How to elect the P/D/F option by the **May 4** deadline

The last day to elect or undo the p/d/f option is the last day of classes, May 4, 2026 (unlike in past years, it is not the same as the W deadline -- W deadline remains March 26).

**Special note for graduating seniors-- you cannot uncover grades of P from a course taken during  your last semester. 

Also, note that courses taken p/d/f this year are subject to the current rules.  Read all about p/d/f on the Registrar's website .

• Barnard students can elect P/D/F grading in one course per term during the academic year (fall/spring).  This is in addition to any courses with mandatory pass/fail grading.  A class in which the P grade is uncovered is still counted towards the one course per term P/D/F limit.
• Classes taken for P/D/F grading can be applied to general education requirements. 
• You cannot elect P/D/F grading for any course that is needed to fulfill major or minor requirements.  It is your responsibility to be sure that you understand this policy and to consult with your department if you have any questions.  Please note that if you elect P/D/F grading in a class that your Department Chair determines is required for your major or minor requirements, the “pass” grade will be administratively uncovered by the Registrar’s Office at the point of graduation, which could affect both your term and cumulative gpa. Dean’ List status can also be affected by this.

Grading

The instructor is not informed when a student elects the P/D/F grading option. The instructor will assign a letter grade in SSOL, which will be converted to P/D/F on your transcript.

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.

 

To elect the P/D/F Grading option:

-If you are interested in electing Pass/D/Fail (P/D/F) grading for a particular course, we recommend that you speak with your academic adviser or class dean to discuss this decision and whether it will be beneficial for your specific situation and longer-term goals.

-This option is open in Vergil through the P/D/F deadline (see academic calendar).

-If you are already registered for the class, click the "manage" button and change the grading option to P/D/F.

-If you are newly registering for the class, you can select the P/D/F grading option while registering.

This form can be used to elect Pass/D/Fail for a course where that option is not available in Vergil.

 

 Pro Tip:

-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.

FAQ:

Q: My course doesn't have a P/D/F option in Vergil! Does that mean I can't take it p/d/f????

A: No! If you can't elect p/d/f in Vergil, you can use this Slate form to do it!

FAQ: My course doesn't have a P/D/F option in Vergil! Does that mean I can't take it p/d/f????

DON'T WORRY! If you can't elect p/d/f in Vergil, you can use this Slate form to do it!

The rules governing p/d/f are on this Registrar website.

Junior Class Dean Walk-in Hours now available every weekday afternoon! -- Monday walk-ins will be from 2:30-3:30PM on 3/9 and are canceled for 3/13!

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 -- Walk-ins will be from 2:30-3:30PM on 3/9

• 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 -- Walk-ins are canceled on 3/13

• 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.

NOTE: 

If you need to schedule an appointment with Dean Siegel, please note that she typically works remotely on Tuesdays, so all meetings will be conducted virtually over Zoom or via phone call ONLY on that day

If you need to schedule an appointment with Dean Grabiner, please note that she typically works remotely on Fridays, so all meetings will be conducted virtually over Zoom or via phone call ONLY on that day

The Peter Juviler and Dennis Dalton Human Rights Fellowship Fund

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

Tow Summer Research Fellowship!

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.

The Barnard Writing and Speaking Center is Open!

 

We are excited to announce that the Writing and Speaking Center is open! Now, you can begin scheduling appointments to meet with our fellows.

The Center is here to support you at any stage of your writing or speaking projects—whether you’re brainstorming, drafting, revising, or preparing a presentation!

Writing Fellows are generous and critical readers who ask questions to help writers clarify, explain, expand, and explore their writing. We believe–and our practice reflects–that every piece a writer brings us belongs to the voice of the writer. We are active and interested observers. 

Speaking Fellows are trained peers who support students in all speaking-related projects and processes. This includes helping students overcome fears about speaking in public, preparing for presentations, facilitating or participating in classroom discussions, and more!

Science Writing Fellows are a subset of the Writing Fellows program. They support all students in developing tools to describe and interpret data, use scientific language clearly and concisely, and blend the skills learned in humanities classes with scientific ones. 

Creative Writing Fellows are a new subset of the Writing Fellows program. They support students working on creative writing of any form at any stage –brainstorming, revising, editing, receiving feedback, and more!

All fellows can work with all types of writing and students. You can make an appointment here

We look forward to working with you this semester!

Sincerely,

Pam Cobrin (pcobrin@barnard.edu)

Director, Barnard Writing Fellows Program

Daniela Kempf (dkempf@barnard.edu)

Associate Director, Barnard Speaking Program

Alex Watson (awatson@barnard.edu)

Associate Director, Barnard Writing Fellows Program

Diya Reddy (dkr2126@barnard.edu)

Program Administrator, Barnard Writing and Speaking Programs

Maisha Alam (malam@barnard.edu)

Science Fellow Coordinator, Barnard Writing Fellows Program

Academic Coaching walk-in hours!

We are now in the second half of the semester, 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 a space to get stuff done!

If you are feeling stressed about exams and papers, need help organizing your study plan, or want to learn some new study strategies, come chat with an academic coach. 

Sign up for a time that works for you using this RSVP form. Walk-in hours will be held before and after spring break and the two weeks before reading period. 

We hope to see you there!

How do I withdraw from a class with a W by the March 26 deadline?

 

The deadline to withdraw from a spring 2026 class is March 26. 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 in 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 on or before the W deadline, 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. 

6. Within a week or so, you will see a W next to the class on your transcript.

Undergraduate Statistics Open-House!

Please come to our undergraduate statistics open-house tomorrow, Friday the 20th, from noon to 3:00 p.m. in 309 Uris..  It is an opportunity to hear about the majors and minors and joint-majors in Statistics.  (The catering should be pretty good, too.)

Also, the Department is engaged in modernizing our undergraduate offerings in Statistics and would be very glad to hear your thoughts about your interests for content in data science, artificial intelligence, and classical statistics, how best to serve the need for training in statistical computation in this new AI world, and how to provide programming tailored to cohorts who want to understand the mathematics and theory behind the methods, and cohorts who care exclusively about developing skills and critical thinking for the use of methods.

PS: Please send email to dr105@columbia if you would like to be added to the Statistics Department’s list-serve for notices about research and funding and extracurricular opportunities in Statistics.

Student Information Session for PSY BC 3465x, 3466y on March 3rd!

Please take a look at the flyer down below for an upcoming information session for the Toddler Center Seminar (PSY BC3465x, 3466y) on Tuesday, March 3rd at 4:15PM in Milbank 018 if you are interested in learning about toddler development and gaining first-hand experience working with toddlers. It is an eight credit, year long (two-semester) course open to rising sophomores, juniors, and seniors. 

If you cannot attend the session in-person, you may join virtually over Zoom through this link here.

If you have any questions or to request an application, email toddlercenter@barnard.edu

You can also visit their page here for more information here

Peer Mentoring Program Hiring for 2026-27!

Access Barnard would like to share that their Peer Mentoring Program is now hiring new mentors for the 2026-27 academic year! Applications are due on Friday, March 6th!

Please see the flyer below for more information! You can find the link to the application here!