Important End-of-the-Semester Information for Completion of Coursework

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 (Thursday, December 11th through Friday, December 19th, not including weekend days) to see the available dean on call. If you need to walk in via zoom due to illness, please email doas@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.   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 acute illness or personal emergency on the day of the exam. Please note our updated guidance for examples of when deferred exams are appropriate. Please also note that deferred exams are not appropriate in the following instances and will not be approved in these cases:   •    Existing travel plans conflict with the exam date •    Concerns about passing the class •    Insufficient preparation for the exam •    More than one exam in a single day, provided that the student does not qualify for exam hardship as defined by the Registrar’s Office: three exams in a 24-hour period, or four exams in a 48-hour period. (This information, along with the form to submit in the event of exam hardship or conflict, can be found here.)    If you need to request a deferral due to acute illness or personal emergency, 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. Your request will be reviewed, and you will be sent an email with details once a decision has been made.   c) For Barnard classes, students should work with their instructor once the request has been approved to go over the details of their deferred exam. For students deferring a Columbia exam or students who receive testing accommodations through CARDS, Deferred exams will be given on Friday, January 23, 2026 and if applicable, Monday, January 26, 2026.   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). However, 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 11 (the end of Reading Period). If your course also has a timed final exam, please work with your class dean and also submit an official Deferred Exam request (see above).   As a reminder, the official College deadline for completing Fall 2025 Incomplete coursework is Wednesday, April 15, 2026. 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. As noted in this policy, three or more incomplete, failing, or withdrawal grades may place a student on academic probation for the following semester. 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 Assistant Vice President and Vice Dean of the College - Student Support

Need to talk to a class dean during Finals? Stop by 105 Milbank (or zoom if needed) any time 9am-5pm, Dec 11-12 & 15-19 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 beginning the last day of reading period. 
• Come see us in 105 Milbank
• Feeling under the weather? Email doas@barnard.edu or call 212-854-2024 to ask for the zoom link.

How to elect the P/D/F option by the **NEW** Dec 8 deadline

The last day to elect or undo the p/d/f option is now Dec 8, 2025 (the W deadline is still Nov 13).

**Special note for graduating seniors-- you cannot uncover grades of P from a course taken during  your last semester. 

Also, note that courses taken p/d/f this year are subject to the current rules.  Read all about p/d/f on the Registrar's website .

• Barnard students can elect P/D/F grading in one course per term during the academic year (fall/spring).  This is in addition to any courses with mandatory pass/fail grading.  A class in which the P grade is uncovered is still counted towards the one course per term P/D/F limit.
• Classes taken for P/D/F grading can be applied to general education requirements. 
• You cannot elect P/D/F grading for any course that is needed to fulfill major or minor requirements.  It is your responsibility to be sure that you understand this policy and to consult with your department if you have any questions.  Please note that if you elect P/D/F grading in a class that your Department Chair determines is required for your major or minor requirements, the “pass” grade will be administratively uncovered by the Registrar’s Office at the point of graduation, which could affect both your term and cumulative gpa. Dean’ List status can also be affected by this.

Grading

The instructor is not informed when a student elects the P/D/F grading option. The instructor will assign a letter grade in SSOL, which will be converted to P/D/F on your transcript.

A letter grade of A+ through C- will appear on the transcript as a P, and will not count in the gpa.
A letter grade of D will appear on the transcript as a D, and will count in the gpa.
A letter grade of F will appear on the transcript as an F, and will count in the gpa.

 

To elect 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.

-This option is open in Vergil through the P/D/F deadline (see academic calendar).

-If you are already registered for the class, click the "manage" button and change the grading option to P/D/F.

-If you are newly registering for the class, you can select the P/D/F grading option while registering.

This form can be used to elect Pass/D/Fail for a course where that option is not available in Vergil.

 

 Pro Tip:

-If you drop or officially withdraw from a class that you had previously p/d/f'd, you should also revoke the p/d/f so that it won't count towards your p/d/f limit.

