COVID-19 Updates and Information

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A Message about Operating as a Closed Campus, Pre- and Post-Arrival Testing, and Vaccine Guidance

Friday, January 15, 2021

A COVID-19 Update

Topics in this update:

• Closed campus
• Pre- and post-arrival testing
• Vaccine guidance

To the Bard College community,

With Citizen Science now underway, we want to remind everyone that Montgomery Place and all campus facilities are closed to public access until further notice. In light of rising cases regionally and nationwide, access to the campus by members of the surrounding communities, friends or family, or casual visitors is still prohibited. Anyone who does not live, work, or study at Bard is not allowed access to campus without prior approval from the College. No visitors are allowed in dormitories, and students should refrain from visiting each other’s dorms until further notice. After all returning students have completed their return-to-campus protocols and have exited quarantine, we will reevaluate our visitor policy and also consider requests for small in-person gatherings, much as we did in mid-September last year. The no visitors policy and continuation of social restrictions is particularly important given the new strain of the virus, which is easier to transmit and the resultant disease no less severe. However, the good news is that vaccination is understood to be effective against all known strains. 

All first-year students have arrived for Citizen Science and their return process has gone smoothly. There was one positive test among returning students this week, and that individual is now in our on-campus isolation housing. We want to reiterate the importance of pre-arrival testing and ask that all students returning for the spring semester review our pre- and post-arrival testing protocols and adhere closely to those protocols, which are based on requirements from the State of New York. Community spread begins largely with people who are infected but asymptomatic, so this testing process is one of our most effective ways of starting off the semester safely. 

The vaccination process in New York State is off to a slow and confusing start, but we expect it to improve and for more vaccines to become available in the coming weeks. We understand the State is controlling all aspects of the distribution and delivery process to individual vaccination sites. We recommend that you first establish vaccine eligibility via the State website here. Please consult our step-by-step guide for navigating it. This website will generate a list of nearby vaccination sites once eligibility is confirmed. It has been very challenging to get accurate information about the vaccine process, as this article underscores. If you are having trouble getting an appointment, you are not alone. The College has been in touch with many local, state, and federal officials this week, trying to gather accurate information and access to vaccines for our community. We have volunteered on multiple occasions for Bard to serve as a vaccination site. The key underlying problem is the lack of vaccines, compounded by chaotic roll-out of the vaccination plan at the state level. Many vaccination sites do not actually have any vaccines to provide. Those that do have vaccines have many fewer than they hoped for. Ulster County, for example, established a vaccination site in Kingston capable of vaccinating 50,000 people a month. However, in their first month of operation, they only received 2,100 vaccines from the state. This in turn reflects the lack of vaccines at the federal level. At this stage of the process, patience and persistence are recommended. More vaccinations will become available in the Hudson Valley Area and we consider that to be the best option. If you do travel elsewhere within the state for your vaccinations, please take extra precautions while traveling to and from your destination. 

We will continue to do everything we can to advocate for access to vaccines for our community at the local, state, and federal levels. Until there is widespread vaccination in our community, we must continue adhering to the mask wearing and physical distancing protocols that the College has put in place. We look forward to a time when we can relax them, but that time is not yet here, so the best way to continue to protect our community is to follow the same behaviors that kept us safe in the fall.

Sincerely,
Bard College COVID-19 Response Team
responseteam@bard.edu
 
Coleen Murphy Alexander, Vice President for Administration
Kimberly Alexander, Director, Human Resources
Jonathan Becker, Executive Vice President and Vice President for Academic Affairs
Barbara Jean Briskey, Director, Health Services
Erin Cannan, Vice President Student Affairs/Dean for Civic Engagement
Deirdre d'Albertis, 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
John Gomez, Director, Safety and Security
Emily McLaughlin, Associate Dean of the College
Jennifer Murray, Dean of International Studies
Bethany Nohlgren, Dean of Students
Kahan Sablo, Dean for Inclusive Excellence
Michael Sadowski, Interim Dean of Graduate Studies
David Shein, Associate VP for Academic Affairs/Dean of Studies
Éric Trudel, Chair, Faculty Senate
 

