Barnard Basics webinar recording is now available!

Hello First-Years!

We have concluded the “Barnard Basics: Strategies for Success in Your First Year”webinar series! This was a virtual pre-orientation program hosted by the Program Coordinator for Academic Coaching, Allie Johnston. In her presentation, Allie talks about the skills and tools that will help in not only academic success, but in every aspect of life here at Barnard! Thank you to those who joined, and if you were unable to attend, no worries! -- You can access the recording to watch at your own convenience!

If you have any follow up questions from the webinar, feel free to reach out to Allie directly at ajohnsto@barnard.edu. She would be more than happy to chat further about the information discussed!

Best,

The First-Year Team

BCIT Cybersecurity Corner Newsletters! (July 1st and July 31st)

Hello First-Years!

We had just shared this week's newsletter from BCIT's Cybersecurity Corner in our recent email communication to the class today and wanted to share on our blog too! We also provided the first newsletter that we shared earlier this month back on July 1st prior to your first Barnard registration period, which you can find down below.

We will continue update the blog with further upcoming newsletters we share from BCIT over the next coming weeks. You can also find their newsletters complied on this document to view at your connivence as well, which will be updated!

Best,

The First-Year Team

(We hope that you keep up with your IT knowledge. Don't be like Patrick!)

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July 1st, 2026

Introducing the Cybersecurity Portal, which will be your go-to page for helpful cybersecurity resources, information on training, and an archive of past alerts and Cybersecurity Corner articles. 

One topic well represented on the portal page is phishing. That is because phishing is one of the most common ways that cybersecurity attacks begin. Common indicators of a phishing email or text message include:

• Increased urgency 

• An unexpected request for personal information 

• Unrealistic offers or requests 

• Generic signatures 

• Suspicious “From” addresses

• Suspicious links or attachments 

If you would like to learn more, you can check out these cybersecurity portal resources:

• Barnard’s phishing simulation tests

• Real phishes received at Barnard

• How to identify the REAL Barnard login page

• How to report phishing

For any questions, please reach out to Student Computing at help@barnard.edu or call 212-854-7172.

July 31st, 2026

Cybersecurity Corner

Job scams target college students more frequently than most people realize. You’re eager, you’re vulnerable, and scammers know it. Before accepting a job offer, check for these red flags:

• Unofficial “sent from” email addresses. For example, emails that do not have a barnard.edu or columbia.edu domain could be suspicious.

• Emails with an offer too good to be true. Trust your instincts. A high-paying job with little work without an interview process is likely a scam.

• Job postings that do not follow Barnard or Columbia standards

Learn more about recognizing phishing scams or protecting yourself from identity theft. For any questions, please reach out to Student Computing at help@barnard.edu or call 212-854-7172.