Spring 2020 Archive
Overview
Barnard has moved to virtual classes starting Wednesday, March 11, 2020 through the end of the spring semester in accordance with Columbia University.
Barnard’s Center for Engaged Pedagogy and IMATS have partnered on training materials and other assistance for both students and faculty. See Virtual Class Resources and Instruction for details.
Spring 2020 Archived Student FAQs
Academics
Will all my classes be online?
Yes. All Barnard and Columbia classes will continue to be offered online at scheduled times through Zoom for the remainder of the semester.
If I am returning home to a different time zone, how should I attend my virtual classes?
It is advised to always attend your classes in real time if possible; however, recordings will be made available to accommodate students in significantly different time zones.
What if I need software or technology to be able to access courses?
Information about assistance with access to software or technology, including WiFi/Internet, and other resources can be found on the Virtual Class Resources and Instructions page.
Have there been any changes to grading for the Spring 2020 semester?
As of March 20, 2020, all Barnard and Columbia classes moved to a mandatory Pass/Fail grading system for the spring semester.
With the transition to online learning, we recognize that students no longer have equal access to the on-campus resources that help us succeed. Moreover, every student faces individual challenges in their learning environment, be it connectivity, access to computer hardware and software, or demands on time and attention due to living situations, family concerns, or health concerns. As such, a mandatory Pass/Fail policy is the most equitable way to assess our academic excellence this semester.
For more details on the Pass/Fail policy and answers to commonly asked questions, please see Dean Grinage and Provost Bell’s message from March 23, 2020. More information about end of semester procedures can be found on the Advising & Class Deans webpage.
Have there been any changes to the academic calendar or academic deadlines?
The last day to withdraw from a course was changed from March 26 to April 2, 2020.
The full academic calendar, including other deadlines, can be found on Barnard’s website.
Will there be a change to Fall 2020 course registration?
No, advance registration for fall semester 2020 courses will be open online as scheduled from April 20 to April 24.
What if I need financial assistance to continue my studies because of the repercussions of COVID-19?
If you are in need of financial assistance to continue your studies in the spring 2020 semester or to move out of the residence halls, please consider applying for a COVID-19 Emergency Grant at Barnard. The grant provides emergency financial assistance to eligible students who are experiencing hardship that could adversely affect their educational persistence. The main criteria for eligibility are the demonstration of a genuine need and that the student’s capacity for continued study may be in jeopardy due to financial hardship.
Eligibility and the COVID-19 Emergency Grant application are detailed here.
I'm a graduating senior. What about Commencement?
As of April 9, 2020, Columbia has announced that both University Commencement on May 20th and individual schools’ Class Days will be held virtually. President Beilock will present the Barnard Class of 2020 for the official conferral of their degrees at the virtual University Commencement ceremony on Wednesday, May 20th.
However, Barnard Commencement will not be virtual: after seeking feedback from the senior class, the College remains committed to holding an in-person ceremony to celebrate this year’s graduates. We don’t yet know what that will look like, but we are exploring options for the fall or next spring and will continue to share updates as we move forward.
Housing and Dining
What is the College’s move out and refund policy?
- Students who moved out of the Barnard residence halls and returned their keys by March 30, 2020 receive a prorated refund of housing and meal plan fees. Each prorated refund is calculated based on an effective date of March 23rd and is adjusted for any previously issued financial aid awards. Barnard is working to process each within 30 days of the student’s move-out date.
- Students whose circumstances require are able to remain in the residence halls until the end of the semester. These students will not receive a refund on housing and meal plan fees.
- Please note there will be community safety inspections on all occupied rooms (whether by people or their belongings) conducted throughout the remainder of the spring semester.
What is the College’s prorated meal plan refund policy for commuter students?
If you are a commuter and wish to request a prorated meal plan refund, please email your request to bursar@barnard.edu by March 30, 2020. Please note that your refund will be adjusted for any previously issued financial aid award.
If I am no longer on campus, what are my options for moving my belongings out of my room in the residence halls?
Due to possible restrictions on domestic travel amid the coronavirus outbreak, we urge students & their families to make remote arrangements to pick up their belongings, rather than travel to campus.
To move out your belongings:
- Beginning Wednesday, March 18, students are permitted to have third parties (friends, family, moving companies, etc.) pack belongings in their absence.
- You should fill out the Third Party Room Access Form on the Packing, Moving, and Storage page to have ANY third party access your room and pack/remove your belongings in your absence. For students on need-based financial aid, the College will help support moving costs; please consider applying for a COVID-19 Emergency Grant.