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A Message about Pre-arrival Testing, Vaccine Availability, and the Mandatory Daily Health Screening

Monday, January 11, 2021

A COVID-19 Update

Topics in this update

• Pre-arrival tests
• Vaccine availability
• Mandatory daily health screening 

 To the Bard College Community,

This week we are beginning random surveillance testing of all employees working on campus, and welcoming Citizen Science students and faculty to campus. We want to express our thanks to the students who remained on campus over the break and strictly adhered to the COVID-19 policies and protocols we put in place to keep the campus safe. We tested all students on campus last week, and all those who remained on campus over the break tested negative. (As we announced last week, we had one positive student result, from a student returning to campus from out of state.) We also tested approximately 200 employees last week who are working on campus, with two positive results (1%); the affected employees and a small number of direct contacts will remain off campus until cleared to return. The College’s contact tracing team completed its work in the case of each positive result within 24 hours. Test results are reported daily to the New York State and Dutchess County Departments of Health, and are reflected on our campus data dashboard.  
 
Pre-arrival tests
Our return-to-campus testing protocols are designed to identify sick individuals before they come to campus. Several asymptomatic students, who were planning to travel to campus this week and did not previously know they were sick, have notified us that their pre-arrival test was positive. In August, the same protocol similarly identified several students who were infected in summer and did not know it. Studies have clearly demonstrated that most community spread begins with infected individuals who are asymptomatic, so feeling well does not mean you can skip pre-arrival or surveillance testing. We are working directly with these students to shift them to remote classes as needed. 
 
These pre-arrival test results highlight the necessity of our pre-arrival protocol. Every student who has access to a PCR or antigen test is required to get one within three days of returning to Bard. For those students unable to get a pre-arrival test, please be prepared to be tested immediately upon arrival at Bard, and to shelter in place until receiving your test result the next day, refraining from contact with others while you await your result. You will receive detailed instructions from Residence Life staff upon arrival. 
 
Vaccine availability
As of this morning, the state has added “in-person college instructors” to the list of populations who are eligible to be vaccinated beginning today. Eligible individuals should register for a vaccination appointment via the New York State COVID-19 Vaccine Form. Another option for scheduling an appointment is through the State’s new COVID-19 Vaccination Hotline, at 1-833-NYS-4-VAX (1-833-697-4829). The complete list of populations currently eligible for the vaccine as part of Phase 1a & 1b is here. If you are not sure if you are eligible, you can visit this NYS Department of Health website to determine your eligibility; “in-person college faculty or instructor” is an option under the “Additional Information” section. 
 
It’s important to emphasize that while faculty teaching in-person classes are now eligible to make a reservation for vaccination, demand for vaccines still far outpaces the state’s supply. We encourage eligible employees to register today. Appointments at all vaccination points in Dutchess County were full for this week as of yesterday, but once you register, you will be notified by email when more appointments become available. 
 
The vaccination process is complex and involves multiple layers of government. New York State defines who is eligible by phase, sets the timeline for each phase, and receives vaccines from the federal government and distributes them to the counties. County governments establish and operate vaccination sites, and have in many cases also launched county-level vaccine websites. We encourage employees to visit the appropriate websites for Dutchess County or Ulster County to learn more. Those in NYC should visit the NYC COVID vaccine website. If you live outside of these areas please check with your local county health department for details on vaccination sites. Some counties are requiring individuals to bring proof of eligibility to their vaccination appointment, such as an employee ID card, employer letter, or pay stub. Please contact the College’s Human Resources office if you need assistance with any of these.
 
Access to vaccinations is currently limited by New York State eligibility requirements and supply, but we encourage you to visit these sites and begin this important process as soon as possible. Vaccinations are not yet available to students in New York State. We will share any new information on eligibility and access to vaccinations as it becomes available.
 
Mandatory daily health screening
We are all looking forward to returning to campus and to the classroom, but must remain cognizant that cases are rising locally and nationally, so we must be particularly vigilant as we work to reestablish a safe campus environment for the coming semester. It was very gratifying to see how well the students who remained on campus over winter break adhered to health and safety protocols. We ask that all of our returning students, faculty, and staff recommit to making campus health and safety their top priority for the coming semester. We also want to remind all employees that submitting a daily health check-in is mandatory before you come to campus, and you should not enter any campus facility without submitting one.
 
