Thursday, July 29, 2021
A Message about COVID-19 Campus Protocols for the Fall
A COVID-19 Update
- Mask guidelines
- Proof of vaccination requirement
- Arrival protocols for first-year, transfer, and returning students
- Visitor policy, including for residence halls, and event planning
With the fall semester approaching, we would like to share arrival protocols for first-year, transfer, and returning students, as well as updated policies for visitors and student spaces. The key to our successful return to normalcy is vaccination and, wherever indicated, mask-wearing. As previously announced, all students, faculty, and staff are required to be vaccinated by August 1, with exceptions only for pre-approved medical or religious reasons.
Mask guidelines
Throughout the previous academic year, when we were all unvaccinated, our community kept each other safe through personal behaviors including mask wearing and physical distancing. Now that vaccinations are available and we will be close to a 100% vaccinated community at the start of the semester, mask wearing and physical distancing are not our only defenses against illness and are no longer required by vaccinated people in many situations, under current health conditions.
This week, the CDC updated its mask recommendations to say that fully vaccinated people should wear a mask in public indoor settings in areas of substantial or high risk of transmission. In addition, the CDC stated that fully vaccinated people might choose to wear a mask regardless of the level of transmission, especially if they are at increased risk for severe disease or have someone in their household who is unvaccinated or at increased risk.
COVID cases continue to be much lower than they were a year ago in the area around Bard, which has one of the highest vaccination rates in the country. Dutchess County is not currently considered an area of substantial or high risk, according to CDC data. Vaccines have been shown to be effective in greatly reducing both illness and transmissibility, making it much less likely that a vaccinated person who catches COVID will either become sick from the virus or spread it to others. For these reasons, the College does not currently require vaccinated individuals to be masked indoors on campus. Wearing a mask is optional for vaccinated students and employees, while all unvaccinated individuals must remain masked inside campus facilities. We will continue to monitor the public health situation, as we have for the past 18 months, and will update College policy as necessary, and we ask all members of our community to continue to monitor their own health.
Proof of vaccination requirement
All students are required to submit proof of a World Health Organization-approved vaccination to [email protected] or upload it to your Medicat portal as soon as possible, so that we can verify your vaccination status prior to your arrival on campus for the fall semester. All employees have received instructions from the Human Resources office for submitting your proof of vaccination prior to August 1. You may send a scanned copy of your vaccination card or a copy of the New York State Excelsior Pass. If any student is unable to access a WHO-approved vaccine before returning to campus, misplaced your vaccination card, or will not yet be fully vaccinated before the start of the semester, you must contact the Bard Student Health Service immediately so the College can help you make arrangements to complete the vaccination process.
Arrival protocols
On arrival days, two people will be allowed to accompany each student to any indoor event or activity. Additional family members accompanying a student are allowed on campus grounds, but guests are restricted to two per student at any indoor event. Any unvaccinated person accompanying a student must wear a mask at all times.
Please note:
- If a student does not have access to a vaccine where they live, they can get vaccinated locally upon arrival, but must make arrangements in advance of arrival to do so. Contact the Bard Student Health Service as soon as possible to be informed about local options for vaccination in the Bard area. Until fully vaccinated (two weeks after single dose vaccine or two weeks after second dose), a mask must be worn at all times.
- If a student arrives unvaccinated, has not previously made arrangements with the Bard Student Health Service for local vaccination upon arrival, and is not pre-approved or pending approval for a vaccine exemption, they are not eligible to be on campus. Their account will be frozen, and access to course registration and College facilities including dining and residence halls will be denied.
- Any student or employee with a College-approved exception to be unvaccinated, or who is not yet fully vaccinated, must be masked at all times and remain physically distanced.
Visitor policy and event planning
For the fall semester, our aim is to keep our community safe by maintaining the College as a fully vaccinated campus. Guests remaining outdoors do not need to register in advance, but any essential visitors needing access to College facilities, including guest lecturers and all conference participants, must be approved in advance by the Response Team and must be vaccinated to enter any College facility. Any Bard employee may apply to host individual visitors by using this form. Bardians interested in organizing a large group event such as a conference should contact the Response Team for additional guidance. Visitors will be required to show proof of vaccination and complete a health screening prior to arrival on campus in order to have access to any College facility.The Response Team will consider exceptions on a case-by-case basis in extraordinary circumstances. For conferences and other group events, it will be the responsibility of event organizers to obtain proof of vaccination from all attendees in advance.
- Residence halls: At this time, no off-campus guests are allowed in the residence halls. Enrolled students are now allowed to access other residence halls at the invitation of a resident of that building.
- Student Spaces: During L&T and the first three weeks of the semester, no outside musicians will be allowed at SMOG or the Root Cellar. Students can begin planning for bands to perform after the third weekend of the fall semester. All bands must be fully vaccinated. The Office of Student Activities must obtain proof of vaccination for anyone playing at any venue
Please refer to Bard’s COVID-19 webpage for more information.
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
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
Jennifer Murray, Dean of International Studies
Bethany Nohlgren, Associate Vice President for Student Affairs, Dean of Students
Kahan Sablo, Dean of Inclusive Excellence
Michael Sadowski, Associate Dean of the College
David Shein, Associate Vice President for Academic Affairs, Dean of Studies
Éric Trudel, Professor of French, Chair, Faculty Senate
Dumaine Williams, Vice President for Student Affairs, Dean of Early Colleges
For more information, call 845-758-6822,
or visit https://www.bard.edu.