FAQ:

Q: My course doesn't have a P/D/F option in Vergil! Does that mean I can't take it p/d/f????

A: No! If you can't elect p/d/f in Vergil, you can use this Slate form to do it!

Senior FAQ: My course doesn't have a P/D/F option in Vergil! Does that mean I can't take it p/d/f????

DON'T WORRY! If you can't elect p/d/f in Vergil, you can use this Slate form to do it!

The rules governing p/d/f are on this Registrar website.

Register for Anthropology of Climate Change!

ANTH UN2427 Anthropology of Climate Change is being offered for Spring 2026! Please reach out to flafonta@barnard.edu with any questions. 

Academic Coaching: Finals Prep Sessions from 12/1-12/5!

The end of the semester is right around the corner, and the Academic Coaches in the Deans’ Office for Advising and Support are here to help you cross the finish line with tips, tricks, and snacks! If you are feeling stressed for finals, need help organizing your study plan, or want to learn some new study strategies, sign up for a time that works for you using this RSVP form. Drop-in hours will be December 1st - 5th at various times, and located in the C.E.P. (Milstein 126)

We hope to see you there!

Sponsored by the Deans’ Office for Advising and Support

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:

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. Email rgrabine@barnard.edu, using subject line "permission to walk with credits pending"
2. In your email, please note the total number of credits you still need and when/where you plan to take 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

 

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. Email htedder@barnard.edu to request permission
2. In your email, please explain any extenuating circumstances and note the total number of credits you still need and when/where you plan to take 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.

Slate??? Student Planning???? Vergil???? Where do I go for which things????

Now that registration is fully in Vergil, are you feeling confused about which website to use for which tasks around your academic record?

Worry no more! The Registrar has you covered with this handy chart.

Also: Pro Tip: Almost anything that you need to do with courses/your record can be found under the Academics tab in the Barnard Portal.  

Senior Year FACT or FICTION: Limit to how many studio or professional classes can count for credit?

FACT OR FICTION:
Is it true that there is a limit to how many "studio" credits [studio art, dance technique, acting, music lessons] or professional credits [business, journalism, etc.] you can earn credit for?

YES; this is FACT. Per the Barnard Catalogue:

No more than 18 points of studio, performing arts, or professional school courses may be credited toward the B.A. degree. Within this category, the following limits exist by discipline:

• A maximum of four arts studio courses

• A maximum of six courses in instrumental instruction (except for Music majors and minors, who may receive credit for eight, including piano instruction)

• A maximum of six studio courses in Theatre (except for Theatre majors who may receive credit for 24 points of studio)

• A maximum of nine courses (maximum 18 credits) in dance technique (except for Dance majors, who may receive credit for up to 24 credits of dance technique)  

• A maximum of two professional school courses (e.g., business school, journalism school, etc.) 

Exceptions to this rule are allowed only for courses in the major field or for courses taken in fulfillment of requirements for dual- and joint-degree programs with professional schools of the University. A maximum of 24 points may be credited for studio or performance courses in the major field.

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

Apply to be a speaker at Barnard's TEDx event by November 18th!

The Speaking Program is looking for students who are passionate about a topic that calls the Barnard community to action and who are interested in speaking at the event.

If you are interested in being a speaker for our upcoming Barnard TEDx event, you can fill out the application by Tuesday, November 18th located in the QR code on the flyer attached!

Announcement: New booking link to schedule appointments with Dean Grabiner!

 

We wanted to share a very important announcement with you all! Our office has been slowly transitioning to using a new platform for students to schedule appointments to meet with their class deans as we have been using youcanbookme as our main online scheduler for a long time.

Starting today, November 12th, we are moving over to Slate as our new platform for students to schedule appointments to meet with their class deans and will no longer be using youcanbookme.

Going forward, please use Dean Grabiner's Slate booking link to schedule an appointment to meet with her. If you need help in finding another time to schedule an appointment or need to meet urgently, feel free to contact our office at doas@barnard.edu or call 212-854-2024 for assistance!

