2026-2027 Class Dean Daily Walk-In Hours! ~ Starting September 8th!

Got a quick question?

Need to talk to someone ASAP? You can meet with any available dean on call and speak with them either in-person or virtually over Zoom!

If you have something complicated or want to be sure you can talk at length, please make an appointment via our Slate online scheduler or contact us at doas@barnard.edu or 212-854-2024

Schedule an appointment to meet with Dean Siegel! (Remote on Tuesdays)

Schedule an appointment to meet with Dean Laurita! (Remote on Tuesdays)

Schedule an appointment to meet with Dean Grabiner! (Remote on Fridays)

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Every weekday (Monday-Friday) from 3:30-4:30PM Eastern Time

• Enter waiting room via this Walk-In Hours Zoom Link or visit 105 Milbank Hall
  
• 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, call the office at 212-854-2024 during business hours.

**DEADLINE ALERT** Graduating? You must apply to graduate! -- DEADLINE = FRIDAY of the first week of your final term (9/11/2026 for Feb 2027 grads)

 

 

If you are planning to complete your degree requirements this semester, it’s time for you to apply to graduate.

 

NOTE: While we call this an application, it is just a brief form to get you on all the right lists to be considered for graduation and get your cap and gown.  As long as you know your name, major, expected grad date, and mailing address, you can submit this form today!

 

Deadline for February grads: Sept 11, 2026 = the Friday of the first week of your final semester.

To have your degree awarded, you must apply to graduate (even if you do not plan to attend commencement ceremonies).  

You can log in directly to student planning and access the Graduation Application from the main menu.

OR

portal.barnard.edu --> Graduation tab

If you expect to finish requirements this spring, apply for Spring 2026 graduation.

After submitting the form successfully, you will see an on-screen confirmation page -- there is no confirmation email. Take a screenshot for your records.

If you are not planning to graduate this year, please complete this form so that we can update your record.

 

FAQ: I think I submitted the GradApp. How can I tell if it went through?!?! 

A: Log back into Student Planning and return to the Graduation Application page. If you have successfully submitted the GradApp, you will see this confirmed here!

 

Fall 2026 Chorus/Chamber Singer and Voice Auditions!

Please find the information down below regarding voice and chorus auditions for the Fall 2026 term if you are interested! You can also find this information in the first tab on the Music Department webpage located here. 

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Chorus & Voice Auditions Fall 2026

Students are advised there is a $500 fee for voice lessons unless you sing in the choir, or you are a music major or a music minor.

Choir and Chamber Singers Auditions:

• Tuesday, September 8, 2026, 6-9 pm. 405 Milbank
• Tuesday, September 15, 2026, 6-9 pm. 405 Milbank
• You may sing a song of your choice, a pianist is provided.
• Please reserve a 15 min audition time slot here using your name and UNI.
• Do not complete an audition form.

Solo Voice Auditions and Voice Classes:

• Wednesday, September 9, 6-10 pm. 325 Milbank
• Thursday, September 10, 6-10 pm. 405 Milbank
• You may sing a song of your choice in any style or language, a pianist is provided.
• Please reserve a 15 min audition time slot here using your name and UNI.
• Please complete an audition form by September 6 and email it to ALL of the listed voice instructors emails below: garcher@barnard.edu, jbjorlin@barnard.edu, Harpet2000@aol.com, cgallet@barnard.edu,  jmongiar@barnard.edu,  roos2k@yahoo.com (link: http://www.robertosborne.net/)

Important Fall 2026 Academic Information & Upcoming Deadlines

 

Dear Students, Welcome to the Fall 2026 semester! Please review the key registration dates, procedures, and resources below. Key Deadlines Sept 4–5: Registration re-opens in Vergil (Friday, Sept 4 for First-years; Saturday, Sept 5 for all). Sept 8: First day of classes Sept 11: Graduation Application deadline for seniors graduating at the end of the fall term; Deferred Exams for many spring 2026 classes Sept 18: Registration/Add Deadline (9:30 p.m.) & Deadline for Permission for Overload Credits.  Spring 2026 P/D/F Uncover deadline. Oct 13: Drop Deadline Dec 14: Fall 2026 Pass/D/Fail election deadline. Registration & Add/Drop (Ends Sept 18) Course Search: Use Vergil filters (e.g., search by subject, by department, by GER, by classes with open seats, etc.) to find classes.  See screenshots here.   Syllabi Preview (before registering): For many Barnard classes, you can preview syllabi via Vergil → Course Title → View in CourseWorks. Clear Registration holds: 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. Overloads (>19 Credits) - Continuing students only To add a class that brings you above 19 credits, you will need to submit an appeal in Vergil.   If you are already registered for more than 19 credits (by getting off of waitlists), request permission from your adviser to retain the overload credits.  Class Attendance & Locations Attendance: Attend all registered (and prospective) classes to hold your spot. Locations: Check Vergil for classroom locations before your first class session. Note that select classes will now meet in the R&D Science Center. Final Exam Schedule Reading Period (Study Days): Tuesday, December 15 and Wednesday, December 16. Final exams: Thursday, December 17 through Wednesday, December 23.  Exams cannot be rescheduled to accommodate travel plans.  Projected exam dates/times are here, with definitive schedules posted in mid-November. Reference the full academic calendar here.  For additional campus resources, visit portal.barnard.edu. Best wishes for the semester, Jennifer Simmons Registrar Holly Tedder AVP and Vice Dean of the College- Student Support

Anthropology course available for Fall 2026! ~ ANTH 3829 (Absence/Presence)

Please see the flyer down below for an upcoming anthropology course that will be available to all students this semester!

