Catalogue

The Bard College Catalogue contains detailed descriptions of the College's undergraduate programs and courses, curriculum, admission and financial aid procedures, student activities and services, history, campus facilities, affiliated institutions including graduate programs, and faculty and administration.

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Bard College Catalogue 2022-23

Fees, Payment, and Refunds

Fees and Expenses

Comprehensive Fee: Information about the annual comprehensive fee is provided below. Items included in the comprehensive fee (for fall and spring semesters) can also be seen in table format at the Office of Student Accounts website: bard.edu/studentaccounts. Additional fees are described in the next section. 

The $59,800 tuition covers a full-time course load of up to 20 credits. There is an additional charge of $1,869 for each credit over 20. A tuition insurance refund plan is available through Bard at an additional cost of $816, which is applied in the fall semester. Students who elect to waive the tuition insurance must submit a waiver form online.

All resident students are required to take the meal plan. All students attending the Language and Thinking and Citizen Science Programs are required to take the meal plan. An additional meal charge of $990 is applied for meals taken during the August Language and Thinking Program and an additional meal charge of $810 is applied for meals taken during the January Citizen Science Program. Reserved campus housing cannot be canceled without prior approval from the College. Students who have reserved campus housing and move off campus are still responsible for the full housing charge.

The campus health services fee, which provides access to the health and counseling center, is required for all enrolled students. All enrolled students are required to have health insurance coverage. A 12-month health insurance plan is available through Bard at an additional cost of $3,350, which is applied in the fall semester. Students who elect to have alternate private plans must submit proof of coverage that, upon review, is equivalent to the plan offered through Bard. Information regarding health insurance is available at hcw.bard.edu/health/services or through the Student Health Service Office.

Additional Fees: In addition to the annual comprehensive fee detailed on the Student Accounts website, every first-year and transfer student is required to pay the nonrefundable enrollment deposit that is applied toward the semester of attendance. Each student is also required to pay a $225 security deposit. Provided there are no outstanding charges, the security deposit will be refunded at the completion of a student’s course of study at the College. Fall transfer students will be charged an additional fee of $990 for meals taken during the August orientation and workshop program for the fall semester and $810 for meals taken during the January Citizen Science program; spring transfer students will be charged an additional charge of $810 for meals taken during the January orientation program for the spring semester.

First-time students who are eligible to live off campus and are required to attend the August Language and Thinking and January Citizen Science Programs will be required to live on campus during these programs, and will have to pay an additional meal charge of $990 for the August Language and Thinking Program and $810 for the Citizen Science Program, as well as a housing charge of $300 for each program. Begin in Berlin students returning to the Annandale campus will be charged an additional $100 Transfer Orientation fee upon their return.

Students enrolled in certain academic programs may be charged an additional fee for special facilities. The fees for such programs include a $200 darkroom or digital imaging fee and a $100 studio arts fee, per semester. These fees are not refundable for courses dropped after the semester’s drop/add period.

Every graduating senior is charged a $50 Commencement expense fee.

The Music Program offers private instruction in vocal and instrumental performance for a fee of $250 per course. The program secretary can provide details.

Part-Time Students in Absentia: Students living outside the immediate area who register for 8 credits (two courses) or fewer are excused from all charges except the part-time status fee of $300 per semester and the tuition fee of $1,869 per credit. Applications for this status must be approved by the Executive Committee. 

Part-Time Students: Part-time resident or nonresident students who register for 9 credits or fewer will be charged the tuition fee of $1,869 per credit and will be expected to pay the same room and board, campus facilities, and health service fees as full-time resident and nonresident students. Students must submit an Approved Part-Time Study Form each semester to the Office of Student Accounts and the Registrar’s Office prior to the drop/add period so that the student’s account can be billed appropriately for the semester. 

Academic Leave: Students who have been approved to take an academic leave of absence to study at another institution pay a $750 fee per semester.  

Course Audits: Registered students may audit a maximum of 4 credits per semester at no charge. A fee of $300 is charged for each additional credit audited. Nonmatriculated students who are approved to audit a course or courses at Bard will be charged a fee of $300 for each credit audited. Matriculated students who are on an approved leave and are approved to audit a course or courses at Bard will be charged a fee of $300 for each credit audited. These fees are nonrefundable for courses dropped after the semester’s drop/add period.  

Independent Study: A special registration fee of $536 per credit is charged for each independent study project undertaken for credit during the January intersession or the summer. Only one independent study project is allowed for each session. The fee is payable when the student registers for an independent study project. The registrar will record academic credit for January intersession or summer projects only upon receipt of financial clearance from the Office of Student Accounts. No special registration fee is required when an independent study project is taken for credit during an academic semester.

