Bard College

What it reported doing in 2024

Bard college is an independent, comprehensive liberal arts college located on a park-like campus that covers more than 1,500 acres bordering the hudson river. Bard has developed a new vision and model of the liberal arts college, as a central body surrounded by significant institutes and programs - "satellites" - that strengthen its' curriculum. While it is flexible enough to include programs for research, graduate study, community outreach, and other cultural and educational activities, the undergraduate program remains its focus. Each satellite program is designed to enhance the undergraduate course of study by offering students opportunities for interaction with leading artists and scholars. In addition to the undergraduate college, bard has undertaken a number of important educational initiatives that include but are not limited to the following: during 1979, bard assumed control and ownership of simon's rock early college (now called bard college at simon's rock) (simon's rock) located in great barrington, Massachusetts. Although bard and simon's rock remain distinct and carry on separate academic programs at their respective campuses, the relationship between the two institutions gives bard an exceptional opportunity to apply its experience as a liberal arts college to the development of a strong curriculum for younger students. In march 1986, bard established the levy economics institute of bard college, which is dedicated to improving the human condition through the study of economics and the generation of effective public policy responses to important problems worldwide. During 1992, bard entered into an operating agreement with the iris foundation to establish and maintain the bard graduate center for studies in the decorative arts, design, and culture (bgc). Since 1993, the bgc has presented a unique, multidisciplinary, and broadly international approach to the study of the decorative arts. The bgc offers a masters of arts degree in the history of the decorative arts and a doctor of philosophy degree in the history of the decorative arts, design, and culture. It sponsors several major exhibitions annually and presents diverse public programs for audiences ranging from decorative arts professionals and collectors to schoolchildren. The bgc is located in New York city, in two beaux arts townhouses close to the city's leading museums and galleries, and, in bard hall. During 2003, the richard b. Fisher center for the performing arts at bard college (fisher center) was opened offering a world-class complex for innovative artistic representation. The fisher center is home to bard college's theater and dance programs, as well as the bard music festival, and host to performances by the american symphony orchestra. Generally, the fisher center provides audiences with a bold and dynamic environment that inspires risk-taking performance and provocative programs in orchestral, chamber, and jazz music and theater, dance and opera by american and international artists. During 2011, bard also assumed control and ownership of ecla - european college of liberal arts ggmbh, now called bard college berlin, ggmbh and bard real estate gmbh, a german entity holding title to all but one of bard college berlin, ggmbh's land and buildings. Bard college berlin, ggmbh is a liberal arts university offering an innovative, interdisciplinary curriculum with a global sensibility. Students come to berlin from 30 countries in order to study with the international faculty. Bard college berlin, ggmbh is a registered as a separate 501(c)(3) organization. Bard real estate gbmh is a for-profit entity subject to german taxation. During 2012, bard assumed control and ownership of longy school of music, now called the longy school of music of bard college (longy), located in cambridge, Massachusetts. Longy is a leading degree-granting conservatory and school of continuing and preparatory studies and offers eleven programs leading to a master of music degree

Financial Efficiency

• Mission deployment rate: 41.3%; rating input score 41
• Program expense ratio: 91.4%; rating input score 91
• Fundraising efficiency: $141.13 raised per $1 spent on fundraising; rating input score 87; 87th percentile among comparable filings

Transparency & Controls

• Consistency checks: 100%; rating input score 100; 68th percentile among comparable filings
• Pay-setting controls: 5 of 6 controls in place; rating input score 83
  • Compensation committee: Pass
  • Independent consultant: Missing
  • Other Form 990s reviewed: Pass
  • Written employment contract: Pass
  • Compensation survey or study: Pass
  • Board or committee approval: Pass
• Foreign activity oversight: 2 of 8 controls in place; rating input score 25
  • Claims monitoring procedures: Pass
  • Requires narrative reports: Fail
  • Conducts field audits: Fail
  • May suspend future funding: Fail
  • Requires financial reports: Pass
  • Conducts site visits: Fail
  • Requires grant agreements: Fail
  • May require repayment: Fail
• Grant itemization coverage: 100%; rating input score 100; 77th percentile among comparable filings
• Major donor itemization: Yes; rating input score 100
• Related-party transparency: Yes; rating input score 100

Accountability

• Independent voting board: 84%; rating input score 84; 31st percentile among comparable filings
• Governance controls: 9 of 9 controls in place; rating input score 100
  • Conflict-of-interest policy: Pass
  • Whistleblower policy: Pass
  • Document-retention policy: Pass
  • CEO compensation review process: Pass
  • Other executive compensation review process: Pass
  • Form 990 shared with the board: Pass
  • Board meeting minutes documented: Pass
  • Audit committee oversight: Pass
  • Independent financial-statement audit: Pass

Sustainability

• Operating margin: 56.1%; rating input score 97; 97th percentile among comparable filings
• Total-asset coverage ratio: 4.18; rating input score 83; 83rd percentile among comparable filings
• Liabilities to assets ratio: 0.38; rating input score 47; 47th percentile among comparable filings
• Officer compensation ratio: 1.1%; rating input score 73; 73rd percentile among comparable filings

Growth

• Program expense growth: 5.5% per year; rating input score 100; 44th percentile among comparable filings
• Revenue growth: 7.8% per year; rating input score 100; 65th percentile among comparable filings
• Asset growth: 6.6% per year; rating input score 100; 48th percentile among comparable filings