COVID-19 Updates

The Bard MFA Summer 2022 session will take place in person on Bard College Campus in Annandale-on-Hudson, NY.

Individual in person visits to campus can be scheduled by emailing [email protected] All visitors must be fully vaccinated against Covid-19, provide proof of vaccination before arriving on campus, and wear a mask throughout their visit. For more information on Covid-19 Protocols for Bard Campus, please visit the Bard Covid-19 Response webpage.

To everyone, we hope you and your loved ones are healthy and happy.

These recommendations follow CDC and Bard College COVID guidelines, with additional program-specific precautions designed to protect the most vulnerable members of the MFA community and allow for more "full group" MFA gatherings. These protocols will be reviewed and potentially revised after the 2nd week of the summer program.

MASKING POLICY
For the first 2 weeks of the program, masking will be mandatory in full community critiques, performances, readings and lectures in indoor spaces.  In addition, masks are mandatory for all public indoor spaces. Masks may be removed for speaking, and then replaced.
Caucuses and seminar groups will use the same protocols as full community critiques.
For individual studio meetings, please respect the most protective choice of both parties.  For example, if one person prefers to mask, the other person should mask also. Masking is strongly encouraged.
For more information about Bard’s mask policy for all other campus locations and activities, please see this page.

VACCINATION REQUIREMENTS
Bard College is a fully vaccinated campus, requiring that all students, faculty, and staff be fully vaccinated. In accordance with the recent CDC guidance that everyone 18 years and older should receive a booster, we require that all students, faculty, and staff receive a vaccine booster. Boosters are widely available at ︎vaccination sites nationwide.

Once you have received your booster, students should upload the date and submit proof of the vaccine (a screenshot of your vaccine card) to the medical portal at bard.medicatconnect.com (if you are unable to access the portal, students may send this information to [email protected]). Employees, once boosted, must provide updated vaccination cards ︎here.

GUEST POLICY
The Bard College guest policy allows for fully vaccinated guests to attend public events, under the sponsorship of individual students, faculty or staff. The policy for all guests on campus, no matter their sponsor, remains that they must be up-to-date on COVID vaccinations including a booster, and be registered and approved in advance (please see instructions below). Among the updates to the guest policy is that the Bard host is now responsible for collecting proof of vaccination from their intended visitor(s) and uploading it when submitting their request. “Proof of vaccination” can be a screenshot of the guest’s Excelsior pass, or a picture of their vaccination card. Guests are still prohibited from entering dorms and remaining overnight in student housing. The exception is on move-in and move-out days if family or friends are helping you to move.

INSTRUCTIONS FOR REGISTERING VISITORS
Guests must be registered at least two business days in advance of arrival:

Send the following information to Associate Director Lawre Stone: 
[email protected], 845-758-7483

Visitors name: First and Last
Visitor’s date on campus and arrival time.
Visitors email
Visitors cell phone
vaccination record: vaccine card front and back (guests must be fully vaccinated, including a booster to be eligible to come to campus.)


FOR STUDENTS WHO TEST POSITIVE OR ARE EXPERIENCING SYMPTOMS
If any student, residing on or off campus, learns that they may have been exposed to COVID-19, please contact Health Services at 845-758-7433 / [email protected] and Lawre Stone at 845-758-7481/ [email protected] to determine if and when a COVID test is warranted. If you are not experiencing symptoms, continue daily activities and maintain distancing when possible. Continue to follow masking protocols. If you are experiencing symptoms, isolate and contact Health Services and the Bard MFA office immediately.

Students may go to Health Services on campus to receive a free antigen test. Students who would like a PCR test must make an appointment at Health Services, the test will be sent to LabCorp and your Health Insurance will be billed.

FOR FACULTY WHO TEST POSITIVE OR ARE EXPERIENCING SYMPTOMS
Faculty should notify Lawre Stone at 845-758-7481/ [email protected] and follow the guidelines below for isolation. Testing is available in the area at Caremount Urgent Care. Note: Health Services is for STUDENTS ONLY.

ISOLATION REQUIREMENTS
Anyone who tests positive must isolate for at least 5 days. If symptoms (fever/headache) are resolved at day five AND if an antigen test is negative, they can resume in-person activities. You should continue to wear a well-fitting mask around others at home and in public, indoors AND outdoors, for 5 additional days (day 6 through day 10) after the end of your 5-day isolation period.  

ISOLATION HOUSING
If you test positive, there are several options for where you can isolate to recover: 1) In your dorm room following isolation protocols 2) In your off campus housing  3) In designated isolation housing on campus. You may also choose to return home to recover if you have your own vehicle and live within driving distance.