Your First Year at Barnard College

Opportunity: fellowship for foreign language study

2012-01-24T18:23:00.001-05:00

The Foreign Language and Area Studies (FLAS) Fellowship Program is predicated on the belief that “the security, stability, and economic vitality of the United States in a complex global era depend upon American experts and citizens knowledgeable about world regions, foreign languages, and international affairs, as well as upon a strong research base in these areas.” FLAS fellowships strengthen the nation’s ability to respond to security threats and to compete effectively in the modern world by promoting foreign language competence and area and international knowledge and by ensuring the continuance of area expertise in a variety of fields, including academe.

FLAS Fellowships are available for study during the academic year or during the summer. The FLAS Fellowship competition is open to undergraduate and graduate students who are U.S. citizens, nationals, or permanent residents who are enrolled or accepted for enrollment in a full-time program (either domestic or overseas) that combines modern foreign language training with international or area studies. Undergraduate students must be at the intermediate or advanced level of language proficiency and can apply for a Less Commonly Taught Language (LCTL). LCTL are any modern languages other than Spanish, French, or German.

For more information and for application instructions, visit the FLAS website at Columbia's Financial Aid department website. The application deadline is February 24.

FAQ: joining a P.E. class after the lottery placements

2012-01-20T17:32:00.000-05:00

If the P.E. lottery did not result in a placement for you, or if you did not enter the lottery but now wish to join a P.E. class, you can do two things to try to secure a place in a course:

Visit the P.E. Department (200 Barnard Annex) to see what classes still have space available after the lottery placements.
Visit individual P.E. classes (meeting times and places are posted in the online Directory of Courses) to see if space is, or may become, available.

Remember that any classes missed this week will count as absences, even if you join the class later in the week, and the number of allowable absences in a P.E. class is fixed. So visit the department and/or classes as soon as possible to see where you can find a spot.

Event: look for those Bear Necessities

2012-01-19T19:30:00.002-05:00

An announcement from your First-Year Class Council:

Calling all Barnard First Years! Join your first-year class council and various services on campus for a refresher on Barnard life and the resources available for you on campus!

Representatives from Study Abroad, Career Development, Barnard Babysitting and Bartending Agencies, Health Services, Student Clubs and many more will be there to offer their services and advice and to answer any questions you may have in a very relaxed environment.

So please join us for a free lunch with your friends, while learning about Barnard services that will enhance your Barnard experience!

The event will be held on Friday, January 20th from 2:00 - 4:00 p.m. in the Lower Level II of the Diana Center. We hope to see you there!

DEADLINE: registration for the spring semester

2012-01-18T16:11:00.003-05:00

Today is the deadline to register through eBear! If you have a hold on your account that prevents you from registering, please see the appropriate person as soon as possible.

FAQ: previous college credits

2012-01-17T09:00:00.000-05:00

If you took college classes before entering Barnard, remember that you may now request evaluation of those classes for possible Barnard credit, by completing this form and submitting it to the Registrar's office (107 Milbank).

Important Information: Spring 2012 Final Exam Schedule

2012-01-13T09:00:00.000-05:00

Plan ahead: Columbia has already posted the projected schedule for May 2012 final examinations.

The day-by-day detailed schedule will not be posted until April, but you may use this schedule to determine when your May exams will be given, and you can plan your travel plans for the end of the semester accordingly.

Note the scheduling exceptions at the bottom of the page for certain language courses.

Important Information: registering for the spring semester

2012-01-12T09:00:00.001-05:00

Registration for the Spring 2012 semester begins tomorrow. Remember that registration is unrelated to program filing.

The deadline to register (to let the College know that you’re on campus and ready to go) is next Wednesday, January 18th. Remember that you register through eBear (one of the tabs in your Registrar section), and you may need to deactivate the pop-up blocker in your internet browser.

If you miss the deadline, you will be charged late fees, so register as soon as possible -- it will only take a few minutes. If you have a hold on your registration for any reason, be sure to take care of it as soon as possible; you’ll need to see the relevant person, address the issue, and get a signed clearance form to take to the Registrar.

Spring Program: special approvals for programs

2012-01-11T09:00:00.000-05:00

If your spring program will carry more than 18 points of credit, you will need your class dean's approval as well as your adviser's approval.

Note: Remember to consider your P.E. or Dance technique courses, the points for which will be added to your program after the filing deadline.

If you need this special approval, please plan to meet with me during an appointment or during walk-in hours to discuss your schedule. (See available times and procedures for reserving appointment times at the right.)

Spring Program: enrolling in Dance Technique courses

2012-01-10T09:00:00.001-05:00

If you plan to enroll in a Dance Technique course this semester and have not done so before, here are the procedures:

Attend the first class meeting. You can find the schedule for all Dance technique courses in the Dance department’s section of online Directory of Courses. During the first class, the instructor will hold brief placement auditions to determine whether you are at the right level for the class.
After your placement has been confirmed, add the 5-digit call number for the course to your eBear program. The Dance course must be listed as part of your final program on eBear as approved by your adviser, or you will not receive credit for the course. If you add the Dance course after your adviser has approved your program, you must ask your adviser to re-approve your program.

Satisfactory completion of a Dance technique class this semester will fulfill one-half of the Physical Education requirement and will earn you one point of degree credit. Barnard requires every student to complete at least one semester of Physical Education or Dance technique by the end of her first year.

Note: The credit for a P.E. class or Dance Technique class will not appear on your eBear program until after the program filing deadline has passed.

Spring Program: first-year Physical Education requirement

2012-01-10T09:00:00.000-05:00

If you did not fulfill the first semester of your Physical Education requirement in the fall, you must do so this semester.

In order to enroll in a P.E. class, you should sign up for the P.E. lottery through eBear during the first week of classes between Wednesday, January 18, at 9:00 a.m., and Friday, January 20, at 12:00 noon. Results will be posted after 5:00 p.m. on January 21, and P.E. classes will begin meeting during the second week of classes. You can find more information about the lottery at the Physical Education department’s website.

Note: Once you have been placed into a P.E. class, you must add it to your eBear program in order to receive credit for it.

If the lottery does not place you into a P.E. class, see the Physical Education department in 200 Barnard Annex for assistance or visit the first class meeting of P.E. classes to see if space becomes available.

Note: A Dance Technique course can fulfill a semester of the Physical Education requirement (see separate post for instructions on enrolling in a Dance Technique course for the spring semester). A Dance Technique course does not fulfill a Nine Ways of Knowing category.

Note: The credit for a P.E. class or Dance Technique class will not appear on your eBear program until after the program filing deadline has passed.

Program Planning: program filing period begins

2012-01-09T09:00:00.000-05:00

Starting today (Monday, January 9), you may add and drop classes from your Spring 2012 program, and you will have L-course "appointment times" available every weekday (with the exception of the Martin Luther King, Jr. holiday).

Remember to pay attention to the "Comments and Reminders" box each time you make a change to your program, so that you will know if there are extra steps that you need to take to confirm your enrollment in a course.

The deadline to file your complete and accurate program, approved online by your adviser, is Friday, January 27, at 6:00 p.m. You may work on your program and do L-signup from any computer, on-campus or off.

Opportunity: Internships program through Yale Law School

2012-01-06T11:23:00.000-05:00

From the Dean for Pre-Law Advising:

The Arthur Liman Public Interest Program at Yale Law School supports undergraduate and graduate students working in the public interest. Broadly defined, public interest law includes helping those lacking resources to retain attorneys, as well as engaging in advocacy work and participating in shaping public policy. The Liman Summer Fellowship offers students an opportunity to participate in public interest law projects. Past fellows have worked on issues relating to immigrants' rights, workers' rights, prison conditions, educational adequacy, reproductive rights, and juvenile rights.

All currently enrolled students are eligible to apply. Three fellows will be selected by a Barnard committee. The Liman fellows will receive a stipend of $2,500. Selected fellows will be required to attend the Liman Colloquium with fellows from the other participating schools on March 1-2, 2012 at Yale Law School. They must also complete a final report describing their summer fellowship, to be submitted by September 1, 2012.

At the time of application, students need not have identified a specific project. Students will be responsible for finding their own summer internships, but the Liman Program and Barnard's Office of Career Development will be available to assist students in finding appropriate summer internships. However, if students are interested in specific substantive areas or projects, they should feel free to describe them in their applications.

The application must include the following:

A cover sheet listing your current contact information (address, phone, email) and class.
A resume, which should list relevant prior experiences working or volunteering in public service.
An essay, not to exceed 5 double-spaced pages, describing why you are motivated to work in public interest law. The essay should do more than recite activities from the applicant's resume. If the applicant is considering a fellowship at a specific host organization, a short statement about the host's work and confirmation that it is a non-profit organization.
At least two letters of recommendation, one of which must be from a faculty member who knows the applicant's work well. The recommendations must be included with the application.
A copy of the applicant's unofficial current college transcript.

Applications for Summer 2012 fellowships are due on January 27, 2012. All parts of the application must be received by close of business and must be delivered to the Office of the Dean of Studies, 105 Milbank Hall.

If you have any questions about the program, you should feel free to visit the program website, or email Barnard's Dean for Pre-Law Advising.

Opportunity: Spring Leadership Labs

2012-01-05T10:17:00.001-05:00

From the Athena Center for Leadership Studies:

As a Barnard first-year student, you may enroll in up to two Athena Leadership Lab workshops per year at no additional cost. Registration is now open for our Winter/Spring cycle; workshops will begin on January 24 and run for a month.

All Athena workshops focus on important leadership skills such as communicating persuasively, speaking up, negotiating, running meetings effectively, and calming your "inner critic." Other workshops this cycle cover entrepreneurial pursuits and website construction. You might also consider some of our Financial Fluency workshops, such as "A Beginners Guide to Financial Fluency" or "Basics of Investing," or some of our new workshops, such as "Toot Your Own Horn" or "Basics of Negotiating: Expanding What It Means to Win."

To learn more about any of thse workshops offered and to register for a workshop, click here.

If you have any questions, please contact us at athenacenter@barnard.edu.

Winter Break

2011-12-23T16:38:00.000-05:00

The First-Year Blog is taking a long winter's nap. Check back around January 15 for new information about the spring semester.

In the meantime, have a wonderful holiday season and a very happy new year!

Milestone: Well done, Class of 2015!

2011-12-22T17:00:00.000-05:00

As you finish your exams and head into the winter break, I hope that you’ll feel a sense of accomplishment in completing your first semester at college.

When you arrived here a scant few months ago, most of you had no idea what to expect from your classes, your professors and your peers, so in order to get to this point you have had to make some significant adjustments to any number of new challenges and new expectations. And if it hasn’t been easy or straightforward every step of the way, that’s because it’s not supposed to be.

So give yourself credit for learning and adapting, and use the winter break to celebrate your achievement by getting some well deserved rest!

Milestone: Last day of classes of your first semester of college

2011-12-12T16:44:00.000-05:00

Happy Last Day of Classes! You've almost made it through your first semester of college, although it probably feels that the end is nowhere in sight as you prepare for your first round of college final exams. I hope that you'll remember to do a few things over the next two weeks in addition to studying:

Sleep.
Eat a vegetable.
Now and then, take a slow, deep breath.
Get some exercise.
Grab some social time somewhere other than Butler Library.

And remember that your performance on a final exam represents your performance on a final exam...no more, no less. For each one, study hard, do your best, and then move on. You're almost there!

Important Information: finishing up the semester

2011-12-09T10:00:00.000-05:00

From the email sent to all students by the Dean of Studies on Dec. 7:

I hope that your final projects and exams will provide moments in which you'll feel great about what you've learned and accomplished this semester. I also hope that you'll be healthy and crisis-free between now and the end of finals and that you won't need the following information; however, please read and keep this message just in case....

As you know, coursework is to be completed by assigned dates, and finals are to be taken at assigned times, but exceptions are possible if you experience the kind of compelling extenuating circumstances that I wouldn't wish on you. Please contact your Class Dean if you have any questions about the appropriateness of these procedures for you.

Incompletes

--apply to papers, projects, or reports. If your instructor is willing to grant additional time for completion of coursework, obtain the Incomplete Form from the Registrar's Office or online at http://barnard.edu/registrar/barnard-coursework/incompletes. Submit one completed copy to that office and one to your course instructor by 15 December. Please keep a third copy so that you'll have a record of your agreement.

Final Exams

The official exam schedule must be followed unless you have 2 exams scheduled for the same time or unless you have 4 exams within 48 hours or 3 within 24 hours. An instructor is not to change the scheduling of an exam without having received verification of the conflict or overload on the designated Registrar's Office form.

If you are unable to take an exam because of serious illness or disabling personal or family emergency, you must obtain permission for a deferred exam from your course instructor, as well as a dean in the Dean of Studies Office, on the day of the exam--prior to its scheduled beginning time. To speak with one of us, please call 212-854-2024 between 8:00 and 9:00 a.m. for a morning exam and between 12:00 and 1:00 p.m. for an afternoon or evening exam.

