Madness in The Welfare City: Freedom and Capture in American Social Service Systems (Anthropology BC3242) available for Spring 2026!

 The Anthropology Department would like to announce a new course being introduced for the Spring 2026 semester: Madness in The Welfare City: Freedom and Capture in American Social Service Systems (Anthropology BC3242).

You can find further information about the course down below as well as here!

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Madness in the Welfare City: Freedom and Capture in American Social Service Systems examines how contemporary welfare and nonprofit public health, housing, and mental health systems shape daily life and inner worlds. The course explores the psychic life of social service systems where care is often delivered by intermediary nonprofits. We examine how clients come to feel and/or understand that money is made off them, that they are being surveilled, manipulated, or disappeared inside care systems; and how these understandings and attendant feelings reflect the extraction and opacity characteristic of devolved social service systems.

Moving across ethnography, political anthropology, and psychoanalytic readings, we ask how these systems produce forms of distress that may appear as paranoia, withdrawal, or deadly forms of self-harm. How are madness and reason, greed and altruism, freedom and captivity, distributed in encounters with care providers on the ground?

By the end of the course, students will be able to connect political economy, affect theory, and psychoanalytic approaches to understand how decentralized welfare regimes alternately trap and exclude clients—a process that can be experienced as madness itself. Students will map a local care system for their final project.

Do you need support this summer for an internship or research work in the field of human rights, social justice, or peace studies? The Peter Juviler and Dennis Dalton Human Rights Fellowship application is due March 13, 2026.

The Peter Juviler and Dennis Dalton Human Rights Fellowship Fund supports summer research and internships for students studying human rights, social justice, and peace studies. This fund is open to all students. To apply, you must submit a proposal, budget, a letter of support from a Barnard or Columbia faculty member, and a letter of support from an affiliate organization by Friday, March 13, 2026.

Below are guidelines for the application: 

The Proposal (two pages maximum, double spaced, one-inch margins): A narrative description of the research project and how the funds will contribute to its success. Questions to consider: 

• Where do you intend to go? 
• What will you do there and how long will you need to stay? 
• Have you made contact with any on-site individuals or institutions whose cooperation will be critical to your research? If yes, provide details. 
• How has your research grown out of your academic pursuits? 

Letter of Recommendation: The faculty letter of support should be written by a person familiar with your project and should address both the importance of this project and your qualifications. 

Proposed Budget: A one-page detailed budget, preferably in chart form. Provide details regarding  expenses including transportation, daily living costs such as lodging and food, and other fees or costs associated with your project.  Past grants have generally been in the $2500-$3000 range.  

A letter of support from an affiliate organization: The affiliate letter should be written by a person who you will work closely with and has an understanding of how you will engage with the organization. 

If your project involves human subjects, please go to the Respectful Treatment of Research Participants page and click on the link for Student as PI Worksheet, and submit the completed form with your proposal. Proposals will be reviewed and assessed by the Faculty Committee on Honors. Bear in mind that although some members of the Committee may be experts in your field, most will not be; it will be wise to tailor your proposal accordingly. Grant recipients will be required to provide a report (of up to three pages) describing how the funding contributed to their project or overall academic or intellectual growth.

Please direct any questions to Professor Timothy Vasko, Director of the Human Rights Program, or to Dean Erica Siegel.

Submit Your Electronic Application

Juniors: Do you need funding for thesis-related travel this summer? Applications for the Tow Summer Research Fellowship are due March 13, 2026

The Tow Summer Research Fellowship supports senior thesis-related summer research projects that require travel, either domestic or international. To apply for funding, you must submit a proposal, budget, and letter of recommendation from a Barnard or Columbia faculty member by Friday, March 13, 2026. Below are guidelines for the application:

1. Brief Abstract (75 -100 words): Provide an overview of your thesis topic. 
2. Detailed Proposal (maximum three pages, double-spaced, one-inch margins): Provide details about the issues you intend to investigate. You are expected to address the following points:
   • Where do you intend to go? 
   • What will you do there and how long do you plan to stay there? 
   • Have you made contact with any on-site individuals or institutions whose cooperation will be critical to your research? If yes, provide details. 
   • Do you foresee any difficulties (e.g. linguistic, political, medical) and, if so, what precautions do you intend to take? 
   • How has your research grown out of your academic pursuits? 
   • How is your proposed work necessary to your thesis? 
   • Can you conduct your research with partial funding from this fellowship? What is the minimum amount that will allow you to move forward with your research?
3. Letter of Recommendation: The faculty letter of support should be written by a person familiar with your project—the person who will be supervising your thesis, for example—and should address both the importance of the research and your qualifications for carrying it out. 
4. Proposed Budget: Provide prioritized details regarding expenses including transportation, daily living costs such as lodging, and other fees or costs associated with your project. Past grants have generally been in the $1000-$4000 range. A chart form is best and should be included as one of the maximum three pages. 

If your project involves human subjects, please go to the Respectful Treatment of Research Participants page and click on the link for Student as PI Worksheet, and submit the completed form with your proposal. Proposals will be reviewed and assessed by the Faculty Committee on Honors. Bear in mind that although some members of the Committee may be experts in your field, most will not be; it will be wise to tailor your proposal accordingly. Grant recipients will be required to provide a report (of up to three pages) describing how the funding contributed to their project or overall academic or intellectual growth.

Please direct any questions to Dean Erica Siegel.

Submit your Electronic Application.

Health and Wellness - Welcome Back to Campus This Spring

 

Dear Barnard Students,   Welcome back to campus and to the spring semester. My name is Dr. Sarah Ann Anderson-Burnett, and I am the Assistant Vice President of Health and Wellness. I hope you had time over the break to rest and recharge. As you return to classes and campus life, our Health and Wellness team is here to support your physical and mental well-being.   Barnard Health and Wellness offers a range of confidential services to support you. Primary Care Health Service (PCHS) provides medical care, including routine visits, urgent concerns, sexual and reproductive health services, immunizations, and lab testing. To schedule an appointment, students should call PCHS directly (212-854-2091), which allows our team to help connect you with the right care as quickly as possible. We are located on the basement level of BrooksHall.    The Rosemary Furman Counseling Center, located on the first floor of Hewitt Hall, offers confidential mental health support, including individual counseling, group therapy, and urgent same-day consultations. If you are feeling stressed, overwhelmed, anxious, or just need someone to talk to, Furman clinicians are available to help. To schedule an appointment or request a consultation, students should call the Counseling Center directly (212-854-2092). After-hours mental health support remains available through ProtoCall by calling our office number.   Both PCHS and the Furman Counseling Center are confidential services. This means your visits and care are private, and information is not shared with parents or guardians without your permission, except in very limited situations required by law to protect safety.   We also want to be transparent about insurance. Barnard does not bill insurance for PCHS office visits, but insurance may be billed for certain tests or procedures, which can occasionally generate an EOB with limited information. Services at the Furman Counseling Center are not billed to insurance.  If you are covered under a parent or guardian’s insurance plan, Explanation of Benefits (EOB) statements may sometimes be sent to the policyholder. Our teams will review confidentiality and billing options with you before care is provided, and you are always encouraged to ask questions.   As the semester begins, please be aware that influenza activity remains elevated across New York City. If you are feeling sick, help protect yourself and others by:   •    Wearing a mask if symptomatic •    Washing your hands frequently •    Testing if you feel unwell •    Staying home when possible •    Get the latest influenza vaccine (available at PCHS and most major pharmacies)   COVID and flu tests are available for purchase in the health vending machine on the first floor of Brooks Hall, along with other over-the-counter medications and health supplies.   If you are feeling ill, please contact Primary Care Health Service to schedule an appointment. If symptoms occur after hours (including weekends), nearby urgent care centers are available, and our after-hours team can help guide you by calling 212-854-2091.   The spring semester can bring both excitement and challenges. Whether you are navigating stress, relationships, academics, or health concerns, you do not have to do it alone. Reaching out early and staying connected to care are important steps in taking care of yourself.   We are glad to welcome you back and look forward to supporting you this semester. Please don’t hesitate to contact the Health and Wellness team if you need assistance.   Warm regards,   Sarah Ann Anderson-Burnett, MD, PhD, FAAP Assistant Vice President of Health and Wellness Director of Health Services and Quality Improvement Barnard College

Junior FAQ: Can I take 2 classes that overlap?

