Opened in 1989, The Alumni Houses is a collection of 5 residence halls south of the Campus Center. The Alumni Houses were designed by James Polshek and Partners in 1987 to mimic the living patterns of the four residences of Stonerow while complementing the visual style of Tewksbury hall. These four adjacent residence halls are named in honor of alumni Richard Rovere '37, William Rueger '40, Reverend Frederick A. Shafer '37, and John H. Steinway '39. The fifth Alumni House, Honey House, is a free-standing 2-floor building west of Rueger.
Residence Hall Menu
Alumni Houses by Number
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1987Year of Construction
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84Residents Total
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37:1Peer Counselor Ratio
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SCSouth Campus
Alumni House Amenities
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Laundry
Laundry in Shafer-Rovere: Tewksbury Basement
Located in the basement of neighboring Tewksbury Hall, the Tewksbury Laundry room shares four washers and four dryers with Shafer-Rovere & Tewksbury Hall. The laundry room also features a utility sink and folding table. Shafer-Rovere residents access the laundry room via proximity card reader with their ID card at the south entrance directly to the Basement level of Tewksbury Hall.
Laundry in Steinway-Rueger & Honey House: Honey Laundry Room
Located on the west side of Honey House, the Honey Laundry room shares two washers and two dryers with Steinway-Rueger & Honey House. The laundry room also features a utility sink. Residents access the laundry room via proximity card reader with their ID card at the west entrance of Honey House directly to the ground level laundry room.
If you experience issues with any of the laundry machines, complete a service request at the link below. Great neighbors leave a note on any malfunctioning machines to aid in others avoiding the same issue. Our laundry machines are owned and serviced by an outside contractor, yet our Buildings and Grounds team manages the laundry room and relays any machine issues to the outside contractor.
B&G SERVICE REQUEST
Coinless Laundry
All laundry rooms are equipped with both modern and high-efficient front load washers and dryers. Laundry is part of the room and board cost, so the machines do not require payment to cycle during the academic year. This coinless laundry feature allows residents to run as many loads as they need without overloading the machines or incurring more cost.
Detergent Choice + Sustainable Practices
Please note that our machines require the HE (high efficiency) laundry detergent. Detergent pods are recommended for their portability and lack of spills. We also recommend the use of a garment bag when washing delicates and small items such as socks.
SUSTAINABLE LIVING PRACTICESClimate Control
Each room in Shafer-Rovere features a single HVAC unit with ability to control air conditioning and heat fan speads when the geothermal supply is providing hot or cold abilities to the unit.Parking
Parking at Tewksbury Hall
The Water Treatment Plant lot is where all South Campus residents park. This large lot is well lit and is an easy walk along Blithewood Avenue. This lot also serves Buildings & Grounds and overflow parking for the Music Conservatory and Film programs. At Honey Circle, there are two accessable parking spots and two loading spots. Note, parking along Blithewood Avenue is strictly prohibited.
Student Parking at Bard
Bard College maintains a pedestrian campus, yet all students have the ability to register 1 vehicle for on campus parking. All motor vehicles (including motorcycles) must be registered with the Department of Safety and Security. Upon registration, students parking sticker indicates the approved lot(s) for the registered vehicle. Learn more on the Department of Safety and Security’s website.
VEHICLE POLICIES
Guest Parking on Campus
Visitors and guests are expected to follow all parking regulations. All visitors and guests are required to display a Visitor Hang-Tag, available at the Department Safety and Security. Visitor and guest parking areas are so designated.Room Security
To enter the building:
You will utilize your Bard ID Card on the proximity sensor next to the front door. The Alumni Houses are equipped with door alarms designed in an effort prevent unauthorized access due to door propping. Please only allow people you know into the residence hall.
To enter your room:
Upon move-in you will be issued a brass key to your room door. Each resident is issued their own key and students are prohibited from sharing keys. Note, residents are not permitted to duplicate any keys issued by the college.
Locked Out?
If you are locked out, call security at 845.758.7460 for assistance 24/7. Please note, there is a fine associated with being locked out of your room. If you lose your brass key or ID card, Buildings & Grounds will cut you a new key or print a new ID card for you. There is a cost associated with this, connect with B&G for the most up to date costs.
BUILDINGS & GROUNDSBathrooms
Shafer-Rovere and Steinway-Rueger are mirror images of the other with one bathroom on each floor of every alumni house. Honey house has a more unique set up.