If a deferral is approved by both the instructor and dean, you must submit the required form, including the $10 administration fee, to the Registrar's Office by 4 January 2012. The form is available at the Registrar's Office or at http://barnard.edu/registrar/barnard-coursework/deferred-exams. Deferred exams for Barnard and Columbia courses will be administered on Friday, 20 January (and on Monday, 23 January if you need to take more than two exams).

Please note that the Registrar's Office is unable to administer deferred exams that comprise (1) slides or Power Point presentations (e.g., Art History), (2) an oral component (e.g., languages), or (3) a listening component (e.g., music). Those exams must be administered by the specific departments and may be difficult to arrange.

An X, signifying the fact that the exam was deferred, will be on your transcript along with your course grade.

If you become ill during a final, inform your instructor or proctor, submit your bluebook(s) to her/him, and report to Health Services in Lower Level Brooks. If you have completed more than 40 minutes in a 2-hour exam or more than 1 hour in a 3-hour exam, you will be graded on your completed work, e.g., if you have answered only a 30-point question and earned 26 points for it, and if the exam is worth 100 points, your grade will be based on a score of 26/100. If you have been in the exam for less than 40 minutes or 1 hour, respectively, you must take a deferred exam.

Grades

Course grades are final and may be changed only in the event of clerical error or if the work of all of your classmates is reevaluated. A course grade may not be improved by reexamination or by the submission of additional or revised work. Your grades will be posted on eBear as soon as possible after faculty members have submitted them.

Academic Integrity

I wish it were different, but many of you seem to feel great pressure about grades. As a consequence, some of you over the past few years have taken unacceptable short cuts, cheating yourselves and your classmates. You probably know that misrepresentation of your situation, e.g., saying you're seriously ill when you're not, is also a violation of the College Honor Code--in addition to being a lie. At the risk of sounding preachy, I hope that all of us can agree that honesty in academic pursuits (and in all of our pursuits for that matter) is far more important to the way we choose to live our lives than is a course grade.

Winter Break

The Dean of Studies and Registrar's offices will be closed from 23 December until 3 January. We hope you won't hesitate to contact us if we can be helpful during the rest of the Break.

We wish meaningful, enjoyable (fun!), and rejuvenating experiences for each one of you--

Karen Blank
Dean of Studies

For Spring 2012: mark your calendars for theater auditions

2011-12-08T14:21:00.000-05:00

An announcement from Barnard's Theatre Department:

Auditions 2012 for all Spring acting classes and theatre productions
January 17 & 18 -- with a mandatory meeting for all auditioners 1/17 at 5:30 p.m.
All meetings and auditions are in the Minor Latham Playhouse, 118 Milbank Hall

If you are interested in an acting class, you must audition. You can also audition for one of our four spring productions at the same audition session. More information on audition times and audition requirements can be found on the Theatre Department's website: http://theatre.barnard.edu/auditions

Spring 2012 Acting Classes:

Scene Lab (2 sections), Acting the Song, Acting Language in Action, Avant-Garde Acting, Acting Suzuki and Viewpoints, Acting Chekhov

Spring Production Slate (All students cast will receive academic credit):

1) A New Play: The Egg Layers, by Lauren Feldman
2) The Blind, by Maurice Maeterlinck
3) The Long Goodbye, by Tennessee Williams
4) Gloryday, by Michael John LaChiusa

Upcoming deadline: course evaluation submissions

2011-12-07T16:18:00.000-05:00

The online course evaluation period began Monday, December 5 and will run through Thursday, December 15. You can access the evaluation for a particular course through its Courseworks site. Please note that you will not be able to access the evaluation forms at all after December 15.

These course evaluations help faculty to assess the efficacy of the courses they teach, while also providing helpful information to departments who are considering not only course offerings but also faculty promotions. Therefore, your sincerely considered feedback is greatly appreciated.

Students who do not fill out their evaluations will have their grades blocked online until January 7 (3 weeks after the first date when grades are released).

Advance Spring Programs: additional add/drop times

2011-12-06T14:21:00.003-05:00

During this week (December 5-9), undergraduates may make adjustments to their Spring 2012 programs. You will have L signup appointments for about 12 hours each day (no priority based on class standing), and will have around-the-clock access to your eBear program.

Please note that you are not required or even expected to make any changes at all; this is simply an opportunity. You should list on your program only those classes you really believe you will take, and in the interest of fairness, you should not take up a space in a class that a fellow student might desperately need.

You do not need your adviser's approval for any December changes. If you need to make adjustments, you should do so based on the conversation you had with your adviser in November, and of course you will have further discussions after classes start in January.

Note that this week does not provide an extension of the advance program filing deadline that passed on November 21. If you did not receive your adviser's approval for that deadline, you should print your program, have your adviser sign it, and bring it to the Registrar. (Students who do not file approved advance programs may be subject to withdrawal from the College. Only students who will be on study leave in the spring are not required to file advance programs.) Your adviser will not be able to approve your program online until January.

Food for thought: Spectator reminds you to "Take a breath"

2011-12-02T10:14:00.001-05:00

Hear, hear:

http://www.columbiaspectator.com/2011/12/01/take-a-breath

DEADLINE: program filing for Spring 2012 semester - MONDAY

2011-11-18T19:06:00.001-05:00

The deadline to have a full-time (minimum of 12 points of credit) advance program for Spring 2012 on eBear, and to have your adviser's approval entered online, is MONDAY, November 22, at 6:00 p.m.

Once your adviser has submitted approval for your advance program, every class on your Spring 2012 List of Courses should have a check next to it under the "Status" column. (When your adviser first submits approval, the checks will be red; when the approval has been processed by the computer system, the checks will turn blue.) If you add a course after your adviser has submitted approval, you must contact your adviser again to have approval resubmitted, or that course will not be an approved part of your schedule.

If you haven't already done so, be sure to meet with your adviser by the deadline on Monday, or you will be charged late fees that increase with each passing day.

Opportunity: get involved in McAC

2011-11-16T16:00:00.001-05:00

An announcement from the McAC Activities Council:

Do you want to make Barnard traditions happen? Apply to be a McAC member!

The McIntosh Activities Council is comprised of five committees: Action, Community, Multicultural, Network, and Time-Out. Together, we plan, organize, and host some of Barnard's most beloved traditions and events, including Founder's Day, Big Sub, Midnight Breakfast, and Spirit Day. We're currently recruiting for Spring 2012 members on ALL committees, so please take a minute to fill out our application, and submit it by Sunday, November 27 by 5:00pm.

The application can be found here. Please don't hesitate to reach out to mcac@barnard.edu with questions or concerns.

DEADLINE: pass/d/fail declaration OR course withdrawal

2011-11-14T17:45:00.001-05:00

Remember that this Thursday, November 17, is the deadline for two actions:

1) The deadline to declare the Pass/D/Fail option for a course is Thursday at 11:00 p.m., through eBear. You do not need your adviser's approval to use the P/D/F option, but it would be a good idea to discuss the matter with your adviser to ensure that you have thought through the decision. Visit the Registrar's website to be sure that you understand the rules governing the Pass/D/Fail option and to find the instructions for utilizing the option.

2) Also, the deadline to withdraw from a course is this Thursday at 4:30 p.m. You do need your adviser's approval in order to withdraw from a course. To withdraw from a course, pick up a withdrawal form from the Registrar's office (107 Milbank), complete the form, have your adviser sign the form, then submit it to the Registrar's office. The course will remain on your transcript with a "W," indicating that you officially withdrew from the course midway through the semester. Remember that all students are expected to carry at least 12 points of credit per semester; if you have extenuating circumstances and need to drop below 12 points of credit by withdrawing from a course, you must see the First-Year Class Dean for special permission.

Advising: combined programs with SIPA

2011-11-14T17:28:00.001-05:00

Barnard College offers dual-degree 5-year programs with Columbia's School of International and Public Affairs. One program leads to a Bachelor's degree and a Master's degree in International Affairs, and the other leads to a Bachelor's degree and a Master's in Public Administration.

On Tuesday, November 15, a panel comprising Barnard alumnae who have recently graduated from SIPA or who are completing their master's degree this year will speak about their experiences and answer questions. If you think you may be interested in applying to one of these programs in the future, do try to attend:

What: Barnard Alumnae Panel on Barnard-SIPA dual degree programs
When: Tuesday, November 15, 6:00-7:00 p.m.
Where: 805 Altschul

Then, the following evening, SIPA will hold an information session for students interested in the dual-degree programs:

What: SIPA Information Session on dual degree programs
When: Wednesday, November 16, 12:00-2:00 p.m.
Where: IAB, Room 1512

Advising: 3-2 combined plan with SEAS

2011-11-14T16:57:00.001-05:00

Students interested in the 3-2 Combined Plan with the Engineering School are invited to an information session on Tuesday, November 15, from 6:00 to 7:00 p.m., in Barnard Hall, James Room.

If you are interested in the Plan but unable to attend the information session, please send a message to that effect to Dean Bournoutian.

FAQ: the Nine Ways of Knowing for the Class of 2015

2011-11-14T15:44:00.001-05:00

Last year, the Nine Ways of Knowing were reviewed and clarified by Barnard's Committee on Instruction, and two of the categories were changed accordingly. Therefore, this year's first-year class will be working toward a slightly different set of Nine Ways of Knowing than their older classmates.

Specifically, the Class of 2015 will need to fulfill a category titled "Ethics and Values" (as opposed to the earlier category of "Reason and Value"), and will need to fulfill a newer version of "Social Analysis". So when you look at the list of current classes that fulfill General Education Requirements, be sure to look at "Ethics and Values" (not "Reason and Value") and to look at "Social Analysis 2" (not "Social Analysis").

Just to make things more confusing, the checklist that was previously provided to help you keep track of your requirements was not updated to reflect this information (apologies!). So please visit the earlier post again and print or download the new checklist to ensure that you remember that you should plan to fulfill "Ethics and Values" and "Social Analysis 2":

http://barnardfirstyear.blogspot.com/2011/10/advance-program-filing-first-steps-in.html

Advising: "Meet the Majors" event this week

2011-11-14T10:03:00.001-05:00

The Sophomore Class Council will host a special event this week titled "Meet the
Majors." Designed to help provide information about a variety of prospective majors, the event will take the form of a reception so that first-year and sophomore students can mingle with upperclass students who have declared their majors. Students will be able to ask
questions and seek advice from about the experience of pursuing a major in a particular field.

What: Meet the Majors program
Where: Sulzberger North and South Towers
When: Thursday, November 17, 6:30-8:00 p.m.

Advance Program Filing: Important Information and Overview

2011-11-09T18:50:00.002-05:00

Some important information and reminders about advance program planning for Spring 2012:

For a quick refresher about program filing, read over the instructions on the Registrar's website.

Starting today, you are able to add Spring 2012 courses to your advance program if they are open-enrollment courses (i.e., if they do not have a maximum capacity noted in the online Directory of Courses).

As you add courses, pay attention to your “Comments and Reminders” box to see if there are extra steps to take in order to reserve your place in a particular course.

During the week of November 14, L-course sign-up will become available to you based on your class year: first-years will have appointment times to sign up for L-courses beginning on Thursday, November 17. Note: you can find information on L-course sign-up procedures here, and you can already see your L-course sign-up appointment times on your Spring 2012 eBear page.

Remember to have a few back-up classes in mind in case spaces are hard to reserve in some of your first choices. You must have a minimum of 12 points of credit on your advance program for Spring 2012.

The deadline to have a planned program on eBear, and to have your adviser's approval entered online, is MONDAY, NOVEMBER 21, AT 6:00 P.M. You are expected to meet with your adviser at least once before the filing deadline to discuss your plan for the spring semester. Make sure that you are aware of your adviser's schedule so that you meet in plenty of time to receive approval before the deadline.

Advance Program Planning: lottery for PSYC lab and stats courses

2011-11-09T18:50:00.001-05:00

If you hope to take a Psychology laboratory course or a Psychology statistics course next semester, you will need to enter the department's lottery. The lottery is currently open, as of November 6, and it will close on Sunday, November 13, at 11:00 p.m. You can enter the lottery through the "Psych Lab/Stat" link under the Registrar's tab on eBear. There, you will find detailed instructions, which you should read carefully.

The results of the lottery will be posted on Tuesday, November 15, by 12:00 noon. You can find out the results by visiting the "Psych Lab/Stat" link again and searching for your name in the posted rosters. You should add the course to your eBear program only if the lottery has placed you into the course (not if you are on a waitlist).

