To the Bard Community,

Since our last message updating the Bard community on the College’s ongoing diversity, equity, and inclusion work, we have collectively made substantive progress on a number of key initiatives in direct response to, and informed by, the concerns of Bard students, faculty, and staff. Working together through direct communication and in forums and town halls, we are hearing the concerns of Bard students and collaborating to define and implement the changes we all agree are necessary.  
 
Academic Initiatives
An update from the Dean of the College outlines substantive work completed and underway in diversity, equity, and inclusion in academics at Bard, including:

• Social justice training for faculty leaders, 
• Inclusion Challenge grant proposals,
• Workshops on antiracism practices,  
• Diversity in hiring, and 
• Expanded curricular offerings.

Faculty and Staff Training
The College has engaged Dax-Devlon Ross to provide antiracism training and lead workshops for faculty and staff as part of a long-term initiative to provide ongoing antiracism education across the College. Last week he led a faculty workshop for all academic program directors on adaptive leadership and identifying and reimagining structures of power and privilege. He is  holding antiracism training with members of the Athletics staff this week. 

Bard has joined the newly formed Liberal Arts Colleges Racial Equity Leadership Alliance, whose inaugural members include 53 universities and liberal arts colleges across the nation, giving us access to:

• Regular virtual learning sessions on antiracism and equity, 
• A range of assessment services, and 
• A national network of respected higher education leaders in diversity, equity, and inclusion.

All employees will be completing a mandatory training by the end of the semester on preventing harassment and discrimination in the workplace; creating an inclusive classroom, office, and workplace; and responding to reports of bias incidents.

Climate and Facilitation Initiatives
The College has contracted with the 122 Consultancy Group to conduct a Diversity Climate Assessment with our Athletics program that will take place over the course of the next six months. It will include a variety of facilitated discussions across the department. 

We are finalizing a contract with a local mediation center to establish a longer-term relationship that will provide campus-wide access to ongoing facilitation, mediation services, and trainings focused on restorative practices to support our DEI work. 

President’s Commission
The Commission thanks the entire Bard community for its diligence in completing the HEDS Diversity and Equity Climate Survey. The high participation rate will allow the Commission to utilize the data in a statistically significant way. The Commission is grateful to all who completed the HEDS Survey and participated in the Town Hall sessions, providing invaluable insights for crafting a meaningful and actionable report to the President. 

Annandale Road
The College met last month with Dutchess County Public Works Commissioner Bob Balkind to discuss short- and long-term goals for securing the safety of Annadale Road. Planning efforts and stakeholder involvement will be a substantial part of next steps that will include the formation of a working group to hear concerns, generate ideas, and maintain an open dialogue and flow of information. Concurrently, the County is assembling a team of engineers, designers, attorneys, and other relevant departments to begin looking at physical options for the road. After the new year, we will convene a joint Task Force that is committed to seeing the project through. 

We encourage members of the Bard community to make the College aware of any instances of discrimination or harassment. Reports can be made to the College using the Bard College Incident Reporting Form or the Title IX Reporting Form, or by calling the dean of inclusive excellence at 845-758-7367. Any emergency should be reported to Campus Safety and Security at 845-758-7777.