Bard Reading Initiative STUDENT READING GROUPS
CALL FOR PROPOSALS
The Bard Reading Initiative and the Dean of the College would like to announce a call for
student-organized reading groups and circles.
Reading groups do not need to be linked to a particular course, curriculum, or program. On the
contrary, we hope that students take advantage of this opportunity to read books for
entertainment or edification beyond the formal structure of classes. Books could be fiction, nonfiction,
theory, philosophy, poetry, science writing, or anything students choose. We want to
encourage sustained reading as an enjoyable method for understanding ourselves, our world, and
our place in it, and emphasize the importance of reading as a group practice for building
communities of thought and activity.
The Bard Reading Initiative will provide support for approved groups by purchasing inexpensive
copies of the selected book for all group members; so too, the college will pay for refreshments
for group meetings ($100 total). Groups should commit to meeting regularly at least four times
throughout the semester. Approved groups will be able to use Sawkill Coffeeshop or Manor Café
107 to hold meetings (the Office of the Dean of the College will reserve the space in advance).
Receipts should be submitted to Ben Chinsena in Ludlow 208.
Interested students should submit a proposal describing the book and the rationale for choosing it
along with a signed letter of support by a Bard College faculty or staff member. In addition,
please submit a list of at least 3 students committed to joining the reading group.
Proposals should be forwarded to: [email protected]
Deadline for Proposals Friday, February 22 , 2019
For more information, call 845-758-7421, or e-mail [email protected].