Important Information: Detailed Final Exam Schedule

2011-11-07T09:59:00.000-05:00

Barnard and Columbia have now posted a more detailed version of the schedule of final exams. The schedule should be the same as the projected schedule that has been available since June (and that was linked in an earlier post on this blog in September), but please check the detailed schedule to see not only the date and time of your exam, but also the location:

For exams in Barnard-taught courses:

http://barnard.edu/events/final-examinations-fall-2011

For exams in Columbia-taught courses:

https://ssol.columbia.edu/?tran[1]_tran_name=scel

Opportunity: Intern with a New York City artist

2011-11-02T11:51:00.002-04:00

Are you a Barnard student interested in exploring the visual arts as a career? Then apply to The Mentorship Project, an initiative which matches practicing New York City artists with Barnard students for individual internships during spring 2012.

The project is organized by Barnard senior Julia Caston, in collaboration with artist Heather Hart and the Barnard Centennial Scholars program.

All class years and majors are encouraged to apply.

Application: http://mentorshipproject.blogspot.com
Deadline: November 15th, 2011

An info session willbe held on November 2nd (TODAY), at 7:00 p.m, in Diana classroom LL104

Opportunity: Barnard Reach Out fall program

2011-11-01T14:50:00.003-04:00

The New York City Civic Engagement Program would like to invite current Barnard students to participate in community service projects during the weekend of November 12th and 13th as part of the Barnard Reach Out: Fall Weekend of Service program! B.R.O. consists of a day-long service project with community organizations in the New York City area.

Available projects include sorting books in preparation for the New York Book Fair, delivering meals to homebound elderly with Citymeals-on-Wheels, working in food pantries and soup kitchens, and volunteering with a youth theater organization! You can view the full list of BRO projects HERE.

Please sign up for a project via the following link before Tuesday, November 8th, at 11:59pm: http://tinyurl.com/brofall2011. Projects are assigned on a first-come, first-served basis.

Please feel free to contact Valerie Chow, Program Director, Internship Program/Civic Engagement, at 212-854-2033 or vchow@barnard.edu with any questions.

Advance program filing: FYS and FYE lotteries now available

2011-10-31T10:41:00.001-04:00

Remember that the lotteries for First-Year English and for First-Year Seminar are now available and will be open until this Sunday, November 6, at 11:00 p.m. You can enter your submission any time between now and then; the timing of your submission will have no bearing on your chances in the lotteries.

For instructions, see the previous postings on the First-Year English lottery and on the First-Year Seminar lottery.

The online Directory of Courses, the Barnard online Course Catalogue, and the Columbia online Bulletin should now be updated with all courses being offered next semester, so be sure to consider any other classes that you will need to take in the spring to be sure that you submit only sections of First-Year English or First-Year Seminar that will not conflict with those other necessary courses.

Family Weekend: the first-year experience

2011-10-28T09:37:00.002-04:00

Family Weekend is here, and whether or not your family or friends are able to visit this weekend, you should feel free to check out the programs being offered. You can see an overview of the schedule of programs here

In particular, I want to encourage you to attend the Dean’s Discussion panel titled “Thriving as a First-Year Student” on Saturday, October 29, from 11:45 a.m to 12:45 p.m. in the Diana Event Oval. A group of upperclass students will join us to share their experiences of their first year at Barnard and to offer their thoughts about how to handle the excitement and confusion of the first semesters of college. You may find it helpful and reassuring to hear the observations and advice from students who've been where you have, not too long ago, so drop by on Saturday!

Advising: workshop for first-year students

2011-10-24T09:41:00.002-04:00

This is a reminder that the fifth lunchtime workshop for first-year students will be held TOMORROW, Tuesday, October 25, from 12:00 to 1:00 p.m. This workshop will be on Writing Papers, and we'll discuss the challenges that you experience when working on papers for your classes. The Director of the Writing Program will join us to talk about some of the sources of writing anxiety and about strategies for approaching the writing process.

The workshop will be held in 409 Barnard Hall. Feel free to bring your lunch.

Advance Program Filing: Spring 2012 FY SEMINAR Offerings

2011-10-24T09:41:00.001-04:00

The list of First-Year Seminars offered in Spring 2012 is now available. You can view a list of the Spring 2012 courses and relevant course descriptions here. (You may need to be signed into your gBear account to access the link. Note: the list was updated 10/25/11.)

The First-Year Seminar lottery will be available from Monday, October 31 at 9:00 a.m. through Sunday, November 6 at 11:00 p.m. You may enter the lottery by logging into your eBear account, going to the "Registrar" tab and clicking on the "New Student" link, then going into the "First-Year Seminar lottery" area. (The First-Year English lottery is in the same area of eBear, so please be sure that you are entering the correct lottery.)

You will be asked to submit your top four course choices, in order of preference. Please note that the lottery is not time-sensitive -- i.e., there is no priority given for earlier submissions over later submissions -- and that you have the chance of being placed into any of the four courses that you list as preferences.

Your First-Year Seminar placement will be posted no later than Wednesday, November 9 at 12:00 noon and will be entered directly onto your Spring 2012 program by the Registrar's office. Be sure that the seminar appears on your advance program before your adviser submits her/his approval online.

Advance Program Filing: Spring 2012 FY ENGLISH Offerings

2011-10-24T09:41:00.000-04:00

The list of First-Year English sections offered in Spring 2012 is now available. You may view the course listings by topic and time here (you may need to be logged into gBear to access the link), and you can view the general course descriptions and typical reading lists for each First-Year English topic at the Reinventing Literary History website.

The First-Year English lottery will be available from Monday, October 31 at 9:00 a.m. through Sunday, November 6 at 11:00 p.m. You may enter the lottery by logging into your eBear account, going to the "Registrar" tab and clicking on the "New Student" link, then going into the "First-Year English lottery" area. (The First-Year Seminar lottery is in the same area of eBear, so please be sure that you are entering the correct lottery.)

You will be asked to submit your top four course choices, in order of preference. Please note that the lottery is not time-sensitive -- i.e., there is no priority given for earlier submissions over later submissions -- and that you have the chance of being placed into any of the four sections that you list among your preferences.

Your First-Year English placement will be posted by Wednesday, November 9 at 12:00 noon and will be entered directly onto your Spring 2012 program by the Registrar's office. Be sure that the English class appears on your advance program before your adviser submits her/his approval online.

Advance Program Filing: First Steps in Planning Your Spring Semester

2011-10-18T17:17:00.000-04:00

Following the program planning meetings held for all first-year students on Oct. 18 and Oct. 20, here are some materials for reference as you begin to plan your spring semester.

Also, check out the schedule of departmental program planning meetings in the post below.

Watch the FY Blog for reminders of upcoming dates and deadlines and for reminders of procedures!

Program Planning: departmental program planning meetings

2011-10-18T17:16:00.002-04:00

Check back for updates for those departments or programs that are noted as "TBA."

Africana Studies: See Consortium for Critical Interdisciplinary Studies (CCIS) below.

American Studies: See Consortium for Critical Interdisciplinary Studies (CCIS) below.

Anthropology: Monday, November 14, 12:00-1:00 PM, 411 Milbank

Architecture: Thursday, November 3, 12:00-1:00 PM, 203 Diana Center

Art History/Visual Arts: Monday, October 31, 12:00 noon, Diana Center, 6th floor Atrium

Asian and Middle Eastern Cultures: The Department does not hold a Program Planning Meeting, due to the variations across tracks in the major. If you are interested in the major, please meet with the following persons, by world area:
For Japan and Pre-Modern Korea: consult Prof. D. Max Moerman, dmoerman@barnard.edu.
For China (Social Sciences) and Modern Korea: consult Prof. Guobin Yang, gyang@barnard.edu
For China & Tibetan (Humanities): consult Prof. Annabella Pitkin, aptitkin@barnard.edu
For Middle East: consult Prof. Hossein Kamaly, hkamaly@barnard.edu.
For South Asia: consult Prof. Rachel McDermott, rmcdermo@barnard.edu.

Biological Sciences: Thursday, November 10, 12:00-1:00 PM, 504 Diana

Chemistry: Friday, October 21, 12:00-2:00 PM, James Room

Classics: Tuesday, November 1, 12:00-2:00 PM, 303 Altschul Hall

Comparative Literature: Tuesday, November 15, 6:00-7:00 PM, 306 Milbank

Computer Science: Monday, October 18, 11:00 AM, 750 Shapiro (dept. phone: 212 939-7000)

Consortium for Critical Interdisciplinary Studies (CCIS): Africana Studies, American Studies, and Women's, Gender & Sexuality Studies will hold a joint program-planning meeting for CCIS: Monday, November 14, 4:00-6:00 PM, 7Sulzberger Parlor (3rd Floor Barnard Hall)

Dance: Friday, October 21, 11:30 AM - 2:00 PM, 308/309 Barnard Hall

Economics: Wednesday, November 2, 12:00-1:00 PM, Sulzberger Parlor (3rd Floor, Barnard Hall)

Education: Tuesday, November 15, 6:10-7:00 PM, 202 Milbank [Note room change.]

English: Wednesday, November 2, 4:30-5:15 PM, Sulzberger Parlor (3rd Floor, Barnard Hall)

Environmental Science/Policy/Biology: Tuesday, October 25, 12:00 noon, 403 Altschul

Film Studies: Thursday, November 3, 12:00-1:00 PM, 404 Barnard Hall

French: Thursday, November 17, 5:00 PM, 318 Milbank

German: Wednesday, November 16, 9:00-10:00 AM, 320B Milbank

History/European Studies: Monday, October 24, 4:10-5:10 PM, 203 Diana

Human Rights: Wednesday, November 2, 12:00-1:00 PM, 407 Barnard

Italian: Tuesday, October 25, 12:45-1:45 PM; 320D Milbank

Jewish Studies: Contact Professor Castelli, ecastelli@barnard.edu, for an appointment.

Mathematics: Wednesday, November 16, 6:30 PM, 508 Mathematics

Medieval & Renaissance Studies: Thursday, November 3, 12:00 noon, 311 Milbank

Music: Wednesday, October 26, 11:00 AM, 319 Milbank

Neuroscience and Behavior: Wednesday, October 26, 12:10 PM, 410 Milbank

Philosophy: Monday, November 14, 12:00-1:00 PM, 326 Milbank

Physics & Astronomy: Tuesday, November 1, 12:15-1:15 PM, 514 Altschul

Political Science: Tuesday, October 25, 12:00-1:30 PM, Sulzberger Parlor

Psychology: Monday, October 24, 12:00 noon, 328 Milbank

Religion: Tuesday, November 1, 12:00-1:00 PM, 404 Barnard Hall

Sociology: Monday, October 24, 12:00 NOON, 332 Milbank Hall

Slavic: Friday, November 11, 12:00-1:30 PM, 226 Milbank

Spanish & Latin American Cultures: Wednesday, November 9, 11:30-1:00 PM (Open Office Hours), Milbank 204-213

Statistics: Contact Professor Rabinowitz, 212-854-2141, dan@stat.columbia.edu

Theatre: Wednesday, November 9, 6:00 PM, 229 Milbank

Urban Studies: Wednesday, November 9, 6:00 PM, Diana Center LL 104

Women's, Gender & Sexuality Studies: See Consortium for Critical Interdisciplinary Studies (CCIS) above.

Advising: THIS WEEK - required program planning meetings for all first-years

2011-10-17T14:07:00.000-04:00

Remember that you should plan to attend one of the "program planning meetings" for all first-year students that will be held this week. At the meetings, you'll learn important information about the timeline for the remainder of the semester, including the process and procedures for advance program planning for the spring semester (e.g., upcoming deadlines, lottery sign-ups, course enrollment, departmental program meetings). You'll also learn more about procedures and policies that may be relevant to this semester (e.g., the pass/d/fail policy, the course withdrawal procedure, policies and procedures regarding final exams).

These program planning meetings will be on Tuesday, October 18, 5:30-6:30 p.m., and Thursday, October 20, 12:00-1:00 p.m., each one in Held Auditorium (304 Barnard Hall). All first-years are required to attend one of these sessions.

Advising: workshops for first-year students

2011-10-17T14:05:00.001-04:00

This is a reminder that the fourth lunchtime workshop for first-year students will be held TOMORROW, Tuesday, October 18, from 12:00 to 1:00 p.m. This workshop will be on Speaking in Class: how to prepare for class participation and how to become more comfortable speaking in class.

The workshop will be held in 409 Barnard Hall. Feel free to bring your lunch.

If you are unable to attend the workshop and would like to participate in a make-up session on Friday afternoon, please email first-year@barnard.edu.

Advising: Computer Science planning meeting -- TOMORROW

2011-10-17T13:59:00.003-04:00

At the program planning meetings for all first-years this week, I will be discussing the upcoming planning meetings held by different academic departments and programs.

But if you are interested in Computer Science, here is a heads up that the department's program planning meeting will be TOMORROW, October 17, at 11:00 a.m. in 750 Shapiro (Interschool Lab in CEPSR).

