Important Information about the Spring Semester and Shopping Period

 

Dear Students,   We hope you had a restful holiday break. Please read the important information below, which includes details about the Spring Semester and Shopping Period.   Registering for classes   Registration will be open in Student Planning from now through Friday, January 31.  (Registration will be closed on weekends and on Monday, January 20). Registration start times can be viewed in Student Planning or in Slate (on the right side of the Home tab).   If you are searching for a class to add to your schedule, Columbia has launched an updated Course Search in Vergil, which Barnard students can also use. The tool has similar search criteria as Student Planning, including the ability to look for classes that satisfy Barnard General Education (Foundations) requirements. It also has the option to “Only show classes with open seats” in the search results. See screenshots here.   •    TIP: Using the Course Search in Vergil is also a great way to become familiar with the Vergil user interface. Vergil will become the registration system for both Barnard and Columbia students (replacing Student Planning and SSOL). We expect that the new system will be launched later this spring (in time for fall registration). We will share more details as we get closer.   You can continue to make changes to your class schedule in Student Planning through 9:30 p.m. on Friday, January 31, which is the final registration deadline.   By that date, be sure that you have:   •    Registered for all classes you intend to take (including any zero-credit discussion section or lab classes). Note that students cannot remain registered for two classes that overlap in time, and you must resolve any such conflicts by the registration deadline. •    Requested adviser approval of your final schedule. If you have not yet contacted your adviser for a meeting, please do so immediately.  •    Received special permission from your adviser if you are planning to take more than 19 credits this semester. To request this permission from your adviser, use this Slate form beginning Tuesday, January 21.   If you decide to drop a class after the registration deadline has passed, you will need to request your adviser’s permission using the Drop Request form in Slate. Please note that students must remain enrolled in at least 12 credits per semester, except in very specific circumstances. The final deadline to drop a class (so that it no longer displays on your transcript) is Tuesday, February 25.   Attending class   •    Classes begin on Tuesday, January 21.    •    You should plan to attend every class for which you are officially registered, including during the shopping period. Attendance at the first class is advised in order to secure your spot in the class because it indicates to the faculty member that you plan to remain enrolled.   •    If you are “shopping” a class (for which you have not yet been able to register), you should make every effort to attend it as well. Classroom space may constrain your ability to attend a class for which you are not registered. Please be in touch with the course instructor if that is the case.   Classroom locations and navigating campus   •    Classroom assignments are visible in the Columbia Directory of Classes or the Vergil Course Search. Be sure to verify the location before the first class session for each of your classes, since rooms are subject to change at the start of the semester. •    Some Barnard classes are being held in rooms on the Teachers College (TC) campus again this semester. The building names are Zankel Hall, Macy Hall, and Horace Mann. If you have a class scheduled in those rooms, please note the following details: •    The main entrance to the TC campus is at Zankel Hall on 120th Street between Broadway and Amsterdam. Please see the map here. •    Use your Barnard ID card to tap the card access reader in order to enter the campus. •    While on the TC campus, you can use Eduroam for Wifi. Click on this link for login instructions. •    Due to the renovation of the Roy and Diana Vagelos Science Center, Barnard science departments and labs have moved to new locations on the Barnard, Teachers College, or Columbia campuses. Lab class locations can be found in the Directory of Classes or the Vergil Course Search Columbia Directory of Classes or the Vergil Course Search. The map here shows building locations on each campus. •    We encourage you to consult these revised campus maps if you need help navigating Barnard’s campus during construction.   Shopping Period    As always, you have an opportunity at the beginning of each semester to visit classes for which you are not registered, so that you can learn more about the class content and format. This may help you decide if you would like to enroll.    To aid in your decision-making, the Courseworks/Canvas sites for some Barnard classes will be open for all students to access syllabi and course materials for class shopping purposes.   •    Find the class either in the Vergil Course Search or in the Directory of Classes (from the Directory, click on the “View in Vergil” link) •    In Vergil, click on the Course Title  •    Click on the “View in CourseWorks” tab - this will take you to the class’ CourseWorks site. (If you don’t see the “View in Courseworks link” initially, click the down arrow next to the section number to display more details.)   