Wednesday, December 13, 2023

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


Dear Students,

 

As we come to the end of the fall semester, the Deans’ Office for Advising and Support wants to update you about final exam information and academic resources. We also want to remind you what to do if you experience anything that impacts your ability to complete work for your courses and final exams.

 

One of the most important things to remember if you are experiencing difficulties is to reach out to your instructor and/or Class Dean. Your class dean is available to discuss your specific situation and offer advice and options.

 

Academic Resources

 

Academic Coaching Finals Prep Sessions: The Academic Coaches in the Deans’ Office for Advising and Support are here to help you cross the finish line this semester with tips, tricks, and snacks! If you are feeling stressed for finals, need help organizing your study plan, or want to learn some new study strategies, drop in to see an academic coach during Reading Period, Tuesday (12/12)-Friday (12/15), from 1-4pm in Milbank 227.  Academic Coach Allie Johnston will also hold additional walk-in hours in 105 Milbank throughout the exam period. Email Allie for the schedule or to set up a consultation.  
Personal Librarians: As you complete your final assignments for this semester, contact Barnard Library’s research and instruction team (Personal Librarians) for any support needed around research-based assignments, including senior projects. Librarians are available for individual consultations about ways to access online research materials and meet citation requirements for your papers and projects. Personal Librarians can assist in finding e-books, full-text articles, and open access sources. 
Center for Engaged Pedagogy: The CEP has put together helpful guides for time managementactive reading strategies, and a resource map that points you to various supports.
Center for Accessibility Resources & Disability Services (CARDS): Students who are registered with the Barnard Center for Accessibility Resources & Disability Services (CARDS) and have accommodations should be in touch with CARDS as needed to ensure that their accommodations align with end-of-term assignments. If a faculty member has specific questions about how to implement accommodations in their courses, CARDS is available for individual consultation at cards@barnard.edu.

 

FINAL EXAMINATION INFORMATION:

 

All students and instructors are expected to follow the official exam schedule. If you find yourself scheduled for three exams within a 24-hour period or four within 48 hours, you should fill out this form.

 

If you find that you need to take your exam on a different day during the final exams period, please contact your instructor and make arrangements directly with them (this is different from a deferred exam -- see below). Individual faculty members have discretion to allow or deny requests to take an exam at a time different than originally scheduled. If you need assistance with communicating with an instructor, you may contact your Class Dean. If you have tested positive for COVID-19 and/or have been advised by the College to quarantine and/or isolate when you otherwise would be taking an in-person exam, please be in touch with your Class Dean to discuss possible options.

 

DEFERRED EXAMS:

 

Students may defer an exam due to illness or personal emergency on the day of the exam. If you need to request a deferral, you must:

 

a) Email your instructor, copying your class dean, on the day of the exam requesting a deferred exam.

 

b) You must also submit an official request for a deferred exam in Slate. You will need to upload an approval email from your instructor when you submit the Slate form.  
 

c) Deferred exams will be given on Friday, January 19, 2024 and Monday, January 22, 2024. After submitting the Request for a Deferred Exam form, you will receive a confirmation email. It is your responsibility to check the registrar's website and your Barnard email the previous week for the details of your deferred exam.

 

Please be aware that deferred exams cannot be requested in advance of exam week. For more information, visit https://barnard.edu/registrar/grades-exams and scroll down to "Final and Deferred Exams." 

 

ILLNESS DURING EXAM: 

 

If you become ill during an examination:

 

a) inform the proctor

b) hand in the exam, and

c) call Primary Care Health Services at 212-854-2091 to make an appointment.

 

If you've completed less than 40 minutes of a two-hour exam or less than one hour of a three-hour exam, you qualify for a deferred exam (see above.) If you leave the exam more than 40 minutes into a two-hour exam or more than an hour into a three-hour exam, you'll be graded on the basis of the work you've completed to that point.

 

INCOMPLETES:

 

Incompletes are to be given only in cases of illness, personal emergency, or other compelling circumstances. If you need to request an Incomplete, and the instructor is amenable, please be in touch with your faculty member via email to obtain their approval. From there, you will need to submit an Incomplete Request Form in Slate. You will need to upload email confirmation from your instructor when you submit the Slate form. Note that these requests should be received by Thursday, December 14 (the end of Reading Period). 

