Concerned about a student? When, why & how to contact a class dean.

September 19, 2017 

As Barnard faculty and staff, one of the most important jobs we have is to support the personal and academic success of our students. Oftentimes, faculty members are the first to notice a change in a student’s behavior and become concerned about the student’s well-being.

Here are a few tips on when, why and how to contact a class dean if you have concerns about one of your students.

When might you involve the class dean when you’re concerned about a student?

• Excessive absences
• Frequent missed assignments or extension requests
• Lack of communication about missing work or class
• When contacting you to ask for an extension or explain an absence, the student mentions dealing with a difficult personal situation:  health, family, mental health
• You’re not sure which resource(s) would be most helpful to a student

How might you contact the class dean?

• Copy her/him on an email to the student expressing concern about something and/or encourage the student to contact the class dean.
  • If you do this, please emphasize that you’ve heard that the class dean is a helpful resource for students who may be struggling personally or academically; it is not like getting sent to the principal’s office when you’re in trouble in high school.
• Call or email to consult if you’re not sure how concerned to be.
• Submit an Early Academic Report: https://barnard-advocate.symplicity.com/public_report

Who to contact

• Rebecca Grabiner, First-Year Class Dean, rgrabine@barnard.edu
• Christina Kuan Tsu, Sophomore Class Dean, ckuantsu@barnard.edu
• TBD, Junior Class Dean
• Nikki Youngblood Giles, Special Adviser to the Senior Class, nyoungbl@barnard.edu
• Natalie Friedman, Dean of Studies, nfriedma@barnard.edu 

Office of the Dean of Studies: Milbank 105, 212-854-2024, https://barnard.edu/dos

Barnard's Policy regarding religious holidays

Just a reminder as we enter the fall about our policy regarding religious holidays.

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 2017-18 religious holidays can be found here. 

Don't forget that previous INSIGHTS are available at:
 INSIGHTS ARCHIVE.