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Bard Queer Leadership Project at Simon’s Rock
The Bard Queer Leadership Project (BQLP) is a revolutionary, Bachelor of Arts degree program designed for, and by, LGBTQIA+ college students to elevate LGBTQIA+ students and college graduates into leadership roles in school and across the workforce…while serving as a space for actualizing educational practices designed for students to thrive.
Who We’re Looking For
We know our students come to education in their own way, in their own time. That’s
why there are three ways to become a founding member of the BQLP:
- High school seniors: apply directly into BQLP as first-year students.
- Transfer students: apply directly into BQLP as a second or third year student. Students from Bard College at Simon’s Rock: The Early College may also transfer to the BQLP.
- Non-traditional students: BQLP welcomes applications from students taking non-traditional paths in their education.
We’re looking for independent-minded, barrier-breaking students like you. Become a founding member of the second cohort of the Bard Queer Leadership Project. Learn more today and connect with a Simon’s Rock student to learn about the campus and community. If you're ready for the challenge, apply now.
Queering the Curriculum
The Bard Queer Leadership Project curriculum is designed to promote Queer Leadership in many fields of inquiry by requiring
each student to undertake a concentration in a liberal arts academic field in addition
to the Queer Leadership concentration. The dual-concentration nature of the existing
Simon’s Rock B.A. degree facilitates this, as nearly all of the 40+ concentrations
currently offered at Bard College at Simon’s Rock can be done in tandem with a second
concentration.
Take a peek at the BQLP Curriculum:
- The BQLP Colloquium in Queer Culture
- Queer Leadership Proseminars
- LGBTQ+ College Communities: Past, Present, Future
- Queer Leadership Proseminars
- Queer in Field
- Queer in Community
- Queer Leadership Internship
- Queer Theory
- First-Year Seminar I and II and First-Year Experience I and II queer-focused sections distinct from those in The Early College
BQLP is not intended as an academic program only in Queer Studies, but instead as the combination of queer modes of inquiry with a second academic field. Of course, if a student is interested in focusing their work predominantly on Queer Studies, they can combine Queer Leadership with the existing concentration in Gender Studies.
Bard Queer Leadership Project: Request More Information
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Forward Thinking, Leadership Focused
Leadership is as much a part of the Bard Queer Leadership Project as academics. We want our students to change the world and that means looking to
the future.
Let’s take a look at some of the key ways our students can enhance their leadership skills and build their own future:
Queer Leadership Internship
With a focus on leadership, students can partake in their own Queer Leadership Internship
with a variety of elective options. The Internships includes 75-90 hours of internship
experience, and can encompass both in person and remote work.
Senior Project
Every student in the Bard Queer Leadership Project will craft a pivotal Senior Project
based on research/creative output and/or their career pathway. Senior Projects are
a key component of a SImon’s Rock education.
Simon’s Rock’s Industry Expert Advisory Program
Students will work in groupings aligned with their interests, connecting them with
additional supporters of their future careers. This program begins in the junior year,
and extends through the senior year into the first year post-graduation. The program
culminates in an in-person final retreat during Alumni Reunion.
The Bard Queer Leadership Project…and the Future
The BQLP is envisioned to expand over the next few years into a complete college on the campus of Bard College at Simon’s Rock, together with Bard College at Simon’s Rock: The Early College, and Bard Academy.
The Bard Queer Leadership Project would become the first intentionally queer-serving college in the world.
With its history of innovative practices and success with LGBTQIA+ students at the Early College and high school levels, Bard College at Simon’s Rock will also expand its LGBTQIA+ student focus for more traditional college-aged students. Simon’s Rock’s policies around LGBTQIA+ inclusion are already sought after by other institutions as models, and the college’s LGBTQ+ graduates are among its most satisfied alumni.
Where We’re Located
The BQLP is located on the campus of Bard College at Simon’s Rock in Great Barrington, MA, which has been among the most innovative and progressive higher education institutions in the world since its founding in 1966.
Parts of the BQLP Application
The information you provide in your application initiates the conversation with your admission counselor. You can start this first step in the application process early, up to a year before enrollment.
Now Accepting Applications For Spring & Fall 2024!
Two (2) letters of recommendation are required, at least one (1) of which must be from a current or former teacher, professor, or similar figure from an academic setting. The second recommender may be another academic source or, alternatively, someone who has supervised you in a professional, training, or volunteer capacity.
Only one written response is required, Why Queer Leadership? or Reflections on Queerness. Show us how you think, what you think about, and your personality. Please check for grammar, spelling, and word usage.
1) WHY Queer Leadership?
Joining a novel queer leadership program is an intrepid academic choice. What goals, ambitions, and motivations have led you to apply for admission to Bard Queer Leadership Project at Simon's Rock? Are there particular experiences, either academic or personal, that have contributed to your desire to focus your studies on queer leadership? How does the particular kind of education and community that the BQLP and Simon's Rock offer fit your own desires for intellectual and personal growth? How will your presence affect the academic and social development of the project? (250 to 1000 words)
2) Reflections on Queerness
Choose from one of the following options:
1. How old were you when you first understood that people may not fit neatly into the gender binary? How did you first react to that reality? Has your relationship to the idea of non-binary identities changed over time? If so, how? (250-1000 words)
2. The term 'queer' has evolved much in recent years, with a great variety of meanings between people and groups. What does Queer mean to you personally? What has influenced your current understanding of the term? (250-1000 words)
3. What would be the characteristics of an ideal Queer or LGBTQIA+ affirming world? How might queer leadership serve to achieve this vision? (250-1000 words)
4. How has your understanding of transgender identities evolved over time? Who or what has influenced your thinking? (250-1000 words)
An interview with an admission counselor is required of each applicant. We prefer that the interview be in-person as part of a visit to campus but we also schedule virtual and phone interviews. For non-in-person interviews, you will be invited to interview after submitting your application.
Transcripts* from all secondary (high school) and post-secondary (college/university) institutions you have attended must be submitted either at the time of application, or uploaded to your application portal after submission. While unofficial transcripts are acceptable for admission review, with official transcripts being required at the time of enrollment.
*Prospective students who have not received a high school diploma or who have alternative secondary school credentials are encouraged to apply.
International students may need to submit English proficiency scores.
College entrance exam scores are optional.
A current resume detailing your academic history, activities, and any professional/volunteer experiences should be included in your application materials.
We invite you to submit a piece of your own work (or description of a project, in any form you deem appropriate) that has particularly intrigued and excited you. Examples include but are not limited to a writing sample, a position paper, a problem solution, a poem or short story, a graded test, a research paper, a science project, a copy of a drawing, painting, or photograph, or a recording of music, a film, or a performance. Upload optional work on your Application Status page.
Who should Apply & When?
The BQLP accepts applications from high school seniors, recent high school graduates, transfer applicants from other colleges/universities, and A.A. alumni of Bard College at Simon’s Rock.
For students currently in Grades 9-11, we encourage you to apply directly to Bard College at Simon’s Rock where you will be able to concentrate in Queer Leadership.
Applications should be submitted by April 1, 2024 for Fall Semester 2024 (September start) and November 1 for Spring Semester 2024 (January start). Admission decisions are released on a rolling basis.
Financial Aid
About 80 percent of Simon’s Rock students receive a financial aid package — usually a combination of awards, grants, Federal Work-Study Program, and loans. In addition to need-based awards, students are eligible to apply for federal and state aid, as well as any funding that may be available through private scholarships offered through local organizations.