A Message about Our Mask-Friendly Campus, Vaccination Policy, and Summer Updates
A COVID-19 Update
To the Bard College community:The Bard College campus has continued to be a hive of activity this summer, with multiple summer programs including the Bard MFA, Bard Summerscape, Bard MAT, Bard Summer Research Institute, Institute for Writing and Thinking workshops, and Jazz at Lincoln Center’s Summer Jazz Academy, among many others, bringing thousands of students, faculty, and visitors to campus. In addition, in only one month we will be welcoming over 500 new members to the Bard community, as first-year and transfer students arrive in Annandale for L&T. We have not received any reports of major upticks in COVID on campus. However, given the news of new COVID variants and a rise in COVID cases across the United States, we wanted to provide you with some reminders as we all prepare for the fall semester.
Mask-friendly campus
Bard is a mask-friendly campus, meaning that masks are not currently required for students, faculty, staff, or visitors, but anyone who wishes to wear a mask is welcome to do so. The notable exception to this is the Health and Counseling Service office, where all patients, visitors, and staff must be masked in keeping with NYS Department of Health recommendations and Bard Health and Counseling Services policy. Faculty continue to set mask policies in their own classrooms. Please remember to carry a mask with you in case you need one. Masks can be found in dispensers at key sites around campus and are also available from Security or Health Services.
Vaccination policy
In accordance with CDC recommendations and the evolving public health situation, the College strongly encourages everyone in the Bard community—students, faculty, and staff—to stay up-to-date with COVID-19 vaccinations. Some 2023–24 COVID-19 vaccines are expiring this summer, so please consult with your primary care physician and support the collective health of the Bard community by remaining up-to-date with your vaccines. The CDC has announced that it expects to release an updated COVID-19 vaccine this fall. We will continue to organize on-campus vaccination clinics whenever possible, as we have done for the past four-plus years, based on vaccine availability. In the meantime, you can identify a vaccination site near you by visiting the COVID-19 page at vaccines.gov. International students who do not have access to WHO-approved COVID-19 vaccines in their home country can contact the Bard Health Services now, for assistance in getting vaccinated after their arrival on campus. The College community has consistently had a very high rate of voluntary vaccination, which supports the collective health of all Bardians, including those who are unable to be vaccinated for medical or religious reasons.
COVID-19 tests continue to be available at most local pharmacies in the United States, and many insurances will still cover a set of COVID-19 tests; please check with your insurance about this option.
Later this summer we will provide further relevant updates about the College’s policies, which we will continue to evaluate and adjust as necessary in consultation with local, state, and federal public health officials and medical experts as we monitor the evolving public health situation. Thank you for your support of our community.
Sincerely,
Bard College COVID-19 Response Team
[email protected]
Coleen Murphy Alexander, Vice President for Administration
Kimberly Alexander, Director, Human Resources
Christian Ayne Crouch, Dean of Graduate Studies
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
David Lindholm, Director of Athletics and Recreation
Emily McLaughlin, Associate Dean of the College; Associate Professor of Chemistry
Michael Sadowski, Associate Dean of the College
David Shein, Associate Vice President for Academic Affairs; Dean of Studies
Yakira Teitel, MD, MPH, Director of Health Services
Angela Cavanna, DO, Consulting Physician, Bard Health Services
Pete Verdesi, Director, Safety and Security
Dumaine Williams, Vice President for Student Affairs
Hannah Zipple, Dean of Students
For more information, call 845-758-6822.