Fulfilling the Requirement
Grading and Attendance Policy
Download a Make-Up Card
Students with Disabilities
Fulfilling the Requirement
Barnard students must complete two semesters of Physical Education to graduate. At least one course must be completed in the first year. The second must be completed by the end of the junior year. Completion of studio dance courses and/or participation on a varsity team may count towards completion of the Physical Education requirement. The Dance Department and Columbia Athletics should be contacted for enrollment in these courses. Transfer students must consult their transfer credit evaluation to see if Physical Education is required. A maximum of two credits will be awarded for Physical Education courses.
Grading and Attendance Policy
GRADING: Grading in Physical Education courses is based on attendance and participation. The attendance policy applies to all students enrolled in a course whether required or optional. Failure to adhere to the attendance policy will result in a grade of F.
ATTENDANCE: To be counted as present at a class meeting, a student is required to participate fully in all exercises and activities of the class during that meeting. Each student is allowed four (4) absences without penalty. These include absences for illness and any other reason.
- Only religious holiday absences may be made up.
- Classes begin and end at designated times.
- Two latenesses equal one absence. Attendance is taken at the scheduled starting time. A student is considered late up to 5 minutes after the scheduled starting time. No one will be admitted thereafter.
- For all extenuating circumstances, the student must contact her Class Dean and instructor immediately for recommendations.
- In the event that the instructor of the course is late, students must wait 15 minutes after the scheduled start time of the class before assuming that the class is cancelled.
- It is the student's responsibility to keep track of personal class attendance.
RELIGIOUS HOLIDAYS:
- Class missed for a religious holiday may be made up or taken as one of the 4 allowable absences.
- The student must inform her instructor before the holiday is taken.
- The absence(s) may be made up in advance of the holiday, but must be made up within two (2) weeks after the holiday.
- Students making up for a religious holiday must take a Make-Up Card with them to the make-up class. The instructor of the make-up event must sign the card. Students must then return the card to the instructor of their Physical Education course for credit.
TRANSFERS: Please refer to your transfer credit evaluation from the Registrar's office.
OPTIONALS: If space is available, a student may enroll in a course after completing the two semester Physical Education requirement or in a second course in the same semester as a required one. The second course in a semester is considered an Optional course and does not count towards fulfilling the requirement nor would point credit be awarded for it. Optionals must receive permission of the instructor before registering for the course.
DEFERMENTS: Deferments are given to students with compelling medical or academic circumstances. Once a deferment is granted, students must adhere to its time frame to avoid a grade of F. Contact the Department Chair for more information.
Students with Disabilities
Both disabled and non-disabled students at Barnard are expected to complete the two-semester physical education requirement by the end of their junior year. As stated in the Barnard Catalogue, "students with permanent or temporary disabilities will be individually advised and placed in a suitable activity, based upon the recommendations of the Director of Health Services or Disability Services."
Prior to Physical Education course registration, students with disabilities are encouraged to discuss their needs with Susan Quinby, Director of Disability Services and/or Luci Rosalia, Chair of the Physical Education Department. Priority registration may be offered on a case-by-case basis to students who need to enroll in a particular class for disability-related reasons.
All students with disabilities should self-identify to their Physical Education instructors during the first week of class and discuss any disability-related needs they may have. Please remember to complete in full the Physical Education Health Questionnaire, and to register with ODS is you have not previously done so. You may also want to consult with your private clinician and/or a clinician from the Student Health Service regarding your particular situation.
All Barnard students are expected to follow the Physical Education Department attendance and lateness policy, including the maximum of four absences per term. If you anticipate needing more than four absences, it may be wise to discuss the possibility of a deferral of your Physical Education class until the following semester with Luci Rosalia, Chair of the Physical Education Department. In addition, if you reach several absences early in the term and feel you may be unable to complete the class, please speak to your instructor and keep him/her informed of your situation.
