Be Bentley

“The Caring core value at Bentley is not just an abstract ideal posted on a wall. Instead, it is a tangible, lived experience woven into the fabric of our daily campus interactions... a fellow student is always there, rushing ahead to pull open the heavy door and hold it, ensuring I can pass through without having to put everything down. This small, seemingly insignificant act...demonstrates an awareness of others beyond their own immediate goals...” — Undergraduate Student

“I came to Bentley from India with 16 years of professional experience...the Swipe Out Hunger program was one of the first things that surprised me.... That meant something. The Falcon Family Fridge outside Jennison is the same idea. Take what you need, leave what you can... Professors… checked in after...just a quick ‘everything okay?’ That matters more than people realize, especially when you are far from home and navigating a completely different system.” — Graduate Student

“As a new hire to Bentley, I can write first-hand on how the core value of caring has been upheld by those throughout the campus community.... Since my onboarding, my team has been extremely understanding and patient... Frequent 1-on-1 check-ins...These practices of kindness...have been incredibly beneficial in allowing me to love my new job and put forth the best-possible effort in completing it each day.” — Staff

“It would seem that, as a learning community, Bentley provides a safe platform for success, failure, and growth. Patience, opportunity, grace, and understanding come to mind.” — Faculty

“In terms of improvement, Care could be improved upon at Bentley in student facilities. Majority of students live on campus and these facilities need to care for them. The laundry facilities are unreasonable in terms of size and modernity… Students want their ‘homebase’ to provide the care and comfort they need especially when balancing a full workload and other activities.” — Undergraduate Student

“I am disappointed with Caring not being upheld in the bereavement policy at Bentley. While the people and managers surrounding an individual who has lost someone close to them may exhibit caring, the policy itself - three days for next of kin - is brutal and cold.” — Staff

“At Bentley, the core value of Collaboration is reflected in the way students, faculty, and staff work together to achieve shared goals. Collaboration can be seen in group projects, team-based assignments, and discussions where students are encouraged to share different perspectives and learn from one another.” — Graduate Student

“I work with students and faculty from every department, and staff from every division, frequently on a daily basis. I feel very fortunate to work with people that see a common mission, saying ‘yes...and’ to my ideas, even in the darkest of times. In my eyes, Collaboration is not only a Core Value at Bentley, it's also a key differentiator in higher education and a great source of pride.” — Faculty

“Collaboration is at the heart of Bentley's academics. No matter your major, I guarantee there will be at least one group project students will have to engage with once a semester... An effective group with good collaboration can leave a lasting impact on your college experience, for I still talk to group members from my favorite projects over the last three years!” — Undergraduate Student

“I started my role almost 8 months ago and even within the first few weeks...I could tell how willing people were and are to help out. This doesn't only apply within my department, but with the departments we frequently partner with on bigger events and projects.” — Staff

“Collaboration can feel limited when decision-making follows a primarily top-down approach rather than a shared, participatory process. … In these situations, decisions are communicated as final rather than developed through dialogue, which can reduce opportunities for shared problem-solving and mutual understanding.” — Staff

“Collaboration is sometimes framed as inviting input, but in practice it can feel like the same voices are continually included while others are overlooked. Faculty who are not already part of established networks may struggle to be meaningfully engaged, which can make collaboration feel performative rather than genuinely inclusive.” — Faculty

“I am a recent graduate degree student at Bentley HFID Program. While in my first days I was struggling to find someone like ‘me’ I really enjoyed my boarding times with my friends but I was looking for something more than that. Attending MLK Day, with appreciation to my professor Mounia Ziat, I felt like I was belonging to this community. seeing people from my own culture and community felt very engaging. I am truly happy to be a part of this.” — Graduate Student

“Diversity at Bentley looks like classrooms where different perspectives are genuinely welcomed and encouraged, not just tolerated. It shows up when professors intentionally include authors, case studies, and examples from different cultural, racial, and global backgrounds so students can see themselves reflected in the material. It also looks like group projects where students value different communication styles and lived experiences instead of defaulting to one dominant voice.” — Undergraduate Student

“Diversity is a value that is important to me. As a person of color, knowing that this value is being lived around campus helps me feel included in the overall community. The ways diversity is celebrated on campus through events, an affinity group, and trainings are great ways people can choose to better understand diversity. Being a member of the Faculty and Staff of Color Affinity group gives me a space outside of my team to connect with others. Although the practice and understand of Diversity is every evolving, I am proud to be part of the Bentley community that prioritizes diversity while also fostering community and connection.” — Staff