Thanks to everyone who suggested we address this important question!

Short answer: NO

Even if a class may be recorded, you my not take two classes that overlap, as the expectation is that students will attend classes in-person and synchronously, as there is no substitute for the learning experience of interacting with faculty and fellow students in person and in real time.

Longer answer: Very occasionally, in very specific circumstances, and by petition only

Okay; how do I petition?

Contact your class dean for information about how to petition the Committee on Programs and Academic Standing to take overlapping classes. Once the semester begins, petitions submitted by Thursday will be considered at the following Thursday's CPAS meeting.

How likely is it that my petition will be approved?

Such petitions are only rarely approved. Petitions with a greater chance of success will include:

• Both classes are required (major or general education req)
• Both can only be taken this semester due to compelling reason like impending graduation
  
• Both faculty members are aware of the conflict and support the petition
• Course overlap is minimal, e.g. 10-15 minutes (including travel time!) once a week.
• You/your instructors have a plan to make up the missing content which is more than just watching a recording.
  

What should I do while I'm waiting to know if my petition is approved?

• Add a "Plan B" course to keep your options open
• If you're currently registered for both conflicting classes, stay in them. If your petition is not approved, you will ultimately need to drop one. If you don't drop one, the registrar will drop whichever was most recently added.
  
• If you're not registered for both classes, the system will not let you register for conflicting courses, though you may plan or waitlist for a course that conflicts with a registered course. We recommend that you strategically register for whichever course is more important and/or more likely to fill up if you wait.

How to search Vergil for classes with open seats or other relevant criteria

Did you know you can use the Course Search in Vergil to filter for classes that have open seats?

Select “Only show classes with open seats” in the search results!

There are a bunch of other useful things you can filter for, including  classes that satisfy Barnard General Education (Foundations) requirements, classes with a particular number of credits, etc. 

NOTE ON FOUNDATIONS REQS: for Barnard requirements, it's safest to cross reference anything found here with the Slate listing of courses approved for Foundations requirements. 

NOTE ON LAB SCIENCE: Do NOT rely on Vergil for acceptable lecture-plus-lab science pairings. See recent blog post for more info on this. 

Hold preventing you from adding/dropping courses? Want to know when ALL of your upcoming registration times are? Here's how to find out and address this

Holds

If you logged into Vergil and got an orange pop-up telling you a hold is preventing you from adding/dropping,

1. Click on the word Holds and an additional pop-up will tell you want kind of hold(s) you have. 
2. If you need to accept the terms/conditions for this semester or complete a survey, do that ASAP!  
3. Otherwise, contact the office that has placed the hold to address it ASAP.
4. Even if you don't need to register/add/drop right now, this is still a problem that needs to be resolved before it causes you any future issues!

 

Registration Times 

The box next to the holds box will tell you when your next registration time is or if you are currently in a registration time.  Click on it for a list of all of your upcoming registration times. Note that you can only make any changes to your schedule during a registration time (add, drop, waitlist, leave waitlist, etc.) 

Interested in taking an Anthropology Class?

Check out Anthropology UN3661 - SOUTH AISA: ANTHRO APPROCHES 

Course information can be found at the link below!

https://doc.sis.columbia.edu/subj/ANTH/V3661-20261-001/

The deadline to uncover a grade of P from Fall 2025 is Friday, January 30. Here's how to do that.

If you elected P/D/F grading for a class in Fall 2025, you have until Friday, January 30 to uncover it.  

You can do so through SSOL. Please click here

Then select "P/D/F grading" to view your letter grade and the option to uncover your grade.

You can only uncover your grade once the letter grade is listed on your SSOL page.

Junior Class Dean Walk-in Hours now available every weekday afternoon! -- Resuming next semester starting January 20th, 2026!

NOTE: Regular walk-ins are on pause beginning Dec 11, 2025. They will resume starting Tuesday, January 20th, 2026

Got a quick question?

Need to talk to a dean ASAP?

If you have something complicated or want to be sure you can talk at length, please make an appointment via Dean Siegel's online appointment link.

