Belonging, Equity & Inclusion at the Mountain School

Affinity groups at the Mountain School meet weekly and are facilitated by faculty members to provide a supportive, confidential space for students to have conversation with those with whom they share an important aspect of identity. At the start of each semester, faculty members will set up meetings for the Black, Indigenous, and People of Color (BIPOC) affinity group, the Lesbian, Gay, Bisexual, Transgender, Queer, Plus (LGBTQ+) affinity group, and the First-Generation, Low-Income (FLI) affinity group. In some semesters, other affinity groups form based on student interest. These have included a Jewish affinity group, an affinity group for children of divorced parents, and a dis/ability affinity group, among others.  Affinity groups have a dedicated space on central campus to use for their meetings and a budget to support activities.

The Mountain School employs a full-time social worker and a full-time nurse to support the mental and physical health needs of the students, as well as having dedicated learning support faculty. Students can arrange individual meetings with these practitioners on campus or can coordinate off-campus care with other specialists. The Student Support Team (nurse, social worker, academic support practitioner) meets weekly to discuss topics of concern and make sure that students are connected to the resources they need for well-being.

A required course for all students, Core seminar connects the dots between farm and food justice; health and well-being; and race, class, and gender. These seminar-style classes meet four times a week and are graded and for credit. They introduce students to conceptual frameworks and terminology that will help students understand the labor practices and land uses of farming, the food economy, racial and cultural identity construction, and the physiological connections between sleep and anxiety, among many other topics.

The Mountain School is committed to creating a school culture that is inclusive of all genders. We make these promises to every student:

• You decide if and with whom you share your gender identity and status and/or your sexual orientation. There is no expectation that you disclose sensitive personal information unless you choose to do so.

• You likewise decide the name and pronouns you will use while you are here. The name you go by does not have to match what is on your birth certificate.

• You can expect to see your gender identity reflected in the Mountain School’s programming and  in our curriculum.

• You have the option to join your semester’s LGBTQ+ affinity group and/or to be matched with a graduate who shares your gender identity.

• You have the right to housing that affirms your gender. All incoming students complete a housing survey indicating their preference for single-gender or all-gender housing. Our process for matching those requests with available dorm space is explained in the survey. Priority for either type of housing is based on need.

• You may use any campus bathroom that feels comfortable to you. Mountain School bathrooms are open to all genders.

• The Mountain School will not ignore bullying, harassment, or discrimination. If you experience any of these while you are here, we will take your complaint seriously. You can find our process for addressing these behaviors in the student handbook.

• If you require medical care while you are here, you may request that we match you with a gender-affirming provider through the Vermont Diversity Health Project (VDHP). You may also request a confidential gender support plan before the semester begins or at any point once you are on campus.

The Mountain School believes in the capacity of students and faculty to be held accountable and engage in transformative and restorative practices. Though conversations to restore trust take time and emotional engagement, the Mountain School is committed to systems of accountability that acknowledge harm and create spaces for repair.