Bard College
PA-2: Sustainability Planning

3.4.1: This currently represents 16% of the Bard curriculum, with a goal to
reach 20% of courses relating to sustainability. (Climate Action Plan, July 2017)

the Bard Center for Civic Engagement (BardCCE) publishes an annual plan. Promoting Active Citizenship through Engaged Liberal Arts & Sciences (ELAS): Each year, more than 300 Bard students enroll in ELAS courses that challenge them to develop creative and practical approaches to social, cultural, and scientific issues while partnering with community and civic organizations. CCE annually seeks to increase this number by inviting proposals from Bard and Bard Early College faculty to design and support ELAS courses that connect students’ classroom experiences with the community, enhancing learning and promoting active citizenship. https://cce.bard.edu/classroom/elas-courses/

Facilitating education and a relationship with the students by holding one event per year which allows for input and involvement, such as panels or discussions (BardEATS)

Percentage of students participating in sustainable civic engagement and hours devoted annually are both targeted to increase year-on-year (Climate Action Plan)

The Bard Climate Action Plan outlines actions to be taken to reduce energy consumption by buildings, including energy efficiency measures, net-zero new construction, install of on- and off-site renewables, and displacing fossil fuels with electricity or carbon-neutral fuels. Bard intends to align itself with the goals stated in the Climate Leadership and Community Protection Act, including: Limit statewide greenhouse gas emissions to 40% of 1990 levels by 2030 and 85% by 2050. A plan to achieve net zero greenhouse gas emissions across New York State's economy. 70% renewable electricity by 2030. 100% zero emission electricity by 2040. It is expected that Bard can match or outpace this timetable. Bard's 2020 Carnegie Classification states: Through the Bard Office of Sustainability (BOS) and Bard EATS, new procurement and purchasing policies further the local economy and support local farms by purchasing 100% Hudson Valley-produced dairy products and locally grown produce for use year round. BOS and the College purchasing department have created and now practice environmental and energy policies that support local and regional sustainability goals, including local purchasing and procurement wherever possible.

Sustainable Investment/ Finance: The College has published a commitment on the College website to make annual investments for shareholder advocacy efforts consisting of filing of shareholder resolutions (see Green Fund document*). Our measurable objective is making a minimum of one annual investment of less than or equal to $2500 in order to address sustainable investment for the College.

* https://bos.bard.edu/initiatives/planning-administration/#
The Green Fund supports the Socially Responsible Investment Committee (SRIC) with up to $2500 annually (as approved in 2019) for shareholder advocacy: filing of shareholder resolutions (e.g. McDonalds, Urban Outfitters, Exxon Mobil)

The published plan for Diversity Equity & Inclusion was delayed due to Covid 19

Bard College's President, took a pledge of climate neutrality (There is an official letter marking this pledge).

The study of sustainability is inherently interdisciplinary, involving underlying scientific processes, ethical and aesthetic questions, and social relationships. At the same time, for the college to become a model of sustainability students, faculty, and staff must engage with both the campus and community as laboratories, seeking ways to reduce our ecological footprint while enhancing our economic stability and social well-being.

President Botstein signed both the Carbon Commitment (2008) and the SDG Accord (2019) in response to student activism. The Sustainability Council and Office of Sustainability are activating both. For the SDG Accord, the curricular committee has been asked to review a framework for reviewing learning outcomes for courses. The Office of Sustainability is using the framework for awarding mini grant funding.

As part of the college’s strategic planning process, Perkins + Will created a campus framework that addresses space needs, aligns with Bard's constrained financial realities, and advances our commitment to sustainability. The "Ridge and Valley" framework treats the historic Ridge Campus as a formal space organized by quads and approaches the newer Valley Campus as an informal space that incorporates the essential character of the landscape. Within this framework, we have developed a series of discrete proposals that creatively and strategically respond to facilities, open space, and circulation needs. The proposals range from an expansion of the campus dining hall to public realm improvements along the primary campus circulation to a conversion of a storage barn into a black box theater."