Bear Essentials

As published in the Barnard Bulletin on September 28, 2008

Bear Essentials Archive

LAST DAY TO DROP A COURSE for the fall 2008 semester is Tuesday, October 7. Please pick up the appropriate form at the Registrar's Office. All students are expected to enroll in a minimum of 12 points each semester. Academic advisers must approve course drops.

UPCOMING PRELAW EVENTS (open to all Barnard and Columbia students): Harvard Law School Information Session: Sunday, 9/28, 12pm, 310 Warren Hall (Columbia). Boalt Hall (Berkeley) Law School Visit: Thursday, 10/2, 6-7:30pm, location TBA. Dean of Admissions Edward Tom will discuss Boalt Hall's admissions policy, interdisciplinary curriculum, and research centers. Cornell, Duke, NYU and Stanford Visit: Monday, 10/6, 6-7:30pm, Barnard 304. Admissions Deans will discuss the law school admissions process and talk about their schools in a panel discussion format.

STUDY ABROAD INFORMATION SESSION: Are you just beginning to consider a semester or year abroad? Come learn the basics from Dean for Study Abroad Advising Gretchen Young. Wednesday, October 1, 12-1pm in 328 Milbank.

STUDY ABROAD FAIR: The Dean of Studies Office and the Columbia Global Programs Office invite you to the Study Abroad Fair on Friday, October 3, 12:30-4:30pm, in the Roone Arledge Auditorium, Lerner Hall. Over 40 programs representing 50 countries will participate.

FINANCING STUDY ABROAD: With the current state of the economy we need to take additional steps to ensure that a semester abroad remains affordable. Join Linda Reals and Dean Young for a financial planning session on how to be financially savvy when planning for study abroad. Tuesday, October 7, 12:15 -1:15pm, in Career Development Seminar Room.

SCHOLARSHIPS FOR STUDY ABROAD: Are you interested in studying abroad in Asia, Africa, Central and Eastern Europe, Eurasia, Latin America and the Caribbean, or the Middle East? Would you like to apply for a scholarship to study abroad? If so, please attend the Study Abroad Scholarship/Fellowship Information Session on Wednesday, October 8, 12-1pm, in 227 Milbank.

STUDENTS INTERESTED IN STUDYING ABROAD: As you begin to consider studying abroad, we encourage you to obtain a passport if you do not already have one. International students are encouraged to speak with either Dean Kuan Tsu or Dean Starks about the impact of studying abroad on their visas. To schedule an appointment, please call 212-854-2024 or stop by the Dean of Studies Office, 105 Milbank.

FREEMAN-ASIA AWARDS of up to $7,000 are available for students participating in undergraduate study abroad programs in East and Southeast Asia. For information on eligibility criteria and the online application process, please visit the Freeman-ASIA website at www.iie.org/freeman-asia, and feel free to meet with Dean Young. The deadline for Spring 2009 is Wednesday, October 15, 2008.

PROGRAM PLANNING MEETINGS FOR THE SOPHOMORE CLASS: Deans Christina Kuan Tsu and Ani Bournoutian have scheduled Program Planning meetings for sophomores on Monday, October 27, 5- 6pm, and Thursday, October 30, 12-1pm. Both meetings will be in Held Auditorium (304 Barnard Hall). Sophomores should attend one of these meetings.

ALL NEW PREHEALTH PROFESSIONS STUDENTS (premed, prenursing, predental, prevet, prepharmacy, etc) should be sure that Paula Hercules (phercule@barnard.edu), in the Dean of Studies Office, has your current Barnard email address for future notices of important and relevant events.

TUTORING AVAILABLE: Forms to request a peer tutor in certain biology, chemistry, math, economics, and language courses are now available in the Dean of Studies Office. Tutoring will be provided in small groups (2-3 students) once a week for an hour. If you need a tutor for CHEM BC2001 (General Chemistry I), CHEM BC3231 (Organic Chemistry II), or PHYS V1201 (General Physics), you should go to the tutoring help rooms that have been established for these courses. More information is available in the Dean of Studies Office.

BC STUDENT HEALTH SERVICE CLINICIAN ON CALL, 866-966-7788, provides medical advice for urgent situations that occur outside of the Health Service open hours (M-F, 8:30am-5pm). You can call the Clinician-on-Call anytime the BC Student Health Service is closed during the academic year, including Election Day holiday, Thanksgiving, winter, and spring breaks.

FREE FLU SHOTS are available for students in the Barnard Student Health Service, 9:30-11:30am, on Tuesdays and Thursdays. Just walk in. If you are not able to make these times, please call for an appointment. Students with chronic illnesses are especially encouraged to get a flu shot!

DAUGHTERS OF ALCOHOL AND SUBSTANCE ABUSE USERS GROUP: If you grew up in a household with a parent who abused alcohol or drugs, you are not alone. According to a 2004-2005 study by the National Institute on Alcoholism and Alcohol Abuse, one out of four people come from a home where one or both parents abuse alcohol or drugs. Although now in college, many students continue to deal with problems at home-- their own feelings of anger or guilt, concern about siblings, or the demands of parents. This group offers a safe and confidential place to discuss these and other concerns with other students who really understand. Group Leader: Hilary Colenso, PhD. Contact hcolenso@barnard.edu or call 212-854-2128.

PARENTAL LOSS SUPPORT GROUP: This group is for any student who has lost a parent recently or in the more distant past. This group explores ways in which the loss of a parent has had an impact on your life in large and small ways. You don't need to feel sad or depressed to join this group, just curious about your life now. If you are interested in joining the group please call 854-2092 to make an appointment to speak briefly with Giselle Harrington, Ed.M, group facilitator. We meet Wednesdays, 6-7pm, in the Furman Counseling Center Conference Room.

STUDENTS IN RECOVERY: Being a student and being in recovery can be a challenge, but it can also be an exciting and rewarding experience. This group offers support to students who are at various points in their recovery process. Open communication is facilitated by a comfortable and nonjudgmental environment in which students can share their experiences, frustrations and successes. Group Leader: Hilary Colenso, PhD. Contact hcolenso@barnard.edu or call 212-854-2128.

THE WRITING CENTER, in 18 Milbank, is a place where Barnard students in all disciplines can come to talk about your writing. The Writing Center is staffed by Barnard's trained peer tutors, the Writing Fellows. All staff members are seasoned readers of undergraduate writing across the curriculum. For further information, including how to sign up for appointments, please visit the Writing Fellows website: www.barnard.edu/writing. Questions should be directed to either Pam Cobrin, Director of the Writing Program (pcobrin@barnard.edu) or Ditty Vick, Senior Writing Fellow, Writing Center Administrator (jvick@barnard.edu).

THE RAPE CRISIS/ANTI-VIOLENCE SUPPORT CENTER is currently accepting applications for Peer Counselor/Advocate volunteers to help survivors of sexual assault, abuse, and relationship violence. Volunteers receive training by professional psychologists, are certified as Rape Crisis Counselors by the State of New York, and gain valuable counseling experience. You can make an incredible difference for many survivors in our community. Applications are due Wednesday, October 1. Training will be held on Fridays, 10am-3pm. You can download an application at www.health.columbia.edu, or email Anna Tekippe at art2110@columbia.edu for more information. Peer Counselors are available every night from 7 to 11 p.m.; call 212-854-HELP. Peer Advocates are available 24 hours a day, 7 days a week; call 212-854-WALK.