 
Sincerely,
Bard College COVID-19 Response Team
responseteam@bard.edu
 
Coleen Murphy Alexander, Vice President for Administration
Kimberly Alexander, Director, Human Resources
Jonathan Becker, Executive Vice President and Vice President for Academic Affairs
Barbara Jean Briskey, Director, Health Services
Erin Cannan, Vice President Student Affairs/Dean for Civic Engagement
Deirdre d'Albertis, 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
John Gomez, Director, Safety and Security
Emily McLaughlin, Associate Dean of the College
Jennifer Murray, Dean of International Studies
Bethany Nohlgren, Dean of Students
Kahan Sablo, Dean for Inclusive Excellence
Michael Sadowski, Interim Dean of Graduate Studies
David Shein, Associate VP for Academic Affairs/Dean of Studies
Éric Trudel, Chair, Faculty Senate
 

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A Message about a Positive Case on Campus, Testing and Quarantine Requirements

Wednesday, January 6, 2021

A COVID-19 Update

Topics in this update:

• Positive case on campus
• Return-to-campus testing
• Quarantine requirements

To the Bard College community,

This month we are welcoming students back to campus, with a detailed and well-coordinated check-in process that includes testing and quarantine as required by the State of New York. The importance of maintaining stringent testing and safety protocols moving forward cannot be overstated. This week the College is testing all students who remained on campus during winter break, as well as the small number of early arrivals, and all staff currently working on campus. Through this process, we identified one positive test result yesterday. The individual has been moved into our isolation housing. Through contact tracing, we identified one person on campus who was exposed to the positive case and is now in quarantine. No other individuals on campus have been exposed to the active case.

In 2020 we learned how to keep our community healthy in a pandemic, through our personal behaviors and the College’s COVID policies and protocols. We are grateful to everyone who helped. Now that we are entering a new year, rising transmission rates and the new highly contagious strain first discovered in England make it far more important than ever that we all strictly adhere to these protocols, and the appropriate health and safety behaviors, both on and off campus. Along with the entire nation we are entering the most challenging moment of the pandemic, even though the end is in sight with the vaccine.

A safe return to campus starts prior to arrival on campus. Take extra precautions to avoid situations where you might become exposed to the virus before returning to Bard, so that you do not bring it back with you. Take the opportunity now to review the College’s COVID policies and protocols as published on our COVID page. Students should reacquaint themselves with the requirements outlined in the COVID-19 Addendum to the Student Handbook. All of us have worked together to take extraordinary measures to keep our community safe. We must continue to support these efforts with our actions now. 

Testing and quarantine requirements for January return-to-campus

All students who did not remain on campus for Winter Break are required to take two COVID tests as part of the “return to campus” protocol. 

1. Pre-arrival test: New York State requires each returning student to take a pre-arrival COVID test within three days before returning to campus. If you receive your test result before returning to Bard, you must submit it to covidclearance@bard.edu. PCR or rapid antigen tests are acceptable; antibody tests are not. If you do not receive your test result before returning to campus, you must be prepared to shelter in place upon arrival until you receive your result. This pre-arrival test requirement is for ALL STUDENTS, including those living locally off-campus. Arranging for and taking this pre-arrival test is the responsibility of each student. Under current New York State guidance, if you do not have a pre-arrival test, you cannot test out of mandatory 10-day quarantine. Any student unable to obtain a COVID test within the 3-day pre-arrival time frame must notify reslife@bard.edu in advance of arrival to update your quarantine status. To identify testing locations, please consult your doctor or the federal Department of Health and Human Services’ list of no-cost on-site testing by state.
2. Post-arrival test: Each returning student will be required to take their second COVID test approximately four days after returning to campus. The College will schedule and administer this test to all students - whether they live on or off campus - via the same MIT/Broad Institute testing program that we used throughout the fall semester, and that typically delivers results in less than 24 hours. 

All returning students must observe the testing requirements listed above in order to regain access to campus for class or other activities, even if you have remained in the local area during winter break. 

