The First Year at Bard College is a time of discovery and community building. You are becoming a Bardian, from the moment you join us on campus for Language and Thinking in August until you complete First-Year Seminar in May. The Office of the First-Year Experience is here to introduce you to Bard and guide you through a year of academic exploration and extracurricular engagement.
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Language and Thinking 2019
Your first year at Bard begins with the Language and Thinking Program—a three-week intensive introduction to the liberal arts and sciences with a focus on writing. It is attended by all incoming students and is required for matriculation into the College. Watch this video to discover how first-year students spend their first three weeks on campus.
Meet the Director of the First-Year Experience
Alexis provides personal support to students and helps them navigate the first-year experience at Bard. From the Language and Thinking Program immediately as students arrive on campus, through the Citizen Science program in January, and to the close of the first year, Alexis is available to help students integrate personally and intellectually into the climate of Bard and together to shape a welcoming, thoughtful learning community. In order to facilitate the best possible first-year experience for students, Alexis works with and can help connect students with campus partners such as Student Advising, the Bard Chaplaincy, Counseling and Health Services, the Learning Commons, and student-led groups. Alexis is a fan of YouTube tutorials, and loves reading books (current favorite: Adios, Happy Homeland by Ana Menéndez) and hanging out with her cat.
Questions? Contact Alexis by email at firstyear@bard.edu or by phone at 845-758-7454. Or come by Sottery Hall and visit the Center for Student Life and Advising.
The Bard Mobile App
Download the Bard mobile app to keep track of events and campus information directly from your phone. You will have access to schedules of special events like L&T and Citizen Science, as well as the campus calendar throughout your time at Bard. You can connect with fellow students and Bard staff and receive notifications about important deadlines and last-minute changes.
The full L&T schedule will be available on the Bard app in late summer.