A Message about Citizen Science, the Spring Academic Calendar, Returning to Campus, and Montgomery Place Access

To the Bard College community:

Topics in this update:

• Spring academic calendar
• Student testing requirements and return-to-campus dates 
• Montgomery Place access

This week we write regarding the spring 2021 semester, including the academic calendar and arrival dates for Citizen Science and all returning students. COVID cases around the country and in our area are still increasing, so we all must continue to exercise a heightened degree of caution. Our collective success in keeping the campus safe this semester enables us to plan for in-person classes next semester as well. We will try to repeat what worked well from this fall, and update our policies based on what we have learned. The foundation of our effort will continue to be the Bard community, working together in support of public health

Spring academic calendar

• Citizen Science will take place January 14-29. We are currently planning for a blended, in-person program (with some fully remote sections), but that may change depending on conditions and regulations regarding the pandemic in the coming weeks. However, the dates of Citizen Science will not change regardless of the teaching modality for the Citizen Science program. This means that the return-to-campus dates for Citizen Science students will not change from what is delineated below. 
   
• The Spring Semester will resemble the Fall Semester in terms of length, with classes beginning on February 1 and ending on May 25.
   
• Spring Recess has been removed from the calendar and is being replaced by five alternative days of respite, to be distributed over the course of the semester. More information is forthcoming about where these respite days will fall in the academic calendar. 

Student testing requirements and return-to-campus dates
Every student who wishes to attend in-person classes in spring 2021 must complete these return-to-campus protocols, whether you live on or off campus. 

All students (except for those few remaining in the campus residence halls over the holiday break) will be required to take two COVID tests as part of the “return to campus” protocol: 

1. Each returning student must take their first COVID test within 3 days before returning to campus or your off-campus residence. If you receive your test result before returning, you must submit it to [email protected]. If you do not receive your test result before returning, you must be prepared to quarantine upon arrival until you receive your result. 
    
2. Each returning student will be required to take their second COVID test through Bard approximately 4 days after returning to campus. 

Students required by New York State Guidelines to quarantine, such as those traveling from any non-contiguous state or from overseas, will immediately enter quarantine upon arrival at Bard. Students not required to quarantine will be expected to refrain from group social interactions and not eat in groups. Only once you’ve received negative results from both your pre-travel and post-travel tests will you be able to return to campus activities and in-person classes.

New York State has updated its quarantine requirement to enable travelers to test out of quarantine if they submit negative pre- and post-travel COVID tests, reducing quarantine time to approximately four days. Thanks to this welcome change, in January the College will be able to provide quarantine space to all students who need it on campus, instead of in a hotel. Because of the complex planning involved, it is very important that you plan to arrive on the day that corresponds to your situation (please see schedule below, and contact the Dean of Student Affairs office with questions).   

• Early arrivals: pre-approved student workers and seniors: Monday, January 4 (9am-3pm)
  All early arrivals MUST be pre-approved by Senior Project Advisors or Supervisors. These students also must observe the testing protocols listed above, and quarantine as necessary depending on where they are traveling from.
   
• Students taking Citizen Science who are NOT required to quarantine: Tuesday, January 12 (9am-3pm)
  Under current guidance, students who spend the holiday break in New York State or in a state that borders New York are not required to quarantine. These students must observe the testing requirements listed above, and refrain from group activities until receiving their test results.  
   
• Students taking Citizen Science who are REQUIRED to quarantine: Wednesday, January 13 (9am-3pm)
  Students who spend the holiday break anywhere other than New York State or a state bordering New York are REQUIRED to quarantine by current New York State Guidelines. These students also must observe the testing protocols listed above.   
   
• International and Exchange Students: Friday, January 15 (9am-3pm)
  All students arriving from outside the United States are REQUIRED to quarantine by current New York State Guidelines. These students also must observe the testing protocols listed above.
   
• Upper College/New Transfer Students who are REQUIRED to quarantine: Friday, January 22 (9am-3pm)
  Students who spend the holiday break anywhere other than New York State or a state bordering New York are REQUIRED to quarantine by current New York State Guidelines. These students also must observe the testing protocols listed above.   
   
• New Transfer Students who do NOT need to quarantine: Tuesday, January 26 (9am-3pm)
  Under current guidance, students who spend the holiday break in New York State or in a state that borders New York are not required to quarantine. These students must observe the testing requirements listed above, and refrain from group activities until receiving their test results.  
   
• Upper College Students who do NOT need to quarantine: Friday, January 29 (9am-3pm)
  Under current guidance, students who spend the holiday break in New York State or in a state that borders New York are not required to quarantine. These students must observe the testing requirements listed above, and refrain from group activities until receiving their test results.  

Surveillance testing of student and employee populations will resume once all returning students have completed their post-travel tests and required quarantine. We will provide additional information on January return-to-campus protocols next week as we work out further details. 

Access to the Montgomery Place Campus
As we near the end of the fall semester, we are pleased to announce that Montgomery Place will reopen to the public on Monday, December 21, once the fall semester is completed. All visitors must observe COVID safety protocols, including mask wearing and physical distancing, and no group activities are allowed without advance approval from the Response Team. 

We are very thankful that we have come so far as a community under these circumstances. With only one more week remaining in the semester, we ask all to remain careful and vigilant, and we send our best wishes to students completing final exams and papers. 

Sincerely,
Bard College COVID-19 Response Team
[email protected]
 
Coleen Alexander Murphy, Vice President for Administration
Kimberly Alexander, Director, Human Resources
Jonathan Becker, Executive Vice President and Vice President for Academic Affairs
Barbara Jean Briskey, Director, Health Services
Erin Cannan, Vice President Student Affairs/Dean for Civic Engagement
Deirdre d'Albertis, Dean of the College
Malia Du Mont, Chief of Staff, President's Office/Vice President for Strategy and Policy
Brooke Jude, Associate Professor of Biology
John Gomez, Director, Safety and Security
Emily McLaughlin, Associate Dean of the College
Jennifer Murray, Dean of International Studies
Bethany Nohlgren, Dean of Students
Kahan Sablo, Dean for Inclusive Excellence
Michael Sadowski, Interim Dean of Graduate Studies
David Shein, Associate VP for Academic Affairs/Dean of Studies
Éric Trudel, Chair, Faculty Senate

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For more information, call 845-758-6822.

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