Additional details on arrival protocols and specific arrival dates can be found here. Students must be prepared to arrive on the day that corresponds to their specific situation as described at the link. Due to the complexity of the check-in process under COVID and the importance of maintaining these safety protocols through an orderly check-in, the College cannot accommodate arrival dates and times outside of the options listed.

Quarantine requirements

Students returning to Bard from any non-contiguous state or from overseas are required by New York State Guidelines to quarantine upon arrival in NY, and will immediately enter quarantine after arriving at Bard. The College has arranged quarantine space for all students who need it. Students who live off campus and are required to quarantine must be prepared to do so in their off-campus residence. If you have questions about quarantine, please visit the Frequently Asked Questions section of the College’s COVID page.

New York State has updated its quarantine requirement to enable travelers to test out of quarantine if they submit negative pre- and post-arrival COVID tests, reducing quarantine time to approximately four days. However, in accordance with NYS requirements, any student who needs to quarantine and is unable to get a pre-arrival COVID test will be required to quarantine for 10 days upon arrival in NY. Students not required to quarantine will be expected to refrain from any group interactions during the time between their arrival on campus and their post-arrival test. 

All Bard employees returning to work  this week are required to be tested, and all returning employees are required to participate in surveillance testing during the spring semester. Employees who have traveled or hosted visitors from outside the local area must observe quarantine protocols as outlined by New York State. They are also required to sign a new health pledge and to continue conducting daily COVID health checks before coming to campus.

We are optimistic that COVID vaccines will become available at some point during the spring semester. We are working closely with NY State and our partners at Nuvance Health to establish a plan of action so we can quickly begin offering vaccinations to our community as soon as possible. Once vaccination is available, it should be considered an additional level of protection, not a replacement for such essential safety measures as mask wearing and social distancing.

Thank you all for your ongoing commitment to the College’s efforts to keep the community safe. We look forward to a healthy and engaging return for Citizen Science and another successful semester.


Sincerely,
Bard College COVID-19 Response Team
responseteam@bard.edu
 
Coleen Murphy Alexander, Vice President for Administration
Kimberly Alexander, Director, Human Resources
Jonathan Becker, Executive Vice President and Vice President for Academic Affairs
Barbara Jean Briskey, Director, Health Services
Erin Cannan, Vice President Student Affairs/Dean for Civic Engagement
Deirdre d'Albertis, 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
John Gomez, Director, Safety and Security
Emily McLaughlin, Associate Dean of the College
Jennifer Murray, Dean of International Studies
Bethany Nohlgren, Dean of Students
Kahan Sablo, Dean for Inclusive Excellence
Michael Sadowski, Interim Dean of Graduate Studies
David Shein, Associate VP for Academic Affairs/Dean of Studies
Éric Trudel, Chair, Faculty Senate
 

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A Message to Bard Students and Families about Winter Break Policies, January Arrival, Citizen Science, Spring Semester, and Vaccines

Thursday, December 24, 2020

A COVID-19 Update

Topics in this update:

• COVID policies and protocols for Winter Break 
• Planning for Citizen Science and the spring semester
• Testing and quarantine requirements for January return-to-campus
• January arrival dates 
• Vaccines

To Bard students and families,

Please read this email carefully, as it contains detailed requirements for returning to campus in January for Citizen Science and the spring semester.  

COVID policies and protocols for Winter Break
With Winter Break now underway, we would like to remind everyone that all of the College’s COVID policies and protocols - including mask-wearing, physical distancing, frequent hand-washing, and size limits for gathering - remain in effect. For all who have returned home for the Winter Break, we ask that you all adhere to these safety protocols at home and observe the CDC guidance for holiday safety. 

In recognition of the unprecedented public health challenges of COVID, for the first time in memory the College is keeping the residence halls open over Winter Break for those who need to stay. Those students remaining on campus must continue adhering to protocols barring visitors, and also must not travel outside of the local area or spend the night off campus and then return to campus. The safety of the campus community depends on it. Nurses and counselors are on call and available through the Safety and Security Office. For information on shuttle service, food distributions, wellness activities, and other on-campus needs please visit Winter Break Guide 2020-21. 

