Bard College Expands Its Partnership with the Posse Foundation
The first cohort of Posse Arts Scholars from Puerto Rico at Blithewood Garden. Photo by Jonathan Asiedu ’24
Bard College has added a third cohort of students to its two-site partnership with the Posse Foundation, a youth development organization that recruits students who demonstrate extraordinary leadership potential who are then provided full-tuition scholarships from partner colleges and universities. A majority of students are the first in their families to attend college and are nominated by their high school before undergoing the Foundation’s assessment process. Bard offers full-tuition scholarships to students from Puerto Rico and Atlanta. The latest expansion invites a third cohort of Posse students to Bard’s campus, who will receive mentorship and support as well as pre-college mentorship for eight months before matriculation.
Bard’s additional cohort of students from Puerto Rico will expand the College’s previous focus on the arts in Puerto Rico and open access to students of all academic interests. "The success of our Posse students is undeniable, so we felt this was the right time, especially with all the headwinds for access in higher education currently, to expand the partnership," said Taun Toay, CFO and senior vice president of Bard, who initiated Bard’s expansion of the Posse Program into Puerto Rico. “The Posse program and our Posse Scholars have been such an integral part of Bard’s academic and campus life for many years,” said Vice President of Student Affairs and Vice President and Dean of Early Colleges Dumaine Williams. “We're extremely fortunate to not only continue to welcome new Posse cohorts each year but to expand the program and its impact on the campus."
Post Date: 09-03-2026
Bard’s additional cohort of students from Puerto Rico will expand the College’s previous focus on the arts in Puerto Rico and open access to students of all academic interests. "The success of our Posse students is undeniable, so we felt this was the right time, especially with all the headwinds for access in higher education currently, to expand the partnership," said Taun Toay, CFO and senior vice president of Bard, who initiated Bard’s expansion of the Posse Program into Puerto Rico. “The Posse program and our Posse Scholars have been such an integral part of Bard’s academic and campus life for many years,” said Vice President of Student Affairs and Vice President and Dean of Early Colleges Dumaine Williams. “We're extremely fortunate to not only continue to welcome new Posse cohorts each year but to expand the program and its impact on the campus."
Post Date: 09-03-2026