- Companies that can assist with remote arrangements to pack, store, and/or ship items can be found on the Packing, Moving, and Storage page. As of March 25, there are packing, moving, and storage vendors that continue to operate as “essential businesses” following the recent NY State Executive Order.
Are dining services available for those who remain on campus?
As of March 11, the Diana Center Cafe remains open for students whose personal circumstances necessitate remaining on campus. Please note that limited kosher and halal options will be available. Hewitt remains closed for the remainder of the semester.
Information on Columbia Dining Services can be found on their site.
Who is allowed to access campus?
The 119th Street gates and the Quad gate are closed as of March 14, 2020. The main gate will remain open.
As of Monday, March 16, 2020, students who remain on campus are not permitted to have any visitors (short-term, daytime, or overnight) in the residence halls, with the exception of move-out assistance.
Is there any change to the Housing Lottery for fall semester 2020?
The housing lottery will now start on Monday, April 6 and run through April 30. For the updated timeline and information, please visit the Housing Lottery page of the Residential Life & Housing website.
Student Services
Who can access campus, and what campus services will be available for the remainder of the semester? Are all buildings open?
As of March 14th, the 119th Street and Quad gates are closed until further notice. The main gate will remain open.
As of March 30th and until further notice, everyone is required to show a Barnard or Columbia ID to access Barnard’s campus. No outside visitors will be permitted and all food delivery carriers should be met at the main gate.
As of March 16th, the Milstein Center is closed until further notice. Exceptions are provided for building occupants and key staff, such as service personnel and senior administrators, who will be able to enter via swipe access.
Please note that there will be limited campus services available throughout the spring semester. For more information on virtual library resources, please visit the Barnard Library webpage.
As of March 16th, the Diana Center is closed to the general public until further notice. The building remains accessible to CUID holders via swipe access through the main entrance.
Please note that there will be limited campus services available throughout the spring semester. For more information on virtual library resources, please visit the Barnard Library webpage.
- Please note that there will be limited campus services available throughout the spring semester.
- As of March 16, 2020 until further notice, the Milstein Center (including the Barnard Library) is closed to the general public as well as to students and most faculty and staff. Exceptions for access include building occupants and key staff such as service personnel and senior administrators; those individuals will be able to enter Milstein via swipe access.
- For more information on virtual library resources, please visit The Library webpage.
- As of March 16, 2020 until further notice, the Diana Center will be closed to the general public, but will remain accessible to CUID holders via swipe access through the main entrance.
Can I access Beyond Barnard while off campus?
Yes. Beyond Barnard staff are available for all questions that you might have regarding internships, jobs, graduate school, and more. Feel free to send an email to beyondbarnard@barnard.edu or log onto Handshake to sign up for events, request advising, and access resources.
Is Aetna student health insurance valid while I am off campus? Student Health Insurance?
Your coverage is valid and will fully cover you, even if you are off-campus, through August 21, 8/21/2020. More information about Aetna student health insurance Student Health Insurance is available on the Student Insurance FAQs on the Primary Health Care Services page.
Can I access Primary Care Health Service while off campus?
As advised by the New York City Department of Health, we have changed how students will be seen at Barnard’s Primary Care Health Service (PCHS) to help ensure healthy people aren’t spending time in a confined space with those who aren’t feeling well.
- Beginning, March 12, PCHS will no longer have walk-in hours. Instead, students who would like to be seen for any medical reason at PCHS will have to call the office at (212) 854-2091 and be triaged by a medical provider. The provider will determine if you need to come into PCHS or if you can be treated over the phone.
- You may speak directly with a PCHS provider Monday through Friday between 9:30am and 4:00pm.
- On the weekends and after 4:00pm Monday through Friday, the clinician-on-call is available to triage inquiries at (855) 622-1903.
Furman counselors will continue to be available to meet/speak with students via teletherapy. Please call the regular office line, (212) 854-2092, on weekdays between 9:00am and 5:00pm. The clinician on call is available after hours at (855) 622-1903.
I have a campus job. Will I be able to keep working?
Students currently working in spring semester on-campus jobs can elect to work remotely from March 23 through the end of the semester. To be eligible for remote work, students must complete tasks that align with their supervising department’s needs. Students can work up to the same number of hours/week that they have worked in their existing job(s) this semester. Students who have not worked a campus job since January 1 are not eligible to work on campus until after the end of the 2019-20 academic year.
In the event that a supervising department is unable to arrange remote work, students should inform Beyond Barnard (beyondbarnard@barnard.edu) and staff will reassign them to one of a limited number of roles on a case-by-case basis. Priority will be given to students on Federal Work Study, or who have a Barnard College Job, as part of their financial aid package. Hourly workers should continue to submit timesheets via TimesheetX, which supervisors must approve. Students paid by stipend similarly can continue to receive payment for their work on remote projects approved by supervisors.