Opportunity: Davis Projects for Peace

2011-10-13T14:41:00.003-04:00

Davis Projects for Peace is offering grants of $10,000 for summer projects, to be undertaken anywhere in the world (including the U.S.), which promote peace and address the root causes of conflict among parties. Such "building blocks for a sustainable peace" might focus on one, among others, of the following concerns:

conflict prevention;
promoting economic opportunity/entrepreneurship in post-conflict areas;
finding creative ways (e.g., through art, sports, music, etc.) to bring people on opposite sides of issues together;
developing leadership and mediation skills training for those in conflict or post-conflict societies; or
starting or leveraging initiatives, organizations or infrastructure projects (in education or health, for example) to build or rebuild communities.

The grant competition is open to Barnard students of all years, including seniors graduating in 2012, who are either U.S. or non-U.S. citizens.

Barnard, as a participating college, may nominate one candidate for consideration. In order to qualify, you must submit a two-page proposal of your project; a one-page budget of how you intend to spend the $10,000 grant; and a copy of your resume to Dean Ani Bournoutian, 105 Milbank, by Thursday, December 1.

When writing your proposal, please keep the following in mind:

your proposal should be as detailed and specific as possible;
your project should be in scale with both the time in which you have to execute it (one summer) and with the amount of the grant ($10,000);
you should be able to demonstrate why you are well-qualified to carry out your project -- e.g.,, you have a familiarity with the area and its language; you possess the particular set of skills needed to execute the project.

Please refer to the Davis Project for Peace website at for more information.

Opportunity: "Mentor-It-Forward" event

2011-10-12T10:46:00.001-04:00

From the Athena Center for Leadership Studies:

Do you want a chance to meet professional women and talk to them about their jobs and career paths? We have a great opportunity for you!

A special Mentor-It-Forward event will be held for Barnard students with women leaders from HSBC on Monday, October 24th from 4:00 p.m. to 5:00 p.m. in the James Room, 4th Floor Barnard Hall. This is a "speed mentoring" event. During the hour, you will be able to meet with four or five women, hear about their careers, their current jobs and ask any questions you may have about their particular job and the banking industry more generally.

The HSBC executives will be at Barnard for an all-day Athena Leadership program on October 24th. They will hear a keynote by President Spar, participate in Leadership Lab workshops, and attend this Mentor-It-Forward event. The HSBC women leaders will be from diverse departments -- finance, marketing, human resources, and public relations -- and all selected as emerging leaders at the company. After a full day on campus, they will be eager to spend an hour meeting and talking with you.

Space is strictly limited, so sign up today through the registration website. Students who sign up for the event will receive more information, along with details about how to prepare. If you have questions, contact Dorothy Weaver of the Athena Center.

DEADLINE: deadline to drop a course from Fall 2011 program

2011-10-10T16:17:00.000-04:00

The deadline to drop a course from your Fall 2011 program is TOMORROW, Tuesday, October 11, at 4:30 p.m. Remember that you will need to complete the drop form and have it signed by your adviser (and, if necessary, your class dean) before submitting it to the Registrar's office, so plan ahead.

For more details, review the earlier post about dropping a course.

Remember that there will be a later deadline for declaring the "pass/d/fail option" for a course or for withdrawing from a course (different from dropping because the course stays on your transcript), and the FY Class Dean will go over those policies and procedures at the program planning meetings on Oct. 18 and Oct. 20.

Opportunity: Design for America (event TONIGHT)

2011-10-10T12:52:00.000-04:00

From the organizers of Design for America:

Barnard/Columbia has been selected as one of six campuses nation-wide to participate in Design for America (DFA), a national network of passionate young thinkers and activists revolutionizing the way college students engage with and improve the world around them.

This semester, our campus is launching a DFA student-run "solutions studio" that utilizes the design process as a platform to promote innovative, tangible local impact. Using student ideas as a catalyst for positive change, DFA works as an activist think tank aimed at improving the Barnard/Columbia and Harlem/Morningside Heights communities through collaborative, creative problem solving.

We are seeking an interdisciplinary team of motivated students from all backgrounds who want to work alongside faculty members, community nonprofits, and NYC professionals to solve pressing issues in our area concerning health, education, and the environment. We'll be working with real people in our community, prototyping and implementing our ideas. This is beyond the classroom: we are harnessing the next generation of America innovators, using our energy and resources as college students to design sustainable projects with national implementations.

To get involved, please attend the launch event on October 10 (TONIGHT), Diana Center, 7:30-8:30 p.m. Home-"designed" cookies will be served. Visit the blog for more details.

Advising: mark your calendars!

2011-10-07T13:52:00.000-04:00

Although you're just now getting through your first big assignments and midterms, it will be no time at all before you'll need to think about your plan for next semester. Although you still have a few weeks before you need to give it too much thought, you'll want to have an overview of what will be happening and when.

The First-Year Class Dean will be holding two general "program planning meetings" for all first-year students. At the meetings, you'll learn important information about the timeline for the remainder of the semester, including the process and procedures for advance program planning for the spring semester (e.g., upcoming deadlines, lottery sign-ups, course enrollment, departmental program meetings). You'll also learn more about procedures and policies that may be relevant to this semester (e.g., the pass/d/fail policy, the course withdrawal procedure, policies and procedures regarding final exams).

These program planning meetings will be on Tuesday, October 18, 5:30-6:30 p.m., and Thursday, October 20, 12:00-1:00 p.m., in Held Auditorium (304 Barnard Hall). All first-years are required to attend one of these sessions.

Opportunity: Barnard's Community Service Fair

2011-10-04T06:47:00.000-04:00

The Office of Community Development and the New York City Civic Engagement Program (NYCCEP) would like to invite you to attend the Barnard College Community Service Fair this Thursday, October 6, from 11:30 a.m. - 2:00 p.m. in the Diana Center Event Oval.

The Community Service Fair aims to connect Barnard College students, staff, and faculty with local community organizations in need of volunteers for their programs. The event is open to all students of Barnard College and Columbia University as well as all faculty and administrators.

Organizations such as Cathedral Community Cares, Citymeals-on-Wheels, Housing Works, Metropolitan Council on Jewish Poverty, the National September 11 Memorial & Museum, New York Cares, and Special Olympics New York will be in attendance. You can view the full list of community organization attendees here on the NYCCEP website.

We are also pleased to announce Barnard College is now a Certifying Organization for the President's Volunteer Service Award. We will certify volunteer hours for all Barnard students, alumnae, faculty, and staff for purposes of the award. To learn more about how to apply for the award, please visit the NYCCEP website.

You should feel free to contact Valerie Chow at vchow@barnard.edu or 212-854-2033 with any questions regarding the Community Service Fair. Thank you for your interest in serving the New York City community! We look forward to seeing you at the fair on Thursday.

Advising: workshops for first-year students

2011-10-03T14:39:00.000-04:00

This is a reminder that the third lunchtime workshop for first-year students will be held TOMORROW, Tuesday, October 4, from 12:00 to 1:00 p.m. This workshop will be on preparing for exams, and it will be led by Professor Son from the Psychology Department, whose own research focuses on ways of learning effectively.

The workshop will be held in 409 Barnard Hall. Feel free to bring your lunch.

If you are unable to attend the workshop and would like to participate in a make-up session on Friday afternoon, please email first-year@barnard.edu.

DEADLINE: for dropping a course

2011-10-03T14:37:00.000-04:00

The deadline to drop a course from your Fall 2011 program is next Tuesday, October 11 at 4:30 p.m.

To drop a course from your current program, you must pick up a drop form from the Registrar's office (107 Milbank), complete it, have your adviser sign it, then submit it back to the Registrar's office. The course will then be removed completely from your Fall 2011 program.

Note: If you are considering the idea of dropping a course, talk to your adviser and/or your class dean before making the decision, to ensure that you've considered all of your options. Also, remember that you must be working toward the completion of at least 12 points of credit this semester; if dropping a course would leave you with less than 12 credits and yet seems like your only option, you must see the First-Year Class Dean for special permission.

Opportunity: get involved with the Public Good

2011-09-30T14:58:00.000-04:00

Please join us at "For the Public Good" on October 13, 5:30-7:00 p.m., in the Diana Oval.

For the Public Good is a multi-year, interdisciplinary project to examine the “public good,” focusing on issues ranging from the environment and education to information technology, media and public policy, the state of which cannot be left to the whims of the market or to one particular sector of society.

This project hopes to stimulate conversation on campus and across the city about how individuals and society define and defend the notion of “the public good” when the recent global crisis (and decades of neoliberal economic dominance) has led to an economic regime that relies on free-trade policy and emphasizes, often with catastrophic results, the privatization of assets and services that were previously public.

For The Public Good asks: what alternative, non-market driven explanations for social structures can be brought to the public consciousness? What are the histories of privatization and the notion of the “commons”? How can and do people mobilize around perceived social goods? Our goal is to examine the public good from a range of disciplinary perspectives in order to generate thoughtful and critical conversations that can counterbalance contemporary neoliberal discourses and that can suggest policies and directions that might better serve the public good.

Barnard students are invited to not only attend our public events, but to begin your own dialogues with faculty and each other, asking how “the public good” figures in your studies, your activist projects and your future.

Opportunity: be a VISA

2011-09-28T09:46:00.000-04:00

From the Office of International Programs:

Do you love languages and cultures? Do you like to travel, or have an interest in studying abroad? Do you want to make some international friends while showing them around Barnard and New York City?
If you answered yes to any of these questions, then the Office of International Programs invites you to submit your VISA application! The Visiting International Student Ambassador (VISA) Program will give Barnard students the chance to welcome international students visiting Barnard through VISP (Visiting International Student Program), now in its fourth year. This spring Barnard will host approximately 80 visiting students hailing from Denmark, Italy, China, South Korea, Ghana, Australia, South Africa, Spain, and Russia. These students will live in the residence halls, take full academic course loads, and, with your help, participate fully in life at the College.

Ambassadors will meet 1-2 times during the Fall 2011 semester and also communicate with VISP students before their arrival. During the Spring 2012 semester, Ambassadors will help organize events on and off campus for VISP students, approximately 2-3 events each month.

If you are interested in this opportunity, please visit our website to read more and to access the application, and email us with any questions. The application is due October 16.

Advising: guide for preparing your college essays

2011-09-27T11:18:00.001-04:00

If you haven't already had to submit a paper for one of your classes, you surely have one due soon. As you work on your first college essays, take a moment to review the English Department's online advice about academic writing, which can apply to to any of your classes: A User's Guide to Resources for Writing at Barnard College.

Advising: workshops for first-year students

2011-09-26T13:29:00.002-04:00

This is a reminder that the second lunchtime workshop for first-year students will be held TOMORROW, Tuesday, September 27, from 12:00 to 1:00 p.m. This workshop will be on strategies for notetaking (in and out of class) and reading for comprehension. Feel free to bring your lunch.

Please note that the room for the workshops has been changed to 409 Barnard Hall.

If you were unable to attend the workshop and would like to participate in a make-up session on Friday afternoon, please email first-year@barnard.edu.

Important Information: Family Weekend (Oct. 28-29)

2011-09-23T09:32:00.000-04:00

The schedule for Family Weekend is now available online. If your family members and friends are interested in visiting campus that weekend, please encourage them to look over the schedule and to register for the weekend, as well as any individual programs that might require reservations.

Opportunity: Critical Language Scholarships for Summer 2012

2011-09-21T16:18:00.000-04:00

The United States Department of State is pleased to announce the scholarship competition for the 2012 Critical Language Scholarship (CLS) Program for overseas intensive summer language institutes in thirteen critical-need foreign languages.

CLS institutes provide fully-funded group-based intensive language instruction and structured cultural enrichment experiences for seven to ten weeks for U.S.-citizen undergraduate and graduate students. Students may apply for one language, and will be placed at institute sites based on language evaluations after selection. Languages offered: Arabic, Azerbaijani, Bangla/Bengali, Chinese, Hindi, Indonesian, Japanese, Korean, Persian, Punjabi, Russian, Turkish, and Urdu.

Interested applicants should review the full eligibility and application information on the CLS Program website. Note: Arabic, Chinese, Persian, Russian, and Japanese institutes have language prerequisites (click link to learn more).

Students from all academic disciplines, including business, engineering, law, medicine, sciences, and humanities are encouraged to apply. While there is no service requirement attached to CLS Program awards, participants are expected to continue their language study beyond the scholarship period, and later apply their critical language skills in their future professional careers.

For more information about the CLS Program and to access the on-line application, please visit the CLS website. The CLS Program has planned outreach events at universities across the U.S. in Fall 2011. Check out the CLS webpage or our Facebook page to see the upcoming list of campus visits.

Academic Assistance: the Writing Center

2011-09-19T18:59:00.000-04:00

The Barnard Writing Fellows Program (founded in 1991) is designed to help students strengthen their writing in all disciplines. We believe that writing is a process; it happens in stages, in different drafts. It may be ended (on the day a paper is due), but it is never really finished. Writing is revision--re-seeing--and all writers, no matter how accomplished, can benefit from discussing their work with an intelligent reader and then revising it.

