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Commencement

Photo by Karl Rabe
Bard College 161st Commencement Week
May 24–30, 2021
Bard College held its 161st commencement on Saturday, May 29, 2021. Bard President Leon Botstein conferred 398 undergraduate degrees on the Class of 2021 and 136 graduate degrees. The program, which began at 2:30 pm in the commencement tent on the Seth Goldfine Memorial Rugby Field, was in person for graduating students only, in accordance with New York State health and safety guidelines, and livestreamed for family and friends. It was closed to the public.

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Congratulations to the Class of 2021!

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Former Open Society Foundations President Patrick Gaspard Delivers 2021 Commencement Address

“Justice has been historically elusive in our nation. And so has truly inclusive representative democracy. I won’t here recite our innumerable challenges and our most recent traumas, though the recent insurrections in our nation’s Capitol and the ensuing lack of national examination remind us that violence and authoritarianism have more enablers than instigators. I raise this here to extend my interrogation of exceptionalism—in this case, American exceptionalism—and to wonder aloud what a recasting of America’s place in the world might mean for this graduating class and your generation.”

Read the Full Text of Patrick Gaspard's Address

President Botstein’s Charge to the Class of 2021

“As you leave this place, and as we together emerge from the pandemic, you, the graduating class, will be at the forefront of the restoration of what we like to think of as a ‘return to normalcy.’ In that process I think we must be honest about the core values of the place you received your undergraduate education. The Class of 2021 needs to be especially clear about why their alma mater exists and what it stands for. What are the guiding axioms for ourselves and our college—convictions we will not abandon despite changes in fashion because we regard them as true, good, and universal?”

Read the Full Text of President Botstein’s Charge

Commencement Schedule

  • Baccalaureate Service
    Thursday, May 27, 2021
    5:00 pm
    Commencement tent, Seth Goldfine Memorial Rugby Field

    The Baccalaureate, hosted by the chaplaincy, was an adaptation of the traditional Baccalaureate and included a student speaker, alumni/ae speaker, faculty speaker, and a program developed with student participation by members of the chaplaincy. The senior class was invited to attend in person. This event was livestreamed.
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    Baccalaureate Program (PDF)
  • Student Awards Ceremony
    Monday, May 24, 2021
    5:30 pm
    Commencement tent, Seth Goldfine Memorial Rugby Field

    The College encouraged all seniors and invited members of the undergraduate class to join us for this ceremony, in which the achievements of the senior and undergraduate classes was recognized. Senior class representatives, a faculty speaker, and a speaker representing the administrative staff of the College participated. This event was livestreamed.
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    Awards Program (PDF)

     
  • The Bard College Awards Ceremony
    Friday, May 28, 2021
    5:30 pm
    Sosnoff Theater, Fisher Center for the Performing Arts

    The president of the College, trustees, and the president of the Bard College Alumni/ae Association, with the assistance of members of the faculty,  conferred five awards and recognized the retirements of two members of the faculty. All awardees were present, either in person or via Zoom, and each delivered remarks. The Bard Medal was presented to Charles S. Johnson III ’70; the John and Samuel Bard Award in Medicine and Science to Brianna Norton ’00; the Charles Flint Kellogg Award in Arts and Letters to Paul Chan MFA ’03; the John Dewey Award for Distinguished Public Service to Nsikan Akpan ’06; the Mary McCarthy Award to Claudia Rankine; and the Bardian Award to Peggy Florin, Medrie MacPhee, and Amie McEvoy. This event was livestreamed.
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    Awards Program (PDF)
  • Commencement Concert
    Friday, May 28, 2021
    8:00 pm
    Sosnoff Theater, Fisher Center for the Performing Arts

    Bard soloists and composers in concert with The Orchestra Now (TŌN). Leon Botstein, conductor. This event was livestreamed.
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    Concert Program (PDF)
  • Bardian Showcase of Senior Projects and Student Engagement
    Saturday, May 29, 2021
    Noon | Online Only

    This showcase preceded the Commencement ceremony and featured a sampling of work across all four academic divisions completed by Bard College undergraduates in 2021, including Senior Projects and a student engagement project.
    Watch Video
  • Commencement Ceremony
    Saturday, May 29, 2021
    2:30 pm
    Commencement tent, Seth Goldfine Memorial Rugby Field

    At 2:30 pm the Class of 2021 was joined by trustees and faculty in the academic procession. At 3:00 pm the Commencement Ceremony began with James C. Chambers ’81, chair of the Board of Trustees of Bard College, presiding. Graduates were invited to attend in person. The Commencement address was given by former Open Society Foundations president Patrick Gaspard, who received an honorary doctorate of humane letters. Honorary degrees were also awarded to dance therapy pioneer Miriam Roskin Berger ’56, economist William A. Darity Jr., climate scientist Michael E. Mann, actress Audra McDonald, physician Siddhartha Mukherjee, Reverend Vivian D. Nixon, and novelist Elif Shafak. This event was livestreamed.
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    Commencement Program (PDF)
  • Alumni/ae Memorial Service
    Sunday, May 30, 2021
    Noon
    Chapel of the Holy Innocents

    This was an Anglican service, hosted by our Anglican chaplain, Mary Grace Williams. The president of the College read the names of all those alumni/ae, friends, and colleagues who had died since the Bard commencement in August 2020. This event was livestreamed.
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    Memorial Program (PDF)

Congratulations, Class of 2021!

   
Bard College's Class of 2021 on their arrival day for the Language and Thinking Program, August 2017.
Photo by Pete Mauney ’93 MFA ’00

   

 

 

Reunion 2021

Reunion 2021

1's and 6's – it's your Reunion!

Saturday, June 12

Reconnecting with Bard and Bard friends is what we all need right now. Even in the virtual world, we can renew, reignite, and reflect on the Bard we love.

Join us virtually for all the 2021 reunion events on Saturday, June 12. 

Would you like to be on your reunion committee? Write to [email protected] or call 845-758-7116.

Reunion Information

   

   

Matriculation Dinner for the Class of 2021
August 2017. Photo by Karl Rabe

Commencement 2020

Bard College held its 160th commencement on Saturday, August 22, 2020.
In the virtual commencement ceremony, Bard President Leon Botstein conferred 437 undergraduate degrees on the Class of 2020 and 161 graduate degrees. 

Commencement 2020 Video + Stories