Photo by Pete Mauney ’93 MFA ’00

Get Involved

These are just a few ways to get started with civic engagement at Bard. Want to learn more? Stop by the CCE offices in the Resnick Family Gatehouse or email [email protected].

Upcoming Events

5/07

Wednesday

Various Campus Locations

Join Civic Ambassadors Weekly Events

Friday, February 21, 2025 – Friday, May 30, 2025 | Various Campus Locations

Join Civic Ambassadors for informal working groups of faculty, staff, and students, who are organizing events such as discussion groups, book clubs, community dinners, mutual aid support, and volunteering opportunities. The groups will also work to educate the Bard community on how local, state, and federal government works, including ways Bardians can engage with local elected officials. Meetings run weekly.
Gov. Institutions Working Group: Mondays, 1:15 PM, Olin 310
Gender Working Group: Tuesdays, 1:30 PM, Library Room 302
Climate Working Group: Thursdays, 1 PM, Kline
Rights Working Group: Fridays, 10 AM, Olin 310

View the Full Calendar

Civic Ambassadors

The Civic Ambassadors Program seeks to help Bard students, faculty, and staff better understand and connect with their communities. Whether you want to participate in our discussion groups, book clubs, community dinners, mutual aid support, volunteering opportunities, or simply wish to know more about what’s happening in the local, state, and federal government, the Civic Ambassadors can help!

Learn More About Civic Ambassadors

Start or Join a Project

The Trustee Leader Scholar Program

The Trustee Leader Scholar Program (TLS) is a student leadership incubator at Bard College. Students design and run their own projects, from local partnerships with community organizations to annual international volunteer trips. You can join an established project or start your own with support from the TLS Office. Visit the second floor of the Campus Center or email [email protected].

Browse TLS Projects →

Opportunities to Get Involved

Election@Bard

Election@Bard is a student-led initiative that helps students register to vote, provides ballot information, hosts candidate forums, and protects the rights of students to vote and have their votes counted.
Outreach Themes

Bard students often connect community-based work with a personal passion or area of expertise. CCE supports special initiatives in the areas of math and science, the arts, and in partnership with Bard Athletics.
Community Partnerships

Partnerships can take many forms, including internships, volunteer and community-based learning opportunities, joint projects, conferences, and research, as well as innovative cross-cultural and artistic initiatives.
Bard Prison Initiative

The Bard Prison Initiative began as a student-led TLS project and has grown into a national force for prison education. Bard students can volunteer as tutors and support BPI’s advocacy efforts.
Civic Ambassadors

The Civic Ambassadors organize working groups focused on current civic issues and seek to inform the Bard community about how local, state, and federal government works.
L&T Engagement

Every August, incoming Bard first-year students participate in the Language and Thinking Program (L&T). L&T Engagement activities introduce new students to volunteer opportunities, student leadership projects, and much more.

Photo by Sarah Wallock ’19

Engaged Liberal Arts and Sciences Courses

Engaged Liberal Arts and Sciences (ELAS) courses bring theory to practice by linking coursework, critical thinking, and engagement activities. A form of experiential learning, ELAS courses allow students to test ideas in the real world and develop creative approaches to social, cultural, and scientific issues.

More about ELAS →

Student Action and Youth Leadership Conference

The Annual Get Engaged Student Action and Youth Leadership Conference, organized by Bard College and the Open Society University Network (OSUN) Civic Engagement Initiative in partnership with the Community Engagement Office at Central European University, brings together student leaders and affiliated staff from OSUN partner institutions every year.

Learn More →