If you are interested in shopping a Barnard class that does not have materials visible in Courseworks, the instructor may be willing to share the syllabus with you.   If you decide to enroll, be sure to officially add the class in Student Planning before the January 31 deadline.  If you have any questions, email registrar@barnard.edu.    Enrollment Confirmation Process   Please note that final enrollment confirmation for new and continuing students will entail finalizing both your registration for a full-time schedule of classes (or approval for a reduced courseload) and payment of the term bill (for students on payment plans, be up to date on scheduled payments). Both steps must be completed by the Friday, January 31 semester registration/add deadline.   Students who have not completed both of these steps by the deadline will be deregistered for courses and, therefore, considered not enrolled for the semester. Students will then automatically be placed on a personal leave of absence.   Holds will prevent add/drop   If you have a registration hold (e.g. a hold placed by the Bursar, Dean’s Office, Health Services), you will need to clear the hold before you can add/drop courses.   Students who do not have a designated emergency and/or missing person contact person on file with the College will have a registration hold. If you received an email asking you to provide this information using this Slate form, or if you are unsure if you have provided this information, please be sure you have done that prior to the start of the semester.   The P/D/F grading option   If you are interested in electing Pass/D/Fail (P/D/F) grading for a particular course, we recommend that you speak with your academic adviser or class dean to discuss this decision and whether it will be beneficial for your specific situation and longer-term goals.    Students who elected the P/D/F grading option for a Fall 2024 class can uncover a P grade through Friday, January 31 in SSOL. In SSOL, Click on “P/D/F grading,” then “PDF Option Change Request,” then “Pass/D/Fail Uncover.”   If you would like to elect P/D/F grading for a Spring 2025 class, that option will become available on February 3, and you will do this in SSOL. As a reminder, Barnard students are able to elect P/D/F grading for one class per term. The class cannot be used towards a major or minor requirement, but it may be used to fulfill a general education requirement. Students who are facing extenuating circumstances in a particular semester can petition to elect P/D/F grading in a second course, by speaking with their class dean and then submitting a petition to the College’s Committee on Programs and Academic Standing (CPAS). Further details are available on the Registrar’s webpage.   Seniors graduating at the end of this semester   If you are planning to graduate at the end of this semester, congratulations! Here are a few suggestions to make sure that your plans stay on track:   •    Submit the official application for graduation. The deadline is Friday, January 24.  You can find the application either in Student Planning or at portal.barnard.edu, in the Graduation tab. •    Be sure that you have registered for enough credits this semester to be eligible to graduate. If you entered Barnard as a first-year student, you will need 122 credits. If you entered Barnard as a transfer student, you will need 121 credits. •    Review your online degree audit to be sure that all general education requirements are marked as complete or in progress. Check in with your major adviser (if you haven’t already) to be sure your major requirements will also be complete. •    If you are interested in enrolling in fewer than 12 credits during your final semester, you can submit that request in Slate. •    If you are planning to declare a minor, submit the request in Slate as soon as you have registered for all required classes (and no later than March 1). •    The P/D/F grading option will become available for spring classes at the beginning of February. If you decide to P/D/F a class, please keep in mind that, as a final semester senior, you cannot uncover the P grade later.   Deferred Exams from fall classes   If you had an extenuating circumstance requiring you to defer any of your final exams in December, deferred exams will be given on Friday, January 24 and Monday, January 27. Be sure to reference the Registrar’s Office website and your Barnard email account for details. If you are eligible to take exams with CARDS, please be in touch with cards@barnard.edu regarding plans for your deferred exam.   Barnard Portal   Sign in at portal.barnard.edu for important College updates, convenient links to tools like Student Planning and Slate for Students, and access to other campus and academic resources.   Important Dates & Deadlines   Please be sure to reference the academic calendar to remain aware of the different academic deadlines, such as dropping, withdrawing and electing P/D/F for your classes.    Best wishes for a good start to the semester,   Jennifer Simmons Registrar   Holly Tedder Dean for Academic Planning & Class Advising

