Open Psychology Course for Fall 2025! ~~ PSYC BC1088: The Science of Living Well

The Psychology Department is offering a popular course that has not been offered recently and wanted to let you know there are still seats available! Please see the following course information down below:

PSYC BC1088: The Science of Living Well (4 points), taught by Dr. Scott Barry Kaufman, and includes a lecture (TR 11:40AM-12:55PM) and discussion section each week (F 11:40AM-12:55PM).

The course is part science, part self-discovery, and part "revolution" against emotional numbness. You'll walk away with practical tools for personal development, as well as a deeper understanding of yourself and others. You do not have to be a psych major to take this course. This is an interdisciplinary class and is often best experienced when attended by a mix of all majors. Some topics and questions explored in the course are:

• Why so many of us feel stuck, and how to break through
• The science behind purpose, meaning, and joy
• How to face hard emotions without totally shutting down
• What it means to actually live well in a messy world

If interested, enroll in PSYC BC1088, Call Number: 00102 (Link to Course Directory listing and on Vergil)

If you have any questions, you can reach out to Professor Kaufman at skaufman@barnard.edu

DEADLINE REMINDER: Registration, Adviser Approval, Enrollment Confirmation deadline Friday, Sept 12

Welcome back!

Don't forget:

1.  Your Fall 2025 Course Plan in Student Planning must show, in green (i.e. fully registered), all courses that you are taking this semester, including any PE, Dance technique, Varsity sport, or rehearsal/performance course for which you will earn credit this semester. 

2.  Your adviser must approve your course schedule by clicking "CONFIRM" in Slate.  Ideally, they will do this during an advising meeting with you.  If there are extenuating circumstances making it impossible for you and your adviser to meet until next week, your adviser may click CONFIRM upon confirming an appointment day/time with you.  Need advice/approval and can't reach your adviser?  Visit us in the Deans' office!

Don't forget to drop any classes or waitlists that you no longer need.

If you are unable to add a course that you know that you're in, or if you are unable to drop a course or leave a waitlist for something you're not taking, please visit or contact the Registrar's office, registrar@barnard.edu).

It is possible that a credit for a P.E. course, Dance technique course, or Varsity sport may appear after the registration deadline (if the course is eligible for credit for the P.E. requirement). If this does not happen automatically, you may need to fill out a form.

Friday, Sept 12 is the last day you may officially add a course to your schedule. If you need to add a course to your schedule after that date, you may need to petition the Committee on Programs and Academic Standing for permission to do so (contact your class dean if you need info about this), and a late fee may be charged.

You may still drop courses until the Drop Deadline (see Academic Calendar for drop deadlines.  To drop a course after this Friday, you will need to meet with your adviser for approval. Find this and all other deadlines on the Academic Calendar and consider adding the Academic Calendar to your gBear calendar.

 

 

Reminder that all students must confirm enrollment by (1) registering for classes and (2) paying your bill by the registration deadline. Contact the Bursar if you need to discuss your bill.

**Note about Courseworks/Canvas**
Until the registration deadline, your Courseworks/Canvas page may not look exactly like your Vergil page because it takes some time for an added class to appear on Courseworks, and it takes some extra time for a dropped class to disappear. Courseworks will catch up eventually. The most important thing is to make sure that your enrollments are accurate on your Vergil schedule. 

Senior-Year FACT OR FICTION: Can't uncover grades of "P" for classes taken in final semester?

FACT OR FICTION:
Is it true that graduating seniors cannot uncover grades of P for classes taken in their last semester?

YES; this is FACT. Graduating seniors cannot uncover P/D/F grades for classes taken during their final semester. (If a graduating senior elects P/D/F in a course that is required for the major, the Registrar’s Office will uncover the grade the month before graduation, but the student cannot uncover any P/D/F grades for the final semester.)  

Heard a rumor and want to know if it's true?  Submit requests for this series to SeniorClassDean@barnard.edu

Senior Life Hack: How to check your remaining credits and see if you're on track for graduation

Your Unofficial Transcript in Student Planning is the best place to check how many credits you have left before graduation.
It is easier to find and understand the credit math on the Transcript than on the Degree Audit, particularly if you have repeated classes that allow you to earn credit more than once (e.g. Dance Technique, Advanced Language Through Content, Supervised Research, etc.) or are registered for a yearlong thesis that only gives you grades and credits in spring.

How to check how many credits you still need to complete your degree:

Welcome to your senior year -- I'm your class dean!

 

Dear Seniors,

Welcome to your senior year at Barnard! I'm Rebecca Grabiner, your Senior Class Dean, and I look forward to working with you this year. Like all the class deans in the Deans Office for Advising and Support, I strive to provide a non-judgemental space where any Barnard student can seek support, advice, and information. I can work with you on something as simple as approving a form if your adviser is out of town, or something as serious as a health or family emergency that affects your ability to engage with your coursework. I have appointment times and walk-in hours several days a week.

I’m happy to help you keep track of requirements, deadlines, policies, procedures, and credits, and to empower you with tools to help you keep track of these yourself. Basically, I have three important goals that I hope you also have: for you (1) to be well and safe, (2) to learn and to grow, and (3) to graduate! I will organize a lot of the info you need to do these things right here on the senior blog.  I encourage you to bookmark the this blog and follow our Instagram – and to upload the Barnard Academic Calendar to your gBear calendar.