Otherwise, during the semester, you may walk in beginning Friday, Sept 5 at any of the times below.  

Mondays 3:30-4:30pm Eastern Time

Dean Siegel

• Enter waiting room via this Walk-In Hours Zoom Link or visit 105 Milbank,
  
• We will see students on a first-come, first-served basis. 
• If we run out of time and can't see you, we apologize for the inconvenience and encourage you to schedule an appointment, to try walk-ins on a different day, or for time-sensitive matters, to call the office at 212-854-2024 during business hours.

 

Tuesdays 3:30-4:30pm Eastern Time

Dean Grabiner 

• Enter waiting room via this Walk-In Hours Zoom Link or visit 105 Milbank,
  
• We will see students on a first-come, first-served basis. 
• If we run out of time and can't see you, we apologize for the inconvenience and encourage you to schedule an appointment, to try walk-ins on a different day, or for time-sensitive matters, to call the office at 212-854-2024 during business hours.

 

Wednesdays: Degree Audit Drop-Ins 3:30-4:30pm Eastern Time

Dean Grabiner

• Enter waiting room via this Walk-In Hours Zoom Link or visit 105 Milbank
• We will prioritize students seeking degree audit advice but will see other students if time permits 
• If we run out of time and can't see you, we apologize for the inconvenience and encourage you to schedule an appointment, to try walk-ins on a different day, or for time-sensitive matters, to call the office at 212-854-2024 during business hours.

 

Thursdays 3:30-4:30pm Eastern Time

Dean Grabiner

• Enter waiting room via this Thursday Afternoon Walk-In Hours Zoom Link or visit 105 Milbank.
  
• We will see students on a first-come, first-served basis. 
• If we run out of time and can't see you, we apologize for the inconvenience and encourage you to schedule an appointment, to try walk-ins on a different day, or for time-sensitive matters, to call the office at 212-854-2024 during business hours.

 

Fridays 2:00-3:30pm Eastern Time

Dean Siegel

• Enter waiting room via this Walk-In Hours Zoom Link or visit 105 Milbank.
  
• We will see students on a first-come, first-served basis. 
• If we run out of time and can't see you, we apologize for the inconvenience and encourage you to schedule an appointment, to try walk-ins on a different day, or for time-sensitive matters, to call the office at 212-854-2024 during business hours.

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   •    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 management, active 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. •    Deans’ Office Walk-in Hours (exam week only): If you have an emergent situation and need to consult with a dean during exam week, stop by 105 Milbank any time from 9:00am-5:00 pm (Thursday, December 11th through Friday, December 19th, not including weekend days) to see the available dean on call. If you need to walk in via zoom due to illness, please email doas@barnard.edu for the zoom link.   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.   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.   DEFERRED EXAMS:   Students may defer an exam due to acute illness or personal emergency on the day of the exam. Please note our updated guidance for examples of when deferred exams are appropriate. Please also note that deferred exams are not appropriate in the following instances and will not be approved in these cases:   •    Existing travel plans conflict with the exam date •    Concerns about passing the class •    Insufficient preparation for the exam •    More than one exam in a single day, provided that the student does not qualify for exam hardship as defined by the Registrar’s Office: three exams in a 24-hour period, or four exams in a 48-hour period. (This information, along with the form to submit in the event of exam hardship or conflict, can be found here.)    If you need to request a deferral due to acute illness or personal emergency, 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. Your request will be reviewed, and you will be sent an email with details once a decision has been made.   c) For Barnard classes, students should work with their instructor once the request has been approved to go over the details of their deferred exam. For students deferring a Columbia exam or students who receive testing accommodations through CARDS, Deferred exams will be given on Friday, January 23, 2026 and if applicable, Monday, January 26, 2026.   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). However, 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 11 (the end of Reading Period). If your course also has a timed final exam, please work with your class dean and also submit an official Deferred Exam request (see above).   As a reminder, the official College deadline for completing Fall 2025 Incomplete coursework is Wednesday, April 15, 2026. 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 or off-campus residence, 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. As noted in this policy, three or more incomplete, failing, or withdrawal grades may place a student on academic probation for the following semester. 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 Assistant Vice President and Vice Dean of the College - Student Support