Barnard College

3009 Broadway, New York, NY

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Need to fulfill PE requirement? Some classes still have space available -- register ASAP and attend the 1st meeting to secure your spot

Students who need to complete the PE Requirement: 

Register for PE (or Dance). (PE registration is open only to students who have not fulfilled the requirement).  The PE department offers Body Sculpt, Yoga, Pilates Mat, Tai Chi, Strength Training, and Health Coaching.  

 

Need more info?  Contact physed@barnard.edu

Senior Class Dean 2024-2025 Walk-In Hours -- Stop by in person or on zoom; Canceled during winter break (Will resume on Tuesday, January 21st, 2025)

Got a quick question?

Need to talk to a dean ASAP?

If you have something complicated or want to be sure you can talk at length, please make an appointment via Dean Grabiner's online scheduler.

Otherwise, during the semester, you may walk in virtually or in person at any of the times below. 

Tuesdays 3:30-4:30pm Eastern Time

• Enter waiting room via this Tuesday Afternoon Walk-In Hours Zoom Link or visit 105 Milbank,
  
• We will see students on a first-come, first-served basis. 
• If we run out of time and can't see you, we apologize for the inconvenience and encourage you to schedule an appointment, to try walk-ins on a different day, or for time-sensitive matters, to call the office at 212-854-2024 during business hours.

Wednesdays: Degree Audit Drop-Ins 4-5pm Eastern Time

• Enter waiting room via this Degree Audit Drop-ins Zoom Link or visit 105 Milbank
• We will prioritize students seeking degree audit advice but will see other students if time permits 
• If we run out of time and can't see you, we apologize for the inconvenience and encourage you to schedule an appointment, to try walk-ins on a different day, or for time-sensitive matters, to call the office at 212-854-2024 during business hours.

Thursdays 3-4pm Eastern Time

• Enter waiting room via this Thursday Afternoon Walk-In Hours Zoom Link or visit 105 Milbank.
  
• We will see students on a first-come, first-served basis. 
• If we run out of time and can't see you, we apologize for the inconvenience and encourage you to schedule an appointment, to try walk-ins on a different day, or for time-sensitive matters, to call the office at 212-854-2024 during business hours.

-----

***Canceled during winter break; Walk-in hours will resuming starting Tuesday, January 21st, 2025***

Senior FAQ: Can I take more than 19 credits? How/when can I get permission?

Q: I heard it's possible for students to get permission from their adviser to take more than 19 credits. Is that true, and if so, how/when can I get permission?

A: Yes, in rare cases, and only once the semester has begun. You may request adviser permission* for more than 19 credits only during the final registration period (Jan 21-31for spring 2025), using this online form. 

NOTE: Approval after the registration deadline is by petition only.

*Please note that these requests will only be granted for urgent reasons, such as completion of a major, a minor, or for graduation requirements.

 

Q: What if I get in off a waitlist that puts me over the limit?

A: If you are removed from a waitlist and temporarily find yourself in more than 19 credits, you will need to drop the "extra" class or receive approval to exceed the limit 

Warning: if you neither request permission nor drop below 19 credits, the registrar will drop you from the most recently added class.

Senior Year FACT or FICTION: possible to take fewer than 12 credits in your last semester????

FACT OR FICTION:
Is it true that you can take fewer that 12 credits in your last semester?

YES; this is FACT, BUT ONLY IN VERY SPECIFIC CIRCUMSTANCES and by following proper procedure. 

As stated in the Barnard College Catalogue:

"As of Spring 2022, in their final semester of enrollment, graduating seniors who need fewer than twelve credits to complete their degree – and who have already completed at least four full-time semesters in academic residence – may be approved to take a minimum of nine credit hours. Because Barnard students are charged a flat rate of tuition per semester, reducing one’s course load to nine credits will not change the tuition owed in the student’s last semester." 

Submit this form by the drop deadline to request approval **Note that this request can only be made at the start of your final semester, for that semester**: https://slate.barnard.edu/register/final_semester_request

International students must consult with International Student Services in advance to determine eligibility.  Students who meet this criteria and are approved to be enrolled in nine credits are still eligible to live in Barnard’s residence halls. 

If any student who is not an eligible senior needs to register for fewer than twelve credits for disability-related reasons, they may reach out to CARDS to discuss the reduced course load process at cards@barnard.edu.

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

When/where/how to take your approved deferred exam from fall 2024

Deferred exams for Fall 2024 classes

Deferred exams from Fall 2024 will be held on Friday, January 24th & Monday, January 27, 2025.  The Registrar's Office will be in touch with you to confirm the location & room details regarding your exam details the week before exams.

Friday, January 24 9:00AM – 12:00PM - James Room (Barnard Hall)

Friday, January 24 1:00PM – 4:00PM - James Room (Barnard Hall)

Monday, January 27 9:00AM – 12:00PM - Event Oval in the Diana Center 

Monday, January 27 :00PM – 4:00 PM - Event Oval in the Diana Center 

For most in-person deferred exams, the College follows 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. 

Fall 2024 deferred exams must be completed by Monday, January 27, 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 spring? 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. 

**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:

Need to talk to a class dean during Finals? Stop by 105 Milbank (or zoom if needed) any time 9am-5pm, Dec 13 & 16-20 for Class-Dean Drop-ins

Need help with a time-sensitive issue affecting your ability to take finals, complete coursework, etc.?

