Dear Students,
As a challenging semester comes to a close, I write to share a number of updates to academic policies and logistics that have been put in place to provide additional support to all who wish to utilize available resources. The College recognizes that many of you are experiencing difficulty, and we encourage you to be in touch with your faculty members, class dean, CARDS, and advisers as needed, in addition to reviewing the options outlined below.
Final Exam Information
Barnard will align with Columbia regarding final exam procedures, and faculty holding exams will provide a remote option for students who request it. If you are choosing to elect this option for your classes, you must inform your individual faculty members by the last day of classes, which is Monday, April 29, so that they may plan accordingly for the exam period. You are not required to share the reason you are electing this option. Faculty have been encouraged to offer flexibility to students when possible. More information about options for final assessments will be provided by your faculty in the days to come.
Honor Code and Academic Standing
We remind you that students are bound by Barnard’s Honor Code, which applies in situations of remote learning and assessments in the same ways it does for in-person exams.
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. To discuss your academic standing, please contact your class dean.
Incompletes, Deferred Exams, and Pass/D/Fail Information
Incompletes
Incompletes are to be given only in cases of illness, personal emergency, or other compelling circumstances. If you need to request an Incomplete, 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, including uploading email confirmation from your instructor.
For students who are not graduating in May 2024, the deadline to request an incomplete grade has been extended to May 10. Any graduating seniors who need to request an incomplete should be in touch with their class dean to discuss possible options.
As a reminder, the official College deadline for completing Spring 2024 Incomplete coursework is Tuesday, September 3, 2024. Individual faculty may also set an earlier deadline for the work to be completed. For more information, visit https://barnard.edu/registrar/grades-exams and scroll down to "Incomplete Grades."
Deferred Exams
Students may defer an exam due to illness or personal emergency on the day of the exam. If you need to request a deferral please fill out the Deferred Exam Form and review the procedures listed here: https://barnard.edu/registrar/grades-exams (scroll down to "Final and Deferred Exams.") Please be aware that deferred exams cannot be requested in advance of exam week.
Illness During Exam
If you become ill during an in-person or proctored remote 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.) 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. If you are ill for any unproctored or take-home exams, please refer to “Deferred Exams” above.
Pass/D/Fail Option
Students may elect the Pass/D/Fail option for two of their courses this semester, which is an increase from the standard allowance to select this option for one course. All other Pass/D/Fail policies remain in place. The deadline for electing the Pass/D/Fail option remains Monday, April 29. A class with a “pass” grade will not count towards the minimum credits required for dean’s list consideration. Note that graduating seniors are not eligible to uncover P grades in their final semester.
It is my sincere hope that this information, including adjustments to academic policy and practice, will be helpful to you. I wish you well in these final weeks of the Spring semester.
Sincerely,
Dean Grinage
