COVID-19 Student FAQs

What are the vaccination and booster requirements on campus?

In accordance with CDC guidance that everyone 18 years and older should receive a booster, we now require that all students receive a vaccine booster. Individuals who received Pfizer or Moderna vaccines are eligible to receive a booster dose six months after their last dose. Those who received Johnson & Johnson’s vaccine are eligible to receive a booster dose two months after your original dose. Boosters are widely available at vaccination sites nationwide.

Once you have received your booster, students should upload the date and submit proof of the vaccine (a screenshot of your vaccine card) to the medical portal at bard.medicatconnect.com (if you are unable to access the portal, students may send this information to [email protected]).

Please note: The additional booster that was authorized by the CDC in September 2022 is strongly recommended but not required at this point in time.

Is Bard a fully vaccinated campus?

Yes. Thanks to our vaccination mandate, Bard College is considered a “fully vaccinated campus” by CDC standards. 

All students, faculty, and staff are required to provide proof of vaccination, bringing us to a vaccination level of over 99%. The fewer than 1% of students and employees who remain unvaccinated have received prior approval for medical or religious reasons. We encourage community members and visitors who are not vaccinated to mask indoors.

How can I request a medical or religious exemption?

To request an exemption for vaccine or booster requirements for religious or medical reasons, please complete the form found on the Health Services website. Please note that if you were previously approved for an exemption, your exemption extends to the booster requirement and you do not need to reapply.

I’m fully vaccinated and up to date. Do I still need to wear a mask?

Bard College is a “mask-friendly” campus. With this policy, we have lifted the indoor mask mandate, but encourage anyone who wishes to wear a mask to do so. The College is requesting that students, faculty, and staff keep a mask with them in order to be ready for various situations you may encounter throughout the day.

In accordance with New York State requirements, everyone must continue to be masked when visiting the Bard Health Service.

Who should I contact about classroom accommodations during the pandemic?

If you require classroom accommodations, please contact the Office of Disability Access Services at [email protected]. You are also welcome to email the Response Team at [email protected] to explore accommodations to the College’s protocols or policies.

What should I do if I test positive for COVID-19 or learn that I've been exposed?

1. Notify: If you test positive for COVID-19, notify your close contacts and inform the Bard Health Service at 845-758-7433.

If someone who tests positive notifies you that you are their close contact, please mask, monitor your symptoms for the next 10 days and test yourself five full days after exposure. In keeping with CDC guidance, as long as you are fully vaccinated and remain asymptomatic you may continue with normal activities (with a high-quality mask for 10 days).

2. Isolate: In accordance with CDC guidance, anyone who tests positive can be released from isolation after five full days if they are not experiencing symptoms.

Like last year, any student who tests positive will be asked to isolate in their on-campus room or off-campus residence after their initial positive test. If they are still experiencing symptoms after five days, they should remain isolated until they are no longer symptomatic. If their symptoms end between five and 10 days after their initial positive test, they may end their isolation but must remain masked indoors or in group settings until day 10.

Do I need to get a COVID-19 test before arriving on campus for L&T or the fall semester?

No. Bard is not requiring a test before arrival this semester.

I'm fully vaccinated and up to date. Can I still get a COVID infection?

It is important to remember that vaccination is not a guarantee against infection. The purpose and power of vaccines comes from their ability to teach and strengthen our immune systems to more effectively identify and fight viruses, in this case the virus that causes COVID, thereby avoiding serious illness despite potential exposure. Vaccination, particularly as a fully vaccinated campus, is the best way to minimize exposure and prevent serious illness and community spread.

Will testing be available on campus?

Yes. Any student experiencing symptoms should contact Bard Health Services at 845-758-7433 to determine if a COVID test is warranted.

Is the College conducting contact tracing?

Bard College is no longer conducting contact tracing. Individuals who test positive should review their daily activities for 48 hours prior to the test or onset of symptoms and reach out to anyone with whom they were in close contact. A "close contact" is someone who was less than six feet away from an infected person (laboratory-confirmed or a clinical diagnosis) for a cumulative total of 15 minutes or more over a 24-hour period. It does not matter if you were wearing masks or not, and it does not matter if you were indoors or outdoors.

I feel sad, anxious, or depressed. Who can I talk to?

We understand that many students have experienced a great deal of change and disruption since the outbreak of COVID-19. Bard Counseling Services, in collaboration with Health Services, Student Government, Residence Life, and Wellness, are offering a range of workshops, programs, training, and support groups that use a trauma-informed approach and are guided by racial and social justice principles. Our programming is geared to support the mental well-being of all students at Bard.

Bard College remains cognizant and concerned about the disparate impact of this pandemic on people of color and individuals from financially challenged backgrounds, and the additional stress and anxiety during these difficult times. The Office of the Dean for Inclusive Excellence, the Financial Aid Office, the Office of Equity and Inclusion, and other campus resources are available to offer assistance in coping with the additional stressors generated by COVID-19.

Bard Counseling is offering in-person open clinic hours. Please visit the Counseling website to set up an appointment.

Bard Wellness offers a host of programming, including meditation, peer health open hours, and pet therapy. They also offer resources for self-care during this time. Visit the Wellness website for details.

