Bard College
PA-14: Wellness Program

Student Wellness Programs Bard College and Peer Health Educators offer a wide variety of wellness programs throughout each semester. These programs focus on mental, physical, and sexual wellness, as well as on eating, nutrition, body image, and substance abuse. Including weekly seminars, wellness programs also provide activities that all students are encouraged to attend. Bard offers counseling services to students which include individual and group sessions through its Counseling Services BRAVE is a professionally directed student-service organization whose members provide anonymous and confidential crisis intervention, supportive counseling, advocacy, and ongoing education to the Bard community. Although BRAVE staff members receive particular training in issues relating to sexual assault, sexual harassment, relationship violence, and sexuality, BRAVE counselors also receive training in eating disorders, depression and suicide, sexual orientation, loneliness, isolation, anxiety, and social and academic issues. https://www.bard.edu/brave/ Employee Wellness Bard College offers an Employee Assistance Program through Guidance Resources Online: ComPsych. This program, which is free to all employees and their families, provides confidential assistance to help address the personal issues they or their family is facing. This service, staffed by experienced clinicians, is available 24 hours a day, seven days a week. Services include, but are not limited to, relationships, problems with children, substance abuse, stress or depression, job pressures, marital conflicts, grief or loss or legal/financial situations. Covid19 New Resources: The Staff Mentor Program Committee hosts “virtual water coolers.” The purpose of the virtual water cooler is to provide an opportunity for support and connection among staff who work remotely. Staff can casually drop in and out and enjoy the camaraderie that comes from sharing a space and purpose. Yoga w/ Sondra Loring - Tuesday mornings (now virtual on Zoom due to COVID-19)

Smoking In keeping with Bard’s desire to protect the health of its faculty, staff, students, visitors, other campus constituencies, and the public in general, it is College policy to provide a smoke-free environment, to the maximum extent possible for those desiring such an environment, in full compliance with the Dutchess County Smoke-Free Air Act (Resolution No. 202237) and the New York State Clean Indoor Air Act (Article 13-E of the New York State Public Health Law). Smoking Defined To “smoke” and “smoking” means creating smoke by lighting a cigarette, cigar, pipe, or other smoking products, including e-cigarettes and vaping products; it also means puffing on, carrying, or holding a lighted cigarette, cigar, pipe, or other smoking products, including e-cigarettes and vaping products. Regulations a. Smoking is prohibited in all indoor spaces, including common areas, individual student bedrooms, and Bard owned vehicles (including the Campus Shuttle). b. Smoking is permitted in designated areas outside college buildings provided that these areas are located far enough away (minimum of 25 feet) from doorways, windows, and ventilation systems to prevent smoke from entering these facilities. Compliance The success of this policy requires the thoughtfulness, consideration, and cooperation of smokers and non-smokers alike. It is the responsibility of each member of the campus community to adhere to this policy. Violators may be fined a minimum of $100 and 20 hours of community restitution to a maximum of $500. Further violations will be referred to the appropriate judiciary body or supervisory authority for resolution. https://www.bard.edu/reslife/health-safety/index.php?aid=1262&sid=718

The Dean of Student Affairs has established a Smoke-Free Bard Committee and is planning to go smoke-free by 2021.