Internships: A special registration fee of $269 per half of a credit is charged for each internship undertaken for credit during the January intersession or the summer. Registered students may register for a maximum of 4 credits per session. The fee is payable when the student registers for an internship. The registrar will record academic credit for internships undertaken during the January intersession or summer session only upon receipt of financial clearance from the Office of Student Accounts. No special registration fee is required when an internship is taken for credit during an academic semester.


Billing and Payment

Billing: Account statements are available online approximately 20 days before each scheduled payment date and cover tuition and fees for the semester. Miscellaneous charges (for infirmary charges, fines, graduation fee, and the like) also appear on the statements. Financial aid credits reflect information that has been received and processed as of the date of the statement. All balances are due by the date shown on the statement. Payments must be received by that date to avoid late charges assessed on overdue balances. If accounts are not paid as due, the College reserves the right to require that payment be made by bank cashier’s check, credit card, money order, or wire transfer.

Academic and financial holds are placed on accounts not paid as due. These holds prevent release of transcripts and registration confirmation and changes.

Students and parents or guardians are responsible for keeping the Office of Student Accounts informed of their correct address, in writing. 

All students entering Bard College are required under federal truth-in-lending legislation to sign the Disclosure Agreement, which includes the disclosure statement for overdue account balances.

The account of any student owing a balance after leaving Bard will be turned over to a collection agency. In such cases a 33.33 percent collection fee and attorney’s fees will be added to the balance. Once in collection, an account cannot be recalled nor can the collection or attorney’s fees be waived.

Registered students may deposit funds to be used at the bookstore and for dining and printing services. Funds are accessed with the student identification card. Monies deposited in these accounts must be used toward purchases and cannot be refunded or transferred.

Payment: Payments are due by June 20 and July 20 for the fall semester, and by November 18 and December 20 for the spring semester. The nonrefundable enrollment deposit that an admitted student pays in May or January will be credited toward the fall or spring semester costs depending upon the semester of enrollment. If the admitted student pays the nonrefundable deposit and then decides not to attend for that term, the student is not eligible for a refund of this deposit.  

For first-year and fall transfer students participating in the August Language and Thinking Program, the security deposit is prorated over the first two payments. All students attending the Language and Thinking and Citizen Science Programs must live on campus and take the meal plan during these programs. Payment for these fees are due with the June and July installments for the fall semester, and with the November and December installments for the spring semester. 

The College offers the Bard Budget Plan, an alternative payment system that allows student accounts to be paid in installments. The terms and provisions of the budget plan can be found on the Bard website.

Reserved campus housing cannot be canceled without prior approval from the College. If a resident student returns for classes but moves off campus after the financial clearance date scheduled at the start of each semester, the student is responsible for the full room charge. A resident student’s choice of room is contingent upon the timely payment of fees. Late payment may result in reassignment or loss of room.

Bard College policy prohibits the use of any current-year financial aid for payment of past-due balances from previous years.
Unpaid balances are subject to a finance charge of 1 percent per month (12 percent per annum) with a minimum finance charge of $1 per month. In addition, accounts more than 15 days past due are subject to a late fee of $25. A student with outstanding indebtedness to the College may not register or reregister, receive a transcript of record, have academic credits certified, be granted a leave of absence, or have a degree certified. 

Tuition Prepayment Plan: Bard College offers a four-year tuition prepayment plan to incoming first-year students who do not receive financial aid toward tuition costs. The cost of tuition for each year of the student’s four-year tenure is stabilized at the first-year amount. For those electing this option, payment of $239,200 (4 x the 2022–23 tuition of $59,800) is due by June 20. If a student withdraws from the College before completing four years of study, the excess credit balance is refundable. The prepayment plan applies to tuition only; room, board, and fees are payable as due. Additional information is available at the Office of Student Accounts.

Returned Checks: A check that is not honored upon presentation will be charged back to a student’s account with a fine of $35. If the College receives several returned checks from an individual, it reserves the right to no longer accept personal checks, and will require payments by bank cashier’s check, credit card, money order, or wire transfer. If a check used to provide financial clearance is returned, room reservation, course selection, and registration will be canceled, and the account will be assessed a $100 late-enrollment fee in addition to the returned check fine.


Enrollment Verification

Students are required to verify their enrollment for each semester at the financial clearance session scheduled prior to the start of the semester. Those who do not will have enrollment holds placed on their accounts and will be required to pay a $200 late fee before their enrollment for that semester is validated. Students who anticipate arriving after the financial clearance date must contact the Office of Student Accounts in advance of that date. Identification cards must be validated in order to be used at all campus facilities, including the library, gymnasium, computer center, and dining commons, and to pick up campus keys.

