Faculty and Staff FAQs

Is the Bard campus open to the public?

Yes, the main Bard College campus grounds in Annandale are now open to the community. Please be aware that, due to Bard Summerscape rehearsals and performances at Montgomery Place, public access to the Montgomery Place campus will be restricted throughout the summer; please consult the Montgomery Place website for details. External groups that wish to hold outdoor gatherings on campus grounds should contact responseteam@bard.edu to discuss relevant restrictions and required approvals. Please note that indoor access is still restricted only to approved visitors, and one-way traffic flow inside buildings and related signage are being discontinued/removed. 

Can I host visitors on campus?

The main Bard College campus grounds are now open to the public, with COVID-19 safety protocols still in place. Please note that no visitors of any kind are permitted inside buildings or facilities unless they have been approved in advance by the Response Team via the Essential Visitor Request Form (below). All visitors must be accompanied at all times by their Bard host and must follow all masking and physical distancing requirements.

• Other third-party visitor requests will only be approved in exceptional cases and for essential civic activities such as elections, where visitors will be directed to closely controlled facilities operated and cleaned in keeping with New York State and CDC approved COVID-19 protocols. 
• For the health and safety of our campus community, supervisors must request permission and receive approval for any non-Bard, third-party visitor to campus facilities at this time. This is not required for visitors going into private residences.
• Once approval is received, the authorized visitor will be sent an email from the COVID Check-In Coordinator with a link to the health screening form, which they must complete prior to their arrival on campus.

Is Montgomery Place open to the public?

Montgomery Place is open to the public from dawn to dusk on Mondays only through August 13 (closed July 5) to accommodate Bard SummerScape programming. Mansion tours are currently suspended. Visit the Montgomery Place website for more information.

Has the College provided guidance for summer travel?

Yes. The College has updated its travel guidelines to reflect improving public health conditions and rising vaccination rates. While we ask that all members of our community exercise caution when undertaking higher risk activities such as travel, official College travel is no longer restricted. Please take relevant CDC and U.S. State Department travel advisories into account.  

Will Bard College require employees to be vaccinated against COVID-19 for the fall 2021 semester?

No. Bard College strongly encourages employees to get vaccinated, but does not require it. The College will require all students to be vaccinated against COVID-19 for the 2021–22 academic year.  

Public health experts advise that universal vaccination is the surest basis for a normal campus experience, including expanded in-person instruction, campus activities, athletics, performances, and gatherings in the fall. In addition, the American College Health Association has recommended that colleges require COVID-19 vaccination for all on-campus students for the fall 2021 semester. Over 200 other colleges and universities have announced such a requirement. As the ACHA notes, pre-matriculation vaccination requirements for students attending institutions of higher education in the United States are not new. 

When can I get a vaccination?

As of April 6, everyone in New York age 16 and over is eligible to receive a COVID-19 vaccination. That means the entire Bard College community is now eligible, and we encourage all students, faculty, and staff to get vaccinated as soon as possible. Please use this tool on the New York State website to find a nearby vaccination site and make an individual appointment.

Once I’ve been vaccinated, do I still need to wear a mask?

Not generally. Bard’s mask mandate, already lifted for outdoor activities for vaccinated and unvaccinated individuals, has also been lifted for vaccinated individuals inside campus facilities. This new guidance applies only to vaccinated individuals; any unvaccinated individuals must still wear masks indoors. Please note that some facilities and activities may still require masking. Your supervisor or program director will advise you if your facility or program requires special protocols due to its specific circumstances. Please see the College's full mask guidelines for details.

I have cold or allergy-like symptoms. Should I get a COVID-19 test just to be safe?

Yes. Please do not dismiss cold or flu-like symptoms. If you experience cold or allergy-like symptoms, even mild ones, please get yourself tested for COVID. In the vast majority of cases, it will not be COVID, but even one undiagnosed case poses a risk to you and creates the potential for spread in your community. If you are experiencing symptoms, please fill out your daily health screening to indicate these symptoms and consult your physician. 

How can employees get tested for COVID-19?

Beginning in the spring 2021 semester, COVID-19 surveillance testing will be mandatory for all employees working on campus. This testing applies to employees who (1) are actively working on campus, (2) have submitted the new Health Pledge, and (3) pass the daily check-in screening. Remote employees will not be part of the testing pool until they return to campus for work. Learn more about mandatory surveillance testing for on-campus employees.

Please note there is no on-demand testing on campus for employees. Employees should seek testing off campus for all instances except when they are selected for a weekly surveillance test. Employees can get tested locally through their health insurance, and should discuss their options with their primary care physician. You can locate your nearest COVID testing site at this site operated by the New York State Department of Health, or at the Empire Blue Cross/Blue Shield Coronavirus Resource Center here.

What happens if a faculty or staff member tests positive?

In the case of a positive test result, contact tracing protocols will be initiated. 

Employees who test positive for COVID-19 or have received a quarantine notice from Bard College or the Department of Health will be required to self-isolate off campus for up to two weeks. 

Employees who test positive must provide medical clearance to the Office of Human Resources before returning to work on campus. A letter from a doctor or health department are both acceptable forms of medical clearance.

How should employees report a positive COVID test from an off-campus testing site?

I received a mandatory quarantine notice or found out I had contact with someone with COVID-19. What should I do?

Employees who test positive for COVID-19 or have received a quarantine notice from Bard College or the Department of Health will be required to self-isolate off campus for up to two weeks. 

Employees who receive a mandatory quarantine notice cannot return to campus until their clearance date, as provided by Bard College or the health department. There is no ability to test out of a quarantine from close contact exposure.

How will violations of community standards for health and safety be addressed?

The College has established the Bard Cares Team to address instances where students or employees are having difficulty abiding by the community norms of behavior regarding the College’s established COVID-19 protocols. The Team, chaired by Vice President and Dean of the Early Colleges Dumaine Williams, has developed a clear set of steps based in restorative practices to respond to reports seeking assistance, guidance, or a resolution of issues related to compliance with health and safety measures in the Bard community. It also seeks to equip members of the Bard community with information about bystander intervention techniques and other actions we can take to help keep each other safe and accountable. Dr. Williams and other members of the Cares Team can be reached at caresteam@bard.edu. Individuals may use the COVID-19 Incident Report Form to report violations of community health standards related to COVID-19 social distancing guidelines and requirements.

How do I reach out to the Response Team? 

Any member of the Bard community is welcome to send questions or suggestions to the Response Team by email, or to attend our weekly office hours. Every Tuesday afternoon from 4 to 5pm, members of the Response Team will be available on Zoom for anyone who wants to drop by with a question. Please check your Bard email or write to the Response Team at responseteam@bard.edu for Zoom details.

What should I do if I feel sick?

Employees experiencing any symptoms or warning signs of COVID-19 should not report to campus. Inform your supervisor and Human Resources, contact your health care provider (by phone rather than walking in), and follow CDC guidelines.

Can I plan in-person activities with other members of the campus community?

Campus community members may now begin to plan small, COVID-safe in-person activities. All proposed events must adhere to COVID safety protocols as outlined in the COVID-19 Student Handbook Addendum, as well as any additional protocols needed for each specific event. Students should contact SPARC through the Office of Student Activities by emailing sparcevents@bard.edu. Employees wishing to hold events may apply by filling out the form here. 

Is the Stevenson Gym open?

The Stevenson Athletic Center and Stevenson Pool are now open to Bard students, faculty, and staff, as well as to non-remote graduate students who live on campus or in Dutchess, Columbia, Greene or Ulster counties. Reservations are required: visit bardathletics.com for access and protocols. Please note the facility remains closed to the public.