 

As a reminder, the official College deadline for completing Fall 2023 Incomplete coursework is Monday, April 15, 2024. Individual faculty may also set an earlier deadline for the work to be completed. Please note that incompletes apply only to coursework exclusive of the final examination. For more information, visit https://barnard.edu/registrar/grades-exams and scroll down to "Incomplete Grades."

 

GRADES:

 

Final grades are indeed final. Grades may be changed only in cases of clerical error or in the rare event that the instructor needs to reevaluate the work of the entire class. Grades may not be recalculated on the basis of reexamination or the submission of additional or revised work. 

 

ACADEMIC INTEGRITY AND THE BARNARD HONOR CODE:

 

As you write papers or complete exams, whether in a proctored environment or in the comfort of your residence hall, keep the College's Honor Code (https://barnard.edu/honor-code) in mind. Under pressure, it can sometimes be tempting to make a regrettable decision, such as using untrustworthy and undocumented sources, collaborating on an exam, not following proper citation methods on a paper, or claiming someone else's work as your own. Doing something that might violate the Honor Code is NEVER the way to respond to a difficult or pressured academic situation. There's always a better choice. Please also be aware that any misrepresentation of your circumstances in order to obtain an exam deferral or an incomplete is a violation of the Honor Code. An additional word of caution: it is your responsibility as a student to be aware of your professor’s individual stance on the use of generative AI (ex. ChatGPT). If you are not sure about whether the use of generative AI is permitted in a course, you must consult with your instructor for additional guidance before using generative AI. Note that the Honor Code states that students must responsibly use electronic, print and other resources.  

 

ACADEMIC STANDING:

 

Please be advised that all students should be aware of Barnard’s academic standing policy (please scroll down on this page to “Academic Standing and Degree Progress”) and how incomplete grades, deferred exams and/or withdrawal grades may impact a student’s academic standing. To discuss your academic standing, please contact your Class Dean. 

 

We wish you all the best as you complete your work for the semester, and hope you have a restful, restorative winter break.

 

Sincerely,

Holly Tedder

Dean for Academic Planning and Class Advising

Wednesday, December 6, 2023

1-2 credit course options for Spring 2024

1. Fulfill your PE requirement if you haven't yet.

Register online and be sure to attend the first class meeting. PE courses may initially appear in your myBarnard program as 0 credits and will then be transformed to 1 credit (if you are eligible) after the final registration deadline.


Pro Tip:
Unfortunately, there is little to no space in PE for students who want this as an elective. Only students who have not yet completed the PE requirement will be able to preregister for PE. Dance, on the other hand (see below!), often has space

2. Take a dance class

Dance classes may initially appear in your myBarnard program as 0 credits -- if you don't change this when registering, you can fill out the Form to Request a Point of Dance Credit.


3. Search Vergil for courses between 0 and 2 credits.

You'll have to scroll through a lot of things that may not help you, like labs for courses you're not taking, courses limited to class years other than yours, but this will give you the most comprehensive listing.

Pro Tip:
Use the schools filters for "Barnard College" and "Faculty of Arts and Sciences" to refine your search to undergraduate courses offered on both sides of Broadway.  Check the detailed course descriptions in the Directory of Classes for prerequisites, restrictions, or special application procedures.

4.  Seminars in the sciences or humanities

such as these two short classes offered by the Barnard Film department:

Artemis Rising Short Course in Filmmaking

Artemis Rising Short Course in Film Production


5.  For those looking to refine their foreign language skills, 

the FrenchItalian and German Departments offer advanced conversation and grammar classes.   Some language programs also provide 1-credit directed reading courses.  You can also find supervised readings in some languages -- this spring there is this offering in Dutch


6.  For students who sing, play an instrument, or want to know more about music:


7.   If you're interested in Theatre, Dance, or Backstage work:

Practicum or Rehearsal & Performance (Theatre or Dance) -- for actors, dancers, stage managers, prop or costume makers, and theatre tech people. Check the course description to see who to contact if you are interested.


