DEADLINE REMINDER: November 19th is the last day to withdraw from a class and receive a W

The deadline to withdraw from a Fall 2026 class is Thursday, November 19th. Withdrawn classes will not affect your GPA and you will not earn credit for them, but they will remain on your transcript, and a W will be entered in place of the final grade.

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

 

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


1. Consult with your adviser.

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

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

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

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

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

Upcoming LeFrak Center Events in Mental Well-Being!

Hello First-Years,

Please see the list of upcoming events in Mental Well-Being from the LeFrak Center! They can also be found on MillieLink!

In addition, the Francine LeFrak Center for Well-Being are excited to share their Events Google Calendar. You can view and see all of their events here!

Best,

The First-Year Team

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A 3-Week Series on Social Change and Sexual Violence 

Dates: 11/10, 11/17, 11/24, Time: 5:00 p.m. - 6:00 p.m.. Location: Mental Well-Being Suite, 106 

Join this student-led initiative for conversations exploring the intersections of sexual violence, institutional barriers, consent law, and social change. Through research, dialogue, and collective action, participants will examine systemic challenges and consider pathways toward meaningful change.

11/16: Home for the Holidays

Date: Monday, November 16, Time: 12:00 p.m. - 2:00 p.m., Location: Diana Center Lobby 

Explore ways to build healthy relationships, establish and maintain boundaries, and make informed decisions about alcohol and substance use while enjoying your time away over holiday break.

11/17: Teaching Kitchen with the Wellness Spot Peer Educators

Date: Tuesday, November 17, Time: 2:00 p.m. - 3:00 p.m. Location: Hewitt Dining Hall

Students will work in teams of 3–5 to prepare simple, nutritious, lettuce-free recipes with support from a Peer Educator. Along the way, teams will explore nutrition, share cooking tips, and discuss food experiences and challenges while navigating college life.

11/17: Empowerment Self-Defense Workshop

Date: Tuesday, November 17, Time: 4:30 p.m - 6:30 p.m. Location: LeFrak Theatre

Join Being Barnard and the Student Government Association for an empowerment self-defense workshop. This session will cover basic blocks, strikes, pressure points and verbal de-escalation. Designed to maximize your muscle memory and play to your personal strengths. All of our self-defense classes end with a healing space because we believe that empowerment starts with the heart. Register with the link.

11/19: Naloxone-Only Training

Date: Thursday, November 19, Time: 1 pm - 2 pm Location: 101A LeFrak, Barnard Hall 

Learn how naloxone works, and how to administer it safely and effectively during an emergency.

Acting Ensemble for Directing II (THTR2201UN) available for Spring 2027!

Hello First-Years,

The Theatre Department is offering a 1 credit course for the Spring 2027 term--Acting Ensemble for Directing II (THTR2201UN). Please see the course description down below as well as the course listing on Vergil

Best,

The First-Year Team

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Spring 2027 Theatre UN2201 section 001

ACTING ENSEMBLE DIRECTING II

(Vergil)

TR 12:10pm-2:00pm*

229 Milbank Hall 

Students may participate as actors in Directing II as a 1-credit course; these students will comprise the Acting Ensemble. Actors will be cast in all four student-directed scenes and will participate in the feedback process following the showings. Actors will be graded on their in-class performances (collaboration with onstage partners, memorization) and ability to respond and adjust to notes. Actors who are responsible and collaborative will succeed as part of the Acting Ensemble. Grading is Pass/Fail.

*Actors must be available consistently for either or both days of the week the course meets (every Tuesday, or every Thursday, for example). Actors are only required to attend when they are performing, and are expected to rehearse outside of class. Actors are welcome to attend additional class meetings that may be of interest.

Note: No prerequisites are required for this course. Students have to rehearse outside of class time with the student director and be reasonably available for that--then present the scene in class; Optional stay for feedback

Serial Horror (ENGL BC3413) course available for Spring 2027!

Hello First-Years!

