Bear Essentials

As published in the Barnard Bulletin on April 5, 2009

Bear Essentials Archive

REMINDER FOR SENIORS: If you have not yet turned in your commencement RSVP, you must do so at once. Please bring your form to the Dean of Studies Office (105 Milbank). If you will not be finished with all the requirements in May but wish to participate in the ceremony, you must seek Dean Schneider's permission immediately. Please call 212-854-2024 for his hours. Other questions may be directed to Ms. Lillian Appel, the Commencement Coordinator (lappel@barnard.edu).

ACADEMIC STANDING REPORTS: The Dean of Studies Office is receiving reports from faculty members about students who seem to be having difficulty in particular courses. If we receive one for you, we will ask you to meet with your adviser or Class Dean to talk about ways of improving your standing. We hope that the reports and conversations will be helpful to you.

WRITING FELLOW APPLICATIONS AVAILABLE: Do you like writing? Do you like working with your peers? Please consider applying to be a Writing Fellow! Writing Fellows are specially selected and trained Barnard undergraduates who staff the Barnard Writing Center and work with their peers to strengthen student writing in all disciplines. The Center seeks strong readers and writers, but equally crucial to being a Writing Fellow is an ability to connect with other people. First-years and sophomores of all majors are encouraged to apply. For more information, or to apply, please visit our website at www.barnard.edu/writing or visit the Writing Center in 18 Milbank. Applications are due Wednesday, April 8, at 1pm.

NEED FINANCIAL AID FOR 2009-2010? Applications are due Friday, April 17. All documents can be downloaded or linked to from the Financial Aid website www.barnard.edu/finaid. Click on "Application Procedures" and "Returning Students" and you will be connected to all required forms. There are also links to connect to and complete the Federal FAFSA form and the CSS PROFILE form on-line. Please note: All materials should be sent in one packet by the deadline to College Board IDOC, PO Box 4017, Mt Vernon, Illinois 62864 and not to the Barnard Office of Financial Aid.

FIRST-YEAR STUDENTS: All first-year students who need to enroll in a First-Year Seminar next fall should participate in the lottery for seminar placement in early April. Dean Hollibaugh will send information to those students by email about seminar offerings and procedures no later than April 1.

PRELAW STUDENTS: There will be a prelaw informational meeting on Wednesday April 15, 5-7pm, in Milbank 225. Students who are planning to apply to law schools during the 2009-2010 academic year should attend.

ADVANCE PROGRAM FILING FOR FALL 2009: Please read the Registrar's Program Planning memo (on paper and online) and the online information on Barnard limited-enrollment courses. Programs must be entered online, and approved by your adviser online, by 4:30pm on Monday, April 27. Please check with your adviser early on to find out when s/he will be available to meet with you.

VISIT SNAP PHOTOGRAPHY EXHIBIT: Barnard’s 8th annual photography exhibit and contest entitled SNAP: See New Abroad Photos will be on display from April 21-24. The exhibit, held in the James Room, showcases photographs by Barnard students who have studied abroad. Join us for the opening reception on Tuesday, April 21 from 5 to 6:30pm where the winners will be announced.

ALL STUDENTS GOING ON STUDY LEAVE/ STUDYING ABROAD: Please fill out the study leave and waiver forms available at the Dean of Studies Office by Monday, April 27, or as soon as you are admitted to the program you will attend. Please submit this form in lieu of filing a program. If you have not yet been accepted into your study abroad program by April 27, please contact Dean Young to inform her of your situation.

TRAVEL WELL~~~~~~ TRAVEL SAFE! If you are planning to study abroad in the fall, please contact the Barnard Student Health Service at (212) 854-2091 to schedule a pre-travel visit prior to the end of this semester. If you will travel abroad this summer, you should schedule an appointment immediately. You may need to update routine vaccines or you may need recommended or required vaccines based on travel destination (the CDC is our resource for www.recommendationswww.cdc.gov/travel). A pre-travel visit consists of any needed vaccination and travel health counseling. Travel health counseling covers topics such as water and food precautions and personal protective measures against mosquitoes and insects that carry disease. Depending on where your study abroad program takes you, you may need prescriptions for malaria, traveler’s diarrhea, altitude sickness prevention and more...Please contact Nicole Casten, RN Travel Health Coordinator, with any questions at (212) 854-2091.

NEW STUDY ABROAD BLOG: Check out www.barnardabroad.blogspot.com for all the latest news on approved programs, upcoming information sessions, scholarships, summer opportunities, international events here on campus, students currently abroad and much, much more!

SPRING LISTENING HOURS: The Furman Counseling Center offers evening residence hall walk-in sessions. No appointment necessary. No concern or topic is too big or small. Whether the financial climate has you stressed and strained, or senior thesis and job searching feels overwhelming, or you need a place to talk out the final push towards exams or summer planning, or you just don’t know what’s bothering you but you think something is, drop by one of our Listening Hours and we’ll help you sort it out. Listening Hours are open to all Barnard students. They are held by Counseling Center staff on Tuesdays in Plimpton Hall, 7-9:30pm, and Thursdays in Elliott Hall, 7-9:30pm.

STRESSED OUT? Every Wednesday, 12:15-1pm, there's a Stress Management workshop in the Well Woman office (119 Reid), facilitated by therapists from Furman Counseling. No sign up necessary, just show up. Come once, come every week!