Senior Project Preparation and Presentation
This information is meant to help you prepare and submit your senior project.
As you decide upon your topic, consult the holdings and reference sources of the library’s collection, including the interlibrary loan system, Connect NY. The reference librarians can direct you to printed and electronic materials in your subject area. The library offers reference workshops to teach students how to use the library’s extensive databases, abstracts, and indexes, as well as how to evaluate, access, and cite Internet sources. Researching your project should begin as soon as possible. If most of your research will involve material not in the Bard collection, you should request a letter of introduction from the Stevenson Library to research at other libraries.
As you prepare your project, you will need to be familiar with the acceptable forms of thesis writing. Helpful research materials and guidelines are also available on Stevenson Library’s seniors page at:
http://www.bard.edu/library/seniors.php
Submitting the Senior Project
On Monday, December 10, 2018, if graduating in December 2018 OR on Wednesday, May 1, 2019, if graduating in Spring 2019 — the day senior projects are due — come to Ludlow Hall, with the following:
• 4 copies of the senior project: three bound copies and one unbound copy. (See below for more information about bindings). The three bound copies are for the faculty on your board. We will check them and then give them back to you for delivery to the members of your board. The library’s copy should be submitted in a 10”x13” manila envelope with your name clearly printed on the outside. The pages should be loose; do not clip them together or bind them in any way.
• Two extra copies of the title page of your project (see attached example) for our files and for the commencement program.
If you are a member of the Arts Division completing an installation, a film, a composition, or a performance as a senior project, you should bring:
• Two copies of a title page (see attached example).
• A synopsis (1-2 pages) of the project, that is, an artist’s statement outlining what
you did and what you were hoping to accomplish.
• A program or invitation, if applicable.
• A 10”x13” manila envelope with your name clearly printed on the outside.
All students are expected to submit their project online.
For December 2018 submissions, go to http://digitalcommons.bard.edu/senproj_f2018/ by the project submission deadline. Project submissions may be made anytime beginning Monday, November 5, 2018.
For May 2019 submissions, go to http://digitalcommons.bard.edu/senproj_s2019/ by the project submission deadline. Project submissions may be made anytime beginning Wednesday, April 3, 2019.
- When you submit the hard copies of your Senior Project you should bring the confirmation email you receive after you complete the online submission.
- Students in the Division of the Arts are also expected to complete the Submit Research Page online at the link above including the 1-2 page project synopsis or artist’s statement. [This is the artist’s statement already required by your Program.] Division of Arts students who are submitting media files representing their projects must also upload these as part of the process. All Division of Arts students must submit at least the required artist’s statement online.
The Form of the Senior Project Contents:
• Title page
• Dedication/Acknowledgements
• (Preface, if included)
• Table of contents (list of chapters with their page numbers)
• Introduction
• Body of text
• Footnotes (if these do not appear elsewhere)
• Bibliography
Format:
• Use uniform size paper, 8.5 x 11 inches.
• Leave a margin of approximately 1 inch on the left and 1 inch on the right, top, and bottom of the page.
• Double space the body of the text. Ask your adviser whether you should follow the MLA, APA, or CMS recommendations for your citations and
bibliography.
• Illustrative material such as graphs, maps, and photographs can be integrated into the text or placed in appendices at the end.
• Number pages consecutively, with Arabic numerals; the first numbered page should be the first page of the text proper. The title page, dedication,
and table of contents should not be numbered. (These preliminary pages or any others may be designated with roman numerals if desired.)
• Numbers should appear in the upper right hand corner of the pages, or in the middle of the top margin, without periods or hyphens.
The final version of your senior project should be carefully proofread for typographical errors, correct grammar, and proper citation. Rely on Merriam-Webster’s Collegiate Dictionary, The MLA Handbook or The Chicago Manual of Style, 14th ed. for all editorial questions.
Binding:
Three of the four copies that you bring to the Dean’s office are for the members of your senior project board. These three should be bound in a black binder with built-in fasteners, or they should be professionally bound. (Call the Dean of Studies at x7045 if you have questions about this.) These copies can be printed on both sides of the page, as your board members allow. The library copy of your project should be submitted, as outlined above, unbound, in a 10”x13” manila envelope with your name on the outside of the envelope. This copy may also be double-sided. The library staff will microfiche and bind this copy. If you photocopy your project, it is better to arrange for its reproduction off-campus (at Staples or Copy Cat for example), to avoid the certain crush at our facilities. However, resources are available at Bard's own Central Services (x7463).
Indonesian Vernacular Architecture:
Of Home, the Body, and the Universe
Senior Project submitted to
The Division of Social Studies
(must be a Division [Arts; Languages and Literature; Science, Mathematics and Computing; Social Studies], not a Department or major)
of Bard College
by
Miya Buxton
Annandale-on-Hudson, New York
May 2019
Moving to a New City
Most of you will be moving to a new home, often in a city or community away from Bard and away from the home where your parents live. This is a major decision and deserves considerable thought. New York City is wonderful, but may not be the place for you. Maybe Los Angeles is your dream, but another city might offer similar possibilities.