Please see the flyer down below and the syllabus with further information about an upcoming English course, Serial Horror (ENGL BC3413), that will be available for First-Years in Spring 2027!

Best,

The First-Year Team

Spring 2027 Registration Recommended Classes & CU Exceptions for Spring 2027 and Other Important Information

Hello First-Years,

We hope you are all having a good week! Here are some final reminders we wanted to send you along with helpful resources for registration coming up next week:

Registration will take place the week of November 16th, with the first-year class registering on Thursday, November 19th. We are happy to share two lists with you that may be helpful as you are working towards building your schedule for the Spring 2027 term. Please find the following lists below:

• Recommended Spring 2027 Barnard Courses for First-Year students

• Pre-approved CU Courses for Barnard First-Year students

We have also included both lists in this blog post. Please note that you must be logged in to your Barnard credentials to access these lists!

  

Please make sure you meet with your Pre-Major Adviser by Friday, November 20th to discuss your Spring 2027 schedule. It is required that you meet with them. 

 

Please sign up for a section of First-Year Seminar (FYS) or First-Year Writing (FYW), depending on what you took this fall. Please note that First-Year Writing Workshop is not offered during the spring semester, but there is an option for First-Year Seminar "Workshop." Please see this blog post for more information about the two sections being offered and fill out the application by the new extended deadline on Sunday, November 15th at 11:59PM if you think you would benefit from the extra writing support FYS Workshop offers.  

Thursday, November 19th is also the last day to withdraw from a class and receive the mark of W. Please note that you must remain enrolled in a minimum of 12 credits.

Dean Siegel and the Deans in the Deans’ Office for Advising and Support are holding extended walk-in hours leading up to and through registration and the November 19th W deadline from Monday, November 9th through Friday, November 20th. They will be available from 3:00-4:30PM, in 105 Milbank Hall and over Zoom.    

Sophia will be available to consult any First-Year who needs a student’s perspective! Please email her if you need to chat. 

Lastly, here are some upcoming dates to keep in mind: 

• Thursday, November 19th - Friday, November 20th: Registration days 

• Thursday, November 19th: Deadline to Withdraw 

• Wednesday, November 25th: Academic Holiday - No classes 

• Thursday, November 26th - Friday, November 27th: Thanksgiving Holiday - College Closed

• Monday, December 14th: Last day of classes & Deadline to change the grading option in one class to Pass/D/Fail 

• Tuesday, December 15th - Wednesday, December 16th: Reading Days 

• Thursday, December 17th - Wednesday, December 23th: Final Exams 

Questions, concerns, comments? Please feel free to reach out to us!

Best,

The First-Year Team

(Dean Siegel, Lauren Quach, & Sophia Brown)

Creative Writing Faculty Reading on November 19th!

Creative Writing Faculty Reading: Gina Apostol, Zaina Arafat, Farnoosh Fathi, and Monica Sok

Thursday, November 19, 2026

6PM in Milstein LL001

Join us for a special end of the year reading featuring novelists Gina Apostol and Zaina Arafat and poets Farnoosh Fathi and Monica Sok, all of whom teach in the Barnard Creative Writing Program. Did we mention there’ll be pizza? If you do not have an active Barnard or Columbia ID, please be sure to RSVP on Eventbrite! No RSVPs are required for Barnard and Columbia students and affiliates.

First-Year Seminar Workshop for Spring 2027 ~ Application deadline extended to November 15th!

Hello First Years,

Please see the information down below about First-Year Seminar Workshop for the Spring 2027 term and are looking for extra writing support!

Best,

The First Year Team

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To students taking First-Year Seminar in Spring 2027:

This spring, the First-Year Seminar (FYS) Program is offering two sections of FYS "Workshop," a four-credit version of FYS designed for students who would like extra support with critical reading and academic writing skills. FYS Workshop fulfills the FYS requirement and is equally as rigorous as FYS. There are three main differences:

• In addition to regular seminar meetings twice per week, FYS Workshop students meet one-on-one with a Writing Fellow for one hour every other week, giving you an opportunity to get feedback from and discuss your ideas with a trained peer throughout the semester.

