eBear

Online Program Filing

Academic Calendars

Policies and Procedures

Directory of Classes, Pencilbook

Summer Course Approval

Transcripts

Contact the Registrar

 

POLICIES AND PROCEDURES

Dean's List

The Dean's List, which includes the names of students who deserve special mention for scholarship, is compiled at the end of each academic year.  To be eligible, a student must be enrolled at Barnard for both terms and complete at least 12 letter-graded points each term with a minimum grade point average of 3.4 for the academic year.  (P-graded points are excluded.)  Her grade point average will be based on all her letter grades in the A+ to F range.

Dropping Courses

Courses may be dropped by submission of an Application to Drop a Course, available at the Office of the Registrar.  The form requires the signature of the class adviser (for a first-year student or sophomore) or the major adviser (for a junior or senior) and must be returned to the Office of the Registrar before the absolutely firm deadline published in the College Calendar (for fall 2008, October 7; for spring 2009, February 24).  The form also requires the class dean's signature for students dropping below 12 points.  Courses dropped by the deadline will not be recorded on the permanent transcript.

If withdrawal from a course is approved after the deadline to drop and by the deadline to withdraw (for fall 2008, November 13; for spring 2009, March 26), the course will be recorded on the permanent transcript with the notation W (Withdrawal).  

Action on any course which ends prior to the above dates must be taken before the last class meeting. 

No adjustment of fees (including any laboratory fees) is made for any course dropped after the deadline for program filing.

Incompletes

You may pick up an Application for Incomplete at the Barnard Registrar's office.  (If you have Adobe Acrobat 4 you can download and print this form by clicking here.  Remember that this is a two-sided form--print both pages--and that you will need three forms, one for the instructor, one for you, and one to be submitted to the Registrar's Office.   You can fill out the top of page one online, before printing both pages.)

Submitting work for an Incomplete:

The instructor will have designated the student's FINAL deadline, which may be no later than the College deadline of the first day of classes for the next Autumn term (September 2, 2008).  All work MUST be in by this date.  If the instructor's deadline is after the early incomplete deadline, the student has the option of submitting work earlier to have the "I" removed from her record, but she may submit it no later than the date specified by the instructor.

Follow procedure 1 or 2, below, for submitting work:

1. TO REMOVE 'I' FROM YOUR RECORD (THE EARLY INCOMPLETE OPTION):

(N.B. Work must be submitted to the Registrar’s Office for the ‘I’ to be removed from your record.)
If you deliver the work in person If you mail in the work
Put it in an UNSEALED ENVELOPE addressed to the instructor (if address is off campus, please affix stamps) and present it to the Office of the Registrar by

3:30 p.m. January 16 (Friday) for fall incompletes;

4:30 p.m. June 9 (Tuesday) for spring incompletes.

 Put it in an unsealed envelope addressed to the instructor (if address is off campus, please affix stamps). Enclose that envelope in another, sealed envelope and send it to:

Registrar, Barnard College, 3009 Broadway, New York, NY 10027-6598.

The postmark on this envelope must be dated January 16, 2008, or earlier (for fall incompletes), dated June 9, 2008, or earlier (for spring incompletes).

— OR —
2. To receive credit for courses recorded as ‘I’ (the usual Incomplete option):
a. Give paper directly to your instructor before September 8, 2009, unless the instructor specifies an earlier date. (Do not leave a paper at the Registrar's Office after January 16.) TO SECURE A GRADE, FILE A WORK COMPLETED FORM WITH THE REGISTRAR.

b. If you do not complete the work due before September 8, 2009, or BEFORE AN EARLIER DEADLINE SET BY THE INSTRUCTOR, you will receive a grade based on the work you did complete with the missing work averaged in as zero.

Policies governing Incompletes:

A student may for compelling reasons request from her instructor an Incomplete by means of written approval on forms available at the Office of the Registrar.  The deadline for filing the Application for an Incomplete is the last day of the reading period.  However, in a course without a final examination, the deadline is the day before the final paper is due if that date precedes the last day of the reading period.

A student may request an Incomplete if she is unable to complete coursework other than a final exam.  A student who cannot take the scheduled three-hour final exam must follow the procedures for requesting a deferred exam and will receive an X as part of her permanent grade.