Students who plan to take an academic leave of absence must submit an application to the Dean of Studies Office. Students who plan to take a personal leave of absence, or withdraw, or are placed on a mandatory or conditional leave of absence during or at the end of a semester are required to file a “Leave” form with the Dean of Student Affairs Office on or before the last date of attendance. A student who registers for an upcoming semester and then decides to take a leave must notify the Office of Student Accounts and the Dean of Student Affairs in writing at least one week prior to the scheduled financial clearance date of that term in order to be eligible for a refund.  

Financial Clearance

Students’ accounts must be current with respect to payments and financial aid matters before financial clearance is issued for enrollment validation and for participation in room draw, online course selection, and registration. The financial clearance dates are noted on statements and in correspondence sent to parents or guardians and to students prior to these scheduled events. Accounts not cleared prior to these dates are subject to financial holds that prevent participation in the events. A $100 fee must be paid before such holds are removed. Parents and students are encouraged to call the Office of Student Accounts in advance of these dates to verify the financial clearance status of the account, in order to avoid unexpected complications.

Refunds after Registration

Students who change their enrollment status from full-time (10 credits or more) to part-time (9 credits or fewer) while the drop/add period is in effect during the first two weeks of the semester may receive a refund of tuition charges, provided an approved Part-Time Study Form is submitted by the student to the Office of Student Accounts and the Registrar’s Office prior to the designated end date of the drop/add period. No refunds are made if Student Accounts has not been officially notified in writing prior to the drop/add deadline.

No refund of fees will be made if a student withdraws or takes a leave of absence from the College at any time after registration except as herein specified. In all situations, the student must submit a complete application for leave or withdrawal to the dean of students and the bursar. The date of final processing of the application for leave or withdrawal will determine if a refund will be given and the amount.

If the withdrawal or leave of absence is official before the first day of expected arrival and before classes begin for the semester in question, a full refund of all charges is given. For students enrolled in the Language and Thinking (L&T) Program, the first day of this program is established as the first day of fall semester classes. The tuition refund schedule for students enrolled in L&T is as follows: if withdrawal or leave of absence occurs at any time during the program, 80 percent of the tuition is refunded; within two weeks following the program, 30 percent is refunded. No tuition is refunded if withdrawal occurs more than two weeks after the program. Satisfactory completion of the Language and Thinking Program is required. A student who fails to meet this requirement will be asked to take a one-year academic leave.

For students enrolled in Citizen Science or the January Language and Thinking Program, the first day of the program is established as the first day of spring semester classes. The tuition refund schedule for students enrolled in Citizen Science or the January L&T program is as follows: if withdrawal or leave of absence occurs at any time during the program, 80 percent of the tuition is refunded; within two weeks following the program, 30 percent is refunded. No tuition is refunded if withdrawal occurs more than two weeks after the program.

If the official withdrawal or leave occurs on or after the first day of classes, only tuition and board (prorated) are refunded; no refund for room or required fees is allowed. Board refunds are made on a per-week basis, but no board refunds are given if the student withdraws during the last six weeks of a semester. The schedule of tuition refund is as follows: if the withdrawal occurs within the first week of classes, 80 percent of the tuition is refunded; within two weeks, 60 percent of the tuition; within four weeks, 30 percent of the tuition. No tuition is refunded for withdrawal after four weeks. The official date of withdrawal is the date on which the Office of Student Accounts receives written notification of withdrawal from the Dean of Student Affairs Office.

If a student takes a leave or withdraws after the fall semester and before the spring semester without giving the College timely notification, a spring semester room fee in the amount of 25 percent of the room charge will be levied. If a resident student returns for the spring semester but moves off campus without the College’s prior approval, the student is responsible for the full room charge for the spring semester.

Refund calculations for students on the Bard Budget Plan who withdraw are the same as for students not on the plan. Students on the plan who withdraw are still liable for any payments due after the date of withdrawal. They have the same financial obligations as students not on the plan and therefore are responsible for the full amount due, whatever the date of withdrawal.

Adjustments in financial aid awards for students who withdraw are determined according to the following procedures. Any institutional grant or scholarship is reduced according to the schedule given above for tuition refund. Adjustments in federal aid are made on the basis of a formula prescribed by federal regulations. Details of the federal regulations may be obtained from the Office of Financial Aid. Students considering withdrawal should confer with the Office of Student Accounts and the Office of Financial Aid concerning any anticipated refund and adjustments in financial aid.

No refund is made in cases of suspension or expulsion, except in instances where a student is eligible for a pro rata refund as determined by the federal government.