The AFC Experience

Programs

Community Celebrations

The AFC holds special weeks of celebrations for each cultural heritage month. We celebrate Hispanic Heritage Month and  Dia De Los Muertos in fall semester, Lunar New Year and MLK Day during J Term, Black History Month, Arab American Heritage Month, and Asian American and Pacific Islander Heritage Month in spring. Events are hosted individually by the AFC or in conjunction with students orgs, academic departments, individual student leaders or other interested faculty and staff. The events focus on a celebration of cultures that includes moments of historical learning; sharing traditional meals as individual events or as dining hall takeovers; showcasing cultural clothing, dances, music and celebrations; and bringing communities together as a whole to honor each other.

Community Meals

What began as a small gathering to bring faculty, staff and students together has now become a tradition and staple of the center’s yearly programs. Once each semester (Fall, J Term, Spring) the AFC hosts community meals. This meal is often cooked collaboratively by faculty and staff or catered through local-owned restaurants and catering services around Middlebury and surrounding cities or towns. Faculty, staff and students are welcome to join us at the AFC kitchen and main lounge for these lunches. Everyone can connect and catch up over great food!

Senior Night

Each year we invite May and Feb seniors for a last night with their community. We invite students to share a meal, get excited with others about their future, sign the alumni wall, and connect with faculty and staff one last time.

Services

Salon AFC

For many years and through generations of students at Middlebury, finding adequate hair care and styling for students with textured hair types was a challenge. Student concerns raised conversations among administration and staff, culminating in initial short-term solutions to hair care in the form of hair pop-up efforts. Now, with a permanent salon space, students can find what is needed to do their own hair, each other’s hair, and have access to a rotation of professional stylists, braiders, and barbers monthly. This space is a testament not only to our commitment to holistic care for our students that defines who we are at the AFC, but also to the care and devotion of everyone involved in its creation.

Individual Use Of The Salon

Students are now able to utilize the salon space by filling out the access form and getting the code to the door. Students are required to read through the entire agreement and fill out all required information in the form. It will not submit with any section missing a response. Salon use by individual students will continue on a trial basis. Pending there is no incidence of misuse of the space, access will continue on a permanent basis. Students are expected to sign in for salon use every time, as that is how we track for data and keep a running calendar that everyone can use.

Request here, at go/afcsalon/ or at direct link https://forms.gle/CwBE1WEhYGij4FoA6  

Professional Appointments

A stylist, braider and barber will be in once monthly on specific dates to offer professional hair care services. Appointments can only be booked on those specific days. The site will tell you the estimated cost of your services, descriptions of the service, and information on the stylist, barber and braider including pictures of their work. 

Booking will be open generally as that is how the site functions, but those hours are applicable ONLY when the stylists are here. Please do not book on any random date. The booking site has a schedule that is updated frequently, which you should consult to find the proper dates for booking each professional. If you schedule an appointment at a time that the professionals are not here, your appointment will be cancelled and you will be emailed to reschedule at the proper time.

While the AFC takes care of the general fees for the professionals who come to do hair and supply costs for the salon, payment for service during appointments is the responsibility of the individual student and must be paid to the stylist, barber or braider in cash or via various electronic payment platforms. Braiding hair is included in the cost of braiding services, but additional hair such as the curly hair used for boho braids, french curl hair, and bundles for sew-ins are not covered. Students will need to purchase that individually for their appointment. Students who have a high level of need may request funding to help cover costs as described in the next section.

Book Online  at go/afchair/ or visit the direct link salonafcmidd.square.site

Financial Support

Financial Support for hair care expenses is available to high-need students through Student Access and Support (SAS) Grants. Grants offer up to a max of $200 towards hair care expenses, tiered based on level of need (High 100%, Medium 50%, Low 25%). Any expenses beyond that amount must be paid directly to the stylist, braider or barber at the time of your service. Applications will be reviewed and you will receive official confirmation by email if you meet the criteria for financial support. Apply Here, at go/SASHair/ or visit direct link https://forms.gle/CmeVPPYcRqjnYLSP6. 

Please apply for support weeks ahead of your appointment to allow time for processing and communication.

Add Yourself to the Salon Mailing List

Stay on top of all things Salon AFC and get special mailing reminders when the stylists are coming back for monthly appointments by adding yourself to the mailing list. Direct Link https://forms.gle/LXVLzktJbjZ3NT7f9.

Continuing These Services

If you want to see additional professional styling days and more funding for hair care support, help us gather data that can be used to present to administration, trustees, advancement, and alumni donors. Fill out the survey to share how you’ve used the AFC salon and its services and it’s importance to you.