Student Drop Requests in Vergil ~ Submit by October 13th

 Now that the Registration deadline has passed, students will need to request to drop any courses prior to the drop deadline of Tuesday, October 13th. 

To submit a Drop Request from your Schedule: 

• Step 1: Click 'Manage Registration'
  
• Step 2: Click 'Drop' 
  
• Step 3: Provide a reason for the request.
  
• Step 4: Click on the blue 'Proceed to Request Drop' button. 
  

This request will be routed for approvals, and once approved the student will need to go into Vergil to accept the drop so the course will be dropped from your schedule.

Please be sure you are not dropping courses that will put your term enrollment below full time study.

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

During the 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 any other necessary people or offices 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. 

Any late-adds after the third week will require a petition to the Committee on Programs and Academic Standing. Contact your dean if you need to consult about that

Never miss a deadline!: Add the Barnard Academic Calendar to your gBear calendar with one click!

Worrying about keeping track registration dates, add/drop deadlines, p/d/f and W deadlines, and the like?

The Registrar has you covered with its Google Calendar version of the Academic Calendar -- you can add this to your gBear calendar with just one click!  Registration and add/drop periods for the year are already added in, so this will help you ASAP

I'm in!  How can I add the Barnard Academic Calendar to my gBear Calendar?

1.  Go to https://barnard.edu/academic-calendar (or, honestly, just google-search "Barnard Academic Calendar" -- that's how I find it every time...)

2.  Click on View Barnard's academic calendar on Google Calendar (note: you must be logged into gBear to access this!). 

3.  In the google calendar that opens, go to the bottom left-hand corner and click on the blue text that says "Add to Google Calendar."

4. Once you've added the calendar, set up notifications. Some recommended settings:

Applications for The Lucyle Hook Travel Grant are now open (Deadline: November 9th, 2026)

Lucyle Hook Travel Grants are available to seniors to support thesis research that requires 

travel, often during winter break. Applications are submitted electronically at this link:  

https://slate.barnard.edu/register/lucylehookgrant and are due by 9AM Monday, November 9, 2026 and must include a proposal, budget, and a letter of support from a Barnard or Columbia faculty member. Below are guidelines:

  

1. Brief Abstract (75 -100 words): Provide an overview of your thesis topic.

 

2. Detailed Proposal (maximum three pages, double-spaced, one-inch margins): Provide 

details about the issues you intend to investigate. You are expected to address the following 

points. 

a. Where do you intend to go? 

b. What will you do there and how long will you need to stay? 

c. Have you made contact with any on-site individuals or institutions whose cooperation will 

be critical to your research? If yes, provide details. 

d. How has your research grown out of your academic pursuits? 

e. How will your proposed work enrich your thesis?

 

3. Letter of Recommendation: The faculty letter of support should be written by a person 

familiar with your project – the person supervising your thesis, for example – and should 

address both the importance of this research to your thesis and your qualifications for 

conducting this research. (Students will be prompted to enter the name and email of their 

recommenders, which will generate an email requesting direct submission of the letter of 

support.)

 

4. Proposed Budget: Provide details regarding expenses including transportation, daily living 

costs such as lodging and food, and other fees or costs associated with your project. Past 

grants have generally been between $100 - $500. A chart form is best and should be included 

as one of the maximum three pages.

 

If your project involves human subjects, please go to https://barnard.edu/provost/research/regulatory-agencies, click on the “Student as PI Worksheet” link, and submit the completed form with your proposal.

 

Proposals will be reviewed and assessed by the Faculty Committee on Honors at their 

November 2026 meeting. Bear in mind that although some members of the Committee may be 

experts in your field, most will not be; it will be wise to tailor your proposal accordingly. Please 

direct any questions to Dean Erica Siegel by email at esiegel@barnard.edu or by making an appointment. 

Applications for The CJC for the Arts Grant are now open (Deadline: November 9th, 2026)

The CJC for the Arts Grant funds expenses related to senior theses or other independent 

projects in film, studio art, dance, theater, or related fields. Applications are submitted 

electronically at https://slate.barnard.edu/register/cjcartsgrant by 9AM on Monday, November 9, 2026 and must include a proposal, budget, and a letter of support from a Barnard or Columbia faculty member.  

 

The following materials are required:   

 

1. Detailed Proposal (maximum two pages, double-spaced, one-inch margins): 

 

     a. What exactly is the purpose of your proposed project? Describe central idea(s) or 

theme(s) and propose a working title. 

