GREAT BARRINGTON, Mass. — Bard College at Simon's Rock announced the Bard Queer Leadership Project (BQLP), a B.A. degree program designed for and by LGBTQIA+ college students, aiming to elevate LGBTQIA+ college graduates into leadership roles in fields across the workforce. 

 

The BQLP is envisioned to expand to a complete college serving traditional age and transfer students over the next few years and would be the first intentionally queer-serving college in the world.  

 

The BQLP aims to increase the presence of LGBTQIA+ individuals leading at higher levels within organizations, while serving as a space for envisioning and actualizing educational practices designed for LGBTQIA+ students to thrive. 

 

Bard College at Simon's Rock will also expand its LGBTQIA+ student focus to more traditional college-aged students.

 

The Bard College at Simon's Rock campus was rated 4.5 out of 5 stars as of December 2022 on Campus Pride Index, the national listing of LGBTQ-Friendly Colleges & Universities. 

 

In addition, the school is honored to be part of the Consortium of Higher Education LGBT Resource Professionals.

 

The Queer Leadership portion of the academic program spans across four years, but can also be completed in two or three years, to accommodate transfer students, including transfers from the Early College program of Bard College at Simon's Rock. 

 

The BQLP will lead to a four-year B.A. degree. All students will have an academic program incorporating at least one Concentration in a liberal arts academic field and a new Concentration in Queer Leadership. The academic program will culminate in two capstone experiences: a Senior Project aligned with their academic field, with or without a queer studies focus, and a work/internship experience contributing to the growth of their leadership skills. Simon's Rock is facilitating a working group composed of faculty, staff, and students devoted to the advancement and development of the Bard Queer Leadership Project.