Skip to main content.
Bard
  • Bard
  • Academics sub-menuAcademics
    Bard College Commencement
    • Academics
      • Programs and Divisions
      • Structure of the Curriculum
      • Courses
      • Requirements
      • Discover Bard
      • Bard Abroad
      • Academic Calendar
      • Faculty
      • Libraries
      • College Catalogue
      • Dual-Degree Programs
      • Bard Conservatory of Music
      • Other Study Opportunities
      • Graduate Programs
      • Early Colleges
  • Admission sub-menuAdmission
    • Applying
      • Apply Now
      • Financial Aid
      • Tuition + Payment
    • Discover Bard
      • Campus Tours
      • Meet Our Students + Alumni/ae
      • For Families / Familias
    • Stay in Touch
      • Join Our Mailing List
      • Contact Us
  • Campus Life sub-menuCampus Life
    Bard Campus Life

    Make a home in Annandale.

    • Living on Campus
      • Housing + Dining
      • Campus Resources
      • Get Involved on Campus
      • Visiting + Transportation
      • Athletics + Recreation
      • New Students
  • Civic Engagement sub-menuCivic Engagement
    • Bard CCE The Center for Civic Engagement (CCE) at Bard College embodies the fundamental belief that education and civil society are inextricably linked.

      Take action.
      Make an impact.

      Get Involved
      • Campus + Community
      • In the Classroom
      • U.S. Network
      • International Network
      • About CCE
      • Resources
      • Support
  • Newsroom sub-menuNews + Events
    Upstreaming
    • News + Events
      • Newsroom
      • Events Calendar
      • Video Gallery
      • Press Releases
      • Office of Communications
      • COVID-19 Updates
    • Special Events
      • Commencement Weekend
      • Alumni/ae Reunion
      • Family + Alumni/ae Weekend
      • Fisher Center
      • Bard SummerScape
      • Bard Athletics
  • About Bard sub-menuAbout Bard

    A private college for the public good.

    Support Bard

    Legacy Challenge
    • About Bard College
      • Mission Statement
      • Bard History
      • Love of Learning
      • Visiting Bard
      • Employment
      • OSUN
      • Bard Abroad
      • The Bard Network
      • Montgomery Place Campus
      • Campus Tours
      • Diversity, Equity, and Inclusion
      • Sustainability
      • Title IX and Nondiscrimination
      • HEOA Disclosures
      • Institutional Support
      • Safety and Security
      • Inside Bard
      • Alumni/ae Network
      • Family Network
      • Support Bard
      • Legacy Challenge
  • COVID-19 Information
  • Give
  • Search