As a reminder, you can also meet with her during walk-in hours on Tuesdays, Wednesdays, and Thursdays from 3:30-4:30 PM ET either in-person in our office located in Milbank 105 or virtually over Zoom!

How do I withdraw from a class with a W by the Nov 13 deadline?

 

The deadline to withdraw from a fall 2025 class is November 13. Withdrawn classes will not affect your GPA and you will not earn credit for them, but they will remain on your transcript, and a W will be entered in place of the final grade. 

Note: You may not withdraw from a class if doing so would leave you with fewer than 12 credits.

 

To withdraw from a class, use this online form , following these steps:


1. Consult with your adviser.

2. Get an email from your adviser confirming they approve you to withdraw from this specific class.

3. Download that email as a PDF or save a screenshot of it.

4. Complete and submit the online W form on or before the W deadline, uploading your adviser’s confirmation email when prompted to do so.

5. You will receive an email confirmation once your W request is processed, ordinarily within two business days. 

6. Within a week or so, you will see a W next to the class on your transcript.

Update: Additional Writing Fellow appointments added for BWC!

We hope you are well! We wanted to share a quick update from the Barnard Writing Center in that, due to increased demand, they have added 30 more Writing Fellow appointments to their weekly schedule!

You can refer to this previous blog post for further information on the Barnard Writing Center and can make an appointment here!

Appointments are released a week in advance, so please make sure to sign up early if you need help with your writing.

Languages Fair on 10/27!

Please take a look at the flyer down below for the upcoming Languages Fair taking place on Monday, October 27th from 12-2PM in the Diana Center Event Oval if you are interested!

Come discover the languages taught at Barnard, including new offerings in Chinese, Korean, Italian and American Sign Language!

Learn about the language requirement at Barnard! 

Explore the possibilities for study abroad! 

Enjoy international candy as well!! 

Missed deadline to go below 12 credits in last semester? There's a petition for that

Did you mean to request permission to go below 12 credits in your final semester by the Oct 7 drop deadline and/or did something prevent you from making this request in time?

You can still make this request up to the W deadline, but you must now do it via petition.  Meet with your class dean to discuss, but in broad strokes you will need to:

1. Download your current unofficial transcript & degree audit from Student Planning.

2. Go to Slate to find the form to petition the Committee on Programs and Academic Standing for an exception to policy

3.  Select "Other" from the drop-down menu for petition type

4. Under "Describe your petition/special case:" explain that you are requesting late permission for below 12 credits in your final semester, being sure to specify: 

• how many credits you have completed, 
• how many semesters you have completed, 
• if you are a transfer student or if you entered as a first year, 
• how many credits you are currently taking, 
• what course(s) you would like the registrar to withdraw you from if approved
• how many credits you will have if approved --> minimum of 9 credits
• NOTE: you must submit an additional petition to if you would like this to be considered as a late-drop request. Please mention in both petitions that you are doing this

5.  Under "Explain the justification for your petition:" share everything you think is relevant about what prevented you from making this request on time, why you are making it now, why you believe it should be approved, etc. If you have more than 200 words to say about this, you may write "please see attached" and attach a screenshot

6. Be sure to upload BOTH an unofficial transcript AND all pages of your degree audit so that your request can be evaluated.

Take Part in a Research Study!

Come help out by taking part in a research study currently being conducted by a PhD student at Northeastern! Check out this flyer for more info... 👀

Also, feel free to fill out this form here!

Senior Thesis Working Group!

Want to get a head start on your senior thesis? 

Come to our stress-reducing support group and share the thesis writing experience with classmates. The kick-off event will be next Friday, October 3rd at 1PM in the CEP (Milstein Center 126.) 

This will be the first of many meetings, full of snacks, drinks, and prizes! 

If you have any questions you can contact the program coordinators Alexa and Allie at aeaster@barnard.edu and ajohnsto@barnard.edu. 

Empirical Reasoning Center (ERC) Workshops!

