Health + Safety

On this page you will find resources around policies that impact life in the residence halls. For the full policy text, we encourage you to review the student handbook below. The policies for life in the residence halls are derived from local, state, and federal law (especially fire safety codes) and are enforced to assure safety of the community.

Planning for the Semester

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COVID-19 Student FAQs

Facts About Mold and Mildew

BARD OFFICE OF RESIDENCE LIFE AND HOUSING
Fact Sheet about Mold and Mildew

Bard’s Buildings & Grounds Department provides routine maintenance to prevent
maintenance and mold concerns, and Bard’s Environmental Services Department
cleans residence hall common areas on a daily basis. Buildings and residence hall
rooms are inspected multiple times per year.
If you believe that you have mildew or mold in your residence hall room, please
complete a work order as soon as possible so the issue can be addressed as quickly
and effectively as possible https://www.bard.edu/bandg/

What causes mold to grow?
Mold is a part of the natural environment that aids in the decomposition of leaves, trees,
and other natural outdoor organic materials. Individual mold spores are invisible to the
human eye and are continually floating around outside in nature. However, when those
spores make their way indoors and are exposed to wet/humid areas, they can begin to
grow or colonize. It is impossible to eliminate mold and mold spores in the indoor
environment due to the ingress and egress of daily human activity being carried in on
clothing, shoes, and backpacks.

Mold can grow on almost any material, as long as moisture and oxygen are present.
Maintaining indoor moisture and humidity levels between 30-60 percent will reduce the
likelihood of indoor mold growth. Unfortunately, controlling humidity in large, heavily
populated buildings is difficult, especially in hot humid and rainy weather.

Where is mold and mildew found?
Mold can be found almost anywhere and can grow on virtually any organic substance if
moisture and oxygen are present. The levels of airborne mold spores can vary from month to
month and day to day; are highly reliant on temperature, humidity, other seasonal factors in the
environment; and are not reliable indicators of an indoor dampness or mold problem. It is
impossible to eliminate all mold and mold spores. However, since mold requires water to grow, it
is important to identify and prevent moisture problems in buildings to prevent active mold
growth.

Molds come in a variety of colors, including white, which is sometimes seen on a damp
carpet; pink, which is often found on shower walls; and darkly pigmented, which is often
seen around windowsills as a result of condensation. Given a source of moisture, mold
can grow just about anywhere. Moisture control, air circulation, and good cleaning
practices are necessary to control mold growth.

Are there state or national regulations regarding mold?
There are no federal or state regulations governing the presence of mold or mold spore
levels in buildings. There are also no health standards from the Centers for Disease
Control and Prevention (CDC) or public health departments for concentrations of mold
spores in the indoor air. However, the presence of visible mold on indoor building
materials should be remediated.

State and federal agencies generally recommend the following measures to address mold and
moisture indoors:
• The best way to deal with mold in buildings is to identify and correct the source of water or
leak; then clean or discard and replace moldy building materials
• Vent bathrooms, dryers, and other moisture-generating sources to the outside.
• Provide adequate and appropriate ventilation to avoid temperature and humidity conditions
that will lead to excess moisture.
• Clean and dry any damp or wet building materials and furnishings within 24-48 hours to
prevent mold growth.
• Clean mold off hard surfaces with water and detergent and dry completely.
• Prevent the potential for condensation on cold surfaces (i.e., windows, piping, exterior walls,
roof, or floor) by adding insulation.
• In areas where there is perpetual moisture, such as near fountains, by classroom sinks, or on
concrete floors with leaks or frequent condensation, do not install carpeting.

Why not conduct mold testing?
Mold testing is not recommended in many cases. Instead, careful detailed visual
inspection and recognition of moldy odors should be used to find problems needing
correction. Efforts should focus on areas where there are signs of moisture or water
vapor (humidity) or where moisture problems are suspected. The investigation goals
should be to locate indoor mold growth to determine how to correct the moisture
problem and remove contamination safely and effectively.
The Department of Health, as well as the CDC and EPA, do NOT recommend testing as
there are no exposure-based standards to use for evaluation of the sampling results.

How does mold spread?
Most molds reproduce through the formation of spores, tiny, microscopic cells that are
resistant to drying and are released into the air. Airborne spores are found both indoors
and outdoors. Air circulation in a building varies throughout the day and depends on the
level of activity in that space. Mold spores are always present in both the indoor and
outdoor environment and can be carried in on clothing, backpacks, shoes, etc.
Is it safe for me to stay in my residence hall that currently has mold?
In most cases, the answer is yes. According to federal health and safety agencies, mold
growth is commonly found in both indoor and outdoor environments. Therefore, varying
levels of mold are around us at all times.

How does mold affect people?
• Some people are sensitive to mold and may experience short-term or acute
reactions in the presence of mold growth. Symptoms associated with mold
exposure are not unique and cannot be readily distinguished from symptoms
caused by other medical conditions, such as the common cold or seasonal
environmental allergies.
We recommend that you see your health care provider if you experience any health
concerns.

What is the inspection process to determine how to address any mold in
my residence?
A qualified team of B&G and/or ES respond to work orders. Staff will knock, enter, and
conduct a thorough visual inspection of furniture, wall, closets, and fan coil units to
check for any evidence of mold growth or other concerns, as well as take internal
temperature and humidity readings. If mold growth is found, staff will take appropriate
steps to clean or remediate.