First Floor
The five residents of the first floor share one single-user restroom. This restroom is designed in compliance with the Americans with Disabilities Act to allow for wheelchair users to access the facilities. The shower stall is large and has a continuous floor surface with the rest of the bathroom. There is one toilet and one sink with a mirror.
Second & Third Floors
Stacked atop each other, the upper floors feature one multi-space bathroom. One enters to the sink area where a six foot wide mirror hangs over two sinks. To the side is a private toilet room with floor-to-ceiling enclosure. To the front is a toilet & bathtub room with floor-to-ceiling enclosure.
Honey House
Two single user restrooms are located on the second floor, one off the hallway for use of the residents of 101 & 202. Room 201 features a private bathroom. Both bathrooms feature one toilet, sink, and bathtub.
Bathroom Cleanliness
Respect for the facilities is assumed in the collegiate setting, this is especially important in communal bathrooms. These community bathrooms are cleaned by the Environmental Services team. Cleanliness issues can be reported to the email below. If an emergency occurs, 24/7 service is available by calling security at 845.758.7460.
[email protected]
Bathroom Maintenance
If you should encounter plumbing or lighting issues in a bathroom, please report these to your Peer Counselor and/or complete a service request to have Buildings & Grounds address the issue. Your vigilance towards leaks can help us cut down on water waste throughout campus.
SERVICE REQUEST FORM
Bedroom Finishes
Bedroom Flooring
As seen in many commercial settings, Vinyl Composite Tile (VCT) is throughout the Alumni Houses. In the rooms, a white/beige tile with blue speckle is featured. VCT flooring allows for simple cleaning by residents throughout the year, talk with your roommate about bringing a broom and/or sweepers such as Swiffers; these are especially helpful in the winter months due to ice melt & salt being tracked into rooms.
Bedroom Walls
The Alumni houses feature drywall, lending a home-like feel to the rooms. We discourage students from using pins to hang decor as many residents find success with products such as command strips. All rooms are painted a warm shade of white. When decorating your room, New York State fire code does not allow fabric to hang on walls over ones bed. Residents are also limited to covering only 25% of the walls in decoration to assure safe conditions.
RESIDENCE LIFE & FIRE SAFETY POLICIESWhat's inside a room in the Alumni Houses?
All residents have each of the following furnishings:- Twin XL Bed
- Closet or Wardrobe
- Desk & Desk Chair
What's inside a room in the Alumni Houses?
Sleep: Twin Extra-Long Bed + Mattress- Oak Frame 2-Height Adjustable Bed
- 40” X 84” X 36” Frame
- Twin Extra Long Mattress
- 38” X 80” X 7” Mattress
Store: Closet + Dresser- Dresser
- 4- or 5-Drawer Oak Wood (Laminate Top)
- Built-In Closet
- 36" clothes bar
- 1 shelf at top
Study: Desk + Chair- Oak Wood (Laminate Top) Desk
- 42” X 24” X 30” Overall
- 3 Drawers Stacked & 1 Pencil Drawer
- Oak Wood Chair
Note: Listed are the typical furnishings. These are subject to change from space to space.The Five Alumni Houses
The first four alumni houses are very similar to each other; with the fifth is very different but similar in style and material. Starting East, Shafer and Rovere houses are attached at the 2nd and 3rd floor balcony and are mirror images of each other. Steinway and Rueger houses are exact matches to Shafer and Rovere, respectively. Honey House stands alone and houses 8 students over 2 floors.Shafer-Rovere Houses
Steinway-Rueger Houses
From the Archives
Frederick Q. Shafer ’37Frederick Q. (“Fritz”) Shafer ’37 meets with student Susan Moore ’49, 1949. Father Shafer taught religion and was chaplain of the College for several decades between 1944 and his retirement in 1989
From the Archives
John Howland Steinway '39John Howland Steinway '39 Trustee of the College helped to restore Bard Hall in 1986. Was one of the first alumni to be elected to the Board of Trustees where he served for 50 years. In his youth, Steinway performed with the Amateur Comedy Club. During WWII, Steinway served in the Air Transportation Command, and even fixed up old pianos for musicians to entertain troops. Steinway’s great grandfather Henry Steinway founded the piano company. It was said that he kept a baby grand piano in his room as a student at Bard College.
Honey House
Honey House Plans