Power of Stories: Literary Interpretation and Storytelling Workshop

“Words are events, they do things, change things.” – Ursula K. Le Guin.

Everyone in the Barnard community has experienced firsthand the impact words can have, especially in the aftermath of violence or in ongoing crises. In this moment of immense loss of life, political strife, and public assembly, many in this community are using their words to effect change. There is no substitute for political protest and the staggering meaning it can make and break on the public stage.

This half-day workshop is not a substitute for political protest or speech, but another outlet for individual and collective sensemaking in profoundly troubling times. The goal is to bring students from a variety of positionalities and political perspectives together to interpret relevant poetry and literature surrounding the ongoing Israeli/Palestinian conflict, to write or tell their own stories (fictional or biographical), and together to read and interpret those stories with as much rigor and respect as published works of literature. We invite students to recommend poetry, short fiction, or excerpts from novels for the group to read at the beginning of the workshop. We seek students who wish to draw on their own creative energies to share something of their experience with others in a space devoted to careful reading, active listening, and self-expression.  

Event Date and Time: Friday, December 8 | 9AM-1PM 

Location: TBD 

RSVP here

Contact us at dei@barnard.edu or pedagogy@barnard.edu

Senior FAQ: How do I fulfill the Lab Science requirement using Psychology?

Adapted from info on the Psychology Department's website:

The Department of Psychology offers the following courses that can be used towards fulfilling the College Science Requirement:

Introductory Laboratory Course

• PSYC BC1010 Introductory Laboratory in Experimental Psychology ("Intro Lab")
• *IMPORTANT NOTE FOR SENIORS* -- Intro Lab prioritizes first-years and sophomores, so seniors who have not yet taken it should not rely on being able to get into it. 
• Seniors who have taken PSYC BC1001 Introduction to Psychology lecture should consider Option #3 below to fulfill the lab science requirement. 
• Note that, for students who entered before Fall 2021, PSYC BC 1001 is the only prerequisite needed for most 2000-level Psych lecture-plus-lab pairings.
  

Group 1 Courses

• PSYC BC2107 Psychology of Learning; BC2106 Psychology of Learning Lab
• PSYC BC2115 Cognitive Psychology; BC2114 Cognitive Psychology Lab
• PSYC BC2110 Perception; BC2109 Perception Lab

Group 2 Courses

• PSYC BC2125 Psychology of Personality; BC2124 Psychology of Personality Lab
• PSYC BC2129 Developmental Psychology; BC2128 Developmental Psychology Lab
• PSYC BC2138 Social Psychology; BC2137 Social Psychology Lab
• PSYC BC2156 Clinical Psychology; BC2155 Clinical Lab

Students have three ways to use Psychology courses to fulfill the College Science Requirement:

1.) PSYC BC1010 "Intro Lab" + PSYC BC1001 Introduction to Psychology lecture, followed by one lecture from Group 1 or Group 2 (listed above); or

2.) PSYC BC1010 "Intro Lab" + PSYC BC1020 Behavioral Research Methods and Analysis, followed by one lecture from Group 1 or Group 2; or

3.)  One Lab from Group 1 or Group 2 + the corresponding Lecture from Group 1 or Group 2 (taken concurrently), and one more lecture form Group 1 or Group 2

Notes:

• PSYC BC1010 is not required, however, if taken it should be completed before one's Junior year, and prior to all other 2000-level PSYC labs (Group1 and 2 labs); and a student must have completed or be concurrently enrolled in BC1001, BC1020, or the equivalent.
• For students who entered Barnard in Fall 2021 and after, PSYC BC1001, PSYC BC1020, and PSYC BC1101 are prerequisites for all psychology 2000-level lab courses. 
• Be aware that some laboratory courses are offered each semester, and some only once per year. 
• You can take a course to satisfy a GER requirement (in this case, a psychology lab) for a P/D/F grade. This is a College rule, and not a Departmental one.
• Psychology Laboratory Attendance Policy: You must attend every laboratory meeting. You are allowed only two excused absences. You may not arrive late. You may not depart before you complete the day's procedure.
• Refer to the College Catalogue for more information on Requirements for a Liberal Arts Degree.

Please contact the Department Administrator with any questions.

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:

Next registration add/drop periods = Dec 4-8, Jan 2-5, Jan 8-12

The next add/drop periods will be December 4-8, 2023 and Jan 2-5 & Jan 8-12, 2024.  As long as you don't have any holds, you should be able to register, add, and drop courses during this period at the assigned times listed in your Barnard Portal and/or Student Planning.  

If this spring is your last semester, you may not need to take 12 credits.

If you need a few extra credits to stay on track to graduate, see this recent list of 1-2-credit courses. 

