September 20, 2018

Student having problems in your course?
Remember to send an Early Academic Report (EAR)

Just a reminder as we move through the semester, if you have a student who is not performing well in your course please let the Dean of Studies Office know by using our Barnard-specific Early Academic Report (EAR). Although we know you will also receive the Columbia-generated Academic Difficulty Report in a few weeks, we hope you will instead use Barnard's EAR which is customized for Barnard and unlike Columbia’s document, does not ask you to just submit a grade on a student's current work, but instead gives you the opportunity to provide more insight into how and why a student might be underperforming. The EAR makes it easier for our Class Deans to communicate with you and the student’s adviser, and to work as a team to help improve the student’s academic performance.  The EAR can be found here https://barnard-advocate.symplicity.com/public_report and is also available on the myBarnard portal.

We also thought it might be helpful to share with you what happens once you submit the EAR. The form automatically generates a note to the student and their Class Dean, suggesting the student set-up a meeting with you, their adviser, and/or Class Dean to develop a plan to improve their academic performance. Most students are quick to address the issue with their instructors, advisers and Class Deans, but unfortunately, a few students will choose to do nothing after receiving the EAR notice. 

Through the EAR process, we encourage students to take responsibility for their academic performance and most will follow through. For the students who come to the Dean of Studies Office, the Class Deans use a mid-semester checklist to evaluate the student’s course work, asking such questions as: Have you been to see the instructor? Have you sought out tutoring? Are there personal issues that are affecting your performance? After that meeting, the Class Dean will contact you and the student about next steps. 

Barnard's Policy regarding religious holidays

Also remember our policy regarding religious holidays as you work with your students this fall. It is Barnard College's policy to respect its members' religious beliefs. In compliance with New York State law, each student who is absent from school because of religious beliefs will be given an equivalent opportunity to register for classes or make up examination, study, or work requirements that they may have missed because of such absence on a particular day or days. No student will be penalized for absence due to religious beliefs, and alternative means will be sought for satisfying the academic requirements involved.

Those responsible for the scheduling of academic activities or essential services are expected to avoid conflict with religious holidays as much as possible. If a suitable arrangement cannot be worked out between the student and the instructor involved, the instructor should consult the Associate Provost. If an additional appeal is needed, it may be taken to the Provost.

A list of the 2018-19 religious holidays can be found here.