A Message about CDC Masking Recommendations and End-Of-Semester Protocols
A COVID-19 Update
To the Bard College Community,The end of the semester is upon us and both flu and COVID are circulating in the surrounding community and on campus. COVID tests continue to be available at the Bard Health Service for any students experiencing symptoms. As public health experts have emphasized throughout the pandemic, currently available vaccines do not eliminate or prevent COVID, but they do significantly reduce the severity of symptoms and illness.
CDC recommends indoor masking
The CDC has recently classified Dutchess County as an area of high transmission for COVID-19. In areas of high transmission, the CDC recommends vaccination, testing if you experience symptoms, and masking indoors. As a result of this designation, members of our community should consider wearing a mask when indoors and in a public setting and other common or shared spaces where individuals may interact.
End-of-semester protocols
- Residence halls: As publicized on the College’s Residence Life webpage, the spring semester check-out date for non-graduating students who live on campus is May 25 at noon (graduating seniors have until May 29 at noon). More one thousand Commencement, Reunion, and summer program participants will start arriving on campus almost immediately thereafter. To prepare for the arrival of our summer residents, the College’s Environmental Services team must clean and turn over all residence hall rooms. The College will consider the situation of any student who is ill with COVID on the prescribed move-out date on a case-by-case basis according to the individual circumstances of each student. Students who wish to be considered for limited temporary COVID housing assistance are asked to contact the Bard Cares Team at [email protected] to describe their needs.
- End-of-semester events: Commencement and Reunion activities are moving forward as planned. Programs and clubs that wish to organize end-of-semester events are welcome to do so, keeping in mind the CDC recommendation on indoor masking.
Sincerely,
Bard College COVID-19 Response Team
[email protected]
Coleen Murphy Alexander, Vice President for Administration
Kimberly Alexander, Director, Human Resources
Jonathan Becker, Executive Vice President and Vice President for Academic Affairs
Barbara Jean Briskey, Director of Health Services
Christian Ayne Crouch, Dean of Graduate Studies
Deirdre d'Albertis, Vice President and 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, Assistant Vice President of Operations, Director, Safety and Security
David Lindholm, Interim Athletic Director
Emily McLaughlin, Associate Dean of the College, Associate Professor of Chemistry
Bethany Nohlgren, Associate Vice President for Student Affairs, Dean of Students
Michael Sadowski, Associate Dean of the College
David Shein, Associate Vice President for Academic Affairs, Dean of Studies
Dumaine Williams, Vice President for Student Affairs
For more information, call 845-758-6822.