Often the most fruitful dialogues about your writing occur with your peers, and the Writing Fellows are just that. They are not tutors or TAs; they are educated readers. It is not their role to comment on the accuracy of the content of your papers, nor to grade your work. They are not enrolled in your course. You will probably know more about the course’s specific material than they do, and your papers must therefore be written clearly enough so that the non-expert can understand them.

The Writing Fellows are specially selected Barnard undergraduates who participate in a semester-long workshop in the teaching of writing and, having finished their training, staff the Barnard Writing Center and work in courses across the disciplines

The Barnard Writing Center will open on Tuesday, September 20, and will be open during specific hours, Sunday through Thursday, throughout the academic year. Sign-ups are online at www.barnard.edu/writing (see right side of page).

Academic Assistance: peer tutoring program through Dean of Studies Office

2011-09-19T10:34:00.001-04:00

The Fall 2011 Academic Assistance Program, a peer tutoring program, provides academic assistance to Barnard students who would like to receive assistance in specific economics, foreign language, math and science courses. Barnard students interested in working with a peer tutor throughout the fall semester may now apply to the Academic Assistance Program sponsored by the Dean of Studies Office's application.

Tutoring is offered in these specific Barnard-taught courses: BIOL BC1500 Introduction to Organismal & Evolutionary Biology; MATH V1101 Calculus I; MATH V1102 Calculus II; ECON BC1003 Introduction to Economic Reasoning; ECON BC1007 Mathematical Methods for Economics; ECON BC3033 Intermediate Macroeconomic Theory; ECON BC3035 Intermediate Microeconomic Theory; and all elementary and intermediate foreign language courses.

Note: If you would like tutorial assistance in CHEM BC2001 General Chemistry I; CHEM BC3231 Organic Chemistry II; or PHYS BC2001 Physics I: Mechanics, please attend the free tutoring Workshop Rooms available for these courses. The professors for each of these courses will provide students with the schedule for the workshop room corresponding to each particular course.

If you apply to receive tutoring, every effort will be made to secure a tutor to assign a tutor to you within approximately one week, depending on tutor availability. You will likely be assigned to meet with a small group of two to three other students, and the tutor will work with you to arrange a mutually convenient time to meet. You will receive one two-hour tutorial session per week. The fee for the tutorial services is determined on a sliding scale according to financial need: students with a high level of financial aid pay no fee; students with a moderate level of financial aid pay $7.50/hour; and students with little or no financial aid pay $15.00/hour.

Before requesting a tutor, you should attend your professor's office hours, the Teaching Assistant's office hours, and/or the help/workshop sessions that are available for the course to see if these alternatives provide you with sufficient assistance.

To learn more about the peer tutoring program, click here to access the information packet and application (Please print all application materials on single-sided pages.) Review the information carefully and then, if you have further questions, please visit Dean Starks, the Dean for Academic Assistance, by visiting her walk-in hours, by calling the deans office, or by emailing her.

Advising: Lunchtime Workshops for First-Year Students

2011-09-16T10:48:00.001-04:00

When you're a new college student, adjusting to your schedule and your workload can be tough. So over the next several weeks, we'll be offering a series of lunchtime workshops designed to help first-year students at Barnard understand their new academic environment a bit better.

Spend your lunch period with Barnard faculty, deans and directors, who will talk with you about approaches to organizing your days and weeks, managing your stress levels, handling large amounts of reading, preparing for exams, adjusting your study habits, and writing essays. This lunchtime workshop series is sponsored by the Office of the Dean of Studies, the HEOP Scholars Program, and the Writing Center.

All workshops will be held on Tuesdays, 12:00-1:00 p.m., in ~~217~~ 409 Barnard Hall (note the change of room from the original posting). Please bring your own lunch.

Sept. 20: Managing Your Time and Your Stress
Sept. 27: Approaches to Reading and to Notetaking
Oct. 4: Studying and Preparing for Exams
Oct. 18: Classroom Culture and Effective Participation
Oct. 25: Strategies for the Anxious Essay Writer

If you are interested in the workshops but unable to attend on Tuesdays at 12:00, please contact the FY Class Dean; a make-up session could be offered on Friday afternoons if several students can attend.

Fall Program: DEADLINE to finalize your Fall 2011 program

2011-09-15T09:24:00.001-04:00

The deadline to finalize your Fall 2011 academic program is TOMORROW, Friday, September 16. That means...

The "List of Courses" under your Fall 2011 tab in eBear should reflect all courses that you are taking for credit this semester, including any P.E., Dance technique, Varsity sport, or performance course for which you will earn credit this semester. If you are unable to add a course that you know that you are in, or if you are unable to drop a course from your program that you will not be taking, please visit or contact the Registrar's office (107 Milbank, registrar@barnard.edu).
If you are enrolling in courses that require enrollment in discussion sections or labs that have separate course numbers and call numbers, those additional parts of your program should also appear in your "List of Courses," even though they will not carry additional credits.
Friday, September 16, is the last day on which 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 for permission to do so (you can obtain a petition and learn procedures at the Registrar's office), and a late add fee may be charged.
Friday, September 16, is also the deadline for your adviser to submit approval online for your fall program. So be sure that you have taken steps ahead of time to schedule a meeting with your adviser before the deadline.

Please remember that, if your program is not finalized and approved by your adviser by the end of the day on Friday, you will be charged a late fee, which will become progressively higher for each day past the deadline.

Academic Assistance: special workshops for Calculus I

2011-09-14T09:25:00.000-04:00

Professor Dusa McDuff, of the Barnard Mathematics faculty, will be offering special weekly workshops for any and all Barnard students who are enrolled in Calculus I. At the workshops, she will provide supplemental materials/worksheets to help students understand the material they are learning in the classroom, and students will also have the opportunity to ask questions about their coursework.

These workshops will not be graded or earn credit; they are meant simply to provide supplemental support for Barnard students. Professor McDuff wants very much for these workshops to be helpful to students, so you are encouraged to attend and to talk with her about the kind of support that you may want or need in order to succeed in Calculus I.

What: Calculus I weekly workshop
Who: For all Barnard students currently enrolled in a Calculus I section
When: Tuesday evenings, 6:10-7:25 p.m. (starting on September 20th)
Where: 409 Barnard Hall

If you have questions about these workshops, please email Professor McDuff.

FAQ: schedule of final exams

2011-09-13T09:50:00.003-04:00

In order to plan ahead for the end of the semester, you can view a preliminary schedule of final exams. While this schedule is not as detailed as the one that will be posted later in the semester, it is generally an accurate preview of the final exam schedules at Barnard and Columbia.

Remember that this information can be used for preliminary planning purposes. Schedule changes do occasionally occur (albeit rarely) because of particular needs of a program or professor, so when the detailed schedule is posted in November, you should review it carefully to ensure that you know the exact days and times of your final exams.

Note: You should not make travel reservations until you are certain of your exam schedule. Having an earlier flight is not considered a valid reason for missing a final exam. If in doubt, schedule your flight for the end of the final exam period.

Important Information: be careful with your email accounts

2011-09-12T13:31:00.000-04:00

To reiterate an important point that was posted earlier in the summer:

Be wary of phishing emails that ask you to send personal information over email. Remember that neither Barnard nor Columbia (nor, for that matter, any reputable business or organization) will ever ask you to provide your login, password or Social Security Number in an email. DO NOT REPLY to any mail that does ask for such personal information.

If you have questions about any email that you receive which asks for such information, please email Student Computing.

FAQ: joining a P.E. class after the lottery placements

2011-09-10T15:19:00.000-04:00

If the P.E. lottery did not result in a placement for you, or if you did not enter the lottery but now wish to join a P.E. class, you can do two things to try to secure a place in a course:

Visit the P.E. Department (200 Barnard Annex) to see what classes still have space available after the lottery placements and/or
Visit individual P.E. classes (meeting times and places are posted in the online Directory of Courses) to see if space is, or may become, available.

Note: Any classes missed this week will count as absences, even if you join the class later in the week, and the number of allowable absences in a P.E. class is fixed and firm. So visit the department and/or classes as soon as possible to see where you can find a spot.

Advising: general information on studying abroad

2011-09-09T16:19:00.003-04:00

Even though you're still settling into your first semester of classes, many of you are already asking about how to think long-term about studying abroad. If you're eager to get some general information about studying abroad and about fitting it into your academic plans at Barnard, think about attending one of the general information sessions held by the Dean for Study Abroad, Dean Young, and her staff. Note: you must attend a general information session (whether sooner or later) before you can schedule an individual appointment with Dean Young.

Here is the schedule of general information sessions coming up during the next few weeks:

Tuesday, September 13: 12:00-1:00 PM, 328 Milbank
Thursday, September 22: 12:00-1:00 PM, 328 Milbank
Monday, September 26: 4:30-5:30 PM, 322 Milbank
Monday, October 3: 5:30-7:30 PM, 223 Milbank (for Pre-Health Students and Science Majors)
Tuesday, October 4: 12:00-1:00 PM, 328 Milbank
Monday, October 10: 12:00-1:00 PM, 328 Milbank
Tuesday, October 18: 4:30-5:30 PM, 328 Milbank

If you feel busy enough for the time being, don't feel pressured to attend one of these particular sessions: there will be general information sessions scheduled throughout the year.

And watch for the Study Abroad Fair at the end of October (Friday, October 28), where you'll be able to talk with representatives from study abroad programs all over the world!

Fall Program: lottery for Physical Education courses

2011-09-08T10:03:00.000-04:00

The P.E. lottery opened at 9:00 a.m. yesterday, Wednesday, September 7, and closes at 12:00 noon TOMORROW, Friday, September 9.

To review the instructions for enrolling in a P.E. course, see the instructions posted during Orientation.

Rosters of classes will be posted on eBear on Friday after 5:00 p.m.

Any questions about your placement by the lottery should be directed to the P.E. department (200 Barnard Annex). If you are not placed into a class by the lottery, or if you do not enter the lottery but wish to find a place in a P.E. class, you should (a) visit the P.E. department on Monday, September 12, to find out which classes still have space available and/or (b) visit the first meeting of a class to see if space is available.

Remember that you will need to add the P.E. class to your List of Courses before your adviser submits her/his final approval on your fall program. Note: When first added to your eBear program, the course will appear with zero credit, but after the program filing deadline has passed, the Registrar's office will review programs to adjust for P.E. and Dance technique credits, and the credit will be added to your program.

DEADLINE: Registration for Fall 2011

2011-09-06T16:35:00.000-04:00

The deadline for registering with the College is tomorrow, Wednesday, September 7. Remember that "registration" (confirming to the College that you are present and ready to begin the semester) is distinct from "program filing" (confirming your enrollment in specific courses for the semester).

If you have a hold from a particular department that is preventing you from completing the registration process, visit that department and, once the matter of the hold has been resolved, ask what steps you must take (if any) to have the hold lifted from your account so that you may complete your registration.

If you miss the registration deadline of September 7, you will incur late fees, which will increase with each day you are late. If you have questions about registration, please visit the Registrar's office (107 Milbank) or your class dean.

Program Filing: your adviser's approval

2011-09-06T09:39:00.003-04:00

When you add or drop classes from your Fall 2011 program, you will receive a reminder saying that the add and/or drop will not be completed until you receive your adviser's final approval. That reminder refers to the program filing process in its entirety -- i.e., you do not need your adviser's program immediately after you have completed the add or drop, but you will need it sometime between now and the end of the program filing period on September 16, when your program is ready to be finalized.

If you were able to successfully add a class to your List of Courses or drop a class to your List of Courses, then you should be enrolled in the class, with the caveat that some instructors will be managing their enrollments in the classroom and you should begin attending the course immediately to make sure that your instructor confirms your enrollment as well.

You will need your adviser's approval by the end of the program filing period, no later than Friday, September 16, at 6:00 p.m. By that time, your List of Courses should reflect everything that you will be taking this semester (courses, labs and discussion sections (if they have their own call numbers), PE courses, Dance technique courses, etc.). Then your adviser will approve it all at once. Once your adviser has put in approval online, keep an eye on your eBear program to make sure that checks appear next to every course and to make sure that the checks all turn green by the third week of classes.

Meet the Office: Dean of Studies

2011-09-05T18:29:00.000-04:00

As promised, here it the text of the full address of Dean Blank, Barnard's Dean of Studies, to the Class of 2015 at "Being a Student at Barnard" (which had been delivered in a truncated version at the program):

Our office exists to support you while we uphold the standards of the College so that each one of you will move forward on your never-ending journey toward becoming all that you’re capable of becoming.

I hope that you’ve already come to rely on Dean Hollibaugh’s first-year Blog. In addition, we’ll send e-mail messages to you, and we’ll hold meetings for you, but we’ll rely on you to take the initiative to come talk with us when you have questions about academics or degree requirements or procedures; when you’re confused; when you don’t know the actual questions to ask; when your coursework isn’t going so well; when you want to know about opportunities for study here or abroad or in graduate or professional schools, when you want to know about fellowships; when you want or need to take time off from school.