8.  If you're interested in International Affairs, Political Science, and/or Economics: consider a "short course" at the School of International and Public Affairs (SIPA)

*check the course description for "course date" to see when the course starts & ends*
One of the "short courses" offered by the School for International & Public Affairs (SIPA). Search Vergil for SIPA courses between 1 and 2 credits, or the SIPA page of the CU Directory of Classes for 1-1.5-credit courses. You can't just register online for these.  Here is the procedure:

  1. Check to see if the class you want is on the list of SIPA courses approved for Barnard students (forthcoming -- link will be added when available; in the meantime, use your judgment to assess if the class is academic as opposed to professional development)
  2. Contact the instructor to ask if there is space available and if it is appropriate for you given your background. Get any approvals in writing (email is fine).
  3. Contact your academic adviser for approval that the course appropriately fits into both your schedule and a liberal arts curriculum. 
  4. Upload both approvals when submitting the online add form.

Tuesday, December 5, 2023

Academic Coaching: Finals Prep Sessions


The end of the semester is right around the corner, and the Academic Coaches in the Deans’ Office for Advising and Support are here to help you cross the finish line with tips, tricks, and snacks! If you are feeling stressed for finals, need help organizing your study plan, or want to learn some new study strategies, dropping in to see an academic coach would be perfect for you. We will be holding drop in hours during Reading Period, Tuesday-Friday from 1-4PM in Milbank 227. We hope to see you then!

Sponsored by the Deans’ Office for Advising and Support

Thursday, November 2, 2023

NECR Undergrad Info Session

Hello First-Years!

The NECR (Negotiation and Conflict Resolution program) team is hosting a lunch and learn info session on Monday, November 13 from 12-1PM for CC, GS, and Barnard undergraduates. The event requires an RSVP and will be in the Dodge Room of Earl Hall!

Wednesday, November 1, 2023

NSB Program Planning Meeting

Hello First-Years!

The NSB Department will have its Program Planning Meeting on Thursday, November 9th, at 4:00PM, in 203 Diana. Please come to learn more about our department, our courses, research opportunities, and to have your questions answered!

If you are unable to join in person, you can attend on Zoom:

The meeting will also be recorded. The link to the recording will be sent to students in the NSB mailing list and to any student requesting it to mmiozzo@barnad.edu.

We are looking forward to seeing you at the meeting!
NSB Faculty

NSB PPM 11.09.23.png


Greetings,
The Spring 2024 PE schedule is now in the DOC:   http://www.columbia.edu/cu/bulletin/uwb/sel/PEDB_Spring2024.html

We have spots in all classes reserved for upperclass students though 11/16.  On 11/16... FY students register and most classes will get filled.  Waitlists will be disabled until 11/16 (then they go on autofill).  We may never have this many courses again !!  Let's get through the backlog of those who are still not completed.

Please post on the Class Blogs. 
You may also send an email specifically to students who Need PE (spreadsheet sent on Oct 18) "REG - PE students who haven't fulfilled requirement AS OF 100923"

Thanks, Laura


Students who need to complete the PE Requirement:  Register for PE (or Dance) during early registration in November. (PE registration is open only to students who have not fulfilled the requirement)  We offer Body Sculpt, Yoga, Pilates Mat, Tai Chi, Functional Fitness (TRX +), Total Body Fitness (Strength and Cardio), Total Body Conditioning (Core and Cardio) and Health Coaching.  Need more info?  Contact physed@barnard.edu

Guide to Spring 2024 Registration

Hi first-years,

Below is a list of resources, important dates and deadlines, and more to help you through Spring 2024 Registration, which will occur for first-years on Thursday, November 16th. We have also included reminders about other upcoming dates -- Thanksgiving Break, reading week, winter break and the spring shopping period. Please enjoy the vaguely-relevant memes sprinkled throughout in an attempt to make this post that is mostly just dates more exciting. As always, contact first-year@barnard with any questions!


Coming up:

The deadline to withdraw from a Fall 2021 course is Thursday, November 16th

The deadline to declare a Fall 2021 course P/D/F is Thursday, November 16th

Thanksgiving Holiday: Wednesday, November 22-Friday November 24th.