The Empirical Reasoning Center is hosting several workshops on the upcoming Fridays. Please see what is being offered below:

SQL Workshop

Join us for a SQL workshop this Friday! Build your resume skills by learning to write SQL queries to retrieve and analyze data. Whether you’re strengthening career skills or just curious about new ways to work with data, there’s something here for you.

RSVP here
Date: Friday, September 26 at 12 PM
Location: Milstein 102

R Workshop

Join us for a series of R workshops! As we wrapped up our first intro to R last Friday, we are ready to dive into how to use dplyr to clean, analyze, and visualize your datasets! If you were not able to attend our first workshop, you can watch the recording here

Data Analysis in R: RSVP here
Date: Friday, October 3rd at 10:30 AM
Location: Milstein 102

Data Visualization in R: RSVP here
Date: Friday, October 10th at 10:30 AM
Location: Milstein 102

QGIS Workshop

Want to turn raw data into beautiful, interactive maps? Join us for a series of QGIS workshops! Learn QGIS to create maps and visualize your data spatially. No previous experience required. 

Intro to QGIS: RSVP here
Date: Friday, September 26 at 10:30 AM
Location: Milstein 102

Intermediate QGIS: RSVP here
Date: Friday, October 10th at 12 PM
Location: Milstein 102

Excel Workshop

Excel is more than a spreadsheet - join us for an Excel workshop in intermediate data analysis. Perfect for anyone working on research projects, internships, or student org budgets. If you were not able to attend our introductory workshop, you can watch the recording here

Intermediate Data Analysis in Excel: RSVP here
Date: Friday, October 3rd at 12 PM
Location: Milstein 102

How to drop a class by the Oct 7 deadline

Friday, 9/12/2025 was the deadline to add a class, but you can still drop up to the October 7 deadline (after the drop deadline, you can withdraw with a W on or before November 13)

Follow the easy online steps below to drop a class on or before the deadline. 

1. Contact your adviser to discuss and obtain their approval

Best practice is to have an advising conversation where you discuss options and any possible implications of this drop on your full-time status or your graduation progress, but depending on how much you and your adviser have already discussed things, they may agree to review and approve your form without such a meeting

2. Submit the online Drop Request Form

You will only be able to drop online if your adviser has granted this permission. Be sure that you are not attempting to drop below 12 credits unless approved via CARDS or as a final-semester senior  -- the system will not allow drop below 12 credits without additional approval.

 

3. As soon as your adviser grants permission, you will receive an email informing you that you have permission to drop the class(es) discussed.

While this adviser permission is for the specific class you request, functionally it reopens your ability to drop in general, so be sure to drop the right class and nothing else.

 

4. Log into Vergil to drop the class within two days and on or before the October 7 deadline.*

If you don't drop within the 2-day window, you will need to request permission again. 

*Note that you must drop on or before the drop deadline if you want the class removed from your transcript.

 

FAQ: I filled out the form and it was approved. Why is the class still on my record?

A: The form/permission does NOT drop you from the class; it just temporarily reopens your ability to drop a class yourself -- don't forget to do step 4 above!

 

FAQ: I dropped the class and it was removed from my transcript, and I just noticed that it is mysteriously back there now?!?! 

A: This is rare, but there is a known technical glitch that sometimes causes this to happen. If you notice a previously dropped class has returned to your schedule, please email registrar@barnard.edu.  

 

FAQ: I heard graduating seniors can take fewer than 12 credits in their last semester if they don't need 12. Why won't the drop form let me do that?

A: There is a separate process to request this permission. See recent blog post for directions and link.

2025 Women in Science and Engineering (WiSE) Conference!

Columbia Engineering is happy to invite interested Barnard students to join the Engineering 2025 Women in Science and Engineering (WiSE) Conference taking place on Thursday, October 9th, 2025 from 8:30AM - 3:00PM in the Davis Auditorium at the Columbia University, Morningside Campus!

This annual event aims to educate and inspire women from all backgrounds to pursue graduate degrees and careers in science and engineering. It offers a unique opportunity for attendees to learn about the challenges, opportunities, and rewards of being a woman in these fields. Additionally, students will have the chance to expand their networks within the Columbia Engineering community and beyond, connecting with some of the brightest and most ambitious women in science and engineering. This experience will further empower you to make an impact as the next generation of leaders!