You cannot register for more than 19 credits at this stage. You may be able to get adviser permission for more than 19 credits during the final registration period, Jan 16-26.

Final Registration Deadline is Friday, January 26, 2023.

Keep track of these and other deadlines by uploading the Academic Calendar to your gBear calendar.

Barnard Commencement date, time & location announced: Wednesday, May 15, at 4 p.m. at Radio City Music Hall

You should by now have received the following email from Dean Grinage:

Dear Barnard Class of 2024, It is with great pleasure that we announce that Barnard College Commencement 2024 will be held on Wednesday, May 15, 2024, at 4 p.m. at Radio City Music Hall in midtown Manhattan. As students of Barnard College, you are invited to participate in both the Barnard College Commencement and the Columbia University Commencement ceremonies. The Columbia University Commencement will be held earlier that same day at 10:30 a.m. on Columbia’s Morningside Heights campus. For more information on the Columbia University Commencement, including ticketing and other key details, please visit the Columbia University Commencement Website. Please note that students receive 4 guest tickets to the Columbia Ceremony. Commencement is a milestone event that marks your tremendous achievements. We are working hard to plan a memorable day and are so glad to be able to be back at Radio City, a beautiful and iconic venue, for the Barnard ceremony. Each graduating student will receive 5 tickets for guests to Barnard’s Commencement that will be available in the spring; students are encouraged to share their unused tickets with others who are looking to bring more guests. We plan to assist with a ticket redistribution program in the spring, as well. Registration will be required for all graduating students and their guests. We will announce our Commencement speaker, as well as the medalists being honored during the ceremony, in the spring semester. Additional details, such as ticketing, guest accommodations, and a celebratory event where you can pick up your cap and gown, will be made available on the Commencement 2024 webpage as they become available. If you have any additional questions in the months leading up to Commencement, please email commencement@barnard.edu. I look forward to celebrating this special day with you. Sincerely, Leslie Grinage Dean of the College Barnard College Barnard College, New York, NY View in browser

What to do if you missed Friday's spring registration deadline

If you missed the Nov. 27 deadline to receive adviser permission and register for classes, don't panic.  You are late, but it is not too late to do something about this.

What to do in some common scenarios:

1.  If you have not registered for any classes, please contact and meet with your adviser ASAP to discuss course selection. You'll be able to register when the next registration/add/drop period begins in December

2.  If you are registered but are not in the minimum 12 credits due to waitlists or other issues, we hope you will be admitted from waitlists in the near future.  If you're still not in 12 credits when the next add/drop period begins in December, you may wish to add a "plan B" option then.

3.  If you registered on time but want/need to make changes to your schedule (add, drop, join new waiting lists, etc.), don't worry!  It's not too late at all!  All continuing students without registration holds may add/drop courses during upcoming add/drop periods and during the beginning-of-semester "shopping period."

And it's never too late to upload the Academic Calendar to your gBear Calendar!

Detailed Final Exam schedules now available online

 

Projected University Examination Schedule
Undergraduate Courses
Graduate Courses
Engineering Courses
Barnard Courses


Please note that procedures listed on the Columbia master schedule DO NOT apply to Barnard students.

For Barnard students: If you have exam conflict (two exams at the same time) or exam hardship (defined as three exams within a 24-hour period or four exams within a 48-hour period), please fill out this form.

Examinations are not rescheduled to accommodate travel plans.

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 16-26 for spring 2024), using this new online form.

*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.

Policy changes for P/D/F and Withdraw in Fall 2023

You should by now have received this important update from Dean Grinage & Provost Bell:

Dear Students,   In recognition of the current challenges students are experiencing on campus, we write to you this afternoon with the news of the following modifications to certain academic policies and deadlines for the Fall 2023 semester:   • For Fall 2023 only, Barnard College students will be allowed to elect Pass/D/Fail for a maximum of two courses. As is currently the case, courses for majors or minors are not eligible for Pass/D/Fail. Please consult this page of the website for details on Pass/D/Fail.   • For Fall 2023, the deadline for electing Pass/D/Fail for courses will be extended to December 11, 2023 at 6:00 p.m. EST.    • For Fall 2023, the deadline for withdrawing from a course or courses will be extended to December 11, 2023 at 6:00 p.m. EST.    Please note that all other policies and deadlines remain in effect in Fall 2023; this includes the policies on incompletes and deferred exams.    If you have any questions, please reach out to your academic adviser or your Class Dean. We hope these modifications are helpful and wish you well in the final weeks of this semester.   Sincerely,    Leslie Grinage Vice President for Campus Life and Student Experience  Dean of the College   Linda A. Bell Provost and Dean of Faculty Claire Tow Professor of Economics

Barnard College

3009 Broadway, New York, NY

View in browser

 

Senior FAQ: Can I take 2 courses 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: Do I have to take 12 credits this spring if I'm graduating in May and don't need that many credits?