Spring 2024 Registration

First-years will be able to register for Spring 2024 classes on Thursday, November 16th. Your registration time will be assigned to you in Student Planning just above your schedule, as it was during Fall registration.

Registration times are determined by class year. Seniors register on the first day, juniors on the second, sophomores on the third, and first-years on the fourth. That means that all first years will have a registration appointment on Thursday, November 16th. I know it may be frustrating that first-years register last, but remember that older students have declared majors, concrete study abroad plans, and sooner graduation dates. They have slightly less flexibility in their schedules because of their academic plans. Their earlier registration times help them stay on track to graduate. 

But don’t worry! You’ll still be able to get into the classes you want and need. Professors work hard to take as many students into their course as they can, but you do need to be a bit realistic. That 3000 level political science seminar with a cap of 15 students looks really cool, but it will probably be filled with junior and senior poli sci majors who need it to graduate. The best thing you can do is plan, have multiple back-up courses, and remain flexible. Soon enough, you’ll be one of the older students with priority registration times!


How do I look for classes?

The course catalogs! The Columbia University Directory of Classes has all of the courses offered by the university. You can look at the complete course listings for all the departments. Pretty much all of the courses are up now -- there may be a few added in the coming week, but it’s basically the final list. 


What classes do I register for on the 16th?
This is probably the biggest difference between the registration you did over the summer and the registration happening the week of the 16th. You will be registering for all of the courses you will take in the spring the week of the 16th. It won’t be limited the way it was over the summer; all courses are open for registration. 


Remember that if you took First-Year Writing this fall, you need to take First-Year Seminar in the spring. If you took Seminar in the fall, you’ll take Writing in the spring. You’ll also need to take a physical education or dance course in the spring if you’re not in one in the fall. If you want to study abroad in the spring of junior year and haven’t started your language program, I’d recommend thinking about starting that in the spring, too. Beyond that, it’s up to you! 


How many classes should I register for?
As always, you’ll need to be registered for at least 12 credits. It’s recommended you take around 15 credits each semester to stay on track for graduation. To take more than 19 credits in a semester, you’ll need special permission from your advisor. Fifteen (15) credits is usually about 4-5 classes depending on what you’re taking. I recommend planning about 8-10 courses you're excited about because chances are not every course you have planned will be open by the time you register. It’s always good to have back-up plans. There will be a shopping period in the spring just like in the fall so you’ll be able to test out classes, add and drop courses, and perfect your schedule by the drop deadline. 


How do I choose which classes to register for?
Entirely up to you! I recommend reaching out to meet with your pre-major adviser for their insight. Talk to people in your prospective major(s) about what classes they liked. Sign up for a class because you’ve never learned anything like it and the subject sounds interesting.  The world (directory) is your oyster!


What if I still feel like I have no clue what I’m doing with courses and with my life?
Take a deep breath and please know that I am not exaggerating when I say that literally every single person on this campus has felt like that at some point. Everyone experiences some anxiety over course registration, especially if you’re unsure about what you want to take. Reach out to your friends, your faculty advisor, your Class Dean, etc. if you need some extra support. Furman Counseling is also a great resource - you can go once, you can go over and over again, whatever feels best for you. There are many resources available, and everyone wants you to be successful. So please don't be afraid to advocate for yourself!

Wait -- how do I register again?

It's been a minute since fall registration! If you need a refresher on how to register on Student Planning, please revisit Volume 3 of the First-Year Guide, and let us know if you have any further questions.


Summary/Reminders about Spring Registration:


  • You can register for all of your classes (not just FYE). 

  • You must register for whichever FYE course you have not yet taken; if you are in First-Year Writing in the Fall, for example, you must take First-Year Seminar in the Spring semester. 

  • We highly encourage you to reach out to and meet with your pre-major adviser before registration, however, you do not need their approval on Student Planning in order to be able to register for classes. 

  • You must register for a minimum of 12 credits.




Thursday, October 26, 2023

Need academic support? Peer academic coaches are here for you!

Hello First-Years!