What will be done if there is mold found in my room?
Measures will be taken to thoroughly clean and dry the area affected. This work may be
completed by staff and/or an outside contractor specializing in water cleanup. Staff will
return to check regularly on the progress until the situation has been resolved and may
instruct residents in ways to assist in that process. Due to the unique circumstances
around each situation, cases are managed independently with communication managed
by the Director of Residence Life.

Does the College conduct proactive inspections for mold?
Mold inspections within occupied spaces during the academic school year are only
conducted at the request of a work order. Proactive inspections occur regularly
throughout the year focusing on common areas in conjunction with the fire and life
safety inspections. Comprehensive building inspections during the summer between
conferences also occur each year.

Student Handbook

Safety and Security in Residence Halls

Security  
While every effort is made by the College to ensure the safety and security of all students, the campus is open with a public county road running through the center of it. For this reason, it is particularly important that all students participate in behavior that protects the safety and security of all campus community members.

Exterior doors for all residence halls are to remain closed and locked 24 hours a day. Students should keep interior entrance and bedroom doors locked at all times, particularly when not in the room or when sleeping. Students must use assigned keys to enter residence halls and must not enter the building through any other means other than the main entrance doors. Entrance of residence halls through windows or other avenues is not permitted. Doors are not to be propped open at any time. The Office of Residence Life & Housing reserves the right to apply a $100 fine per instance of door propping. Residents should not provide access to residence halls to any unknown persons.

Security should be contacted immediately if someone persists in trying to gain access to an area without the appropriate key or appears suspicious or engaged in suspicious behavior. Forcing doors open will result in a $100 fine plus the cost of repair. Tampering with, removing, or damaging window screens may result in a fine plus cost of repair. Persistent offenders may lose housing privileges. The College is not responsible for lost, stolen or damaged items. Each student is encouraged to obtain some form of insurance to cover personal property from theft, loss or damages.

Fire Safety  Fire equipment and procedures are life-saving matters. A minimum of a $150 fine with up to 5 hours of restitution to the community to a maximum fine of $500 will be levied in all cases involving fire safety plus any associated cost of repairs. Students may face disciplinary action in certain instances. Fines are issued to: persons who are responsible for false fire alarms or negligent behavior resulting in a fire alarm; persons found tampering with fire extinguishers or alarms; persons engaging in behavior or possessing objects which are construed as a fire hazard and for tampering, blocking or propping fire control doors. Fines are intended as a deterrent against such actions, as the potential impact on the community, both the campus and local community is high. Local volunteer fire departments are required by law to respond to all fire alarms on campus regardless of cause. False fire alarms, improper discharge of fire extinguishers causing a fire alarm and other such offenses are serious policy violations as they take equipment out of use, which could be needed for a true fire or emergency, and potentially slows response time from the local departments and requires volunteers to leave their employment or families.

Any student found responsible for an actual fire in a building, even accidental, may be charged for all resulting damage, may have housing privileges revoked, be suspended or expelled from the College. If the fire was an intentional fire a fine will be added to any associated costs. Additionally, violations of the college’s fire safety policies are subject to fines imposed by both the college, and New York State. Fines imposed by New York State cannot be reversed by the college.

Everyone is required to leave a building during a fire drill or alarm. Failure to cooperate (i.e. refusing to leave, sleeping through the alarm, etc.) is a serious infraction and will result in the issuance of the fire fine plus disciplinary action that may include suspension or revocation of housing privileges.

Fire drills are held at a minimum of once a quarter to familiarize students with protective procedures and comply with New York State law:

When an alarm sounds, think clearly about all the available exits from the building so that if one exit is blocked, you can alter your route without delay.
Close the windows.
For protection, put on a coat and hard-soled shoes.
Before opening a door, feel it for heat to determine whether it is safe to enter the corridor.
Turn off the lights and close the door behind you.
Do not rush. Order and quiet are essential.
Knock on other doors as you leave the building.
Do not use an elevator.
Exit to the designated gathering area (as identified by the PC in the first floor meeting & posted in the Residence Halls) as quickly as possible.
If you are in study or social areas, leave by the nearest exit without returning to your room. Make sure that you are accounted for as soon as possible.
Do not leave the designated gathering area until you are accounted for and told you may leave.

Security and Residence Life staff are required to make a visual check of the entire building, which may include entering all or some residents’ rooms to ensure compliance with the drill, before students are allowed to return to the building. Any policy violations discovered during these visual checks will be addressed per normal conduct processes.

The New York State Fire Inspector inspects campus, including residence halls and random residence hall rooms. Students who have their rooms inspected and are found in violation of fire policy will be notified via campus e-mail and given an opportunity to remedy the violation. Failure to correct the violations in the designated time frame will result in the cost of any state fines (which can be thousands of dollars) being passed along to the student(s) responsible for payment. Additionally the student(s) could face College disciplinary action and fines.

Students wishing to have a controlled fire outside on campus at one of the designated fire locations must request permission from the Office of Safety and Security. All unauthorized fires will be handled as above.

Health + Safety

Planning for the Semester

Facts About Mold and Mildew

Facts About Mold and Mildew

Student Handbook

Safety and Security in Residence Halls

Residence Life and Housing