There are two Incomplete options.  The "Early Incomplete" option requires submission of unfinished work to the Registrar soon after the end of the term by the date designated in the College Calendar (for fall 2008, January 16, 2009; for spring 2009, June 9, 2009) and results in the removal of the "I" notation from the transcript.  The second option extends the deadline to the first day of classes for the next Autumn term, but the "I" notation remains on the permanent transcript and is joined by the final letter grade.   A student must have the permission of her instructor to qualify for an Incomplete, and she is required to use the form, which is a written guarantee of the terms set forth in it by the instructor.

The student, in submitting the Application for an Incomplete, signs the following agreement:

I fully understand the responsibilities implicit in my decision to apply for this INCOMPLETE, and I understand the risks involved, specifically that:

(1) credit for this course may be forfeited if the instructor cannot be reached for the letter grade that would grant me this credit;

(2) it is my responsibility and obligation to notify the Office of the Registrar, by completing the appropriate form, on the date that the missing work has been submitted to the instructor, and that failure to comply will result in the conversion of the "I" in accordance with the rules on the front of this form.

The Application for an Incomplete must be filled out in triplicate.  One copy is submitted to the Office of the Registrar, one copy is left with the instructor, and one copy is retained by the student.

Procedures for L Classes

Recognizing L classes

An L course is a class limited to a particular size. In the online Directory of Classes, if you click on the section number and see a maximum enrollment listed, it is an L course. It may be taught at Barnard or at Columbia.

Some L classes also require approval from the instructor and/or the department. If eBear (in the Comments and Reminders box) or the online directory of classes indicates that some permission is required, obtain the necessary approval(s) AND complete the online L procedure. If there is a special procedure listed in the packet sent to you by the Office of the Registrar, follow this procedure.  You are not required to show proof of approval to the Registrar.

The L procedure

L signup will take place August 29 - September 12.  Students will do L signup through eBear, during appointment times displayed on the eBear program screen.

Pass/D/Fail Option

[Click here to read Instructions for Electing the P/D/F Option Via eBear]

Rules Governing the Pass/D/Fail Option

A student who entered Barnard:

  • as a first-year in or after fall 2003 may take a maximum of 23 points for a grade of P.

  • as a transfer in or after fall 2003 may take a maximum of 22 points for a grade of P.

  • prior to fall 2003 may take a maximum of 21 points for a grade of P.

The governing conditions follow:

  • You may not elect the Pass/D/Fail option for:

    • First Year English.

    • classes going toward your minor (if any).

    • classes in your major field.

      • You may elect the P/D/F option for a class in your major field ONLY:

        • if it will NOT be used to fulfill a major requirement; and

        • if it exceeds the number of points required for the major; and

        • with the specific approval of the Department Chair.

  • A Pass/D/Fail request must be filed for each course taken P/D/F.

    • A course that appears on your program in two parts (e.g. lecture and lab) requires a separate P/D/F request for each part.

    • A two-semester course requires a separate P/D/F request for each semester.

  • A request for P/D/F must be filed by the deadline.

    • A P/D/F request is irreversible after the deadline.

    • You may not request P/D/F retroactively.

  • Your instructor will not be informed that you have elected the Pass/D/Fail option.

    • Your instructor will assign you a letter grade, which will be converted to P/D/F.

      • A letter grade of A+ through C- will appear on your transcript as a P.

      • A letter grade of D will appear on your transcript as a D.

      • A letter grade of F will appear on your transcript as an F.

      • While a grade of P is not included in your grade point average, grades of F and D are included.

      • Information on the letter grade assigned to a course taken Pass/D/Fail will not be released.

Physical Education

ALL STUDENTS:

Do not include Phys Ed on your advance program.

You must include any Phys Ed classes (including team sports) on your final program, which you will file in September/January.

Barnard Physical Education classes begin the first Monday of each semester.  Once you have secured a place in a Phys Ed course, you must enter it on your online program.

Columbia Phys Ed classes are limited enrollment. You may sign up for them during limited enrollment sign-up at the Barnard Registrar's Office in September and January, starting on the first Thursday of the semester.

Dance technique courses may also be used for the PE requirement.
 

STUDENTS ENTERING BARNARD IN FALL 2003 AND THEREAFTER

First-year students (and transfers entering with fewer than 24 points) are required to complete 122 points, of which 2 are for PE.  There is a limit of one point per semester for PE, and a maximum of 2 points of the 122 required for the degree.  Students must complete one semester of PE by the end of the first year and a second by the end of the junior year.

Transfers entering with 24 points or more are required to complete 121 points, of which 1 is for PE, taken either at the previous institution or at Barnard.
 

STUDENTS ENTERING BARNARD BEFORE FALL 2003

First-years (and transfer students with fewer than 24 transfer points) must complete one semester of physical education by the end of the first year and a second by the end of the junior year. 

