What to bring, planning your trip, and staying connected on campus.
Save the Date
Family Weekend, October 23–25, 2020
Family and Alumni/ae Weekend is one of the most exciting events on the academic calendar. It happens in mid-October, after students have settled in for the semester. The Family Weekend schedule is packed full of activities, showcasing nearly every program and facility on Bard’s 1,000-acre campus.
The following items are suggested to bring with you to Bard:
bedspread blankets sheets (size twin extra-long) mattress pad towels toiletries shower shoes pillows flashlight clothes hangers laundry detergent laundry basket first aid kit insect repellent wattage adapter (for international students) personal computer surge protectors wastebasket recycling basket desk lamp radio bicycle bicycle lock
If you plan to bring a laptop computer, we suggest you also bring a laptop desk lock.
Items Not Allowed in Residence Halls
candles/incense
exposed coil heaters of any kind
heating pads
microwave ovens
halogen lamps**
portable heaters
subwoofers
**Aside from being a fire hazard, halogen lamps use five times more energy than fluorescent lamps.
Items Permitted for Use in Residence Halls
alarm clock
electric fan
hair dryer
computer
radio
television (rooms do not have cable access)
study lamp
You may either bring your own mini-fridge measuring no larger that 3.2 cubic feet, or rent one. Stand alone microwaves are not allowed in student rooms except for a microwave/mini-fridge combo that can be rented. This unit has a feature that shuts off the mini-fridge when the microwave is in use to prevent circuit overloads. Rental information will be featured here soon.
Items Allowed Only in Designated Kitchen Areas
coffeemaker
clothes iron
popcorn maker
toaster oven
hot pot
Only UL-approved appliances may be used.
Shipping Packages to Bard
Each student will receive a unique mailbox number, which will be emailed to their Bard email account. Student mail should be addressed as follows:
Student Name Bard College PO Box 5000 - MSC (insert box number here) Annandale-on-Hudson, NY 12504-5000
However, you can still ship your possessions to Bard at the address below prior to your arrival. Packages received before the arrival date will be stored in the shipping department and will be available for pickup on Friday, August 9. Please note that the Shipping and Receiving office is open Monday–Friday, 9 a.m. – 5 p.m. Please mail packages so that they arrive no earlier than July 22.
Student Name (as it would appear on ID card) Bard College 30 Campus Road Annandale-on-Hudson, NY 12504-5000
Travel and Transportation
How do I get to Bard?
You can travel to Bard by:
By train: Amtrak provides service from Penn Station, New York City, and from Albany to Rhinecliff, about 9 miles south of Annandale. Taxi service is available at the station.
By automobile: Take the New York State Thruway (I-87) to Exit 19 (Kingston), take Route 209 (changes to Route 199 at the Hudson River) over the Kingston-Rhinecliff Bridge to Route 9G, turn left onto Route 9G and drive north 3.5 miles.
By air: Bard College is accessible from Kennedy and LaGuardia airports in New York City; Newark in New Jersey; and Albany and Newburgh in upstate New York.
For more detailed information follow the link below.
All students are allowed to bring cars to campus; however, Bard encourages biking and alternative methods of travel as a part of the College’s commitment to sustainability. An annual $200 vehicle registration fee goes toward the Green Fund, which supports campus sustainability projects and scholarships. You may pay Student Accounts on the day that you arrive on campus. Please note that students are only allowed to park in designated student parking lots.
Are there campus shuttles and transportation to local destinations?
During the semester, a free shuttle travels through Tivoli, Red Hook, and Bard’s campus. Free shuttles also run to local grocery stores, the mall, and, on weekends, the local train stations. During breaks and at the end of the semester, there are shuttles from campus to the New York City and Albany airports for a $30 fee. When returning, students make their own arrangements to get to the Poughkeepsie or Rhinecliff train station, where they can take the free shuttle back to campus.
Bard works with 511NY to maintain a ride-sharing service; students are encouraged to register, whether they have a car or not, at bos.bard.edu/transportation. Bard has also partnered with Zipcar to bring self-service, on-demand car sharing to campus. Visit zipcar.com learn more about the program and to sign up.
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.