What support is available to students in navigating COVID safety protocols?

The College-established Cares Team assists students in navigating safety protocols. Led by Vice President for Student Affairs Dumaine Williams, this team of administrators, faculty, and students is available to answer questions and advise community members on all matters relating to student safety and well-being. Dr. Williams and other members of the Cares Team can be reached at [email protected]. Individuals may use the COVID-19 Incident Report Form to report violations of community health standards related to COVID-19 safety protocols.

How do I reach out to the Response Team? 

You are welcome to reach out to the Response Team at [email protected].

How do I contact my dean?

First-Year Students

• Contact Assistant Dean of Students Molly Freitas ([email protected]; x7454).

Sophomores, Juniors, and Seniors

• For students whose last names start with A-B, contact Assistant Dean of Studies Molly Freitas ([email protected], x7454).
• For students whose last names start with C-D and H-P, contact Assistant Dean of Studies Dorothy Albertini ([email protected], x7454).
• For students whose last names start with E-G and Q-Z, contact Assistant Dean of Students Timand Bates ([email protected], x7454).

Visit the Dean of Studies website for more information about advising and working with the deans.

DEAN OF STUDIES

May I host visitors on campus?

Yes, you may host visitors on campus, including in the residence halls. Please consult with your visitors prior to arrival to ensure that they exhibit no symptoms of COVID-19 and to ascertain whether they are fully vaccinated and up to date.

Anyone—student, faculty, or staff—who wishes to host a visitor inside College facilities is asked to ensure that your visitor is fully vaccinated and boosted. Requesting proof of vaccination status is allowed under federal HIPAA law. If your intended visitor is vaccinated and recently tested positive for COVID, they may only come to campus if all of the following are true:

• It has been at least five days since they tested positive
• They are no longer experiencing symptoms
• If it has been more than five days but less than 10 days since their positive test, they must be masked throughout their time inside campus facilities or in any kind of group setting.

Prospective visitors who are unvaccinated may visit campus facilities, providing they test negative for COVID within 24 hours before coming to campus. We strongly recommend that unvaccinated visitors remain masked at all times. 

The prohibition on visitors eating in Kline or DTR, as well as the prohibition on overnight visitors in the dormitories, has been lifted. 

Are bands allowed to perform in student spaces like SMOG or the Root Cellar?

Yes. All bands must be fully vaccinated and up to date. The Office of Student Activities must obtain proof of vaccination for anyone playing at any venue.

Are College-sponsored trips and off-campus events permitted?

With a fully vaccinated campus community, students, faculty, and staff may resume course-related and club day trips and other off-campus activities by following common sense safety protocols. Student clubs and organizations wishing to organize activities off campus should register their event with SPARC to be sure they understand and are following all current guidelines and expectations. Anyone planning to participate in or organize trips off campus is asked to follow the guidelines in place at your destination. Anyone who has questions about planning for off-campus activities is welcome to contact the Response Team.

How does on-campus pick-up for Taste Budd’s Cafe work?

Taste Budd’s Cafe provides a daily delivery to campus once per day at noon. Be sure to order by 11:15AM via the Taste Budd’s website for your items to be included in the noon delivery. Item pickup is at the Taste Budd’s table at the Bard Security Office in the Old Gym on main campus. There is no minimum order and just a $2.00 drop/delivery fee. To order, visit TasteBudds.com and click Cafe Orders Online. Just add “Budd’s Bard Drop” to your cart when placing your order, and choose “pick up” (not delivery) when ordering, because you will pick up these orders at the Taste Budd's pick up table at the Old Gym. This service is only available for online orders.

Is the main campus open to the public?

Yes, the Bard College campus in Annandale is now open to the community. Bard College performances, exhibitions, and academic events are also open.

Prospective visitors who are unvaccinated may visit campus facilities, providing they test negative for COVID within 24 hours before coming to campus. Anyone experiencing COVID symptoms should refrain from coming to campus.

The Stevenson Athletic Center gym facilities remain closed to visitors; at this time visitor access is limited to observing sporting events. Please see below for details. 

Is the Stevenson Athletic Center open?

The Stevenson Athletic Center is currently open to students, faculty, and staff, and family members of faculty and staff (age 16+) who have been approved by the College. Athletics and Recreation staff, in consultation with the Response Team, will continue to evaluate the potential return of community use to the Stevenson Athletic Center. Updated requirements will be posted to bardathletics.com.

Community memberships will also be available soon to people interested in purchasing access to the pool and/or squash courts. Anyone accessing the gym must be fully vaccinated and boosted. Information regarding these memberships will be posted to bardathletics.com.

The gym is open to vaccinated and boosted spectators at sporting events. Any visitor wishing to attend an event at the gym must be prepared to show proof of vaccination and a booster before entering the facility. Until further notice, gym facilities remain off limits to visitors who wish to exercise; at this time visitor access is limited to observing sporting events. Please stay tuned for further updates about expanded gym access for visitors.

Is Montgomery Place open to the public?

The Montgomery Place grounds are open daily from dawn to dusk. Mansion tours are currently suspended. Visit the Montgomery Place website for more information.