Living Off Campus

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Important Questions to Consider

• What is my budget? (Refer to the budget section for specific ideas.)
• Will I rely on the shuttle or do I have my own vehicle? How will shuttle service interruptions in the winter affect my ability to attend class?
• Are there ways that living off-campus could impact my academic and cocurricular involvement?
• Am I prepared to handle the time commitment of cooking my own meals and taking care of household chores? Would fulfilling these responsibilities be likely to interfere with my ability to complete all of my schoolwork? 
• Decide if you will live alone or with roommates. If you will have roommates, how many? This will determine the number of bedrooms your apartment should have as well as the price range you can afford.
• Determine a budget, consider costs for rent, groceries, utilities (which may include water, trash, heat, electricity, etc.), and transportation.
• Talk with friends and peers who live off campus and see how they like the area, their landlord, and if they have any tips for finding a good place to live.
• You and your roommate(s) should discuss the price, approximate location and amenities of an apartment before you even start looking. If air conditioning or pets are a must, ask about this before you make an appointment to view the apartment.
• Consider transportation challenges. Keep in mind that if you rely on the Bard shuttle, disruptions in service will occur throughout the year due to maintenance and weather. Students should have a back-up plan for getting to campus in the event that the shuttle is not running. 
• Know your rights. Make sure you are familiar with the New York State Tenants' Rights Guide (PDF).
• Carefully review your lease and ask questions before you sign. It is often best to have someone with legal experience review the lease prior to committing to it. Remember: once a lease is signed, it is a legal, binding document.

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Bard College Living Off-Campus Policy

• MANDATORY INFORMATION SESSION: Attendance is required at one of three scheduled Off-Campus Information Sessions to inform the Office of Residence Life & Housing of intent to move off campus. Once students have attended one information session, they are eligible to move off-campus in any subsequent academic year. 
• Students who attend an Information Session may change their minds and participate in Room Selection to commit to living on campus with no penalty.
• Once you have selected a room through the Room Selection process, you are committing to living on campus and will be assessed the full cost of housing.
• NONDISCLOSURE: For students who do not attend an Off-Campus Information Session or Room Selection, it will be assumed they intend to stay on campus, and they will be placed in a room and will be charged the full cost of housing for the fall semester. 
• LATE DISCLOSURE FEE: Students who do not attend an information session (which alerts the Office of Residence Life & Housing of their intent to move off campus) and move off campus anyway will be charged up to the full cost of housing for the fall semester.
• Students approved for an academic leave are NOT released from the information session requirement (sessions are virtual) if they intend to live off campus when they return to Bard.  

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Be a Good Neighbor

Noise, Maintinence, and Parking
The hours you keep as a college student may be drastically different from your neighbors who work full time or have families. Please be mindful of the noise level in your dwelling and how, and when, that might be disrespectful toward people in the surrounding area.

As the semester progresses, it may become challenging to keep up with day-to-day maintenance and upkeep such as trash or snow removal. Talk to your landlord about expectations and try to work out systems that best match your schedule. Be conscious of where you and your guests park vehicles, how late you play music, and that neglecting trash or recyclables on the street affects your neighbors. If you are unsure about your responsibilities as a resident or tenant, reach out to your landlord or contact Town Hall. 

During the winter months, please be aware of street parking regulations to avoid being towed or having your vehicle damaged by plows.

Local Laws about Gatherings
The Village of Tivoli requires that all gatherings of 50 people or more be registered with, and approved by, the village clerk prior to the event. Violations of this ordinance can result in fines or imprisonment. More information on the Mass Gathering Law.

Dutchess County has enacted a Social Host Law, which makes it a violation, punishable by a fine or imprisonment, for anyone who owns or rents a home or apartment to knowingly permit someone under the age of 21 to consume alcoholic beverages.

If you host an event at your apartment or home, please be aware that New York State law and the Drug-Free Communities Act state that, “no person shall sell, deliver, give way, cause permit, or procure to be sold, delivered, or given away any alcoholic beverage to: (1) any person actually or apparently under the legal age (21); or (2) any intoxicated person or any person under the influence of alcohol.” The law goes on to say that “any person who shall be injured in person, property, means of support, or otherwise by an intoxicated person or by reason of the intoxication of any person or by reason of the intoxication of any person, whether resulting in death or not, shall have a right of action against any person who shall, by unlawfully assisting in procuring liquor for the intoxicated person, have caused or contributed to the intoxication. In any such action, the injured person will have a right to recover actual and exemplary damages.”

The College’s overriding concern is for the safety of our students. College policy can and does apply to incidents that occur off-campus. As stated in the Student Handbook, “The College will hear complaints pertaining to conduct of Bard College students occurring on Bard College property (including UBS, or Bard in New York), or Red Hook, Tivoli and its environs." 

The College believes firmly in an individual’s responsibility to take action in unsafe situations. As further stated in the Student Handbook, “Any member of the community who observes dangerous drinking should feel a responsibility to discourage the behavior. In cases of intoxication, alcohol poisoning or overdose, individuals must call 911. Special consideration will be given in cases where students voluntarily seek medical attention for themselves or other members of the community. Serious sanctions may result in cases where students do not seek appropriate medical treatment for intoxication or overdose.”

Social gatherings held at off-campus residences may not be advertised on campus. 

Understanding your rights and responsibilities for living off-campus enhances the experience for both you and local members of the community.

We extend our gratitude to all who live in the surrounding area for their unwavering kindness, support, and commitment to promoting safe and respectful behaviors and attitudes.

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Seeking Student, Staff, and Faculty Tenants?

Bard College does not currently provide space for rental postings online. Members of the Bard community are able to post to internal classifies and the pennysaver listserv; please note the Residence Life and Housing Office will not make these posts for anyone, including landlords outside of the Bard Community. Any time a community member is looking for off-campus housing, we suggest the following resources online:

• Daily Freeman's Real Estate Guide
• Poughkeepsie Journal classifieds
• Hudson Valley Craigslist classifieds
• Bard community Facebook groups and pages (search Facebook for specific communities)