I’ve worked at colleges and universities for a long time, and I know (not just believe)—I know that some of you are affected by what I call the “I’m the only one syndrome,” which is common among entering students at prestigious highly selective colleges: “I’m the only one who doesn’t have a clue about a major (by the way, not having a clue about a major is a good thing; it shows that you’re open to possibilities); I’m the only one who has an alcoholic parent; I’m the only one who’s fearful about speaking in class; I’m the only one who’s so strapped for money that I don’t know how I’m going to buy a winter coat; I’m the only one who’s homesick; I’m the only one who thinks it would be good for me to talk with a counselor, but I’m afraid of being honest about my situation; etc." I always want to bring together the hundreds of students who believe that they’re The Only One.

I can only hope you’ll come to understand that we are here to support you as you move forward. I hope you’ll understand that sometimes moving forward means taking a few steps back. I hope you’ll understand that asking for our help is a sign of strength, not weakness, that asking for clarification when you don’t understand what’s going on is a sign of strength, not weakness.

I’m reminded of a highly-regarded faculty member, Les Lessinger, who died two years ago. He began the first class of General Chemistry every year by writing in very large letters on the top blackboard of 202 Altschul, “Always ask.”

What I’ve found over many years is that Barnard students tend to think of yourselves as pretty self-sufficient. You haven’t developed the habit of asking for help. I hope you’ll believe me when I say that Moving Forward cannot be done alone—not by any of us, not at any age.

(introductions of colleagues, made by Dean Hollibaugh:)

I want you to hear what we do so that you’ll have a sense of how we can be helpful to you:

You’ve already begun to become acquainted with Dean Hollibaugh. In the coming months, use her along with your adviser as a resource. Take advantage of her sessions on study skills and time management and of the myriad opportunities that you’ll have for conversations with her, in and out of the office. You’ve already seen that she’s welcoming and caring, but like all of us, she’ll also push you to stretch yourselves.

Dean Christina Kuan Tsu, Barnard alumna, is Sophomore Class Dean, and she’ll plan programs with academic departments (to which you all, as first-years, are invited) to help students make informed major selections. In addition, she’ll work with those of you who are interested in the possibility of law school; she’s been involved with her counterparts at Columbia, planning the University-wide Law School Fair, at which representatives from more than 70 law schools will be on campus in October.

Those of you who are interested in health careers will meet Dean Adjua Starks at an orientation meeting this Friday afternoon, between 3 and 4 p.m., in 304 Barnard Hall. In addition, Dean Starks is responsible for the peer tutoring program, which comprises workshop rooms for students in chemistry and physics courses and for tutoring in selected other courses. Do not—I repeat—do not be embarrassed by the thought of seeking tutoring. Asking for help is a sign of strength.

Dean Ani Bournoutian is also a Barnard alumna, and she’s responsible for services and advising for international students and commuter students. She’s also responsible for transfer student advising, and you may see throughout today some of the almost-40 new transfers who are arriving to begin their orientation.

Dean Michell Tollinchi-Michel oversees the College’s Academic Success and Enrichment Program, which works with faculty members to address the learning needs of all students and which includes programs for high school and Barnard students who have not been exposed in the past to the extraordinary resources that many of you have. She’s also been working on the establishment of new financial aid scholarship programs.

Dean Gretchen Young advises students who are interested in studying abroad, and you might want to attend one of the information sessions that she’ll hold throughout the year, as well as the Barnard-Columbia Study Abroad Fair that will be held in October. Also, you might want to come to our office (105 Milbank) to look through our office’s Study Abroad Library of materials about approved programs throughout the world.

As you move forward, you’ll work with Jim Runsdorf who is Junior Class Dean. He also coordinates the College’s efforts to advise students who apply for College and University and national and international fellowships, and he advises students and alumnae who are interested in business school and international and public affairs. He was responsible for the College Parent Handbook, which your families will be able to read on line, and you’ll hear from him in a few minutes, speaking about academic integrity. He taught in the English Department for many years.

Finally, Senior Class Dean Aaron Schneider works with seniors to make sure that they have completed degree requirements, and he is responsible for much of the preparation of Commencement each year. He also advises students who are interested in graduate studies in the arts and sciences and in Fulbright Scholarships, and he is a faculty member in the English Department.

I feel fortunate to work at Barnard—largely because of the opportunity to work with students like you but also because of working with my colleagues whom I like and respect very much. Too many people in the world either don’t have jobs or their jobs are not satisfying. I know I’m lucky; I look forward to going to work each day.

I want to talk just a little about all of us being together on the campus—all of us, in effect, coming to work each day. I think it’s incumbent upon each one of us to make a special effort to be engaged with one another—so I’m asking, when you’re in an elevator or when you pass one another, please acknowledge one another. I feel sad, and sometimes a little angry, when I walk from Milbank to wherever and people come toward me, looking through me or past me or looking down or off to the side as if I didn’t exist.

Yes, we’re in New York where there’s a premium on being strong individuals and sometimes on being competitive, and that’s not all bad; in fact, much of it can be good, but here—and I don’t want to sound sappy—I feel so fortunate to be here. Here we can make eye contact; we can smile at one another; we can say hello to one another. I recognize that it’s a little harder than it was when I worked at Colgate or Dartmouth and everyone was affiliated with the College. Here, people who live in the neighborhood and students from Columbia are on campus, but we can still at least try to make eye contact; we can smile at one another; we can say hello to one another even if we don’t know one another—and even if we know that the response might be that we’re ignored.

While it’s true that we need to take care of ourselves—even first because if we don’t, we’re not of much good to anyone else, but we’re part of something that’s much bigger than each one of us, and each one of us has a responsibility for contributing to the goodness of the College, outside of the classroom, as well as inside. Please do your part to help everyone of us feel good about being part of Barnard.

My last message: Some of you may have been told, and I imagine that most of you have heard that the coming 4 years may be the best of your life. From my perspective, there are two problems with that claim. First, some of you will take time away from the College for a whole slew of very good reasons and you’ll graduate in 5 or 6 years. There’s nothing set about 4 years, and you’ll always be part of the Class of 2015, no matter when you graduate.

Second, these years won’t be the best of your lives because there’s just too much adjustment and trying things out for the first time, with the accompanying tensions of developing (or ending) relationships and thinking about the future. And, think how awful life would be if it were all downhill after age 22.

All of us believe, however, that these years should be very positive ones for you, that they’ll be incredibly important, defining ones for your journey, and we feel privileged to share them with you.

May Barnard be a very good place for you.

Karen Blank, August 2011

Fall Program: some new courses

2011-09-02T18:51:00.000-04:00

Over the summer, I learned about some new courses that will be offered this fall and that may be open to first-year students. Feel free to check them out this week!

In Architecture: ARCH V1010 Design Futures: New York City: For students interested in architecture and design. For more information, click here to view the flyer with details.

In Art History: AHIS BC2003 Drawing In the Museum. This is a studio drawing course. (A course description is not available at this time, but feel free to attend the first class to learn more.)

In English: ENGL BC3192 Estrangement and Exile in Global Novels. See the English department website under Course Listings and also under Headlines to learn more about the course and the visiting professor.

Fall Program: Mathematic open house

2011-09-02T17:28:00.000-04:00

The Math Department will hold an open house on Tuesday, September 6, 5:30-7:00 p.m. in the Math Help Room (333 Milbank). Faculty from the Math Department will be available then to talk about the courses offered in the department, the type of material covered at different course levels, and appropriate Math courses for certain majors. If you have any questions at all about the Math course that you are enrolled in or about whether another Math course may be more appropriate, drop by!

Important Information: Economics placement exam

2011-09-02T16:44:00.000-04:00

If you received a 4 or 5 on the AP Macroeconomics and/or AP Microeconomics Exam, you are eligible to take the Economics Placement Exam. If you pass the exam, you will be exempt from ECON BC 1003 Introduction to Economic Reasoning, or its equivalent, and you will receive 3 points of credit toward your Barnard degree.

The exam will be given on Friday, September 9, from 10:00 AM to 12:00 PM. Report to Professor David Weiman's office, 7 Lehman Hall (tunnel level). Please contact Professor Sharon Harrison if you have any questions.

Important Information: Science Labs

2011-09-01T17:04:00.000-04:00

Please note that, if you were assigned to a science laboratory during the semester, you will need to determine whether to attend the first lab meeting during the first week of classes or not, according to the following guidelines:

Astronomy: Labs will not meet the first week of classes. You should attend the lecture only, where you will receive information about your future lab meetings.

Biology: Labs will not meet the first week of classes. You should attend the lecture only, then plan to begin attending labs during the second week of classes.

Chemistry: Labs WILL meet the first week of classes. You should attend the meeting of the lab to which you were assigned, where you will receive safety training and take a diagnostic class. This lab meeting is mandatory to confirm your enrollment in the lab. If you have a conflict during the first week with your assigned lab time, you should contact the Chemistry department as soon as possible.

Fall Program: L-courses and eBear

2011-09-01T11:27:00.000-04:00

If you have an L-course on your program -- i.e., a course that is capped through the Registrar's office and therefore has a red "L" under the "Status" column on eBear -- you do not need to do anything further to confirm your enrollment in the course, except to attend the first class.

At the eBear Essentials program tomorrow (Friday, either 12:00-1:00 or 1:00-2:00 in 304 Barnard Hall), you will learn much more about the notations on eBear, so be sure to attend.

Schedule Change: Political Science Department open house

2011-08-31T15:27:00.000-04:00

Update: the session has been extended to 5:00 p.m. today to accommodate students who attended the first Perspectives on Diversity meeting.

Due to the schedule changes for Orientation week, the Political Science Open House will now be held on Wednesday, August 31, 3:00-4:30 p.m., 421 Lehman Hall.

Fall Program: Enrolling in Physical Education courses

2011-08-31T09:26:00.006-04:00

Approximately half of the Class of 2015 has been given preference for the fall semester P.E. lottery. If you have received preference in the lottery, you are guaranteed a place in a P.E. course this fall. (Note: Even if you have been given preference for the P.E. lottery, you are not yet officially enrolled in a P.E. course; you must follow the instructions below to secure a place and to enroll in a course.) If you did not receive preference for the fall P.E. lottery, you may still participate in the lottery by following the instructions below.

To enroll in a P.E. course, you must do the following:

Register for the lottery on eBear. Register between 9:00 am on Wednesday, September 7th and 12:00 noon on Friday, September 9th. You may register at any time during this open lottery period; your odds do not increase if you submit your form sooner than later. When you register, you will be asked to rank three class preferences. You can find the schedule for all P.E. courses in the Physical Education department’s section of online Directory of Courses. Before submitting your list, make sure that your selections do not conflict with your academic courses. Note: While being given preference guarantees you a place in a P.E. course, it does not guarantee you your first choice.

Rosters for each P.E. course will be posted online in the P.E. lottery section of eBear after 5:00 pm on Friday, September 9th. Search for your name to find the course in which you have been placed.

Once you are assigned to a P.E. course, you must then add the course to your online program, using the 5-digit call number assigned to the course. The course must be listed as part of your final program on eBear as approved by your adviser or you will not receive credit for the course. If you add the P.E. course to your program after your adviser has approved your program, you must ask your adviser to re-approve your program.

If the lottery does not assign you to a course, you should speak to the Physical Education department on Monday, September 12th and/or attend the first class meeting of P.E. courses to see if space is available.

If you change your academic program after September 9th and the change causes a conflict with your assigned P.E. course, you should speak to the Physical Education department on Monday, September 12th and/or attend the first meeting of other P.E. classes to see if space is available.

Begin attending the P.E. class during the second week of academic classes. P.E. classes will begin meeting on Monday, September 12th. If you miss the first class meeting, your place may be given away to another student.

Satisfactory completion of a Physical Education class this semester will fulfill one-half of the Physical Education requirement and will earn you one point of degree credit. If you do not take a Physical Education course this fall, you must either take one in the spring or take a Dance technique course in the fall or spring instead. Barnard requires every student to complete at least one semester of Physical Education or Dance technique by the end of her first year. If you have been given priority for P.E. this semester but choose to delay the Physical Education requirement to the spring semester, you may have difficulty securing a space if there is heavy demand for Physical Education courses at that time.

Note: The credit for a P.E. class will not appear on your eBear program until after the program filing deadline has passed.

Fall Program: enrolling in Dance technique courses

2011-08-31T09:26:00.004-04:00

If you indicated during the summer your plan to enroll in a Dance technique course, we have notified the Dance department of your interest in the particular class that you chose. While this notification will not necessarily guarantee you a place in the class, you may be given priority over students who did not indicate interest in advance. (Note: Even if you indicated your interest in a particular Dance technique class over the summer, you are not yet officially enrolled in the course; you must follow the instructions below to secure a place and to enroll in the course.) If, on your summer program form, you did not indicate a plan to enroll in a Dance course but would now like to do so, you may try to enroll in one by following the instructions below.

