Bear Essentials

As published in the Barnard Bulletin on April 27, 2009

Bear Essentials Archive

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.

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.

THE MANDATORY PRE-DEPARTURE MEETING will be held on Wednesday, May 6th, 5-6:30pm, in 304 Barnard. This is a mandatory meeting for students studying abroad for the Fall 2009 semester and/or the 2009-2010 academic year. Dean Young will discuss many things you need to know before leaving as well as share important information from Health Services, Career Development, and Admissions. At the end of the meeting, there will be an opportunity to talk with Barnard study abroad alumnae who studied in many of the countries or regions where you will be going.

STUDENTS WHO WILL BE ON STUDY LEAVE IN THE FALL: Please complete the appropriate study leave forms and submit them to Dean Young by Monday, April 27. If you have not heard from your chosen program or institution by the 27th, please be in touch with Dean Young or Mr. Farrell to arrange for an extension. Please be sure to secure all other approvals (including financial aid clearance) before requesting Dean Young’s signature. These forms can also be printed from our website at http://www.barnard.edu/dos/study_abroad. Follow the link to “Before Leaving”. Until you submit these forms, your Barnard bill cannot be updated.

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!

INTERNATIONAL STUDENTS
All F-1 students who will be traveling outside the United States after the end of the semester must obtain a new signature on your I-20s prior to leaving the country if the last signature is more than six months old. You will need the new signature in order to be admitted back to the United States. Dean Kuan Tsu, Dean Starks and Mr. Farrell, all in the Dean of Studies Office, are authorized to sign I-20s. Seniors who are interested in working in the United States after graduation should make an appointment to see Dean Tsu or Dean Starks as soon as possible to begin the application process for optional practical training.

STUDY ROOMS: Students may reserve rooms 404 and 406 in Barnard Hall for study groups during reading days and exam week. To sign up for a room, please call 212-854-2024 or stop by the Dean of Studies Office.

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!

WITHDRAWING STUDENTS: If you do not plan to return to the College for the fall semester, and if you will not be on study leave, please meet with your Class Dean before the end of the semester to complete withdrawal procedures. If you decide to withdraw during the summer, please contact your class dean immediately.

YEAR-END REMINDERS FROM HEALTH SERVICES

Please pay outstanding Health Service bills. Failure to do so will delay or prevent you from registering for next semester. Seniors, your transcripts and diploma will be delayed!

All Students: The Health Service will be closed for clinical care for the summer after Friday, May 29. Please make sure you have enough allergy serum, birth control, acne medications, and any other medications you may need to last through the summer. Call HS (212-854-2091) to make an appointment to pick up any medications you'll need.

Barnard Students may be seen at Health Services at Columbia for urgent care needs only during the summer months. You will be charged a fee of $60 at the time of your visit which can be claimed on your Student Insurance or family insurance. Make sure that the provider gives you a receipt that contains all the codes for your visit (CPT & ICD9), the Health Service Tax ID# and the provider's name and title. Please visit www.barnard.edu/health for more information on reimbursement.

Basic and additional Optional Student Health Insurance can be extended through the summer months (please note that Optional Insurance can only be extended through the summer if you had Optional Insurance in the fall and spring). Seniors, you are eligible for this extension, too! The application deadline is June 8. Coverage is from May 26 through August 21. Please call HS for more info or download an application online: www.barnard.edu/health/summercoverage.htm.

If you are traveling to a foreign country over the summer or next semester, please make an appointment with the Health Service for a pre-travel visit to learn about required and recommended vaccinations and your destination's health care policies and concerns. Be sure to have enough of your prescriptions (in their original containers!) to last your trip.

Wear sunblock! Remember, hormonal birth control and some antibiotics can make your skin more sensitive to the sun.

YEAR-END ACADEMIC PROCEDURES: Please refer to Dean Blank’s e-mail message about end-of-the-semester completion of coursework, which has been sent to students and faculty members. We know that this time of year is often stressful, and we're counting on you to contact your Class Dean, your adviser, Counseling Services, and other student services if you need help.