• Never fear; your class deans are here!
• There will be a dean available for drop-ins every day of finals week, 9am - 5pm. 
• Come see us in 105 Milbank
• Feeling under the weather? Come to our zoom instead!
  

IMPORTANT END-OF-THE-SEMESTER INFORMATION FOR COMPLETION OF COURSEWORK

We hope you won't become ill or have an emergency during finals, but in case you do, the information in the email below will help. Plus bonus tips and resources to help you prepare and study!

Dear Students,   As we come to the end of the fall semester, the Deans’ Office for Advising and Support wants to update you about final exam information and academic resources. We also want to remind you what to do if you experience anything that impacts your ability to complete work for your courses and final exams.   One of the most important things to remember if you are experiencing difficulties is to reach out to your instructor and/or Class Dean. Your class dean is available to discuss your specific situation and offer advice and options.   Academic Resources   •    Personal Librarians: As you complete your final assignments for this semester, contact Barnard Library’s research and instruction team (Personal Librarians) for any support needed around research-based assignments, including senior projects. Librarians are available for individual consultations about ways to access online research materials and meet citation requirements for your papers and projects. Personal Librarians can assist in finding e-books, full-text articles, and open access sources.  •    Center for Engaged Pedagogy: The CEP has put together helpful guides for time management, active reading strategies, and a resource map that points you to various supports. •    Center for Accessibility Resources & Disability Services (CARDS): Students who are registered with the Barnard Center for Accessibility Resources & Disability Services (CARDS) and have accommodations should be in touch with CARDS as needed to ensure that their accommodations align with end-of-term assignments. If a faculty member has specific questions about how to implement accommodations in their courses, CARDS is available for individual consultation at cards@barnard.edu. •    Deans’ Office Walk-in Hours (exam week only): If you have an emergent situation and need to consult with a dean during exam week, stop by 105 Milbank any time from 9:00am-5:00 pm (Friday, December 13th through Friday, December 20th, not including weekend days) to see the available dean on call. If you are feeling ill, please note that we can meet with you over zoom instead. Please contact dos@barnard.edu for the zoom link.   FINAL EXAMINATION INFORMATION:   All students and instructors are expected to follow the official exam schedule. If you find yourself scheduled for three exams within a 24-hour period or four within 48 hours, you should fill out this form.   If you have tested positive for COVID-19 and/or have been advised by the College to quarantine and/or isolate when you otherwise would be taking an in-person exam, please be in touch with your Class Dean to discuss possible options. Individual faculty members have discretion to allow or deny requests to take an exam at a time different than originally scheduled. If you need assistance with communicating with an instructor, you may contact your Class Dean.   DEFERRED EXAMS:   Students may defer an exam due to illness or personal emergency on the day of the exam. If you need to request a deferral, you must:   a) Email your instructor, copying your class dean, on the day of the exam requesting a deferred exam.   b) You must also submit an official request for a deferred exam in Slate. You will need to upload an approval email from your instructor when you submit the Slate form.   c) Deferred exams will be given on Friday, January 24, 2025 and Monday, January 27, 2025. After submitting the Request for a Deferred Exam form, you will receive a confirmation email. It is your responsibility to check the registrar's website and your Barnard email the previous week for the details of your deferred exam.   Please be aware that deferred exams cannot be requested in advance of exam week. For more information, visit https://barnard.edu/registrar/grades-exams and scroll down to "Final and Deferred Exams."    ILLNESS DURING EXAM:    If you become ill during an examination:   a) inform the proctor b) hand in the exam, and c) call Primary Care Health Services at 212-854-2091 to make an appointment.   If you've completed less than 40 minutes of a two-hour exam or less than one hour of a three-hour exam, you qualify for a deferred exam (see above.) If you leave the exam more than 40 minutes into a two-hour exam or more than an hour into a three-hour exam, you'll be graded on the basis of the work you've completed to that point.   INCOMPLETES:   Incompletes are to be given only in cases of illness, personal emergency, or other compelling circumstances. If you need to request an Incomplete, and the instructor is amenable, please be in touch with your faculty member via email to obtain their approval. From there, you will need to submit an Incomplete Request Form in Slate. You will need to upload email confirmation from your instructor when you submit the Slate form. Note that these requests should be received by Thursday, December 12 (the end of Reading Period).    As a reminder, the official College deadline for completing Fall 2024 Incomplete coursework is Tuesday, April 15, 2025. Individual faculty may also set an earlier deadline for the work to be completed. Please note that incompletes apply only to coursework exclusive of the final examination. For more information, visit https://barnard.edu/registrar/grades-exams and scroll down to "Incomplete Grades."   GRADES:   Final grades are indeed final. Grades may be changed only in cases of clerical error or in the rare event that the instructor needs to reevaluate the work of the entire class. Grades may not be recalculated on the basis of reexamination or the submission of additional or revised work.    ACADEMIC INTEGRITY AND THE BARNARD HONOR CODE:   As you write papers or complete exams, whether in a proctored environment or in the comfort of your residence hall or off-campus residence, keep the College's Honor Code (https://barnard.edu/honor-code) in mind. Under pressure, it can sometimes be tempting to make a regrettable decision, such as using untrustworthy and undocumented sources, collaborating on an exam, not following proper citation methods on a paper, or claiming someone else's work as your own. Doing something that might violate the Honor Code is NEVER the way to respond to a difficult or pressured academic situation. There's always a better choice. Please also be aware that any misrepresentation of your circumstances in order to obtain an exam deferral or an incomplete is a violation of the Honor Code. An additional word of caution: it is your responsibility as a student to be aware of your professor’s individual stance on the use of generative AI (ex. ChatGPT). If you are not sure about whether the use of generative AI is permitted in a course, you must consult with your instructor for additional guidance before using generative AI. Note that the Honor Code states that students must responsibly use electronic, print and other resources.     ACADEMIC STANDING:   Please be advised that all students should be aware of Barnard’s academic standing policy (please scroll down on this page to “Academic Standing and Degree Progress”) and how incomplete grades, deferred exams and/or withdrawal grades may impact a student’s academic standing. To discuss your academic standing, please contact your Class Dean.    We wish you all the best as you complete your work for the semester, and hope you have a restful, restorative winter break.   Sincerely, Holly Tedder Dean for Academic Planning and Class Advising Barnard College 3009 Broadway, New York, NY View in browser