Are you struggling to make deadlines, manage your time, and generally get things done? The Peer Academic Coaches are here for you! Your peer coach will offer guidance in navigating college and learn all the ways of "doing school" that aren't taught in the classroom. They will help you identify barriers to growth and how you can eliminate them, offer guidance in navigating Barnard and its resources, and strengthen academic skills so that you can reach your goals. There are limited spots for this resource, so get matched with a coach today! 

For more information, contact your Dean or Allie Johnston, Program coordinator for academic coaching at ajohnsto@barnard.edu

Wednesday, October 25, 2023

Resource Reminder

 

Particularly with all that is going on in the world and on campus these days, we know that you don't stop having feelings just because you're busy with schoolwork, and we want to remind you of the many  resources on campus where you can find peers, professionals, and space to get some support.  Below are just a few examples:



Furman Counseling Center offers several forms of support for Barnard students:
  • Students may visit Furman for free individual counseling. To learn more about how individual counseling works and why it may be of help to you at certain moments in your Barnard career, visit this page of the Furman website.
  • Our counselors offer one-hour workshops throughout the year to help students develop personal skills in a variety of areas, such as maintaining balance, stress management, romantic well-being, and smart emotional living. Watch for announcements and flyers about these workshops on the FY Blog and in the residence halls.




Your class deans are available to meet with you by appointment and during walk-in hours.  Click this link to find your dean's appointment link. Need to see someone but can't find an available time that fits in your schedule? Call the Deans Office for Advising and Support 212-854-2024 any time 9-5, Monday through Friday.
  • Worried about a class? Confused about registration?  Just need a friendly, nonjudgmental listener?  Have a question but aren't sure whom to ask?  We're here for all this and more.



The Wellness Spot is the health promotion program and wellness center at Barnard College. Our mission is to promote the health and wellness of Barnard students through a variety of programming activities. Our philosophical approach to wellness focuses on an integration of body, mind and spirit, which moves us toward a more proactive, healthier existence. We use as our model the Wellness Wheel which includes physical, intellectual, occupational, emotional, social and spiritual, service and cultural dimensions which represent all aspects of human growth. The open center of the wellness wheel reflects the notion that each "spoke" impacts on the others and that we cannot be truly healthy if we neglect any aspect of the wheel. However, it is important to remember that gaining total wellness is a journey and a process that continues throughout life.








Your  Res Life staff are on site, trained, and ready to listen and support you.








    Being Barnard
    's
     mission is to provide a holistic approach to sexual violence prevention through campus wide campaigns, educational programming, one on one health consultation services, community building, outreach, advocacy, and intervention. Sexual assault and interpersonal violence affect students of all genders, identities, and backgrounds and are widely recognized to not be isolated issues but part of a much larger societal picture. As such, it is our hope that by addressing a multitude of interwoven topics such as healthy relationships and sexuality, affirmative consent, personal boundaries, self care, bystander intervention, and social identities & power that we may help reduce and, one day, eliminate sexual
    assault and violence from our campus and global communities.

    Contact:  Want to know how to get involved? General questions and inquiries about the initiative can be directed to the Being Barnard office - BeingBarnard@barnard.edu!


    Office of Title IX and Nondiscrimination

    Barnard College is committed to providing an environment free from discrimination, harassment, and retaliation. The Nondiscrimination and Title IX Office endeavors to work collaboratively across campus to further the goal that faculty, staff, and students be able to work and study in a campus community free from discrimination and harassment. As such, the Office provides outreach, education, supportive consultation, and response services to all members of the Barnard community. Dr. Elizabeth Scott-Francis, Executive Director for CARES Outreach and Response, serves as the Title IX Coordinator for the College. 