SENIOR FAQ: How to download a pdf of your degree audit

Q: I'm filling out a form that asks for a PDF of my degree audit. How do I get one?

A: By following these steps:

1. Navigate to your degree audit in Student Planning:

2. Click the "Print" icon in the upper right, just above the orange warning text:

3. In the Print dialogue window, select "Destination: Adobe PDF" or "Print to PDF" depending on your operating system, being sure to select "color" if that is an option.

4. Depending on how your computer is configured, this will open a new doc in Adobe or ask you where you want to save your new PDF.  If your browser asks how you would like to open the file, do NOT select "Open in browser."  Instead select "open in Adobe Acrobat" or whatever PDF-viewing software you have (e.g. Preview on a Mac)

5. Give it a recognizable name and note where you are saving it, so you can find it and upload it to your Slate form.

 

Senior FAQ: I might need to take an incomplete or a class or two this summer to finish my degree; can I "walk" in Commencement this May?

 

Short answer: in some cases, with permission

Longer answer (also explained on the Deans Office website):

 

For students within 2 classes (no more than 8 credits) of graduating:

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.

Great! How do I get this approval?

1. Submit this Slate form: https://slate.barnard.edu/register/commencement
2. Be prepared to confirm the total number of credits you still need and when/where/how you plan to complete them.
3. Please do this as soon as you are sure of your plans in the spring, so we can add you to the list! The deadline to make this request is March 20

 

For students who will need more than 2 courses/8 credits or need to take classes beyond the summer:

In extremely 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. Please note that requests from students who need more than a semester's worth of credit after this May -- or who plan to be enrolled next fall -- are unlikely to be approved.

OK! I get that this may not be approved, but how would I request this special approval?

1. Submit this Slate form: https://slate.barnard.edu/register/commencement
2. Be prepared to explain any extenuating circumstances and to confirm the total number of credits you still need and when/where/how you plan to complete them.
3. Please do this as soon as you are sure of your plans, so we can add you to the list! The deadline to make this request is March 20.

What if I want or need to participate in next year's Commencement ceremony?

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.

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:

"Graduating seniors who need fewer than twelve credits to complete their degree – and who have already satisfied the College’s academic residency requirement and 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 last semester. International students must consult with International Student Services in advance to determine eligibility.  Students who meet these 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 should reach out to CARDS to discuss the reduced course load process at cards@barnard.edu."

The form to request this will be available once the semester begins, so best practice is to register for at least 12 credits now, and submit this form on or before the drop deadline in your final semester 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

Pro Tip: Double-check that the transcript you're uploading shows the actual number of credits you are currently registered for! (The transcript may take a day to reflect changes made in Vergil.)

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

Senior FAQ: can I take 2 classes that overlap?

Thanks to everyone who suggested we address this important question!

Short answer: NO

Even if a class may be recorded, you my not take two classes that overlap, as the expectation is that students will attend classes in-person and synchronously, as there is no substitute for the learning experience of interacting with faculty and fellow students in person and in real time.

Longer answer: Very occasionally, in very specific circumstances, and by petition only

Okay; how do I petition?

Contact your class dean for information about how to petition the Committee on Programs and Academic Standing to take overlapping classes. Once the semester begins, petitions submitted by Thursday will be considered at the following Thursday's CPAS meeting.

How likely is it that my petition will be approved?

Such petitions are only rarely approved. Petitions with a greater chance of success will include:

• Both classes are required (major or general education req)
• Both can only be taken this semester due to compelling reason like impending graduation
  
• Both faculty members are aware of the conflict and support the petition
• Course overlap is minimal, e.g. 10-15 minutes (including travel time!) once a week.
• You/your instructors have a plan to make up the missing content which is more than just watching a recording.
  

What should I do while I'm waiting to know if my petition is approved?

• Add a "Plan B" course to keep your options open
• If you're currently registered for both conflicting classes, stay in them. If your petition is not approved, you will ultimately need to drop one. If you don't drop one, the registrar will drop whichever was most recently added.
  
• If you're not registered for both classes, the system will not let you register for conflicting courses, though you may plan or waitlist for a course that conflicts with a registered course. We recommend that you strategically register for whichever course is more important and/or more likely to fill up if you wait.

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. Starting on the first day of classes, students will be able to appeal to add courses that will put them over 19 credits. Use the green "appeal" button on the Vergil listing for the new course to make this request.

 

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" credits or receive approval to exceed the limit. There will be a slate form to request to retain the overloaded credits.

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

Warning: if you neither request permission nor drop below 19 credits by the Sept 18 registration deadline, the registrar will drop you from the most recently added class. 

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