At the heart of campus lies the Bertelsmann Campus Center (right) bordered by the Alumni Houses (left)and Tewksbury residence halls.

As a residential college, Bard provides an exquisite campus setting in which students pursue their academic interests and craft a rich social life. The fusion of two historic estates, Bard’s park-like campus covers more than 500 acres of fields and forested land bordering the Hudson River. The Catskill Mountains, to the west, can be viewed from many student residences and from the grounds and gardens of Blithewood (the mansion that houses The Levy Economics Institute of Bard College). Walking trails crisscross the campus through wooded areas, along the Saw Kill stream, and down to the Hudson River, which borders Bard to the West.r. This section of the website describes the facilities for various fields of study, student activities, the residential program, and services available to students.

The Rose Garden at the Blithewood mansion offers picturesque views of the Hudson River and the Castkill Mountains beyond.

The campus contains more than 70 buildings of varied architectural styles, from 19th-century stone houses and riverfront mansions to structures designed by noted contemporary architects. The buildings include more than 40 student residence halls; a dining commons; a campus center with a bookstore, post office, café, and cinema; a computer center and computer laboratories; libraries; science laboratories; painting and sculpture studios; a performing arts center containing two theaters; a gymnasium; and two historic estates. A free shuttle provides regular service between the campus and the neighboring towns of Red Hook, Rhinebeck, and Tivoli.

Kline Commons is the main dining facility on campus. Through a continuous service plan, students may enjoy the flexibility of dining at the hour of their choice.

Most of the College's facilities are clustered at the center of campus: Kline Commons, with its main student dining hall and meeting places for students and faculty; classrooms; libraries; the computer centers; science labs; art studios; and the gymnasium. In addition to providing alternative dining options, the Bertelsmann Campus Center provides a spacious setting for social and intellectual exchange among members of the Bard community. Several residence halls are located in the central campus area, while others are within easy walking or bicycling distance.

The area surrounding Bard offers plentiful activities for outdoor enthusiasts. Skiing, horseback riding, rock climbing, hiking, snowboarding, white-water rafting, cycling, mountain biking, ice skating, and canoeing are available. The area is also a center for spiritual life, containing churches of all denominations, temples, mosques, Zen and Tibetan Buddhist monasteries, and meditation centers.

Contact
For additional information about campus life contact the Dean of Students Office at 845-758-7454 or e-mail doso@bard.edu.