    We are operating in-person on the First Floor of Elliott Hall
    Monday through Friday (closed on holidays) from 9 a.m. to 5 p.m.
    Email: nondiscrimination@barnard.edu
    Phone: 212-854-3362 (CARES Response Line; indicate you're calling to speak with the Title IX Coordinator)


    105 Hewitt 212-854-HELP (4357)

    The Rape Crisis /Anti-Violence Support Center (also referred to as the RCC or Center) provides peer and professional advocacy and education to the entire University student community. If you are a survivor of sexual assault and would like to talk to someone immediately, call 212-854-HELP to speak to someone and/or schedule a time to meet. Advocates assist survivors by accompanying them to the hospital, health services, the police, public safety, court, campus disciplinary proceedings and other resources. They also help survivors make informed decisions about reporting and disciplinary options. Advocates receive a minimum of 50 hours of training and are supervised by Columbia and Barnard counseling clinicians.

    Learn more about sexual violence resources through men's peer education, RCC peer educators, and other advocacy/outreach services.



    Nightline is an anonymous, nonjudgmental peer listening hotline that primarily serves the Columbia/Barnard community and its affiliates by providing them with a listening and referral service. Staffed by committed, caring, and trained Columbia/Barnard undergraduates, Nightline offers a safe space for you to talk about anything that is on your mind. Operating by the mottos, "We are here to listen" and "We are here to get you through the night," Nightline is here to listen to anything you have to say; no problem is too big or too small.
    • Nightline is here to listen every night of the academic year from 10:00PM-3:00AM at (212) 854-7777.
    • Anonymous: All Nightline peer listeners, excluding the Directors of Nightline (who no longer take calls) are anonymous, and remain so during the entirety of their time at Barnard/Columbia. Callers also have the privilege of anonymity--listeners do not ask callers to identify themselves, nor do they have means to gather this information. The phones used by Nightline have no caller ID.
    • Nonjudgmental: No matter what you want to talk about, be it sexual orientation, depression, eating disorders, family, friends, or just stress, we are willing to listen and will never judge a caller on what you have to say. No problem is too big or too small.

    Communication Tips: Emails, Asking for Extensions, and Phone Calls

    So you have a question that you can’t Google an answer for. What to do? It’s time to contact a real human being and ask for help. But wait, you’re not on campus or you don’t want to leave your bed. Don’t worry! You can still ask via ~email~ or with a ~phone call~.

    But how do you properly ask someone a question via phone, email or IG dms? How do you write an email that’s effective, short, yet still polite and respectful? How do you make a phone call when you have no idea who will pick up? As people who have written a few emails in our day and have made more than 5 phone calls, here are some tips and tricks:

    Emails
    The most indirect, direct form of contact that leaves an electronic paper trail. Here’s how to write an effective and short email:

    • Opening 
      • You should always begin your email with a greeting. “Hello”, “Good Morning/Afternoon”, or “Hi” are all appropriate openers. If you know the name of the person you’re emailing, put it! Whether it’s a professor, dean, or faculty member, always include their name and title, if applicable. Professor Smith, Dean Jones, or Mr./Ms. Doe are all nice and polite ways to address them. If you’re emailing your TA, a classmate, or someone you know personally, using their first name is fine. 
        • Save “To Whom It May Concern” for your cover letter
        • If you’re emailing a general office email (like registrar@barnard.edu), then using just a greeting like “Hello!” is fine
    • First Paragraph
      • If you’re emailing someone for the first time, introduce yourself! It can be super short, like “My name is Nancy Drew and I’m an incoming first-year at Barnard College and I have a question about registration.” Just give some context to the person you’re emailing about who you are and why you’re emailing.
      • In this paragraph, ask your question in plain language. You can go in detail later, but just give a brief gist of what info you’re looking for here.
        • Pro Tip: If you have a question about a specific course, include the entire course name and course code when writing. For example, if you wanted to ask about First-Year Writing: Critical Conversations, say First-Year Writing: Critical Conversations, not just First-Year Writing. As you know, many courses have similar names so being precise from the get-go makes it easier for everyone.
    • Second Paragraph
      • If your question requires some in-depth explanation, explain it in a second paragraph. Again, use full course names and be as precise as possible. Explain things fully and don’t assume anything. Just because it makes sense to you when you use shorthand terms, doesn’t mean it’ll make sense to the reader. 
      • If your question is extremely complicated or you have a ton of questions, it’s best to call on the phone or meet in person. Emails are meant for short correspondence.
    • Closing Line/Paragraph 
      • Thank the person you’re emailing! Again, this can be super short like “Thanks in advance for your help!” or “Thanks and let me know if you have any questions!” 
      • This part just wraps up an email without abruptly finishing.
    • Closer/ Sign Off
      • Sign your email!
      • Great sign-offs are “Best”, “Thanks”, or “Have a great day”. We’re sure many of y’all were taught to use “Sincerely” but that’s just weird. It’s a little too formal and old-fashioned, but if that’s your vibe go for it!
      • Finish with your first and last name
    • Tips to remember
      • If you have a lot of questions, try to condense them down to one email. Don't flood someone's inbox with emails after emails that contain one question each.
      • Most people will only check their emails between 9-5 on work days. If you email over the weekend, don't expect a response until Monday.
      • Remember that the person you're emailing is doing other things to. If you email a professor, they may not respond right away because they could be teaching a class, holding office hours, or just living their life. Typical email etiquette is to respond within 24 hours, so wait a day or two.
      • CHECK YOUR BARNARD EMAIL DAILY. This will be the place where every single announcement and form of communication will go. It is imperative that you stay up-to-date with your Barnard email. 
      • On a related note, if you're emailing someone at Barnard, use your Barnard email. Some people's filters will send a non-Barnard email to spam. Always use your Barnard email when conducting Barnard business.