You can register for the event through this link and find the agenda!

If you have any further questions, feel free to reach out to Ying Xu, Assistant Director of Graduate Admissions at Columbia Engineering, at yx2783@columbia.edu

The Barnard Writing and Speaking Center is Open!

 

We are excited to announce that the Writing and Speaking Center is open! Now, you can begin scheduling appointments to meet with our fellows.

The Center is here to support you at any stage of your writing or speaking projects—whether you’re brainstorming, drafting, revising, or preparing a presentation!

Writing Fellows are generous and critical readers who ask questions to help writers clarify, explain, expand, and explore their writing. We believe–and our practice reflects–that every piece a writer brings us belongs to the voice of the writer. We are active and interested observers. 

Speaking Fellows are trained peers who support students in all speaking-related projects and processes. This includes helping students overcome fears about speaking in public, preparing for presentations, facilitating or participating in classroom discussions, and more!

Science Writing Fellows are a subset of the Writing Fellows program. They support all students in developing tools to describe and interpret data, use scientific language clearly and concisely, and blend the skills learned in humanities classes with scientific ones. 

Creative Writing Fellows are a new subset of the Writing Fellows program. They support students working on creative writing of any form at any stage –brainstorming, revising, editing, receiving feedback, and more!

All fellows can work with all types of writing and students. You can make an appointment here

We look forward to working with you this semester!

Sincerely,

Pam Cobrin (pcobrin@barnard.edu)

Director, Barnard Writing Fellows Program

Daniela Kempf (dkempf@barnard.edu)

Associate Director, Barnard Speaking Program

Alex Watson (awatson@barnard.edu)

Associate Director, Barnard Writing Fellows Program

Diya Reddy (dkr2126@barnard.edu)

Program Administrator, Barnard Writing and Speaking Programs

Maisha Alam (malam@barnard.edu)

Science Fellow Coordinator, Barnard Writing Fellows Program

Looking up courses by Mode of Thinking in the Searchable Foundations list? PRO TIP: Upperclass students should NOT use the "@BC" option

If you're using the searchable Foundations list as a junior or senior, be careful when searching for a Mode of Thinking 

Pro Tip: Be sure you're using the second list in the dropdown menu.  As a junior or senior, you are still permitted to take your Modes at either Barnard or Columbia and should use the search option with just the name of the Mode, without @BC (e.g. "Quantitatively and Empirically, not "Quantitatively and Empirically @BC") -- this will return both Columbia and Barnard classes.

The first list, which has @BC after the name of each Mode (e.g. "Quantitatively and Empirically @BC"), returns only Barnard courses -- and is what new first-years and future students will need, as they need to complete all the modes of thinking at Barnard.  

If you're already registered for a class, it should appear correctly in your degree audit based on your class year. 

Senior-Year FACT OR FICTION: Can't change your major in your final semester?

Welcome to a new series, Senior-Year FACT OR FICTION, wherein we address persistent rumors about credits, graduation, rules, exceptions, etc. so that you can distinguish Senior FACT from Senior FICTION.  

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

FACT OR FICTION:
Is it true that graduating seniors cannot change their major during their last semester?

YES; this is FACT. In general, graduating seniors cannot change their majors in their final semester.

There are just a few possible exceptions:

• You may change from a double major to a single major if you will be unable to complete one of the two majors.
• You may change your concentration within a major (e.g. from a general biology major to Cellular Molecular Biology).
• If you believe you have an extremely good reason or extenuating circumstance that warrants changing your major in your final semester, you may petition the Committee on Programs and Academic Standing. Such petitions may or may not be successful. Meet with your class dean to discuss. 
• Related: You may add a minor in your final semester if you have already completed or are in the process of completing all the minor requirements this semester. If you are working on an undeclared minor, please file the minor declaration ASAP. Deadline to declare a minor is March 1.

