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 (Sept 2-12 for fall 2025). 

--> You may request approval via this form: https://slate.barnard.edu/register/max_credit_request

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 Class Dean 2025-2026 Walk-In Hours start Sept 2 -- Virtual ONLY first week of classes and September 9th

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 beginning Tuesday, Sept 2 (note that, due to construction, walk-ins are virtual only the first week of classes -- we apologize for the inconvenience) or in person beginning Wednesday, Sept 10 at any of the times below.  

Tuesdays 3:30-4:30pm Eastern Time -- Virtual ONLY from 9/2 and 9/9

• Enter waiting room via this 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 3:30-4:30pm Eastern Time -- Virtual ONLY for 9/3

• Enter waiting room via this Walk-In Hours 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 3:30-4:30pm Eastern Time -- Virtual ONLY for 9/4

• 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.

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. 

How to uncover grades of P from Spring or Summer 2025 by the Sept 12 deadline

When: Students* who elected the P/D/F grading option for a Spring 2025 or Summer 2025 can uncover a P grade through Friday, September 12.

How: This is not yet in Vergil, so:

1, Go to SSOL 

2. Click on “P/D/F grading,” 

3. Select “PDF Option Change Request,” 

4. Select “Pass/D/Fail Uncover.”

If you experience any technical difficulties or error messages, take a screenshot and email it along with your question to registrar@barnard.edu

*NOTE: you cannot uncover grades of P elected in your final semester.

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:

How to search Vergil for classes with open seats or other relevant criteria

Did you know you can use the Course Search in Vergil to filter for classes that have open seats?

Select “Only show classes with open seats” in the search results!

There are a bunch of other useful things you can filter for, including  classes that satisfy Barnard General Education (Foundations) requirements, classes with a particular number of credits, etc. 

NOTE ON FOUNDATIONS REQS: for Barnard requirements, it's safest to cross reference anything found here with the Slate listing of courses approved for Foundations requirements. 

NOTE ON LAB SCIENCE: Do NOT rely on Vergil for acceptable lecture-plus-lab science pairings. See recent blog post for more info on this. 

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