• Each section of FYS Workshop is worth 4 credits (instead of 3).

• Each section of FYS Workshop is slightly smaller (capped at 14 students).

If you think you would benefit from the extra writing support FYS Workshop offers, please fill out this short application by Sunday, November 15th at 11:59PM (EXTENDED DEADLINE). You will be notified (via email) about whether we can offer you a spot before the early registration period begins in November. You will receive special sign-up information at that time.

See course descriptions below.

If you have any questions about the FYS Workshop Program, feel free to email Professor Lie-Spahn at clie@barnard.edu.

First-Year Seminar Workshop Courses for Spring 2027:

Dead and Undead

TR 2:40-3:55pm

Professor Penelope Usher

What does it mean to be dead? Why the fascination—across time and culture—with conceiving of ways in which the dead can become un-dead? And how is being undead different from being alive? To investigate and trouble the boundaries between life and death (and un-death), we will analyze works from various genres and media, discussing near-death experiences, beating-heart cadavers, and a range of figures including zombies, ghosts, and other revenants.

Identity on the Move

TR 4:10-5:25pm

Professor Francesca Ochoa

In this Seminar, we will read literary texts where characters undergo profound change. For some, the change is surreal: bodies morph; a life is lived on simultaneous timelines hundreds of years apart. Others experience equally unsettling realist transformations, such as exile, migration, or shifting social power. These changes expose a chasm between self- perception and the perception of others, between belonging and non belonging. We will explore this chasm for truth, fiction, and possibility.

Recommended Spring 2027 Barnard courses for First-Years & Pre-approved CU courses!

Hello First-Years!

As you are gearing up for registration next week, we are happy to share two lists with you that may be helpful as you are working towards building your schedule for the Spring 2027 term. Please find below the following lists:

Recommended Spring 2027 Barnard Courses for First-Year students (These are courses that are saving seats for FY students) 

Pre-approved CU Courses for Barnard First-Year students (FY students will be able to register for these beginning at the November registration period)

Note: You must be logged into your Barnard credentials to access these lists!

If you have any questions, feel free to reach out to us at first-year@barnard.edu

Best,

The First-Year Team

Creative Writing Workshops at Barnard for Spring 2027!

 Spring 2027's Creative Writing Workshops at Barnard

Spring 2027’s creative writing faculty, L-R: Gina Apostol, Liana Finck, Maria Hinojosa, Angel Nafis, Cleyvis Natera, Monica Sok, Kathleen Tolan, Sarah Wang, Alexandra Watson

Announcing Spring 2027’s creative writing workshops at Barnard! Featuring introductory and advanced workshops in prose, poetry, and playwriting, taught by acclaimed instructors including Alexandra Watson, Angel Nafis, Gina Apostol, Monica Sok, Kathleen Tolan, and more.

Our introductory workshops in prose and poetry are open enrollment and ideal for beginners or any experience level. Our advanced workshops in prose, poetry, and playwriting require an application and are designed for writers with some experience and/ those interested in the Creative Writing Area of Focus at Barnard–applications are due via this Application Form  by Monday, November 23rd.

Please see our Course Offerings packet for full course descriptions and more information, and reach out to Department Assistant Miriam Kumaradoss-Hohauser at mkumarad@barnard.edu with any questions.

Education Program Planning Schedule

Hello, First-Years!

Please see below for the Education Program faculty's drop-in appointment schedule for program planning next week!

Best,

The First-Year Team

Interested in studying abroad? Upcoming study abroad workshops and Oxford/Cambridge info session!

Interested in studying abroad? Check out upcoming events below!

Oxford/Cambridge Info Session:

Date: Thursday, November 19th at 12PM in 308 Diana

This is a session for Barnard students considering studying abroad at Oxford or Cambridge in the future. We will present information about the application process, the supervision/tutorial system, and you will be able to hear directly from Barnard students who previously attended these programs. 