Student Handbook

  • Welcome to Bard!
    • Welcome to Bard
    • Academic Mission
    • Bard College Statement of Commitment to Diversity
  • Student Government Constitution of Bard College
    • Student Government Constitution of Bard College
    • By-Laws of the Student Government Constitution of Bard College
  • Academic and Campus Life Calendar, 2022-2023
    • 2022-2023 Academic and Campus Life Calendar
  • Religious Services and Holiday Calendar, 2022-2023
    • Religious Services and Holiday Calendar, 2022–2023
  • Social Media Guidance
    • Social Media Guidance
  • Sports & Student Clubs
    • Sports
    • Student Clubs
  • Bard College Student Government and Standing Committees
    • Bard College Student Government and Standing Committees
  • Learning at Bard
    • Learning at Bard
    • The Curriculum
    • Structure of the First Year
    • Language and Thinking Program
    • First-Year Seminar
    • Citizen Science
    • First-Year Advising
    • First-Year Electives
    • Program and Concentration Approach to Study
    • Moderation
    • Distribution Requirements
    • Senior Project
    • Academic Courses
    • Academic Programs and Concentrations
    • Specialized Degree Programs
    • Academic Requirements and Regulations
    • Evaluation and Grades
    • Academic Deficiencies
    • Plagiarism and Academic Dishonesty
    • Grievance Committee
    • Withdrawal from the College and Rematriculation
  • Campus Facilities and Resources
    • Office of Alumni/ae Affairs
    • Athletics and Recreation
    • College IDs and Keys
    • Bard Emergency Medical Services (Bard EMS)
    • Bard Learning Commons
    • Accessibility and Disability Resources
    • Office of Quantitative Literacy
    • Behavorial Intervention Team (BIT)
    • Bertelsmann Campus Center
    • Bookstore
    • BRAVE
    • Career Development Office
    • Center for Student Life & Advising
    • Center for Civic Engagement
    • Central Services
    • Counseling Service
    • Dean of Student Affairs Office
    • Emergency Response Team
    • Dining Services
    • Environmental Services
    • Financial Aid
    • Health Services
    • Bard Information Technology
    • Office of International Student and Scholar Services
    • Charles P. Stevenson Jr. Library
    • Physical Plant/Buildings and Grounds
    • Post Office
    • Office of the Registrar
    • Office of Residence Life and Housing
    • Office of Safety and Security
    • Shipping & Receiving
    • Spiritual Life at Bard College
    • Student Accounts
    • Office of Student Activities (OSA)
    • Student Employment Office
    • Telecommunications
    • Student Resources Group
    • Transportation
    • Trustee Leader Scholar Program (TLS)
    • Open Society University Network (OSUN)
  • Residence Life & Housing
    • Residence Life
    • General Information
    • Room Assignments and Changes
    • Safety and Security in Residence Halls
    • Fire Safety Policies
    • General Residence Hall Policies
    • Damages and Fines
    • Policy Violations Outcomes
  • College Policies, Regulations, and Procedures
    • College Policies, Regulations, and Procedures
    • Alcohol and Drug Policy
    • Alcohol and Drug Programming
    • Anti-Hazing Statement
    • Bias Incidents
    • Campus Computing
    • Bicycle Policy
    • Consensual Relations
    • Digital Millennium Copyright Act
    • Discipline or Dismissal of Students
    • Events Registration
    • Free Speech Policy
    • Dogs on Campus
    • Gender-Based Misconduct
    • Grilling on Campus
    • Hoverboards
    • Harassment, Discrimination and Stalking Policy
    • Leaves of Absence/Dismissals
    • Nondiscrimination Policy
    • Physical Violence/Threats of Physical Violence
    • Sanctions
    • Sign Posting Policy
    • Smoking
    • Student Judiciary Board
    • Theft
    • Trash Disposal
    • Trespassing
    • Vandalism
    • Weapons
  • Safety and Security
    • Safety and Security
    • Safety and Security Vehicles
    • Identification
    • Lock Outs
    • Lost and Found
    • Driving Regulations and Violations
    • Motor Vehicle Regulations
    • Motorcycles
    • Golf Carts
    • Parking Regulations
    • Derelict Vehicles
    • NYS Traffic Laws
    • Fire Safety Information and Policies
    • Annual Campus Safety & Security and Fire Safety Reports
  • Appendix I: Moderation
    • Appendix I: Moderation
  • Appendix II: Senior Project Preparation and Presentation
    • Appendix II: Senior Project Preparation and Presentation
  • COVID-19 Handbook Addendum
    • COVID-19 Student Handbook Addendum
       
    • Introduction 
    • Holding Ourselves Accountable: A Place to Think about Others
    • Off-Campus Life & Engaging with the Local Community
    • Living Off Campus
    • Remote Learning
    • Travel Outside of the Hudson Valley
    • Expectations and Guidelines for Campus Life
    • On-Campus Residence Life
    • Isolation Housing
    • Quarantine Housing
    • Support Resources
    • Student Health Pledge

Leaves of Absence/Dismissals

Matriculated students are expected to remain enrolled at the College for eight consecutive semesters or until they graduate. Exceptions include:

Academic Dismissal/Mandatory Leave of Absence Students who fail to make adequate academic progress may be dismissed from the College or placed on a mandatory leave of absence by the Faculty Executive Committee. Students who are dismissed from the College can petition to re-matriculate after having successfully completed at least one year of work at another college/university and satisfying any other conditions set by the Faculty Executive Committee. Students placed on a mandatory leave of absence may return to the College only after having complied with conditions set by the Faculty Executive Committee.

Expulsion/Suspension/Disciplinary Leave Students who demonstrate, through repeated and/or willful violations of the College’s rules, regulations, and standards of behavior that they are unwilling or unable to participate productively and safely in the residential and academic community of the College may be asked to leave the College permanently (expulsion) or for a designated period of time (suspension). Students who have been suspended from the College may petition to return after they have satisfied the terms of the suspension. In some cases, where the law requires, an expulsion, suspension or disciplinary leave will be noted on the student’s official transcript.

Medical Leave of Absence Students who are unable to meet the College’s academic or social standards for medical reasons can request a medical leave of absence from the College. Students should work with a dean in the Center for Student Life and Advising to create an appropriate plan for the leave and potential return in a future semester. In the event that a student cannot, even with reasonable accommodation, remain safely at the College or meet the College’s academic or social standards, the College may require the student to take a medical leave of absence. The decision to place a student on a medical leave of absence will be made by a Dean within the Dean of Student Affairs Office, in consultation with the Vice President for Student Affairs, the directors of the Health and Counseling Center, and other members of the faculty and staff, as appropriate. Such decisions will include inquiry into the student’s current condition and may include requests for recent medical or mental health information. The decision to place a student on a medical leave will be based on an individualized assessment of the extent to which the student is able to safely meet the College’s academic standards and the extent to which the student poses a significant risk of harm to themself or another, and it will include consideration of whether the risk can be eliminated or reduced to acceptable levels through accommodations. Before placing a student on a medical leave, the Dean will notify the student that they are considering this option and explain the grounds for consideration of it, and the student will be given the opportunity to meet with the Dean and to provide relevant information.