    

     b. How have you prepared and what are your qualifications? How does your proposed 

project build on your experience in your field and, if appropriate, related fields? Be specific: 

What coursework, course projects, and/or extracurricular experience has prepared you for this 

project? Give a brief explanation of the project’s genesis. How does the project grow out of what 

you’ve learned to this point? 

      

     c. Place your project in context: As appropriate, explain briefly how your project is related to 

current thinking or practice in your field? How is your project influenced, or inspired, by certain 

ideas or trends in your field? And/or how will the project respond to these ideas or trends? 

Provide the Committee with some relevant intellectual context. Note: for visual arts students, 

consider the following quotations: 

          i. “Projects that are modeled after major movements in contemporary art will be executed 

in the studio….” (from the catalogue description for AHIS BC3530, “Advanced Studio”). 

          ii. “Students are encouraged to incorporate what they learn in their lectures and seminars 

into their own body of work. Unlike in many visual arts programs, Barnard studio arts courses 

and seminars emphasize the reinterpretation of artistic practice rather than a reliance on 

‘traditional knowledge’…” (from the department’s website). How, then, will your work be modeled 

after—and/or be a reinterpretation of –a major idea or ideas in contemporary art? 

 

2. Letter of Recommendation: The faculty letter of support should be written by a person 

familiar with your project and should address both the importance of this project and your 

qualifications.  (Students will be prompted to enter the name and email of their recommenders, 

which will generate an email requesting direct submission of the letter of support.)  

 

3. Proposed Budget: A one-page detailed budget, preferably in chart form. What materials will 

you need beyond those already available to students in your department? What, if any other 

expenditures, will you have? What is the minimum amount that will allow you to move forward 

with your project? Past grants have generally been in the $250 -$700 range.

  

Proposals will be reviewed and assessed by the Faculty Committee on Honors at their 

November 2026 meeting. Bear in mind that although some members of the Committee may be 

experts in your field, most will not be; it will be wise to tailor your proposal accordingly. Please 

direct any questions to Dean Erica Siegel by email at esiegel@barnard.edu or by making an appointment. 

Need an extra credit or two this fall? Here are some 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. Pay special attention to the start dates of these courses.

**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:

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

 

 

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

 

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

 

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

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

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

OR

portal.barnard.edu --> Graduation tab

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

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

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

 

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

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

 

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

Did you know you can use the Course Search in Vergil to filter for classes that have open seats?

Select “Only show classes with open seats” in the search results!

There are a bunch of other useful things you can filter for, including  classes that satisfy Barnard General Education (Foundations) requirements, classes with a particular number of credits, etc. 

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

NOTE ON LAB SCIENCE: Do NOT rely on Vergil for acceptable lecture-plus-lab science pairings. See recent blog post for more info on this. 

The English Conference ~ Art and Artifact with Jennifer Egan (ENGL BC3098) available for Fall 2026!

What is fiction, exactly, and why does it matter?  In our screen-dominated era, these questions are worth asking and answering afresh. 

Our course will examine the ways in which works of literature—likely to include novels and novellas by Nella Larsen, Jean Rhys, Chester Himes and Philip Roth—offer portals into both the public mores and private experience of their eras.  We’ll examine each work through four lenses: 1. Technology; 2. Bodies and sexuality 3. Identity and exclusion, and 4. Notions of consciousness. We will also study the craft choices that enable their authors to achieve specific effects, with an eye toward physical description, point of view, and characterization. The conference will include creative in-class handwritten exercises aimed at accessing the unconscious and generating fruitful material. No previous literary training is necessary, and students of every age and discipline are welcome.

This is a 1-point Pass/Fail course that meets on Tuesdays from 2:10 to 4PM on October 6th, October 13th, October 20th, and October 27th ONLY.

If you're interested in taking this course, please read more information here and find the course on Vergil.

Need to meet with your Dean Grabiner? Schedule an appointment!

Do you have a specific academic question/concern? Met with your pre-major/faculty adviser but need additional academic advising? Struggling with a particular class and need extra help? Dealing with a personal issue and need help communicating with your professors/finding extra support on campus? Want to meet with your class dean and just talk about how the year is going?

You can schedule your appointment through Slate to meet with your class dean using their booking link:

Schedule an appointment to meet with Dean Grabiner (Junior & Senior Class Dean) 

- Note: Remote on Fridays (virtual appointments only)

If you need help 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 any available dean on call during walk-in hours every weekday from 3:30-4:30 PM ET either in our office located in Milbank 105 or virtually through this Zoom link!

