Student Handbook

● Reopening the campus is a community effort and matter of public trust. It is essential that all members of the Bard community uphold standards of behavior that support community health and wellness and align with local and government requirements.

● Inclusion, equity, and access must be prioritized, especially since COVID-19 has disproportionately
impacted many vulnerable communities, and for a variety of reasons not all students, faculty, and staff will be able to return to campus right away.

● Bard will continue to take a student-centric, community-oriented approach that encourages creativity and innovative  practice in providing high-quality education to students, and prioritizes individual student needs.

● The College relies on scientific evidence and public health best practices in its decision-making. Our planning is informed by guidance that includes, but is not limited to:

○ New York Forward Guidelines for Higher Education
○ Guidelines from the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention
○ Guidelines by The American College Health Association (ACHA)
○ The U.S. Equal Employment Opportunity Commission (EEOC)
○ Occupational Safety and Health Administration (OSHA)

● Because the College is the region’s largest employer and key educational and cultural resource, the College will creatively strive to develop and deliver imaginative alternatives to campus events.

   Bard’s return to campus plan addresses five goals:

1. Communicate and maintain stringent health protocols and sanitization standards and set expectations that allow for the safe reopening and operation of the campus.
2. Establish restricted facilities and protocols to monitor and contain the spread of the virus.
3. Deliver an outstanding and rigorous academic program that is accessible to students regardless of location and health status.
4. Coordinate closely with the local community, including public health officials.
5. Maintain reasonable co-curricular engagement and access to campus support resources. It is possible that circumstances will change during the semester and that government authorities could require the College to impose further restrictions or curtail our ability to continue in-person classes. If that happens, we will transition quickly and safely while supporting the needs of students who are unable to return home or for whom the Bard campus may be the safest environment available.