Planning for Citizen Science and the spring semester
Citizen Science will take place January 14-29. We are currently planning for a blended, in-person program. Spring Semester classes will begin on February 1 and end on May 25. Spring Break will be observed as five separate “respite days” throughout the semester; professors will provide schedule details to students at the beginning of the semester. 

Testing and quarantine requirements for January return-to-campus
All students not remaining on campus throughout Winter Break will be required to take two COVID tests as part of the “return to campus” protocol. 

1. Pre-arrival test: Each returning student must take a pre-arrival COVID test within three days before returning to campus. If you receive your test result before returning to Bard, you must submit it to covidclearance@bard.edu. PCR or rapid tests are acceptable; positive antibody tests are not. If you do not receive your test result before returning, you must be prepared to shelter in place upon arrival at Bard until you receive your result. This pre-arrival test requirement is for ALL STUDENTS who are not staying on campus for Winter Break, including those living locally off-campus. Arranging for and taking this pre-arrival test is the responsibility of each student. Throughout your time away from Bard, and especially between the time of your pre-arrival test and arriving on campus, it is important that students adhere to safe behaviors: no large gatherings, wear a mask, and practice physical distancing.   
2. Post-arrival test: Each returning student will be required to take their second COVID test approximately four days after returning to campus. The College will schedule and administer this test to all students - whether they live on or off campus - via the same MIT/Broad Institute testing program that we used throughout the fall semester, and that typically delivers results in less than 24 hours. 

To determine your pre-arrival test date, please carefully review the “arrival dates” section further below, and count backwards three days from that date.

All students who live off campus or travel away from campus during Winter Break must observe the testing requirements listed above in order to regain access to campus for class or other activities, even if you remain in the local area over Winter Break. Only students who remain on campus throughout Winter Break are exempt from the pre- and post-arrival testing requirement. 

Students traveling to Bard from any non-contiguous state or from overseas are required by New York State Guidelines to quarantine upon arrival in NY, and will immediately enter quarantine after arriving at Bard. (Students who spend the Winter Break in New York State or a contiguous state are not required to quarantine upon return to campus.) The College has arranged quarantine space on campus for all students who need it and reside on campus. Students who live off campus and are required to quarantine must be prepared to do so in their off-campus residence. If you have questions about quarantine, please visit the Frequently Asked Questions section of the College’s COVID page.

New York State has updated its quarantine requirement to enable travelers to test out of quarantine if they submit negative pre- and post-arrival COVID tests, reducing quarantine time to approximately four days. Any student who is required to quarantine but does not take a pre-arrival COVID test must quarantine upon arrival in New York State. Individuals can end their quarantine after 10 days as long as no symptoms have been reported during the quarantine period.* Students not required to quarantine will be expected to refrain from any group interactions during the time between their arrival on campus and their post-arrival test. Only once you’ve received negative results from both your pre-arrival and post-arrival tests will you be able to return to campus activities and in-person classes. 

January arrival dates
Below are arrival dates and times for students returning for Citizen Science and the spring semester. It is very important that you plan to arrive on the day that corresponds to your situation. Please note that you MUST plan to arrive between the hours of 9am - 3pm. Because of the complexities of the check-in process under COVID, the College cannot accommodate student check-ins outside of those hours. Whether you live on or off campus, student access to campus facilities after Winter Break is contingent upon complying with the return-to-campus check-in process, including pre- and post-arrival testing and quarantine as required.  

• Early arrivals: pre-approved student workers, seniors, graduate students: 
  Monday, January 4 and Wednesday January 6 (9am-3pm)
  All early arrivals MUST be pre-approved by Senior Project advisors, work supervisors or, in the case of graduate students, their program directors. These students also must observe the testing protocols listed above, and quarantine as necessary depending on where they are traveling from. If you intend to arrive early and have not already been in touch with your advisor, supervisor, or program director, please contact them as soon as possible to make appropriate arrangements.  
   
• Students taking Citizen Science who are NOT required to quarantine:
  Tuesday, January 12 (9am-3pm)
  Students who spend the Winter Break in New York State or in a state that borders New York are not required to quarantine. These students must observe the testing requirements listed above, and refrain from group activities until receiving their test results. 
   