2026-2027 Class Dean Daily Walk-In Hours!

Got a quick question?

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

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

-----

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

• Enter waiting room via this Walk-In Hours Zoom Link or visit 105 Milbank Hall
  
• We will see students on a first-come, first-served basis. 
• If we run out of time and can't see you, we apologize for the inconvenience and encourage you to schedule an appointment, to try walk-ins on a different day, or for time-sensitive matters, call the office at 212-854-2024 during business hours.

Fall 2026 Chorus/Chamber Singer and Voice Auditions!

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

------

Chorus & Voice Auditions Fall 2026

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

Choir and Chamber Singers Auditions:

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

Solo Voice Auditions and Voice Classes:

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

Important Fall 2026 Academic Information & Upcoming Deadlines

 

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

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

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

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

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

A: By following these steps:

1. Navigate to your degree audit in Student Planning:

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

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

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

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

 

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

 

Short answer: in some cases, with permission

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

 

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

Students expected to complete degree requirements in the summer of that calendar year and who will be within 2 courses (totaling no more than 8 credits) of completing their degree requirements at the culmination of the Spring semester. While such students may participate in Commencement exercises, the degree will not be conferred until October. Approval for anticipated October graduates to participate in the May ceremony in the same calendar year must be obtained from the Senior Class Dean, and students must have a detailed plan for completion of their remaining credits.

Great! How do I get this approval?

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

 

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

In extremely rare circumstances, a student with more than 2 courses (or more than 8 credits) remaining for degree completion at the end of the Spring semester may be approved by the Dean for Academic Planning and Class Advising to participate in the May Commencement ceremonies. Please note that requests from students who need more than a semester's worth of credit after this May -- or who plan to be enrolled next fall -- are unlikely to be approved.

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

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

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

Students whose degrees are conferred in October but who did not participate in the Commencement ceremony of that calendar year may request to the Dean of the College to participate during the ceremony the following May.

Senior Year FACT or FICTION: possible to take fewer than 12 credits in your last semester????

FACT OR FICTION:
Is it true that you can take fewer that 12 credits in your last semester?

YES; this is FACT, BUT ONLY IN VERY SPECIFIC CIRCUMSTANCES and by following proper procedure. 

As stated in the Barnard College Catalogue:

"Graduating seniors who need fewer than twelve credits to complete their degree – and who have already satisfied the College’s academic residency requirement and completed at least four full-time semesters in academic residence – may be approved to take a minimum of nine credit hours. Because Barnard students are charged a flat rate of tuition per semester, reducing one’s course load to nine credits will not change the tuition owed in the last semester. International students must consult with International Student Services in advance to determine eligibility.  Students who meet these criteria and are approved to be enrolled in nine credits are still eligible to live in Barnard’s residence halls. 

If any student who is not an eligible senior needs to register for fewer than twelve credits for disability-related reasons, they should reach out to CARDS to discuss the reduced course load process at cards@barnard.edu."

The form to request this will be available once the semester begins, so best practice is to register for at least 12 credits now, and submit this form on or before the drop deadline in your final semester to request approval **Note that this request can only be made at the start of your final semester, for that semester**: https://slate.barnard.edu/register/final_semester_request

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

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

Senior FAQ: can I take 2 classes that overlap?

Thanks to everyone who suggested we address this important question!

Short answer: NO

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

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

Okay; how do I petition?

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

How likely is it that my petition will be approved?

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

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

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

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

Senior FAQ: Can I take more than 19 credits? How/when can I get permission?

Q: I heard it's possible for students to get permission from their adviser to take more than 19 credits. Is that true, and if so, how/when can I get permission?

A: Yes, in rare cases*, and only once the semester has begun. Starting on the first day of classes, students will be able to appeal to add courses that will put them over 19 credits. Use the green "appeal" button on the Vergil listing for the new course to make this request.

 

Q: What if I get in off a waitlist that puts me over the limit?

A: If you are removed from a waitlist and temporarily find yourself in more than 19 credits, you will need to drop the "extra" credits or receive approval to exceed the limit. There will be a slate form to request to retain the overloaded credits.

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

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

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

Graduating this year and plagued by the nagging feeling that you must be forgeting something? SENIOR CHECKLIST to the rescue!

 

Keep track of deadlines and tasks to make sure you're graduating on schedule, using this Senior Checklist.  Spring dates will be further specified when more information is available.