    A full example email, for your use:


    Hello Professor Smith!

    I hope your day is going well. My name is Nancy Drew and I’m an incoming student at Barnard and I have a question about your BIOL-BC1501 Introduction to Organismal and Evolutionary Biology Course. Is this course recommended for students with little background in biology?

    I took biology my freshman year of high school and really enjoyed it, but I did not take AP biology nor the AP exam. Any advice you could give on placement would be great.

    Thanks in advance for your help!

    Best,
    Nancy Drew


    Asking for an Extension:

    Want to email your professor and get an extension on an assignment? Sometimes we all need is another day or so to complete something; professors are generally understanding of this, and this piece by Best College is a great guide to how to craft an email asking for an extension. If you have any further questions on this, let us know! We're happy to help advise you on the best way to approach asking for an extension on an assignment or midterm.

    Phone Calls
    The fastest, most direct way to contact someone (and the most feared). Do you need an answer right now (if it’s between 9:00 AM and 5:00 PM on a non-holiday weekday)? Then call an office!

    Making phone calls can be stressful, but it’s actually super easy and relatively painless. Here’s how to make a great phone call.
    • Rehearse What You’re Going to Say
      • There’s nothing worse than talking on the phone and you keep saying “um”. Practice what you’re going to say! Just rehearse it in your head a few times so you have a plan about what you’re asking for. This makes phone calls smoother and shorter so you can get back to your Netflix binge. 
    • When someone answers, introduce yourself!
      • Say your name and why you’re calling. If you’re calling a general office phone and would like to speak to someone specific, ask if you can speak to them. Example: “Hi, my name is Leslie Knope and I’m calling to ask a question about recycling to Michelle Obama. Is Ms. Obama available?”
      • More than likely, if you call an office you will be transferred. EVERY TIME YOU’RE TRANSFERRED TO SOMEONE NEW, RE-INTRODUCE YOURSELF AND STATE WHY YOU’RE CALLING. The new person you’re talking to probably has no clue about who you are and why you’re calling. When they say “hello” don’t just say “hello” back, state who you are! There’s literally nothing more awkward for us than answering the phone and saying “hello” just to get a “hi” back. HELP US HELP YOU.
    • Ask your question
      • Be as clear and concise as possible. Speak clearly and loudly so your words don’t get jumbled on the phone.
    • End your call
      • If the person has given you any information, repeat it back to them to make sure you have it correct. Example: “So we’re scheduled to have a meeting next Monday at 3:00 PM in your office?”
      • Wrap up and end your call really quick:
      • A great way to end your call is to say “Thanks so much for your help! Have a good day, bye!” 
      • Done! That’s literally all you have to say.

    You’ll write a ton of emails and make a solid amount of phone calls in college. It’s better to get the hang of it now, than a year or two down the line. These are life skills you can take with you forever, so we hope this helps!