Now is a good time to review your degree audit and remaining credits. The final exam schedule (I know -- eek!) is already available to help you make winter break travel plans. You’ll be hearing from me regularly in weekly 411 emails -- which will all link back to the blog for more details and links -- and I’m happy to meet with you any time.

I look forward to getting to know you!

 

All the best,

Dean Grabiner

rgrabine@barnard.edu

https://deangrabiner.youcanbook.me/ 

Walk-In Hours

Senior year is approaching -- now is a good time to check your degree audit

Planning to graduate this year?  Now's a good time to double-check that you're on track to complete all of your requirements on time. 

Step 1: Open up both your Degree Audit and your Unofficial Transcript -- both in Student Planning

See related blog post for how to check remaining credits on your Transcript.

Step 2: Check for some important stuff

T

On your Unofficial Transcript

1. Are all the classes you took listed, are all the grades on your transcript, and do you have credit for all PE and dance classes you need?
2. Are all external credits you expect -- previous college credit, summer credit, AP/IB credit, study abroad credit, etc. -- listed? 
3. If you're planning to graduate this May:
1. Have you completed at least 86 credits, thereby attaining senior status? 
2. Are you registered -- or will you soon register -- for a schedule that puts you on track to finish everything that remains by the end of the spring?

On your Degree Audit

1. Is your expected graduation date correct?
2. Are all courses showing up as counting for the requirements you expect them to count for? Or are things listed in "Other" that you expected to see under General Education Requirements (GERs) or in your major?  
3. If you're planning to graduate this February, everything should be completed or in progress.

Step 3: Address any issues you identified in Step 2

 

Summer location change -- How to find Dean Grabiner in Millbank 119b Tuesdays, Wednesdays, and these Mondays: 6/9, 6/23, 7/7, 7/21, 8/4, & 8/25

Due to construction this summer, the class deans are being temporarily relocated to the offices of kind colleagues who are sharing space with us this summer. We should be back in our normal space in 105 Milbank by the second week of classes.

Dean Grabiner is around and available for appointments (walk-ins are virtual-only for the first week of classes) on zoom or by phone any weekday, and in-person on Tuesdays, Wednesdays, and the following Mondays: 6/9, 6/23, 7/7, 7/21, 8/4, and 8/18.

How to find Dean Grabiner's summer office:

Go to Milbank Hall

Swipe your ID to enter

 

Walk up the small flight of marble stairs directly in front of you

 

 At  the top of the stairs, turn right and walk through the open doors to the carpeted hallway

Find the Access Barnard 119 Milbank suite on your right after the elevator. Open this glass door and walk straight ahead

If Dean Grabiner is available, her 119b door, directly in front of you, will be open -- come right in!

 

If Dean Grabiner's door is closed, take a seat on the bench in the hallway directly opposite, and Dean Grabiner will come invite you in when ready

 

Use this link to make an appointment with Dean Grabiner any time: https://deangrabiner.youcanbook.me/

Apply to be a Peer Academic Coach!

Are you interested in helping students build their academic skills and your leadership skills as a Peer Academic Coach for the upcoming academic year? Please see the following flyer below for more information for qualifications and how to apply!

If you have any questions, feel free to reach out to the Program Coordinator, Allie Johnston, at ajohnsto@barnard.edu

When/where/how to take your approved deferred exam from spring 2025

Deferred exams for Spring 2025 classes

Deferred exams from Spring 2025 will be held on Friday, Sept. 5th & Monday, Sept. 8th.  We will be in touch with you to confirm the location & room details regarding your exam details the week before exams.

Friday, September 5, 2025 9:00AM – 12:00PM - Room TBA

Friday, September 5, 2025 1:00PM – 4:00PM - Room TBA

Monday, September 8, 2025 7 9:00AM – 12:00PM - Room TBA

Monday, September 8, 2025 – 4:00 PM - Room TBA

For most in-person deferred exams, we will follow a self-scheduled exam model. You will be contacted directly if your exam has a specific day and time. Otherwise, this model, followed by a number of peer institutions, allows students to select when to take their exams from among a number of blocked exam time periods. 

Spring 2025 deferred exams must be completed by Monday, September 8, 2025.

Pro Tips:

• If you have an unavoidable conflict between a deferred exam and a current class, prioritize the exam and email your instructor, copying your class dean, to say you were advised to do this and ask how to catch up on missed content
• If you have a choice, plan to take your deferred exam at the earliest possible opportunity -- that will give you a Plan B option if anything goes awry.

Need an extra credit or two this fall? Here are a few options

Doing that degree-audit arithmetic and need one or two more credits?

If you're having trouble getting up to the number of credits you need and are looking for a 1-2-credit course to add, here are some options and tips. Pay special attention to the start dates of these courses.

**Be sure to check course descriptions for special registration procedures or necessary permissions.

Know of something that's not on here? Email SeniorClassDean@barnard.edu, and we'll add it!

1-2 credit course options: