The Guidance Department provides personal, social, and academic support to students either during individual and/or group counseling sessions. Counselors collaborate with parents and faculty members to insure the success and safety of BHSEC students. The primary focus of counseling is to equip students with coping strategies designed to help them manage personal stressors. Students learn to identify obstacles that interfere with their ability to achieve their goals. The counseling staff also offers conflict mediation services, organizational support, and, when necessary, members of the Guidance Department make referrals to and collaborate with community based organizations and external mental health professionals.
Key support services are listed below:
The Learning Commons promotes college readiness by providing individual tutorial help in all subject areas, with a special focus on the critical areas of writing and math. The Learning Commons provides a common learning space for students to collaborate with each other through small group work and study groups. Students may sign up for tutoring sessions with a professor or a student mentor, or they may use the Commons to work in small peer study groups.
BHSEC Cleveland’s Writing Center caters to all of Bard’s writers during all aspects of the writing process, offering one on one and group tutoring opportunities. Students in all years are encouraged to attend tutoring sessions where they can work on honing their craft and improving their writing.
Selected Year 2 students run the tutoring sessions. Tutors have to apply for the tutoring fellowship, which includes an intensive summer training program that preps them for all aspects of the tutoring process.
Starting in October 2020, BHSEC Cleveland’s peer tutoring services expanded to include a Math Center. Following a similar model to the Writing Center, students attend intensive training for tutoring in Algebra I, Algebra II, and Geometry are available during lunch.
All faculty members at BHSEC offer office hours—dedicated time in which they work individually with students. Students are encouraged to meet with their faculty members. Faculty members also offer organized group study for students who appear to be struggling in their classes.
Prior to entering BHSEC, all incoming 9th graders are invited to attend a week-long introduction to Bard High School Early College. The program is held during the summer and its primary goal is to transition students into a new setting and ease any anxiety they may have about making new friends and engaging in early college work. Students take sample classes, learn study skills, become familiar with the neighborhood, and collaborate in group activities that promote team building.