Students wishing to return to the College from a medical leave of absence must contact the Dean of Student Affairs Office in writing by the date specified in the official notice of their leave. Students will be required to demonstrate they are fit to return by completing a Reinstatement from Medical Leave of Absence form and furnishing a written opinion from a medical professional who is qualified to assess the student’s fitness to return. The College reserves the right to seek a second opinion from another medical professional. In evaluating a student’s request to return from a medical leave of absence, the Dean of Students will confer with the Behavioral Intervention Team as appropriate, to determine whether the student can, with reasonable accommodation, remain safely at the College and meet the College’s academic standards upon return. In the process of making this assessment, the Dean may inquire into the student’s current condition and request recent medical or mental health information, as appropriate. A request to return will be denied if it is determined the student will not, even with reasonable accommodations, be able to remain safe at the College and meet the College’s academic standards.

Students who feel they have been discriminated against in the medical leave of absence process, either by being unduly placed on a leave or not allowed to return from one, should, in a reasonable and timely manner, file a detailed written complaint with the Dean of Studies, who serves as the College’s ADA Coordinator. The dean will investigate the complaint and issue a report, normally within 30 days. Students who are unsatisfied with the resolution should take up the matter with the Vice President for Administration. Further appeals may be addressed directly to the President. The Dean of Students may temporarily suspend a student, pending the resolution of an appeal, if the continued presence of that student on campus is deemed by the Dean to constitute a threat to the well-being of the student or others. Students will have the opportunity to meet with the Dean before such a suspension. Students who file a complaint are protected against retaliation in any form. If a student suspects that such retaliation has occurred, s/he should file a written complaint, as per the above.

Personal Leave of Absence Students in good academic standing who wish to take a leave from the College for one or two consecutive semesters may maintain their status as candidates for a bachelor of arts degree by applying to the Dean of Student Affairs Office for permission to take a personal leave of absence. The student will be asked to complete a Leave of Absence request form and meet with a member of the Dean of Student Affairs Office to discuss their plans. Typically, students on a personal leave of absence forfeit their financial aid for the semester(s) during which they are on leave. Students returning from a personal leave of absence must submit to the Dean of Student Affairs Office written confirmation of their plans to return. Students who provide such notification in a timely manner will be permitted to participate in room draw, as appropriate, and in course registration for the semester they plan to return.

Conditional Leave Students who experience social and personal difficulties, which are often connected with academic performance, may be required to take a leave of absence for a semester or an academic year. A social leave of absence is not a disciplinary sanction, but a recognition that the student may be at a difficult stage of personal and social development. Social leaves of absence and conditions for return are determined by and at the discretion of the Dean of Students. The Student Judiciary Board can recommend to the Dean of Students that a student be placed on a social leave.

Withdrawal/Transfer Students who wish to terminate their relationship with the College, and/or transfer to another college/university, must complete a withdrawal/transfer request form and meet with the Dean of Student Affairs staff.

**Any student taking a leave of absence during the semester must vacate their on-campus residence hall within 24 hours.

Students placed on medical or mandatory leave, dismissed for academic or disciplinary reasons, suspended or expelled may have their access to campus (including but not limited to the College’s Annandale campus and its off-campus locations such as UBS and the College’s satellite campuses) limited or revoked. Access to Bard e-mail will be revoked for students who have been dismissed, suspended or expelled, and for students who have withdrawn from the College. Written notification will be provided.

After a student is not enrolled for 4 consecutive semesters, they will be withdrawn from the College. Any student wishing to rematriculate after that time, should contact the Dean of Student Affairs Office at [email protected]


 

 

Related Services + Resources

  • Athletics
  • Bard Houses
  • BRAVE
  • Buildings and Grounds
  • Center for Civic Engagement
  • Chaplaincy
  • Dean of Students
  • Disability Access Services
  • Diversity, Equity, and Inclusion
  • EMS
  • Financial Aid
  • Health, Counseling, and Wellness
  • Mailing + Shipping
  • Registrar's Office
  • Residence Life
  • Safety + Security
  • Student Accounts
  • Student Activities
  • Student Handbook
  • Student Life + Advising
  • Student Relief Fund
  • Title IX and Nondiscrimination
  • Transportation
  • Tuition + Payment
  • Visiting + Maps
Bard College
30 Campus Road
PO Box 5000
Annandale-on-Hudson, New York 12504-5000
Phone: 845-758-6822
Admission E-mail: [email protected]
©2023 Bard College
Follow Us on Twitter
Like us on Facebook
Follow Us on Instagram
You Tube
Information For:
Prospective Students
Current Employees
Alumni/ae 
Families
Quick Links
Employment
Travel to Bard
Site Search
Support Bard