Academic Coaching walk-in hours!

We are now in the second half of the semester, 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 a space to get stuff done!

If you are feeling stressed about exams and papers, need help organizing your study plan, or want to learn some new study strategies, come chat with an academic coach. 

Sign up for a time that works for you using this RSVP form. Walk-in hours will be held before and after spring break and the two weeks before reading period. 

We hope to see you there!

Senior Financial Well-Being Series

Please take a look at the following flyers down below for the upcoming financial well-being series and first two sessions for seniors over the next month put together by the LeFrak Ambassadors and are free and open to all!

Students can register for all of them here: bit.ly/SeniorMoneySeries

The 3rd session on housing on March 25th will feature an alumna guest speaker!

Though its not part of the series, they are also hosting a Tax Cafe, where students can come together to work on filing taxes over breakfast and ask questions about filing. That is coming on April 3rd.

Note that while the series is designed with seniors in mind as they transition out of college, all of the programs are open to all class years. 

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 the Slate form: LINK PENDING
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, so we can add you to the list! The deadline to make this request is March 23

 

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 the Slate form: LINK PENDING
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 23.

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 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 (There is a special extension to the March 26 W deadline -- note you will have a W for any classes you're leaving now): 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.

When is the deadline to make this request?

The initial deadline to make this request was the Feb 24 drop deadline. You may still make this request up to the March 26 W deadline – note that any course(s) you won’t be completing at this point will have a grade of W.

How do I withdraw from a class with a W by the March 26 deadline?

 

The deadline to withdraw from a spring 2026 class is March 26. 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.