When Peter Criswell ’89 was making his postgraduation plans, he compiled a list of criteria that were important to him. He looked at several cities (New York, San Francisco, Philadelphia, Boston, Los Angeles, Chicago, and Seattle), and he considered whether the cities met his needs and could become a community he would call his own. You may have different cities to consider. You may have different questions. (We have added several of our own.) Almost all of you will have a choice about where you live after Bard. By considering where you will make that move, you can improve your chances of making a positive one.
Applying for Fellowships or Scholarships
Exciting postgraduate opportunities exist. For further information, please contact David Shein, Dean of Studies, Sottery 110, shein@bard.edu, 845-758-7045.
Deadlines for Fellowships Requiring Bard's Nomination or Endorsement
Mid-September
- Thomas J. Watson Fellowship (Statement of Intent)
- British Marshall Scholarship
- George Mitchell Scholarship
- Rhodes Scholarship
- Thomas J. Watson Fellowship (Full Application)
- Fulbright Student Program
- Carnegie Junior Fellowship
- Coro Fellows Program in Public Affairs
- National Security Education Program (NSEP) David L. Boren Undergraduate Scholarship and Graduate Fellowship
- Barry M. Goldwater Scholarship
- Harry Truman Scholarship
- Morris K. Udall Scholarship
- Jack Kent Cooke Graduate Scholarship
- Bard Junior Fellowship
Postgraduation Career Plans
During your last academic year at Bard you will have plenty of time to develop your post graduation plans if you start in the fall and schedule an appointment in the Career Development Office (CDO) with Elisabeth Giglio, the designated senior career adviser and CDO director. Please e-mail cdo@bard.edu, call 845-758-7539, or visit Campus Center 201 to schedule an appointment with her to discuss your career possibilities and job search plans.
The Bard Basic Job Guide is downloadable at www.bard.edu/cdo/students. This publication contains sample resumes, cover letters, and important tips for your job search. Before meeting with Elisabeth please try to write a draft of your resume to take with you when you meet with her.
The timetable for starting your job search depends upon the field you want to enter, the type of position you desire, and when you hope to start work. Most of you will find that starting your job search shortly after submitting your Senior Project in April is an appropriate time to look for a job if you are ready to start work in the summer. On average, once an employer advertises a job, it takes at least a few months to fill an entry-level position for a recent college graduate. Keep in mind that government jobs, teaching opportunities in independent schools, and business and financial positions may have application deadlines as early as the fall. Postgraduate paid internships at prestigious organizations are competitive and also have early deadlines. Make sure you are aware of deadlines if you are considering these employment fields.
The job search requires focus, commitment, a positive attitude, an ability to articulate clearly the type of position you want, and the inclination to connect with people and tell them about your career goals. Being able to describe the type of work you are looking for, including job titles is very important in your job search. For example, “I just graduated from Bard College and I am looking for an entry-level position in a nonprofit arts organization as an administrative assistant or coordinator of projects or programs.” People can better help you in your job search if you are able to express to them a succinct goal. The clearer you are about what you would like to do, the more likely you are to be successful in getting a job that suits you and sustains your passion and interest. CDO can help you identify and state your career goals, as well as coach you through your job search. Networking, although very important to your job search, is only one way to discover job opportunities. Don’t underestimate the effectiveness of applying for jobs posted at websites and in the newspaper classifieds of your future hometown. CDO subscribes to a number of websites that post jobs in specific fields. You can pick up this list of resources in our office as well as Bard tailored web sheets for particular professions. We hope you will utilize all of our resources.
CDO offers two Bard-specific websites:
www.collegecentral.com/bard discover Bard friendly employers with leads to jobs, internships, and volunteer opportunities, as well as CDO’s online calendar.
www.bard.edu/cdo find the Bard Basic Job Guide with sample resumes, the Vault Online Career Library, and more.
We hope you will use CDO to support you in your job search during your senior year. Drop by our office at Campus Center 201 or e-mail to schedule an appointment.
Questions?
Need more information? Contact: Elisabeth Giglio, Director, Career Development Office, cdo@bard.edu, 845-758-7177, Campus Center 201
Senior Class Gift
As you begin to prepare for the transition to life after Bard, you have the opportunity to join in many traditions of Bard alumni/ae. One of these traditions is the Senior Class Gift.
The Senior Class Gift marks the transition from being an active student to an active alumnus or alumna. Participation is very important! Not only does it show to the College community how much you, as students and soon to be alumni/ae, appreciate and value your Bard education and experience, but alumni/ae giving is also included in rankings, such as U.S. News and World Report, to show a much broader audience how much those closest to the College value it.
The Senior Class Gift is a great way to demonstrate your appreciation for the education you have received at Bard. It is also to show past and future classes the strong commitment you have to the success of our College.
Giving is simple, and there are many options:
- You can give today on Bard's secure online giving form. Note in the comments section that the contribution is for the Senior Class Gift.
- Mail in the pledge form you receive in the mail with your check made payable to Bard College. Write "Senior Class Gift" in the memo area of your check.
- Mail in the pledge form you receive in the mail with your credit card information filled in. You can make a pledge at any time, and you have until June 30 to fulfill it.
Contact Robert Laity, Assistant Director of the Bard College Fund, at 845-758-7315 or laity@bard.edu.
With your support, your Senior Class Gift campaign can be a great success!