Citing Rising Coronavirus Cases, Bard Closes Campus To Visitors

ANNANDALE-ON-HUDSON, NY — Bard College announced it will change from operating as a restricted campus to a closed campus.

In an update posted Monday on the college's website, President Leon Botstein wrote that the school has been able to maintain campus safety and in-person teaching.

He said, though, that the number of cases of the new coronavirus is rising both regionally and nationally.

Because of that, Botstein said the college's medical consultants have advised the redoubling efforts and tightening the protocols regarding access to the campus.

Effective Monday, he said Bard will prohibit access to the campus for members of the surrounding communities and casual visitors.

"A person who does not live, work or study at Bard will not be allowed access to campus without prior approval from the College," Botstein wrote. "New signage will be posted at campus access points to alert the internal and external community of this change in policy."

He added that local government leaders were notified that this was a precautionary measure in light of regional upticks in the coronavirus.

Botstein said the new restrictions should not be viewed with alarm or considered punitive. He said it was not in response to something taking place within the Bard community, but was a precautionary measure, based on recommendations from the college's consultants at Nuvance Health, which runs Northern Dutchess Hospital and Vassar Brothers Medical Center.

Because of the new policy, the college will only allow virtual admission tours and athletic recruitment visits. All members of the campus community are being strongly encouraged to use online ordering and avoid unnecessary shopping trips and in-person dining off campus.

Also, unauthorized visits to campus by friends or family will not be permitted, and they will be escorted from the campus immediately.

Dutchess County Executive Marc Molinaro said Bard was taking a smart precautionary step.

"With no area of concern, Bard joins other colleges and universities in being safe ahead of potential increases in COVID-19 cases," he said in a Facebook post. "Keeping students, staff and the community’s health in mind, we continue working with Bard and all our colleges to be safe!"

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