Senior Class Dean 2024-2025 Walk-In Hours -- stop by in person or via zoom

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, walk in virtually or in person at any of the times below.  These hours are in effect through NSOP; stay tuned for updated hours when the semester begins

Please note that

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
• 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.

Confirm you're on track to graduate at Degree Audit Drop-Ins, every Wednesday 4-5pm

Sure, you could (and should) check your degree audit all by yourself on any computer at any time (see previous blog post for advice on what to look for and how to fix common issues).

Or, you could go over everything with a friendly and supportive class dean to field questions and offer advice on trouble-shooting and problem-solving. 

 

Get the Dean Grabiner seal of approval that you are on track to graduate!

Degree Audit Drop-Ins in-person or on Zoom

Wednesdays: 4-5pm Eastern Time -- canceled Wed 8/28

• 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.

 

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

Deferred exams for Spring 2024 classes

Deferred exams from Spring 2024 will be held on Friday, September 6th & Monday, September 9th, 2024.  The Barnard Registrar will be in touch with you to confirm the location & room details regarding your exam details the week before exams.

Friday, September 6th 9:00AM – 12:00PM - Room TBD

Friday, September 6th 1:00PM – 4:00PM - Room TBD

Monday, September 9th 9:00AM – 12:00PM - Room TBD

Monday, September 9th1:00PM – 4:00 PM - Room TBD

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 2024 deferred exams must be completed by Monday, September 9th, 2024.

For more information regarding Spring 2024 deferred exams, including location information, please check this page once classes begin.

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.

Final Incomplete DEADLINE for Spring 2024 classes: Tuesday, Sept. 3, 2024

If you took an Incomplete in any of your Spring 2024 classes, be sure to turn in all remaining written work to both the instructor and registrar@barnard.edu (so that it can be time-stamped as on time) no later than Tuesday, September, 3, 2024.  

Once the instructor submits the new final grade, it will completely replace the temporarly placeholder "I" grade, and your transcript will show no evidence of the former incomplete.

In between you submitting the work and the instructor entering the updated grade, you may see your grade temporarily changed to "WS" -- do not panic if you see this! It stands for "Work Submitted" and means you have done everything correctly and by the appropriate deadline.

If work is not submitted by the deadline, the instructor will be directed to enter the contingency grade, i.e. a final grade factoring in a zero for any missing work. The contingency grade will be preceded by an asterisk on the transcript (e.g. *B, *C-, *F). 

If you are experiencing extenuating circumstances and would like to discuss the possibility of petitioning to extend an incomplete, please contact your class dean.

DEADLINE ALERT: change p/d/f election from spring 2024 by Sept 13, 9pm

As a reminder, per last semester's special p/d/f policy, you can make P/D/F changes to your spring 2024 course grades until 9:00 p.m. on Friday, September 13. Please note that these extended deadlines apply only to spring 2024 P/D/F elections. (You will not be able to modify your P/D/F elections for previous terms.)   All changes to your P/D/F elections can be made in SSOL. This includes: • Electing the P/D/F option for a class (either before or after the grade is posted) using the P/D/F selection tool in SSOL.   • If your instructor assigned a grade of C- or better, you will essentially be “covering” that grade with a grade of P on your transcript. Reminder that a C- is the minimum grade for a P; grades of D or F are unchanged by P/D/F status. • If a class does not have the P/D/F option in SSOL, you are still allowed to take it P/D/F (as long as it’s not a senior capstone course or a course required for teaching certification); just use this form to elect the P/D/F option.   • Removing / revoking the P/D/F option for a class (i.e. changing a previously elected p/d/f to normal letter grading) • If a grade has not yet been assigned, you will do this in the P/D/F selection tool in SSOL.  • If a grade has been assigned, you will do this by “Uncovering” the grade in SSOL. You can see the letter grade that you received by going to the P/D/F Grading tab in SSOL. • Special note if you wish to uncover a grade of P and then use your P/D/F option for a different class: Be sure to start this process at least one day before the deadline: You will need to “uncover” the grade one day, and then go back to SSOL the following day to elect P/D/F in the other class.    After 24 hours have passed, we highly recommend that you verify on your Barnard unofficial transcript in Student Planning (selfservice.barnard.edu) that your spring 2024 grades appear as you intended.     If you have any questions or notice any discrepancies, please contact the Registrar’s Office immediately at registrar@barnard.edu. This is especially time-sensitive for graduating seniors whose transcripts must be finalized in order for degrees to be officially awarded.   If you need assistance deciding how to use your P/D/F options, please do not hesitate to be in touch with your adviser or class dean.

DEADLINE REMINDER: Registration, Adviser Approval, Enrollment Confirmation deadline FRIDAY SEPTEMBER 13

Welcome back!

Don't forget:

1.  Your Fall 2024 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 "Review Complete" in Student Planning.  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 Review Complete upon confirming an appointment day/time with you for next week.  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 13 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 will 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 Sept 13, you will need to meet with your adviser for approval, so your adviser can submit their approval of your drop request no later that 4:30 p.m. on the drop deadline. 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 Sept 13 deadline. See this blog post for how to tell what kind of hold you may have, and contact the Bursar if you need to discuss your bill.