“From a faculty perspective, large-scale meetings like Faculty/Staff Town Halls and major survey initiatives like Bentley Experience Survey serve as helpful pulse-checks to understand how our work is playing out at an institutional level. I know that diversity plays into our strategic plan, but it would be helpful to hear leadership from various divisions discuss how they plan to further pursue these goals in their work. I can conceptualize how my work in Admission contributes to the goal, but it's harder to understand how this plays into teaching, advising, etc.” — Faculty

“I feel as though the Bentley population tends to stick to their own like groups. Seldom does an individual take a chance and go to an event or opportunity that doesn’t include people from their normal ‘in’ groups. And I feel like that’s why there’s a divide. There are so many different cultures, opinions, viewpoints and stories to be shared. But either because of fear, lack of interest, or no motivation, they aren’t reaching the greater population like they could be.” — Undergraduate Student

“The student population is not a reflection of the focus on diversity. To have such a few number of students and faculty of color this is very concerning.” — Faculty

“When the value of honesty is upheld we can share freely, respectfully, and without fear of retribution or punishment. When needed, we provide honest feedback that translates into feeling valued and cared for. The opportunities are distributed fairly and everyone has the same information. There is transparency and restorative justice to repair harm and hurt across different roles and levels within Bentley. When we are upholding this value, it is ok to be honest when we are unsure or don't know an answer; we admit mistakes honestly.” — Staff

“Having participated in a number of academic integrity hearings, it feels good to see the students on those panels sticking up for honesty and integrity. The students on those hearings are thoughtful and compassionate, but they also see and voice the value (for themselves, for others, for the value of their degree) of being honest academically.” — Faculty

“I think this is an especially poignant core value to consider in today's academic space because of the use of AI. I see so many students generating entire essay responses and submitting them as their own work then claim in class that AI should only be used as a tool. When it's so easy to just replace your own workflow and spend time doing things that are easier, how can you get the most out of your education and find it more worthy than just the certificate at the end? Honesty is important to uphold both to your own development and growth as well as the people around you, in academic and professional contexts.” — Undergraduate Student

“Accountability for honesty can show up in different ways depending on the level. Individually, it means being real about your actions and words. Owning up when you make a mistake or say something that isn’t true instead of trying to hide it. Interpersonally, it looks like people expecting honesty from each other and being willing to respectfully call things out if someone isn’t being truthful, while also creating an environment where people feel comfortable being open. On an institutional level, accountability for honesty means organizations putting systems in place that support transparency, like clear communication, ethical guidelines, and real consequences if people lie or mislead others. Overall, it’s about making honesty the norm and taking responsibility when it’s not upheld.” — Undergraduate Student

“Students – and faculty – heavily rely on the use of AI. We need to learn about accountability in the ways how we express how we use AI. Some students give excellent disclosure, others do not at all – while AI use is apparent, despite articulated AI use protocols. We cannot be tasked with detecting AI, but readers or users should be warned how AI is used to evaluate whatever they’re reading and seeing. We cannot take out AI in our current environment, but we need to restore honesty and trust by establishing common values about the use of it.” — Faculty

“Bentley has a sponsorship of the Boston Celtics and I don't know how much it costs the university or who gets to use the tickets to the games.” — Staff

“I believe Bentley makes its greatest impact through the [Bentley Service-Learning and Civic Engagement (BSLCE)] Program. As a student who completed the Service-Learning Certificate Program, I can confidently say it was the most memorable part of my experience here. I loved the opportunity to get off campus, engage with the Waltham community, and offer support in a variety of settings while meeting new people. During my time on site, I gained meaningful insight into the lives of those who are less privileged. I built friendships, became part of their support system, and witnessed how much our visits meant to them. Many would tell me stories about other Bentley students who had volunteered before, showing how lasting our presence was.” — Undergraduate Student

“The Falcon Fridge, Dress for Success and the Office of Sustainability are great examples of everyday practices and actions that are making a difference on campus.” — Staff

“The institution emphasizes creating a positive impact, yet internal practices can sometimes hinder employees’ ability to contribute fully. For instance, an employee working directly with students may be navigating administrative barriers, unclear expectations, or interpersonal challenges that consume time and energy that could otherwise be directed toward student support. When employees are focused on managing internal difficulties, their capacity to deliver meaningful impact externally may be reduced. Aligning internal processes to better support employees would strengthen overall impact on the community.” — Staff

“I believe that the close work with that the BSLCE does organizing, engaging and connecting students, faculty and community partners is a wonderful example of the impact that Bentley has on the Waltham and Greater Boston Community. Anyone that engages in community, volunteer and social justice work should receive strong recognition, not only by the BSLCE, but also by the wider Bentley Community.” — Faculty