Transfers entering with 24 points or more must take one semester of physical education, if they did not have two comparable courses at their previous college, and are expected to fulfill that requirement by the end of the junior year.

You will not earn any points for a Phys Ed class, even after you have fulfilled the Phys Ed requirement.

Summer Course Approval

Barnard College does not offer summer session classes.  The granting of course credit for summer courses taken at other accredited institutions (including Columbia summer session and Barnard's dance program) is treated as transfer credit and is subject to some additional regulations.  The maximum number of summer points that can be applied toward the degree for course credit is 16, subject to the approval of the Committee on Programs and Academic Standing (CPAS).  Although a student may not receive degree credit for summer courses exceeding this maximum, she may fulfill degree requirements with additional summer courses, subject to the approval of CPAS, and in some cases, subject to satisfactory performance on a Barnard placement examination. 

The full regulations on credit for summer study are available at the Office of the Registrar on the Application for Approval of Summer Session Courses.  The student may learn in advance whether the courses she wishes to take in summer school meet the approval of CPAS by completing the form (which includes obtaining the written approval of the chair of the relevant Barnard department and of the student's adviser) and submitting it to the Office of the Registrar well before the end of the Spring term.  Although the application may also be retroactive, the student places herself at risk of being denied degree credit if she fails to receive prior written approval from CPAS.

[If you have Adobe Acrobat Reader 4, you may print out our form (click here: Summer Course Approval).   Please note that this is a two-page (or two-sided) form.  YOU MUST SUBMIT BOTH PAGES.] To be credited toward the degree, courses must be given at accredited institutions.  Courses should meet for at least 5 weeks and must meet for at least 35 hours.  If your proposed course does not meet these criteria, you must file the Summer Petition.  No undergraduate lecture course that meets for under 35 hours will be approved.

The Registrar's Office will apply credit to the student's transcript when we have on file both the approved Application and an official transcript (sent directly to the Registrar's Office by the institution attended) showing that the student completed the coursework with a grade of C- or higher.

[Procedures for specific departments: Political Science.]

[Click HERE for Columbia University Summer School information.]

  • AMOUNT OF CREDIT
    • To be credited toward the degree, courses must be given at accredited institutions.  Courses should meet for at least 5 weeks and must meet for at least 35 hours.  If your proposed course does not meet these criteria, you must file the Summer Petition.  No undergraduate lecture course that meets for under 35 hours will be approved.
    • No more than two courses for a total of no more than eight points may be taken in a single summer session of no less than 5 weeks. (Some institutions may have more than one session in a summer.)
    • Courses that earn fewer than 3 semester credits or 5 quarter credits will not be accepted in fulfillment of College requirements. They may count toward the 120 points for the degree. (3 quarter points are equal to 2 semester points.)
  • GRADES
    • Credit will be given only for grades of C- or higher. P (Pass) is not acceptable.
    • Summer course grades are not included in the Barnard grade point average but they will be included in the calculation for Latin honors.
    • These courses and grades may, however, be considered by graduate or professional schools, which normally require the submission of an applicant's transcripts from all the colleges attended.
  • CREDIT TOWARD THE DEGREE

No more than 16 semester points of summer session credit may be counted toward the degree.

  • LANGUAGE REQUIREMENT
    • No prior approvals are given for summer session courses taken to satisfy the requirement.
    • The requirement may be fulfilled only as specified in the catalogue or by passing the language placement test in September after taking summer session courses.
    • No credit will be given for a language course, whether or not taken to fulfill the requirement, if it is at the same level as a previously credited course.
  • MAJOR REQUIREMENT
    • A minimum of six courses in the major must be taken in the autumn or spring terms while the student is enrolled at Barnard.
    • Additional major courses may be taken in the summer if approved by the major adviser and the major department chair.
  • TRANSFER STUDENTS

    Summer session credit (even Barnard Dance credit) may not be counted in the minimum 60 points which must be completed at Barnard, or in the minimum of six courses which must be taken in the major while you are enrolled at Barnard.

  • APPROVALS
    • The Application for Approval of Summer Session Courses must be signed by the appropriate Barnard department chair(s), your adviser, and, in the case of summer study abroad, the study abroad adviser, before being submitted to the Registrar's Office for approval by CPAS.
    • Catalogue descriptions of courses (other than Columbia) must be attached for evaluation by each chair and adviser and CPAS.
    • Documentation of summer session start and end dates and of the hours of class meetings must be attached to the Application.
    • Those Columbia courses and Barnard dance courses which in general do not require approvals in the fall or spring terms do not require department chair's approval.   NOTE:  All courses for major credit require approvals, including Columbia courses and Barnard Dance courses.
  • Fees

    A fee of $100 will be charged to your account when credit is applied toward the Barnard degree for summer courses other than those taken at Columbia.