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

**NEW PROCESS** You can request permission to late-add in Vergil this 3rd week only!

During this 3rd week of classes, students can request a late add into courses using the approval workflow in Vergil.

When looking at the course information, instead of the Register or Join Waitlist buttons, you will now see a “Request Add” button:




If you request to add, it will be routed to the course’s instructor as well as the Registrar Office for approval.
 

If approved, you will need to go in and confirm registration to be added

Students can see the status of their requests from the “My Registration Requests” on the Vergil homepage. 

Research Funding Opportunities For Barnard Seniors!

Hello Seniors!

We wanted to share information about two funding opportunities for Barnard seniors!

The Lucyle Hook Travel Grant provides funding for travel related to research for the Barnard senior thesis.

The CJC for the Arts Grant provides funding for expenses related to senior theses or other independent projects in film, studio art, dance, theater, or related fields.

Electronic applications and full grant information are available at the links above, and are both due on November 10th, 2025.  

Students interested are encouraged to make an appointment with Dean Siegel (or stop by walk-in hours) as strongly advised to do so before submitting an application. If you have any questions, please don't hesitate to reach out to her directly at esiegel@barnard.edu

Moving with the Voice (DNCE-BC2456) open for Fall 2025!

We wanted to send out a message from the Dance department about an open Dance course available to students if you are interested in taking this course (this course is worth 2 credits.) Please see the following information down below:

Moving with the Voice (DNCE-BC2456) is a voice-movement-theater improvisation and composition class  inspired by the work of MacArthur Genius grant recipient, Meredith Monk. Allison Easter is teaching the course and has worked with Meredith Monk since 1985.

The class is open to all interested students. No experience  necessary, just a willingness to sing and move! 

Broaden your horizons. Explore your creativity. Get PE credit. 

Days/Times: Tuesdays and Thursdays from 2:40-3:55PM 

Location: Streng Studio, Barnard Hall, first floor (opposite the fitness center) 

Instructor: Allison Easter

Link to the course listing on the CU Course Directory and on Vergil if you would like more information.

If you have any further questions, please reach out to Allison Easter at aeaster@barnard.edu

American Studies courses open for students!

We wanted to share two American Studies courses that still currently have available seats for students who are interested: AMST BC2001: Third World Studies and AMST BC1030: Everything for Everyone: Social Movement. You can find more information on these courses down below!

AMST BC2001: Third World Studies 

Meets: MW 2:40PM- 3:55PM

Location: 302 Barnard Hall

Instructor: Manu Karuka

Link to course on CU Course Directory

Course description: Between 1967 and 1969, groups of American Indian, Black, Chinese, Filipino, Japanese, Mexican, and Puerto Rican college students began to articulate demands for a transformed university, touching everything from admissions, relations to community, and curriculum. Their proposals contributed to the Third World Liberation Front strike at San Francisco State University, the longest student strike in US history. Drawing inspiration from Gary Okihiro, founding director of Columbia’s Center for the Study of Ethnicity and Race, this course takes student activists’ proposals for Third World Studies seriously. Our readings will draw on the traditions of anti-racist and anti-colonial struggle in North America, alongside perspectives from Africa, Asia, and Latin America.

AMST BC1030: Everything for Everyone: Social Movement

Meets: MW 8:40AM - 9:55AM

Location: 302 Barnard Hall

Instructor: Dani Joslyn

Link to course on CU Course Directory

Course description: Over the past months, social movements have captured the nation’s attention: from protests against immigration enforcement to Zohran Mamdani’s campaign for mayor of New York City. From the Haitian and American Revolutions to the campaign for an eight-hour day, the Civil Rights movement, indigenous demands for land back, and Black Lives Matter, this course will explore the long history of movements for economic and social justice across North America. Questions that we will explore together include: how have different groups demanded economic justice over the past two hundred years? What lineages and breaks can we trace in these efforts? What divisions emerged among and within various movements over time? How did groups debate and disagree over the concept of “socialism” and what their ideal visions of liberated society would be? What role have race and gender played as dividing lines and as sites of new liberatory forms of struggle?