“Through various classes, I've had plenty of professors that really showcase their care for students more than others. These professors really highlight the core value of impact on campus [showing] care for their expertise they bring to Bentley.” — Graduate Student

“My division was recently reconsidering the hybrid work policy. Before making any changes, our VP surveyed the division, asking for feedback on what was working or what could work better. Based on that, the decision was made to make no immediate changes because work was getting done, people were happy with their current situation and it created a productive environment. The goal of creating more opportunities for people to connect in person could be achieved by using our days in the office more intentionally. I appreciated that the impact of making changes was considered beforehand, that feedback was considered, and that the decision was explained and that the change (more intentional use of time vs. more time in the office) was the outcome. The impact on me personally was that I felt respected, AND I enjoy my time at the office even more than before. Win/win.” — Staff

“The main reason I work at Bentley is to play a (small) part in students learning and growing and becoming who they are meant to be. At risk of stating the obvious, I think many if not most faculty and staff are here because they genuinely feel strongly about helping people to learn - about themselves, others and the world around us. I think the other core values of diversity and caring are interwoven with learning, because when we value others with different perspectives and backgrounds, we learn from them and become better ourselves. If we at Bentley are doing our jobs correctly, students will become comfortable with and even welcome people and ideas different from themselves and their own — because they will recognize that’s how we learn.” — Staff

“Learning is showcased at Bentley when students are given clear and valuable projects / assignments to complete for classes, that relate course concepts to either real life scenarios or other outside examples. Getting assignments that aim to teach us real business practices, principals, or solutions to problems, etc. teach us skills that are actually useful beyond the classroom setting. It enables students to take ownership and pride within their work because we can see it has value outside of the grade associated with completing it.” — Graduate Student

“In our everyday teaching at Bentley, learning is always a top priority that is respected. We teachers are well prepared and ask challenging questions and encourage argument which is itself a learning experience. Students are attentive and tolerant of other points of view and an open discussion is always encouraged. I am proud of the learning experiences I encounter in class and the intelligent and thoughtful responses in writing.” — Faculty

“I believe there are two types of learning. The first is information based, having a knowledge of material. The professors here do a fantastic job of teaching this way. The second type of learning is experience based. Though both types of learning are very important and beneficial, I believe the latter to be more impactful long-term; it is empirical knowledge in action. I am very grateful for the opportunities I have had through a variety of on-campus organizations, in particular the Bentley Consulting Association, to practice and refine this skill.” — Undergraduate Student

“A time when this core value of learning was not fully demonstrated at Bentley is in the way many students approach their academic choices. Instead of choosing classes based on genuine interest or a desire to challenge themselves, there is often a strong focus on selecting the ‘easiest’ options. This behaviour undermines the idea of learning as growth and exploration. As a community, this shifts the culture away from curiosity and intellectual risk-taking toward performance and optimisation, which goes against the core value of being eager to learn and open to new ways of thinking.” — Undergraduate Student

“Bentley provides fantastic education resources, however, some Professors are too harsh and they don't take international students' language level into consideration and just give us a low grade for our essay.” — Undergraduate Student

“Respect includes being aware of and appreciative of differences, interest in learning about others, treating everyone as a person/human, being nice, being polite, helping others.” — Staff

“In my involvement in athletics, respect looks like listening to the captains, following coach's orders, and supporting teammates. It's showing up for each other and getting the work done to help us collectively reach toward our team goal. Since we all want to athletically succeed, we know how we should show up for one another to help each other get there. Respect plays a role because this behavior impacts everything, from how we approach situations to how we speak and listen.” — Undergraduate Student

“I was recently at an alumni and admitted student event. The room was filled with donors, VIP's, Alumni and other [dignitaries]. I witnessed President Chrite stop to take a few minutes to speak with a prospective student for the graduate school. Amidst all of these important people he treated her just as important as everyone else in the room that night. It was so nice to see and made me feel very proud to work at Bentley where leadership at the highest position, demonstrates respect across the board.” — Staff

“Respect should mean that you listen and assimilate every single thing a person says without letting your own opinions or values get in the way. Its the strength it takes to not say something even when you don’t align with it. We all have the right to think and act as we wish and that must be respected. But along those lines comes your right to express what you do not agree with as long as politeness is a priority.” — Undergraduate Student

“Respect includes a constant consideration of all other values listed ion previous page. It means treating others as you wish to be treated and means taking time to appreciate the expertise and efforts of others. It means being conscious of those who go unrecognized while including in all affairs and events where each person’s skills and work are given a place. We could do better.” — Faculty

“There are times when I have seen and heard staff & faculty members at Bentley ignoring a student's pronouns - this to me is blatant disrespect and does not align with Bentley's core values.” — Staff