     

(Once a student files the application, she will normally receive notification of the Committee's action within three weeks.)

Certifications/Verifications

 Current students needing certification or verification of their enrollment status for purposes such as insurance, educational loans, other school applications, etc. should make such a request through eBear to the National Student Clearinghouse:  In the Registrar area of eBear, click on the EnrollVerif tab.   NSC’s Student Self-Service is free and secure, and enables students to print enrollment verification certificates.

Requests for certifications or verifications are only for the current semester and any past semesters (starting fall 2006) that the student attended Barnard.

Requests for the current semester can be processed only after the student has registered.  Until a student has registered, neither Barnard nor NSC can confirm enrollment.

A parent needing verification of a daughter’s enrollment, for a health insurer or other requestor, should ask the daughter to obtain the verification through the eBear link to the National Student Clearinghouse.

There is no charge for this service.

A graduate wishing certification of her degree should make such a request in writing, with signature, and submit any required forms to the Office of the Registrar.

There is no charge for this service.  

Please allow five working days for completion of certification or verification.

 (An alumna who has Adobe Acrobat Reader can click here and print out our form.

__________________________________

Statement of Accreditation

Student Records and Information

The Family Educational Rights and Privacy Act of 1974 (the Buckley Amendment) stipulates that students may have access to their official files and that no transcripts may be issued without their written request. A further explanation may be found in the College Calendar and Student Handbook, distributed each year to all enrolled students.

Also in accordance with the Buckley Amendment, Barnard has the right to make public, at its discretion and without prior authorization from the student, the following information: name, class, home or college address and telephone number; major field; date and place of birth; dates of attendance at Barnard; degrees; honors and awards received; and previous school most recently attended. The law also gives students the right to place limitations on the release of this information. A student who wishes to do so must file a special form with the Registrar, 107 Milbank, each year by September 15. In practice, the College does not indiscriminately release information about individual students.

Notification of Rights under FERPA

Calculation of GPA

The grade-point average is a weighted average.  This means that you cannot simply average your grades, but must also account for each course's point value, as indicated below.

The grade-point average printed on Barnard transcripts is your Barnard GPA.   (Overall Barnard GPA appears on transcripts printed since August 1997.)  It includes only classes that you took during the academic year as a registered Barnard student.  It does not include work done at other institutions, such as study leave or summer school coursework.  Any grades indicated on the transcript in parentheses are not included in the Barnard GPA.

To calculate your GPA, follow these steps, or click here to use the interactive GPA calculator.

  1. Total the number of points you have for each grade (e.g., 12 points of B+).
  2. Multiply the number of points by the numerical value of each letter grade (e.g., 12 points of B+ = 12 x 3.3 = 39.6).
  3. Total your number of points (exclude any points with a grade of P, I, X, or no grade; include any points with a grade of F).
  4. Add all the totals in step 2, for your total number of quality points.
  5. Divide the total in step 4 by the total in step 3.  This is your GPA.

If you attended Barnard under the course system (rather than the point system), you should use the course value (e.g. 1.0 or 1.25) instead of point value.

If you wish to calculate your overall GPA, include all courses.  For your Barnard GPA, include only courses taken during the academic year while you were a registered Barnard student.  For your major GPA, include only courses in your major.

Number of points of:   Quality points

A+

  

X

4.3

 =  
A   X 4 =  
A-   X 3.7 =  
B+   X 3.3 =  
B   X 3 =  
B-   X 2.7 =  
C+   X 2.3 =  
C   X 2 =  
C-   X 1.7 =  
D   X 1 =  
F   X 0 =  
TOTAL      

  Total quality points ________ / total points ________ = ________

Elementary Language

 

As stated in the Barnard College Catalogue:

Although credit for the first semester of an elementary language is not normally granted unless a more advanced course is completed, a student is granted one exception maximum to this rule on written request to the Registrar.

The Elementary Language form is available at the Registrar's Office.

If you have Adobe Acrobat Reader 4, you may click here to complete and print out a copy of the form, which must then be submitted to the Registrar's Office.

©2008 Barnard College | Columbia University | 3009 Broadway, New York, NY 10027 | 212-854-2011