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

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.

• Furman also offers free and confidential support groups to our students.  To join one of our groups, or for more information, please call our front desk at 212.854.2092.

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)

Columbia Sexual Violence Response & Rape Crisis/Anti-Violence Support Center 

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!

History Program Planning Meeting

Zoom link located here!

FYS Workshop Info for Spring 2024!

To students taking First-Year Seminar in Spring 2024:

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 feel they would benefit from 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 Friday, November 3rd. 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 2024:

Dead and Undead

MW 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. Objects of study include texts by Zora Neale Hurston, Ovid, Montaigne, Shakespeare, Edgar Allen Poe, Nalo Hopkinson, and Mary Shelley; music by Camille Saint-Saëns; artwork by Hans Holbein and Breughel; television and film (Buffy the Vampire Slayer and Tim Burton’s Frankenweenie); and more.

Border Stories

TR 4:10-5:25pm

Professor Francesca Ochoa

The topic of this Seminar course takes an interdisciplinary approach to thinking about, and traversing, the constructs of the border. The U.S.- Mexico border delimits more than nations; it is both a political and a social geography marked by bodies of water, mountains, walls, ideologies, repression, and resistance. The crisis currently taking place at the border is an unfolding story with many narrators. We will study literary texts: fiction, poetry, and memoir written by those who know the border, and borderlands, intimately. We will also engage histories, social movement doctrine, and media coverage to mine the stories they tell.

Meeting for New & Prospective Psychology Majors!

Hello First-Years!

The Psychology Department will be hosting their "Meeting for New & Prospective Majors" on Thursday, November 2 from 4-5PM via Zoom! Come join them to learn more about majoring in Psychology!

Zoom Link: https://columbiauniversity.zoom.us/j/91984471778?pwd=LysrQXdva1FROXFrc0NNYzZhQ2dUQT09

Meeting ID: 919 8447 1778

Passcode: PSYCH415

Anthropology Departmental Program Planning Meeting

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

 

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

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

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

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

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

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

3.  In the google calendar that opens, go to the bottom right-hand corner and click on the blue square with the white plus sign (you'll know you're in the right place because when you hover your mouse there, text saying "Add to Google Calendar" will pop up).

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

How do I withdraw from a class with a W by the Nov 16 deadline?

 

How do I withdraw from a class with a W by the Nov 16 deadline?

 

The deadline to withdraw from a fall class is November 16. 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 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, 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. 

Note that the W will not appear on your record until the end of the semester when final grades are entered.

Pass/D/Fail available for Fall courses. Deadline is Nov. 16, 2023

 

Pass/D/Fail available for Fall courses. Deadline is Nov. 16, 2023

The last day to elect the Pass/D/Fail option is November 16, 2023. (this is also the W deadline)

Rules:

Current students may elect to P/D/F one (1) course per semester.  Courses that are only available with P/F grading are not counted. Courses where P/D/F grading is chosen but the grade is later uncovered will still count towards the credit limit.

The instructor is not informed when a student elects the P/D/F option. The instructor will assign a letter grade, which will be converted to P/D/F.  Because of this, students may see a letter grade in SSOL and should reference their Barnard transcript to see the P/D/F grade.

• A letter grade of A+ through C- will appear on the transcript as a P, and will not count in the GPA

• A letter grade of D will appear on the transcript as a D, and will count in the GPA

• A letter grade of F will appear on the transcript as an F, and will count in the GPA

Classes taken for P/D/F grades can be applied to general education requirements but not to major or minor requirements.  

How to elect or revoke the P/D/F option

After the registration deadline for a term, students can elect P/D/F grading for any registered course.  The deadline to make this election (or to undo it - also called “revoking”) is posted in the academic calendar.  Students may not request p/d/f retroactively.

To elect the p/d/f option:

-Go to portal.barnard.edu.  (Use a browser other than Safari).

- Under the Academics tab, click on "Planning your courses", and then "Request P/D/F for a course".

- Log in

-Click on Pass/D/Fail.  

-Click “P/D/F” in the Select column for each course you want to take p/d/f.  Be sure to submit a request for each part of a course (e.g. lecture and lab). 

-Click submit.

 

After 3 business days, you can return to the same portal page to check the status of your request.

-If your request is still pending, you will see your request but no action.

-If your request has been approved, you will see “Approved” in the PDF Status column 

-You will also see “Grading: Pass/Fail” on the course section in Student Planning.

 

To undo/ revoke your P/D/F election (must be done prior to the p/d/f deadline):

-click on “Revoke” in the Select column.

-Within 3 business days, the “Grading: Pass/Fail” note will have returned to “Graded” in Student Planning.

-If you revoke the P/D/F election, it will not count towards your p/d/f credit limit.

-If you drop or officially withdraw from a class that you had previously P/D/F'd, you should also revoke the p/d/f so that it won't count towards your P/D/F limit.

Human Rights Open House

Hello First-Years!

Please join the Human Rights Program for our Open House on Tuesday, October 24th from 6 - 7PM in 111 Milstein. Come talk with faculty, meet other students, learn about the combined major, find out about Spring 2024 courses, and ask all your questions! Pizza and cookies will be served! All are welcome!

Best,

The First-Year Team

Barnard Education Program Open House!

Hello First-Years!

The Education Program is hosting an Open House this coming Tuesday, October 17th from 6:00-7:15 PM in Milstein LL001.  

See attached flyer!

Please come and learn about our program: 

- Our Education Studies Major

- Our Minor tracks in Education Studies and in Urban Teaching! The latter leading to certification to teach in the NY public schools. 

We also have a collaboration with Urban Studies, through their Major Specialization in urban education. 

We hope you'll join us for discussion and snacks! 

Please RSVP here, as it helps us with those snacks!

Best,

The First-Year Team

Reminder: Majors Fair tomorrow!

Urban Studies Program Planning Meeting!

Hello First-Years!

The Urban Studies Program will hold its Spring 2024 Program Planning Meeting on Tuesday, October 24, 6:00-7:30 PM in Diana LL103. Stop by to have all of your questions about the major and prospective classes answered!

Cognitive Science Open House!

Hello First-Years!

Please join the Barnard-Columbia Cognitive Science Program for hors d’oeuvres and desserts at our Open House on Thursday, October 12 from 5:30PM-7PM in Sulzberger Parlor (3rd floor Barnard Hall). Come talk with faculty, meet other students, learn about the major and the requirements, and ask all your questions! All are welcome!