on campus?
Generally, first-year students living on campus are not allowed cars because of parking limitations. After your first year, parking is available for free on campus. Keep in mind, having a car is certainly not necessary — the FREE Bentley shuttle runs regular trips to downtown Waltham and Harvard Square in Cambridge. Public transportation is also readily available.
Is there a lot of drinking on campus?
If you don’t want to drink, you don't have to. Bentley supports the Massachusetts state law prohibiting drinking by anyone under the age of 21, but students who are over the age of 21 are permitted to drink responsibly at campus events and on their own. The college supports the activities of national groups such as BACCHUS that educate students about responsible drinking and the dangers of alcohol. The university trusts its students to act responsibly.
What are the most popular events or traditions at Bentley?
There are always several events and activities happening on campus throughout the week and on the weekends. Some unique traditions are Greedy Bingo (a huge bingo game in which many valuable prizes are given away, such as DVD players, TVs, and iPods), the Festival of Colors (a performance that showcases dances, traditional fashions, and food from several countries throughout the world), and Breakfast by Moonlight (an evening to relax right before finals begin — the Bentley faculty and administrators serve the students breakfast food at midnight. There is also music and raffles).
What is Bentley’s housing policy for undergraduates?
Housing is available for all students who wish to live on campus for all four years. Living on campus is more than just a place of residence. It offers a community that broadens the educational experience and promotes personal growth. More than 80 percent of full-time undergraduate students choose to live in Bentley housing every year to enrich their college experience. Freshmen have a choice of a double or low-cost triple-occupancy residence hall room. After the first two weeks of the semester, students may request to change room accommodations. Depending on availability, choices range from single rooms in traditional residence halls, to suites, to modern one-, two- or three-bedroom apartments with kitchens and private baths. For more information, visit Residence Life.
Can I live off campus?
You are allowed to live off campus, though the majority of students choose to live on campus for all four years at Bentley. Approximately 95 percent of first-year students and more than 80 percent of all students reside on campus.
What kind of dining options are available?
At Bentley, there are a variety of locations on campus to cure you, when hunger strikes. As an incoming student, you will have the Universal Meal Plan which allows you unlimited access to Seasons Dining Hall, the main cafeteria on campus. At Seasons, you can make your own sandwich, have a fresh burger grilled up, serve up some pasta, grab a healthy salad and even try some stir fry. What is great about this option is you can enter the dining hall as often as you'd like. Along with Seasons, there are several other places on campus to grab a bite to eat. The Lower Cafeteria, located in the LaCava Center, features the perfect on-the-go meal, and the Express station in LaCava offers Starbucks coffee for that often-needed pick me up. One thing’s for sure, you won’t be at a loss for places to satisfy your hunger!
Are the residence halls wireless?
The Bentley campus is completely wireless, so you’ll have Internet access in your residential hall, as well as in the dining halls, academic buildings, library, and even outside!
Should I bring my own computer?
Because Bentley requires all students to participate in its Mobile Computing Program, you will not need to bring your own computer to campus. You will receive your computer at the start of your freshman year, keep the machine for two years, and exchange it for a new model prior to your junior year. You will keep the computer when you graduate. Mobile Computing
Is Bentley a safe campus?
Bentley is a safe campus in a residential community, but it is not immune from crime. We operate a 24-hour security and police force that supervise the security of all residence hall entrances with an ID card system, and keep all grounds well-lit. For added safety, a 24-hour escort service is available to students, faculty and staff. Emergency blue phones are also located throughout campus. Safety and Security