• Students taking Citizen Science who are REQUIRED to quarantine:
  Wednesday, January 13 (9am-3pm)
  Students who spend the Winter Break anywhere other than New York State or a state bordering New York are REQUIRED to quarantine. These students also must observe the testing protocols listed above. Students who reside off campus must be prepared to quarantine in their off-campus residence.  
   
• Students arriving from international destinations who live on campus: 
  Friday, January 15 (9am-3pm)
  All students arriving from outside the United States are REQUIRED to quarantine. These students also must observe the testing protocols listed above.  
   
• Upper College/new transfer/graduate students who live on campus and are REQUIRED to quarantine: 
  Friday, January 22 (9am-3pm)
  Students who spend the Winter Break anywhere other than New York State or a state bordering New York are REQUIRED to quarantine. These students also must observe the testing protocols listed above.   
   
• New transfer students who live on campus and do NOT need to quarantine: 
  Tuesday, January 26 (9am-3pm)
  Under current guidance, students who spend the Winter Break in New York State or in a state that borders New York are not required to quarantine. These students must observe the testing requirements listed above, and refrain from group activities until receiving their test results. 
   
• Upper College/new transfer/graduate students who live off campus: 
  January 27, 28, and 29 (9-3pm each day)
  The Dean of Student Affairs office will send instructions in the coming days to students in this category, so they can sign up for a specific date & time to arrive on campus during this three-day check-in period. Off-campus students who are required to quarantine, including any students arriving from international destinations, must be prepared to do so in their off-campus residence.
   
• Upper College and graduate students who live on campus and do NOT need to quarantine: 
  Friday, January 29 (9am-3pm)
  Students who spend the holiday break in New York State or in a state that borders New York are not required to quarantine. These students must observe the testing requirements listed above, and refrain from group activities until receiving their test results.

Please see New York State Guidelines for more info about travel and quarantine requirements. 

Vaccines
There is a great deal of encouraging news about COVID vaccines, and we are in close contact with health authorities as they develop vaccination plans. As of today, federal, state, and local authorities have not finalized or communicated vaccination protocols. It is imperative that we not relax our vigilance just because a vaccine is on the horizon. Until vaccines are available to the Bard community, we must continue following the public health protocols and policies that have kept us safe to this point. Therefore, until further notice, for Citizen Science and the spring semester we will continue to observe the COVID protocols that have been in place since fall. Students should prepare for an in-person spring semester much like the semester we have just completed. 

The Response Team will communicate additional aspects of our Spring Semester plan, including how and when we will resume surveillance testing for students and employees, in the coming weeks.  

We are grateful for the hard work and commitment that each of you made throughout this past semester to support the College community as we worked through the uncertainties and complexities of life under the pandemic. This has been an extraordinary collective effort, dependent on each of us to do our part. Please remain flexible, as the public health situation continues to develop rapidly. We will communicate any changes in government requirements as soon as we learn about them, and will adjust College policies as necessary. We hope you all enjoy the Winter Break. Please stay safe and healthy. We look forward to seeing you again in the new year.

Sincerely,
Bard College COVID-19 Response Team
responseteam@bard.edu
 
Coleen Murphy Alexander, Vice President for Administration
Kimberly Alexander, Director, Human Resources
Jonathan Becker, Executive Vice President and Vice President for Academic Affairs
Barbara Jean Briskey, Director, Health Services
Erin Cannan, Vice President Student Affairs/Dean for Civic Engagement
Deirdre d'Albertis, 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
John Gomez, Director, Safety and Security
Emily McLaughlin, Associate Dean of the College
Jennifer Murray, Dean of International Studies
Bethany Nohlgren, Dean of Students
Kahan Sablo, Dean for Inclusive Excellence
Michael Sadowski, Interim Dean of Graduate Studies
David Shein, Associate VP for Academic Affairs/Dean of Studies
Éric Trudel, Chair, Faculty Senate

*Quarantine protocols have been updated in this message to reflect new guidance from the State of New York. Please see Bard's COVID-19 Response website for details.