 

Short answer: POSSIBLY NOT

Longer answer: if you can complete all your major and General Education requirements, as well as 122 credits (121 for transfers) with fewer than 12 credits this semester, and do not have any outstanding incomplete coursework from the past, you may request permission to take a minimum of 9 credits in your final semester. 

To request permission for this option please submit this form beginning the first day of classes, and before the drop deadline: https://slate.barnard.edu/register/final_semester_request

Per the Barnard Catalogue (emphasis added):

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. 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.  

FAQ:

What about the Dean's List? Don't I need to be in 12 letter-graded credits to be considered for that?

Final-semester students who are approved for fewer than 12 credits are eligible for the dean's list if they complete at least 9 credits with the requisite GPA.

Scholarship opportunity available

 

$5,000 Scholarships Available to Undergraduates

The Society is now accepting online applications for our Key into Public Service scholarship. The program connects undergraduate arts and sciences majors with pathways into local, state, and federal government service. The Society will select 20 successful applicants who will receive $5,000 academic scholarships and will participate in an educational conference experience in Washington, D.C. that will provide them with training, mentoring, and resources on pathways into public service careers. Phi Beta Kappa membership is not required, but students must attend a Phi Beta Kappa chapter institution and have a minimum 3.5 GPA.  Characteristics of ideal recipients include intellectual curiosity, breadth and depth in arts and sciences coursework, leadership propensity, and service to others. Interested students can learn more and apply online until January 22, 2024, at PBK.org/ServiceScholarsApp. If you know of any students who might be interested, please help us spread the word on social media with readymade content from the Society’s Twitter, LinkedIn, and Instagram feeds.

REPOST: *SEARCHABLE* list of all classes approved for Foundations General Education Reqs

Looking for a way to check if a current, future, or past class has been approved for a particular Foundations General Education Requirement? 

Reminder that the old "Snowbird" site has been replaced by a new page with a very useful search function!

https://slate.barnard.edu/portal/gen_ed_courses

 

Search by semester and requirement:

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

Or by course name or keyword:

Spring registration is coming -- how about another check of the degree audit?

Planning to graduate in Spring of this year?  Now's a good time to double-check that you're on track to complete all of your requirements on time.  Planning to graduate in Winter?  Definitely the time to confirm!

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


Check the Student Planning/myBarnard/Registration printable guide (requires myBarnard/gBear login to view) for instructions if you don't remember how to view your Degree Audit online.

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 expect this from?
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

 

Senior FAQ: I had fulfilled a Foundations req with a past class; why is it now showing in my Degree Audit as "pending completion" with a new class?

First and foremost, if this is happening to you, don't worry!

Second, FYI the Degree Audit is programmed to often pull the most recent course that fulfills a requirement.  In addition, in response to student requests, the Audit is now also configured to show planned, waitlisted, and registered-but-not-started courses to help students more efficiently plan and review course selections.

OK great, but what if I drop a class that the Degree Audit thinks I'm going to use to fulfill a Foundations requirement?

If a previous course was approved for this requirement, the past course will go back to where it was and the requirement will be fulfilled once more.  It's a good idea to check after dropping a class to make sure this happens.  If it doesn't, use this form to request an update to your audit: https://slate.barnard.edu/register/degree_audit_changes. 

 

Not sure if a past course was approved?: Check the searchable list of all courses ever approved to fulfill Foundations requirements (this new comprehensive list replaces the old "Snowbird" site).

REPOST: Columbia University Projected Final Exam Schedule for fall 2023 available online -- use this to make winter break travel plans

Source: Mortarboard 1943, Barnard Digital Collections

Planning ahead for winter break 2023-2024?  The Columbia University Projected Final Exam Schedule is here to help. Days and times are accurate; the only difference between the "projected" exam schedule and the full schedule is the latter will also have locations.

The detailed, class-by-class list for both Columbia and Barnard classes should become available online after midterms

Note the following instructions regarding exam conflicts or exam hardship for Barnard students:

Students will occasionally have two exams scheduled for the same time. If you have exam conflict (two exams at the same time) or exam hardship (defined as three exams within a 24-hour period or four exams within a 48-hour period), please fill out this form.

Examinations are not rescheduled to accommodate travel plans.

What's open & what's closed during Nov 6-7 Election Day Recess

What is open & what is closed during Election Day Recess / Fall Break?

Monday Nov. 6
No classes
Administrative offices OPEN
Some Profs, Deans, and staff may be unavailable (check first if you're planning to go to office hours)

Tuesday, Nov. 7
No Classes
Administrative offices CLOSED
Polls OPEN