Study Abroad Workshops:

Interested in making study abroad part of your Barnard experience? Come learn about how to choose a study abroad program and get an overview of the Barnard process. The Study Abroad Workshop will cover Barnard requirements, approved programs, finances, transfer credit, and more! This workshop will focus primarily on semester study abroad and is suited for first and second year students. First year students should attend a workshop before booking a study abroad advising appointment. 

Workshops will take place via Zoom; Register for the link below:

Monday, November 30th at 1pm

Friday, December 4th at 12pm

Wednesday, December 9th at 4pm

Friday, December 11th at 1pm

Upcoming Beyond Barnard Information sessions! ~ SIPA, IEOR, SEAS Computer Science, and Engineering 4+1 Pathways

Hello First-Years!

Please see the information down below for four upcoming Beyond Barnard information sessions. These sessions offer great guidance for students interested in the SIPA, IEOR, SEAS Computer Science, and Engineering 4+1 Pathways!

Best,

The First-Year Team

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SIPA 4+1 Info Session

Tuesday, 11/10 | 12pm | Register on Handshake

In this session, attendees will learn about the Accelerated 4+1 Pathway with Columbia University's School of International and Public Affairs (SIPA). We'll discuss the overall application process, and what you need to know to plan your Barnard program to be able to fit in SIPA coursework beginning your senior year at Barnard and finishing the degree in year 5 at Columbia.

IEOR 4+1 Info Session

Friday, 11/20 | 1pm | Register on Handshake

Join us for an overview of the 4+1 pathway open to Barnard students considering a BA/MS through Barnard and Columbia Engineering. This info session will focus specifically on the IEOR pathway within the Engineering school.

SEAS Computer Science 4+1 Info Session

Tuesday, 11/17 | 1pm | Register on Handshake

Join us for an overview of the 4+1 pathway open to Barnard students considering a BA/MS through Barnard and Columbia Engineering. This info session will focus specifically on the Computer Science pathway within the Engineering school. 

Engineering 4+1: Chemical, Biomedical, Mechanical, Civil & Electrical Engineering

Thursday, 11/19 | 4pm | Register on Handshake

Join us for an overview of the 4+1 pathway open to Barnard students considering a BA/MS through Barnard and Columbia's Fu Foundation School of Engineering and Applied Sciences (SEAS). This info session will focus specifically on the Chemical, Biomedical, Mechanical, Civil and Electrical Engineering concentrations within the SEAS 4+1 pathway.

Important reminders for Spring 2027 registration!

Hello First-Years,

We hope you had a good break! Here are some reminders for the coming weeks: 

Registration will take place the week of November 16th, with the first-year class registering on Thursday, November 19th.

  

Please make sure you meet with your Pre-Major Adviser by Friday, November 20th to discuss your Spring 2027 schedule. It is required that you meet with them. 

 

Please sign up for a section of First-Year Seminar (FYS) or First-Year Writing (FYW), depending on what you took this fall—you will switch into the other section for the spring. Please note that First-Year Writing Workshop is not offered during the spring semester, but there is an option for First-Year Seminar "Workshop." Please see this blog post for more information about the two sections being offered and fill out the application by Monday, November 9th at 5PM if you think you would benefit from the extra writing support FYS Workshop offers.

Thursday, November 19th is also the last day to withdraw from a class and receive the mark of W. Please note that you must remain enrolled in a minimum of 12 credits.

Dean Siegel and the Deans in the Deans’ Office for Advising and Support will hold extended walk-in hours leading up to and through registration and the November 19th W deadline from Monday, November 9th through Friday, November 20th. They will be available from 3:00-4:30PM, in 105 Milbank Hall and over Zoom.  

Finally, next Monday, November 9th, at noon, the Creative Writing Program is hosting this event for anyone contemplating a career in writing. Lunch will be provided! 

 

Questions, concerns, comments? Please feel free to reach out!

Best,

The First-Year Team

(Dean Siegel, Lauren Quach, & Sophia Brown)