In order to enroll in a Dance technique course, you must do the following:

Attend the first class meeting. You can find the schedule for all Dance technique courses in the Dance department’s section of online Directory of Courses. During the first class, the instructor will hold brief placement auditions to determine whether you are at the right level for the class.

After your placement has been confirmed, add the 5-digit call number for the course to your eBear program. The Dance course must be listed as part of your final program on eBear as approved by your adviser, or you will not receive credit for the course. If you add the Dance course after your adviser has approved your program, you must ask your adviser to re-approve your program.

Satisfactory completion of a Dance technique class this semester will fulfill one-half of the Physical Education requirement and will earn you one point of degree credit. If you choose not to take a Dance technique class in the fall after all, you must either take one in the spring or take a Physical Education course in the fall or spring instead. Barnard requires every student to complete at least one semester of Physical Education or Dance technique by the end of her first year.

If you indicated that you plan to take a Dance technique course, but you would like to take a fall-semester Physical Education class instead (or in addition to a Dance class), space permitting, you may do so either by signing up for the online lottery on eBear (see instructions on this FY Blog) or by attending the first meeting of the P.E. course.

Note: The credit for a Dance technique class will not appear on your eBear program until after the program filing deadline has passed.

Fall Program: varsity athletes

2011-08-31T09:25:00.001-04:00

Once you have confirmed your acceptance to a Varsity athletic team, you must then add the course to your online program, using the 5-digit call number assigned to the team. The course must be listed as part of your final program on eBear as approved by your adviser or you will not receive credit for the course. If you add the P.E. course to your program after your adviser has approved your program, you must ask your adviser to re-approve your program. You can find the call numbers for all Varsity athletic teams on the Physical Education section’s page of the online Directory of Courses (see the bottom of the page under “Intercollegiate Athletics”, PHED C1005).

Satisfactory participation on a Varsity athletic team during this semester will fulfill one-half of the Physical Education requirement and will earn you one point of degree credit. If you decide not to participate on a Varsity team this fall, you must either do so in the spring or take a Physical Education or Dance technique course in the fall or spring instead. Barnard requires every student to complete at least one semester of Physical Education or Dance technique by the end of her first year.

Note: The credit for a P.E. class will not appear on your eBear program until after the program filing deadline has passed.

Orientation: your academic adviser (and your first meeting)

2011-08-29T16:12:00.002-04:00

Update: The list of room assignments has been slightly updated as of 6:30 p.m. on Tuesday evening, so it may be a good idea to double-check your room assignment.

By mid-morning on Tuesday, August 30, you will be able to see the name of your assigned academic adviser on eBear.

When you pull up the "FA 11" tab, where you view your preliminary academic program, you will see a new line underneath the list of courses, indicating the name and department of your new academic adviser. If you click on your adviser's name, you will see a pop-up window that lists the contact information for your adviser.

On Wednesday, August 31, at 10:00 a.m., you will have your first meeting with your new adviser, along with all of the other first-year students assigned to that adviser. At this group meeting, you will learn some initial information about your adviser and about your preliminary programs, then you will each schedule a follow-up appointment with your adviser to discuss your fall program in further detail.

Click here to see the document that lists all locations of the group meetings on Wednesday morning. Be sure to map the location of your meeting on campus so that you can find the room and arrive at the meeting on time.

Orientation: language placement exams

2011-08-29T09:33:00.001-04:00

Arabic: Thursday, September 1, any two hours between 10:00 am and 4:00 pm, 103 and C01 Knox
or Friday, September 2, any two hours between 10:00 am and 4:00 pm, 103 and C01 Knox

Chinese: Thursday, September 1, 9:50 am-12:30 pm, 413 Kent

French: Friday, September 2, 10:00-12:00, 405 Milbank

German: Friday, September 2, 10:00-12:00, 324 Milbank

Greek: Consult Professor Helene Foley, 216 Milbank, 212-854-2852.

Hebrew: Wednesday, August 31, 1:00-4:00 pm, 515 Hamilton

Hindi-Urdu: Tuesday, August 30, any two hours between 10:00 am and 2:00 pm, 103 Knox

Italian: Wednesday, August 31, 2:00-4:00 pm, 503 Hamilton
or Thursday, September 1, 2:00-4:00 pm, 503 Hamilton

Japanese: Thursday, September 1, 9:50 am-12:30 pm, 411 Kent

Korean: Thursday, September 1, 9:50 am-12:30 pm, 405 and 423 Kent

Latin: Consult Prof. Helene Foley, 216 Milbank, 212-854-2852.

Russian (and other Slavic languages): Visit 708 Hamilton for information.

Spanish: Given online through eBear. Take it any time (as soon as possible).

Schedule Change: English Department open house

2011-08-28T11:05:00.001-04:00

Although it was not listed in the NSOP Schedulebook, there will be an English Department Open House on Thursday, September 1, 11:00 a.m., 409 Barnard Hall.

Meet the Office: Barnard's Student Government Association

2011-08-25T18:35:00.000-04:00

From the Executive Board of the SGA:

Welcome, Class of 2015! We are so excited to welcome you to campus! The Student Government Association (SGA) exists in order to enhance your Barnard experience. We work with student groups, administrators, faculty and alumni to enhance campus life, affect change and instill a strong sense of Barnard pride on campus.

Being a part of SGA is a great way to get involved on campus and meet new people. There are lots of great way to get involved with SGA, from the First-Year Class Council to a variety of Committees. First-Year Elections will take place a few weeks into the new semester, so keep an eye out for information. If you have any questions please don't hesitate to email the Elections Committee. We can't wait to meet you soon!

Opportunity: some secrets to success

2011-08-24T14:24:00.000-04:00

From the Communications Office of Barnard College:

Glamour Magazine and Barnard College Present: The Secrets to Success For Twentysomethings

When: Wednesday, September 7, 6:00 p.m.
Where: Event Oval, The Diana Center
What: A panel featuring the winners of Glamour magazine’s Top 10 College Women Competition.

The Top 10 College Women Competition has honored stellar female students for 54 years. This year's winners, all students selected for their academic and extracurricular accomplishments, will offer advice and insight on achieving success during—and after—college. Moderated by Glamour’s editor-in-chief, Cindi Leive, this panel is sure to provide an enlightening conversation about leadership and success.

For more information, visit the Barnard events website or call 212.854.2037. To RSVP, email Katelyn Silver Howard at Conde Nast.

Meet the Office: Student Employment Program

2011-08-23T18:08:00.000-04:00

From the Student Employment Program in the Career Development Office (Elliott Hall):

Welcome to Barnard! I hope you are prepared for the whirlwind of information and fun during NSOP (New Student Orientation Program). If you are planning to look for a work-study job or any other sort of job on campus during the upcoming year, we want you to be aware of a couple of important things about the Student Employment Program:

(1) You must bring a U.S. Passport or Social Security Card if you plan to work on campus. Even if you have not decided whether you want to work on campus, it may be a good idea to bring the documents in case you need them later. Please note that we will need to see the original documents; we cannot accept photocopies.

(2) There will be JOBS (Job Orientation for Barnard Students) Sessions during NSOP week; please register via NACElink in order to attend one. At the session, you you will find out everything you need to know about working on-campus and using your work awards. Please note that the sessions are required for students who are receiving a work award (BCJ or FWS) through Financial Aid.

If you have any questions about student employment, please feel free to contact Won Kang, Associate Director for Student Employment, by email or by phone (212-854-2033).

FAQ: course listing of BIOL B1501

2011-08-23T11:31:00.000-04:00

If you have been pre-enrolled in BIOL BC1500 Introduction to Organismal and Evolutionary Biology, you will have three related listings on your preliminary program: BIOL BC1500 (the course lecture), BIOL BC1501 Section 2 or 3 (the course recitation), and BIOL BC1501 Section 4/5/6/7/8/9/10 (the course lab). Although these course components are listed separately, they are considered part of a unified course of study and are considered one of your four academic courses.

Important Information: purchasing books for your classes

2011-08-22T13:30:00.001-04:00

Traditionally, students wait to buy books until they have attended the first class meeting of a course and received the course syllabus, which will list the required texts for the semester. Armed with a pile of syllabi (syllabuses?), students then crowd into the bookstores around campus and stand in line to purchase their textbooks, then cart them back to their rooms. This is a longstanding rite of passage for college students, with the side benefit that it's one more place that students can meet one another, as they wait in line together and compare books and courses.

Some professors have already posted online a list of required texts for their courses, and if you are absolutely certain that you will take a course, you have time to look up the list of texts and order some of your books online. To find the “textbook page” for a course, search for the course in the online Directory of Courses. (If it's not clear how you can search for the course, don't worry. You will learn how to navigate the Directory during Orientation.) Once you find the specific course and section in which you are enrolled, click on the link titled “Textbook Information,” to the right of the course title. That link will take you to the course's page in Courseworks (an online class management system -- you'll learn more about it during Orientation as well). If a professor has posted textbook information, it will be on this Courseworks page. Note: Some professors will not have posted text information yet, and you will simply need to attend the first class meeting and receive the syllabus before you will know the required texts for the semester.

If a professor has posted textbook information, pay attention to the specific information provided -- not only a book's title and author but also the book's edition number, publisher and publication date. Professors choose specific editions for specific reasons, so it is best to purchase the precise edition in order to have access to the appropriate material. If you would like to purchase another edition for some reason, it would be a good idea to ask the professor first to ensure that you will not be at a disadvantage by using a slightly different text.

Some books will be noted as "required," while others may be noted as "recommended." If it is not entirely clear to you whether you should buy a particular book for a class or not, please wait until you attend the first class meeting to clarify the question. The local bookstores will stock many copies of the required textbooks, so it should be easy for you to acquire your books during the first week of classes.

Your Fall Program: preliminary course schedule

2011-08-19T16:05:00.002-04:00

This is the text of the email sent to all new first-year students today:

Re: From your First-Year Dean: PLEASE READ CAREFULLY

Dear first-years,

Orientation is almost one week away! We’re all excited that you will be here so soon, and we’re very busy preparing for your arrival.

Over the weekend, your preliminary course schedules will appear on your eBear accounts. You will be able to see your academic program by logging into eBear, clicking on the “Students” tab then the “Registrar” link, then clicking on the tab titled “P Fall 2011.”

The main thing to remember as you review your program is that it may or may not represent the actual schedule that you will have this fall. These placements are a starting point, and they are the result of a lot of specific factors involved in the summer placement process. But the program filing period – i.e., the first two weeks of classes – is a whole different animal, when you will have the opportunity to explore your options more fully and to make certain changes, all with information and guidance from your adviser, the faculty, and your deans.

If you already have a change in mind as you look over your initial program, just make a note to ask about it during Orientation. Please note that we will not be able to make any adjustments to the placements between now and then, so try to be patient with your questions until you are here at Barnard and able to ask all of us in person!

When you look at your initial course placements, I trust that you will see some results that will please you, since the placements drew on the preferences that you had submitted. But it’s possible that you will see some results that puzzle you. So in anticipation of some frequently asked questions, read through these next points very carefully:

(1) The one course on your program that cannot be changed is your First-Year Foundation course: First-Year English or First-Year Seminar. If you were placed into a First-Year Seminar, you will see the course listed under the Department “FYSB” and then see the title of the individual seminar. If you were placed into a First-Year English section, you will see the course listed under the Department “ENGL” and then see the title “First-Year English.” To confirm the topic of First-Year English that you will take, visit the FY Blog and look for the post about FY English sections (posted below).

(2) In some courses, space was very limited during summer placement – particularly in the foreign languages. If you requested a language course, it is possible that you were placed into a section other than the one you preferred, or it is possible that we were not able to place you in any section at this time. However, in many of these courses, space will be added before the first week of classes, and enrollments may also shift, so you could still have a good chance of joining a particular language class or section. You’ll learn more about how to do so during Orientation.

(3) Things may have changed over the summer – e.g., a course or section was canceled or moved, a course that was originally listed as “open enrollment” was capped and filled, departments changed their enrollment procedures or projections. So it is possible that you could not be pre-enrolled in a course that you were counting on. Again, it may be possible for you to join that class during the first two weeks, or it may be necessary for you move forward with Plan B. You’ll be able to ask about the possibilities during Orientation and the first week of classes. It’s even possible that you were placed in three courses instead of four because of space restrictions or schedule conflicts among the preferences you submitted. Don’t worry! It should be a straightforward process to find a course that you can join as soon as classes begin.

(4) Remember, too, that there are classes at Barnard and Columbia which were not available for the summer placement process that will now be open to you during the program filing period and that may offer even better options for you. In fact, I've been getting information from faculty about brand new courses that will be open to first-year students, and I’ll be posting information about them on the FY Blog over the next two weeks. Again, you’ll be able to explore the various possibilities when you get to campus.