Senior FAQ: when will I graduate, when will I get my diploma, and when is my Commencement ceremony?

Many of you are asking about graduation dates and when you will get your diploma.

Some helpful info and clarification of terms:

 

 

Graduation a.k.a. Degree Conferral is when you stop being a Barnard student and start being a Barnard graduate or alumna. 

 

 

 

Commencement is the ceremony where students wear gowns, walk across a stage, listen to distinguished speakers, etc. As a Barnard senior, you will be invited to participate in both the Barnard College Commencement and the Columbia University Commencement, as well as many other ceremonial and celebratory events that will take place around that season. Students do not receive diplomas at Commencement -- these will be mailed to you regardless of your graduation date.

 

With these definitions in mind, here is the latest info on who is eligible to participate in which Commencement ceremony, what your diploma will say, and how to request permission if you are in various categories of exception (this info is also on the Deans Office website, along with a very helpful chart that makes all these dates even clearer):

Barnard College offers three degree conferral dates each calendar year in line with the degree conferral dates set by Columbia University. These dates are: February, for students who completed all degree requirements by December of the previous calendar year; May, for students who completed all degree requirements during the Spring semester of the current calendar year; and October for students who completed all degree requirements during the summer of the current year.

Although there are three degree conferral dates each year, only one University Commencement ceremony is held annually, typically at the culmination of the Spring semester. Additionally, Barnard holds a separate Commencement ceremony –  also at the culmination of the Spring semester – at which individual graduates are recognized.

All degree candidates are invited to participate in the Commencement ceremonies at both Barnard and Columbia according to the eligibility below:

• Students eligible to participate in the May ceremonies are those whose degrees were conferred in February or will be conferred in May of that same calendar year
• October Graduates:
  • Students expected to complete degree requirements in the summer of that calendar year and who will be within 2 courses (totaling no more than 8 credits) of completing their degree requirements at the culmination of the Spring semester. While such students may participate in Commencement exercises, the degree will not be conferred until October. Approval for anticipated October graduates to participate in the May ceremony in the same calendar year must be obtained from the Senior Class Dean, and students must have a detailed plan for completion of their remaining credits.
  • In rare circumstances, a student with more than 2 courses (or more than 8 credits) remaining for degree completion at the end of the Spring semester may be approved by the Dean for Academic Planning and Class Advising to participate in the May Commencement ceremonies.
  • Students whose degrees are conferred in October but who did not participate in the Commencement ceremony of that calendar year may request to the Dean of the College to participate during the ceremony the following May.

The name of a student will appear in only one year's Commencement Program. If students opt to participate in Commencement before their academic program is complete, they may not participate in any future year's Commencement exercises. There will be no exceptions to this policy.