**Note about Courseworks/Canvas**
Until the registration deadline, your CourseworksCanvas page may not look exactly like your Student Planning page because it takes some time for an added class on myBarnard 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 Student Planning schedule. 

Next registration add/drop periods = August 31, 12-16, & 20-22

The last add/drop period before final registration (a.k.a. shopping period) will be August 31.  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 fall 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 can use Vergil to search for open classes.

You can use SSOL to view your position on a waitlist. 

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, September 3-13.

Final Registration Deadline is September 13, 2024.

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

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

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 to be well and safe, to learn and to grow, and 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/or Twitter/X – and to upload the Barnard Academic Calendar to your gBear calendar.

A few updates, deadlines, reminders, and helpful links for now: You can once again register/add/drop fall 2024 courses on August 31, and final registration/"shopping" begins on the first day of classes, Sept. 3. If you’re feeling a little rusty on administrative stuff after a summer away, recent senior blog posts can refresh your memory on how to view registration appointment times and holds, find 1-2-credit classes, check your position on a waiting list, use Vergil to search for open classes, request permission for over 19 credits, or below 12 credits (if appropriate) if this is your last semester. There is also advice if you're trying to register for overlapping classes.

Now is also 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 FAQ: I submitted a form online -- how do I know if it was received, reviewed, or approved?

Did you submit one of the online forms that are available via the Slate for Students website? 

Wondering how to track its progress, i.e. to see if/when it was received, approved, processed, etc.?

Here's how to check.

1. Log into Slate directly or find it on the Barnard Portal under the Academics tab

 

 

 2. In the Home tab of Slate, scroll down to the bottom of the page, to Forms Submitted. There you'll see any forms you have submitted and can track them along their route from submitted to approved and processed. The legend below explains any symbols

3. That's it!

Senior FAQ: Do I have to take 12 credits if this is my last semester and I 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.

I clicked the link for the request form, but I got an error message saying "Registration is no longer available because the registration deadline has passed."

If you're trying to make this request for an upcoming semester, the form will reopen at the start of that semester and you should submit it then.

How to view your position on waitlists

To view your position on a waitlist for a course, you’ll need to log into SSOL (Student Services Online) using your Columbia UNI and password.

Once you log into SSOL, click on the “Registration” link on the home screen under the Academic Records section of the Your Data tab.

From there, click the “Continue with Fall 2024 Registration” button on the following screen.

You will be taken to a screen with both classes you are currently registered for and classes you are on the waitlist for. On SSOL, classes under the “Fall 2024 classes” refer to classes you are registered for and classes under the “Fall 2024 Wish List” refer to classes you’re on the waitlist for.

When you’re on the waitlist for a class, SSOL will tell you either your position on the waitlist or it will say “Pending Approval.”

If a class gives you your position on the waitlist, this indicates that the waitlist is automatic. This means that the waitlist for the class is managed by the online registration services. If a person drops the class, the student who is in position 1 on the waitlist will automatically be added to the class.

If a course says “Pending Approval” under the waitlist, this means that the professor for the course is self-managing the waiting list. Rather than students automatically getting into the class from the waitlist, the professor is individually reviewing students for admittance to the class.

Hold preventing you from adding/dropping courses? Want to know when ALL of your upcoming registration times are? Here's how to find out and address this

If you logged into Student Planning and got a red pop-up telling you a hold is preventing you from adding/dropping,

you should contact the office that has placed the hold to address it ASAP (even if you don't need to register/add/drop right now, this is still a problem that needs to be resolved before it causes you any future issues!).

You can find out where any holds are coming from via the Barnard Portal, which will take you to the relevant Slate page as follows:

1. Log into the portal, 

2. Hover your mouse over Academics

 

3. Then hover over Planning Your Courses

 

4. Then click Registration Appointment & Holds.  

 

 

5. This will take you to a Slate page which may ask you to log in with your Columbia UNI before opening. Here you will see any holds as well as a link to a list of all upcoming registration times (more comprehensive than what you see in Student Planning, which just shows your next time, and shows nothing if you log in during a reg time):

 

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. While it is too late to add many of these, several of the short courses at the School of International and Public Affairs or in Computer Science may not have started yet.

**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:

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

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, classes with a particular number of credits, etc. 

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

It also has the option to “Only show classes with open seats” in the search results. 

You can also filter by term, number of credits, Foundations designation (again confirm this with the Barnard page!), course number, and more!

REPOST: Columbia University Projected Final Exam Schedule for fall 2024 available online -- use this to make winter break travel plans

Source: Mortarboard 1943, Barnard Digital Collections

Planning ahead for winter break 2024-2025?  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.

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.

Pack your Passport! What to Bring to Barnard if you Plan to Work this Fall

Whether you’re planning to work in a campus role, a paid internship, or off-campus at the local coffee shop, all new employees are required to complete a federal form called the I-9 within three days of being hired. This form is completed in two parts, including presenting both identity and work authorization documents in-person.

Which documents can you present? A passport is easiest, but you can also present specific combinations of documents that prove both your identity and your authorization to work legally in the US. Click here to view acceptable documents, but please note - they must be originals, not copies. Add these documents to your packing list, and you’ll be all set!