Questions can be sent to Beyond Barnard (beyondbarnard@barnard.edu).
If I will be off campus for the remainder of the spring semester, how can I forward my mail?
- Effective March 30, 2020 and until further notice, Mail Services will automatically forward first class mail to students’ permanent home addresses currently on-file with the Registrar’s Office.
- Please note that forwarded mail is processed through the U.S. Postal Service and may take up to two weeks for delivery.
- If your mail should not be forwarded to your permanent home address, please complete the Student Mail Forwarding Form Available on myBarnard under Student Services.
- Students whose circumstances prevent them from leaving the College’s residential halls for the remainder of the semester will continue to have their mail delivered to their Altschul mailboxes until the end of the spring semester.
If you have specific questions about your mail, please send an email to mailservices@barnard.edu.
What about my packages?
If your mailbox is open for the remainder of the semester, you may receive packages. As is the College’s standard practice, any package not retrieved within two weeks of arrival may be returned to the sender at any time.
If your mailbox is closed for the remainder of the semester, as is the College’s standard practice, your packages will be handled according to the policies of the respective carrier:
- The U.S. Postal Service (USPS) will forward personal packages sent by first class and priority mail to U.S. addresses only. Store-bought merchandise received will be sent to USPS for forwarding, however, per their current policies, these packages will likely be returned to the vendor and not forwarded to the recipient.
- Other packages, including those from private carriers such as FedEx, UPS and DHL, are given back to the carrier and returned to the sender.
If you have specific questions about your packages, please send an email to mailservices@barnard.edu
Will my mail be forwarded to a non U.S. address?
Yes, regular letters and cards can be forwarded to a non-U.S. address. However, please continue to check the U.S. Postal Services’ website at www.usps.com for any suspension of international mail.
Students on F-1 Visas
Exactly how will our visas and travel rights be affected by online classes?
All schools hosting students on F-1 visas have received government guidance stating that students are required to continue to make normal progress in a full course of study, but that the Student and Exchange Visitor Program (SEVP) intends to be flexible with temporary changes. For this reason, moving to online classes or being out of the country will not affect student visas. Barnard will document any decisions made and will be available to provide this information to SEVP upon request.
Do I need a new I-20 to enter the US next semester?
Your I-20 must be valid at the time of your return, and you should check the travel signature on page 2. That signature is valid for 12 months. Students who need a new signature should contact iss@barnard.edu.
What documents do students on F-1 visas need if they are going back home abroad and will not return until September?
In order to return to the US, students on F-1 visas will need:
- A passport valid 6 months into the future
- A valid (not expired) F-1 visa
- A valid I-20 signed for traveling within the previous 12 months
My F-1 visa is expiring soon. Will I be able to return to the U.S. with my expired visa?
If you leave the U.S. and your visa will have expired by the date you wish to re-enter the United States, you will need to obtain a new F-1 visa at your local U.S. Embassy or Consulate abroad before you can return. (Canadian citizens do not need a visa to enter the U.S.)
You are allowed to remain in the U.S. with an expired F-1 visa, as long as your current I-20 is not expired or you have submitted an OPT application.
Note: This information is based on our current understanding as of March 9, 2020. As this situation develops, Barnard may update this page to be consistent with any future guidance from the applicable government agencies.
Spring 2020 Archived Staff FAQs
What do I do if I am anxious and nervous about coming to work?
The College is open and employees are expected to report to work. If you feel you cannot come to work, you should discuss this with your manager and/or Human Resources. We do recognize that information about this situation may cause stress and anxiety and that plays out for different individuals in different ways. If you find yourself feeling anxious, frightened, or worried, please contact Humana EAP (username: barnard :: password: eap).
What are Barnard’s current travel restrictions?
All Barnard-related travel, both international and domestic, is suspended for all students, faculty, and staff until further notice. Additionally, all Barnard students, faculty, and staff are strongly urged to postpone any nonessential personal international or domestic travel until further notice, particularly for people who are in locations subject to stay-at-home or similar orders.
The U.S. has also implemented travel restrictions. We suggest you closely monitor the Centers for Disease Control (CDC) Travel Warnings for any additions or changes in travel alerts as well as Executive Orders and guidance issued by U.S. Citizenship and Immigration Services, the Department of State, and U.S. Customs and Border Protection. Please note that the College's ability to provide assistance to travelers who wish to return to the United States from abroad is limited.