Holiday Planning Guide

This page contains important information about personal travel and holiday celebrations. Please read through it as you consider your upcoming holiday plans. It’s essential that we take stock of the recent increases in COVID-19 cases regionally and nationally and adjust our plans accordingly.

What the Experts are Saying

Last week Dr. Anthony Fauci warned that household gatherings are a key component in the virus upticks, and CDC Director Robert Redfield said in a call to state governors that “what we're seeing as the increasing threat right now is actually acquisition of infection through small household gatherings.” Redfield went on to say that, “Particularly with Thanksgiving coming up, we think it's really important to stress the vigilance of these continued mitigation steps in the household setting."

What you need to know

  • Stay Vigilant
    We ask that all faculty and staff heed the warnings of our leading experts. Please continue to practice the behaviors and mitigation strategies, such as consistent mask-wearing, hand washing, and physical distancing, that have kept our campus safe and healthy for the past eight months. It’s important to keep in mind that most cases of community spread begin with one pre- or asymptomatic person. Someone you know but haven’t seen recently can be infectious, even if they are unaware, and one unmasked infected person can have detrimental effects on the health of many.
    (A similar communication has gone out to students, many of whom will be traveling away from campus for the holiday and not returning until January).
  • Adhere to Travel Warnings
    Traveling increases the risk of getting and spreading COVID-19 and the level of risk varies based on mode of transportation, number of people in the vehicle, location of travel to and from, physical closeness to others, masking consistency, and so on. If traveling, please do so responsibly and follow the guidelines attached. Staying home is still the best way to protect yourself and others from COVID-19.
    Bard's Travel Policy Restricted Travel States CDC Travel Guide

Please Remember

People who are sick, live with someone who is in a higher-risk category for severe illness from COVID-19, have recently tested positive or presumed positive, or have been exposed to a person with COVID-19 should delay travel. 

Holiday Gatherings

Prior to attending holiday gatherings please review our travel policy and abide by all College regulations, including daily screening and symptom reporting. 
Bard Travel Policy

  • Hosting or Attending Gatherings
    The safest celebrations are those that consist of members of the same household or are held virtually. In-person gatherings pose varying levels of risk depending on community infection rates, location of event, number of attendees, duration or time together, attendees’ behaviors prior to and during the event (masking, distancing, and handwashing). In addition to CDC’s holiday-specific guidelines, there are recommendations that hold true for all social gatherings.
    CDC Holiday Guide
  • Tips for Social Gatherings
    • Keep it small, short, and safe.
    • Keep it contained to your own household as much as possible.
    • Spend as much time outside as possible.
    • Open doors or windows inside, when it’s safe and feasible to do so.
    • Do not shake hands or give hugs—wave or verbally greet others.
    • Clean and disinfect commonly touched surfaces.

Postcelebration Actions

If you participated in a gathering during the holidays—including traveling, dining outside your home, hosting social gatherings, or being in unfamiliar venues or around new people—or if you think that you may have been exposed during your celebration, please follow this advice.

  • Take extra precautions for 14 days after the event.
    Steps to protect others:
    • Stay home as much as possible.
    • Avoid being around people at increased risk for severe illness from COVID-19.
    • Get tested for COVID-19.
    • Monitor your health and the health of those around you.
    • Employees MUST fill out a Daily Health Screening and receive clearance prior to coming to campus. Do not omit information that could impact the health and safety of others. Failure to accurately and truthfully screen WILL result in disciplinary action, including removal from campus. 
  • If you develop symptoms consistent with COVID-19
    If you develop symptoms consistent with COVID-19, such as fever, cough, or shortness of breath, or if you test positive for COVID-19:
    • Immediately contact the host and others that attended the celebration that you attended.
    • Do not come to campus.
    • Contact your health-care provider.
    • Follow the CDC-recommended steps for what to do if you become sick. 
    • Keep track of your symptoms.
    • If you have an emergency warning sign (including trouble breathing), get emergency medical care immediately.

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Contact Us

Bard College Office of Human Resources
Mailing Address: PO Box 5000, (Street Address: 30 Campus Road)
Annandale-on-Hudson, NY 12504-5000
Phone: 845-758-7428 or Fax: 845-758-7826
Email: hr@bard.edu

We are open Monday through Friday, 9am - 5pm