(5) You may have questions about the various notations, symbols, and messages that you’ll see on your eBear page along with your course schedule. During Orientation, I will train all of you on how to read and to use eBear, so the only thing you need to know right now is that, as of now, you are officially pre-enrolled in all of these courses—i.e., if there are notes reminding you of other procedures necessary for enrollment, you can consider those procedures done.

I’m sure you’ll have even more questions than I’ve been able to address here, but it will only be a few days until you can talk to your adviser, your professors, your deans, your R.A., your Constellation Leader, and lots and lots of other people who will help you figure everything out. So just jot all of those questions down in the back of your First-Year Guide, and be sure to bring it to campus with you (it can come in handy throughout the year).

I hope that you’ve been following all of the activity on the FY Blog recently, but pay particularly close attention to it over the next several weeks. I’ll be posting information for all of you regarding your advisers, textbooks, Orientation programs, P.E. and Dance technique courses, and much, much more. The FY Blog will also be a resource for more specific interests (e.g., auditions for courses/performances in the Dance, Music and Theatre departments) and reminders about upcoming programs and events. So keep an eye out!

I’ll see you very soon!

Best,
Dean Hollibaugh

Your Fall Program: First-Year English topics

2011-08-19T16:05:00.000-04:00

If you will be taking "ENGL BC1201 First-Year English" during the fall semester, you can confirm the topic of your class by finding your section number in the list below. On your List of Courses on eBear, the section number of the course appears directly to the right of the course number, under the "Sec" column.

The Americas = Section 9
Legacy of the Mediterranean = Sections 1, 2, 4, 5, 8, 11, 13, 14 and 17
Women & Culture = Sections 3, 6, 7, 10, 12, 15 and 16

Every class will cover fantastic works of literature and provide a solid introduction to the intellectual community of the College.

Meet the Office: Well-Woman

2011-08-17T14:05:00.000-04:00

From the Well-Woman Program Office:

Interested in wellness, yoga, knitting, stress management, cooking, blogging or activism? Check out Well-Woman! Well-Woman promotes the health and wellness of Barnard students through peer education, educational programming, individual health behavior consultation, campus-wide health campaigns, community outreach and advocacy. We are a resource for students to learn about their physical, mental, and spiritual health, and we work to support women’s individual self-care and the health of the community. We also educate students about how to find and use health resources at Barnard and in the community.

The most important part of Well-Woman? Our wonderful peer educators—students trained to present workshops and campus events on sexual health, nutrition, body image, healthy relationships, stress management and more in residence halls, to campus groups, and in the community. Being a part of the Peer Ed program is a great way to get involved on campus if you're interested in health and wellness.

Stop by 119 Reid (right in the Quad!) to chat with a staff member during the day or a peer educator in the evening, to browse our library, ask questions, or just relax on one of our massage chairs with a cup of tea. Or, check us out online by visiting our website and our blog. We look forward to welcoming you to Barnard!

Meet the Office: ASAP

2011-08-15T16:52:00.001-04:00

From the Alcohol and Substance Awareness Program, a.k.a. ASAP:

By receiving the emailed invitation to participate in the Alcohol-wise online learning course, you have already been introduced to the work of the Alcohol and Substance Awareness Program (ASAP). Dr. Hilary Colenso has been the Director of the program for the past nine years.

The Alcohol and Substance Awareness Program serves the Barnard community by providing drug and alcohol education, prevention, and intervention efforts on campus. Our mission is to promote the healthy development of students, enabling them to reach their full potential. We encourage students to become as informed as possible about their options and ultimately to make choices that are positive for them as individuals.

Since students have varied needs, we provide a variety of services. For example, we work with students who are

in recovery
currently using alcohol and/or drugs and questioning their use
students who are in a relationship with someone (parent, partner, or sibling) who is using alcohol or drugs
students who are concerned about a friend's use
students who are seeking general information

Counseling is offered at no charge. All services are confidential.

To learn more about the program, or to ask questions about the Alcohol-wise online course, visit the program's website or email the program Director.

Important Information: AP credit

2011-08-12T16:01:00.000-04:00

Over the next week or so, the Registrar's office will be posting Advanced Placement credit. If you are expecting to receive degree credit for an eligible AP score, watch for the credit to appear on your eBear account. (Under the "Students" tab, click on the "Registrar" link. The first page that appears within the "Registrar" link is the "Transcript" page. The title of each eligible AP test will appear, along with the points of degree credit earned.)

Please note that the process of posting the credits will take several days, so don't worry if your credits do not appear right away.

If you are expecting to receive credit for an AP exam, but the credit is not posted to your eBear account during the next two weeks, please visit the Registrar's office (107 Milbank) during Orientation or during the first weeks of classes to inquire.

The Student side: books

2011-08-12T10:17:00.000-04:00

More insider information from your favorite Barnard senior, Rachel:

When it comes to buying books, there are three basic options.

Buy Them: While sometimes it’s easiest to close your eyes and just sign the bill at local bookstores like Barnes and Nobles or Book Culture, make sure to check the elevators in the quad before you sell your car or your little brother to finance your physics textbook. Upperclassmen post signs for reduced-rate textbooks, and most of the popular first-year classes are covered. Buying from Amazon or another online bookseller? Be sure to factor in shipping time. There’s nothing worse than receiving your copy of Pride and Prejudice the day after the discussion. Check out the Amazon Student Prime account that gives you free two-day shipping for six months…

Borrow Them: Oh yeah, the library is more than just a place to socialize during finals week! Most Barnard classes have ‘reserve’ copies of the textbooks at Lehman Library; you can’t check them out for long periods of time, but you can save cash by reading in Lehman. If a book is on your reading list but checked out or otherwise unavailable, ask a librarian about the program where you can order books from one of the other libraries in our partnership.

Share Them: This is a bad idea. It seems brilliant to team up with your friends and split the cost of your Calc book or the Shakespeare play and then take turns using it. Smart until the paper is due tomorrow morning or the test is this afternoon and you’re all scrambling to highlight and memorize and cite. Not so brilliant.

When you are able to view your tentative fall program in a few weeks, Dean Hollibaugh will have more information about how you can learn what books will be required for each course. So stay tuned!

Important Information: your Barnard mailbox

2011-08-10T09:19:00.002-04:00

As of today, new students can find their Barnard mailbox assignment, as well as the combination to unlock the mailbox, on eBear. Look in the "Students" tab, then click on "Mail Services" and then (in the left column) "Address and Mailbox Combination."

You will also see your mailing address listed in the following format:

Barnard Student
XXXX Altschul
New York, NY 10027-XXXX

This is the address that should be used to send all mail (envelopes and packages) to you at Barnard. Be sure to include the full nine-digit zip code in the address. To learn more about the Mail Services for students, visit their website here.

Student mailboxes are located in the lower level of Altschul Hall, not far from the Diana Student Center. Be sure to drop by your mailbox at least once a week to see what campus mail may be waiting for you!

The Student Side: internships

2011-08-09T09:24:00.000-04:00

More insider information from your favorite Barnard senior, Rachel:

Between Barnard’s nationally ranked Office of Career Development and the opportunities New York City affords, it’s no wonder you’re itching to start your pre-professional career. You’re ready to polish your resume, write a killer cover letter, intern, network, and work.

But before you buy a briefcase and dry-clean your power suit, take a step back and look realistically at your new life. It’s tempting to look for an internship at the beginning of the semester when your workload is light and your activities haven’t really started; but remember that papers, midterms, projects and finals will be here before you know it.

Should you check out the Career Development office’s website? Yes. Should you stop by their office on the second floor of Elliot Hall to talk about opportunities and update your resume? Absolutely. Should you check out job listings and attend career talks? Sure. But you might want to wait a semester before jumping full-throttle into the workforce.

Don’t worry: your favorite magazines, NGOs, banks, TV shows, theaters, publishers, fashion houses, PR firms, and government offices will all be hiring again when you’re sophomores

Meet the Office: the Study Abroad office

2011-08-05T17:09:00.000-04:00

Many of you in the Class of 2015 are considering the possibility of studying abroad during your Barnard career, and with good reason. Barnard has a rich history and tradition of study abroad dating back to the 1930s. Every year, over 200 students study abroad in more than 35 countries. Students are currently studying in Argentina, Australia, Austria, Bolivia, Brazil, British West Indies, Chile, China, Costa Rica, Czech Republic, Denmark, Dominican Republic, Ecuador, England, France, Germany, Greece, Hungary, Ireland, Israel, Italy, Japan, Jordan, Kenya, Madagascar, Netherlands, New Zealand, Panama, Peru, Russia, Scotland, Senegal, South Africa, Spain, Switzerland and Syria.

Although it's too early to be worrying about all of the details, you can begin to familiarize yourself with the people, the policies and the procedures of our Study Abroad office. Start here with some important questions that you'll want to consider as you move through your first couple of years at Barnard. Then have fun exploring the website and, through it, the world! The Dean for Study Abroad will hold general information sessions during the fall semester, so you'll have plenty of time to ask questions and learn more information soon enough.

The Student Side: professors

2011-08-04T15:43:00.000-04:00

More insider information from your favorite Barnard senior, Rachel:

New students sometimes worry that their professors are going to be mysterious and scary beings who spend their days failing students and then hiding in the library. That is definitely not the case at Barnard: the faculty are here because they love to teach and advise, not just research and publish.

Need to meet with a professor? Interested in joining a class? Here’s the simple break-down of how to get it done.

STEP ONE: Catch the professor on the way out of the class. Briefly introduce yourself, state your purpose, and ask him or her about the most convenient way to meet or follow-up in the future. Is there already an outlined plan for meeting listed on the syllabus? Skip STEP ONE and proceed to…

STEP TWO: Do it. Don’t waste their time by emailing and then bailing, or by signing up for office hours and then standing them up.

STEP THREE: Show up prepared. Have a list of questions you want to ask. Bring two copies of an essay you want to discuss. Have a calendar ready for follow-up appointments.

STEP FOUR: Thank me when your professors love you!

Opportunity: Athena Leadership Lab Workshops

2011-08-03T15:56:00.000-04:00

From Barnard's Athena Center for Leadership Studies:

Athena Leadership Lab workshops are designed to help students learn the practical elements of leadership – from presentation and interview skills to negotiation strategies, from “calming your inner critic” to day-to-day financial planning, from “tech-speak” to a step-by-step guide to entrepreneurship.

Click here to read more about the workshops that will be offered during the Fall 2011 semester. Workshops will fill up quickly, so if you are interested in a particular one, it would be a good idea to register soon.

NOTE: As a first-year student, you are entitled to two workshops during the 2011-2012 academic year as part of your tuition. When you register, you will see registration fees attached to each workshop, but just be sure to indicate that you are a Barnard student and your cost will be reduced to zero when you reach the end of the registration process.

Opportunity: Barnard Reach Out

2011-08-02T09:24:00.001-04:00

From the Civic Engagement Program in the Career Development Office:

The Barnard Reach Out (B.R.O.) for new students is designed to give Barnard first-year and transfer students the opportunity to get involved with community service in the New York City area. We hope that by becoming involved with such opportunities early on, you will continue to give back to the community throughout your college career.

The B.R.O. program for new students consists of a day-long service project on either Saturday, September 10 or Sunday, September 11, 2011. We have secured approximately 150 volunteer slots for Barnard College first-year and transfer students at various sites throughout New York City. The available service projects include meal service at soup kitchens, a park clean up, package delivery to senior citizens, and more.

If you are interested in participating in a B.R.O. project, please complete our online registration form before arriving for orientation. Click here to access the form directly.

If you questions about the B.R.O. program, contact the Program Director of the Civic Engagement Program by email or by phone at 212-854-2033.

The Student Side: majors

2011-08-01T10:21:00.002-04:00

More insider information from your favorite Barnard senior, Rachel:

Our lives sometimes seem defined by a chain of cocktail-party-style questions: Where do you go to high school? Where are you thinking about going to college?Where did you get in to college?Where are you going to college?

2015, meet the next question looming on your horizon: What are you majoring in?

I officially give you permission to hate the question; to deflect the question; to live your life without feeling bound to its varied and varying connotations.

I had no idea what I wanted to major in when I came to college, and I’ll always be grateful that Barnard’s academic pedagogy not only encourages, but actually catalyzes, academic and intellectual exploration. Before I declared my English major, I took classes in Spanish and Sociology and Urban Studies and Religion and History and Women’s Studies and Dance and Psychology and, yes, even Statistics. I wrote papers and researched and analyzed and discussed many different topics in many different fields before I organically discovered (with the help of some great professors and patient advisers) where I wanted my academic focus to lie. Since I declared my major in the spring of my sophomore year, I’ve taken almost just as many different classes in almost just as many different departments.

The point of your Barnard education is only partially to specialize your academic scope. Enjoy all of your classes. Take something you’re scared of. Take something that inspires you. And relax. It’s not all about your major.

Still stressed? At the very least you can take comfort in the fact that you’re still a couple years away from the next big cocktail-party-life-question...one which, by the way, I now have to face: So what are you planning on doing after graduation?