Barnard College Barnard College
Institutional Commitments

Access & Equity

​Helping to open doors and promote success for all.

Working group on Affirmative Action

  • Collaboration between the Admissions Office, Office of Diversity, Equity & Inclusion, and the Office of General Counsel has been instrumental in strategically anticipating the Supreme Court’s limitation on race in college admissions while maintaining the enrollment of a diverse student cohort. Guided by the belief that meaningful action emerges from knowledge and exploration, Barnard is also poised to cultivate community awareness of the history  and prospective ramifications of the Court's ruling through the curriculum and special initiatives. https://barnard.edu/news/supreme-court-rulings-affirmative-action

Opportunity Hiring Initiative 

  • The Faculty Diversity and Development committee has initiated opportunity hiring practices to help meet the presidential task force charge of increasing the numbers of faculty historically underrepresented in the professoriate. https://barnard.edu/provost/fdd

QuestBridge 

  • Barnard is Partner School with QuestBridge, a non-profit organization which identifies high-achieving, low-income students, assists them with the college search and application process, and works to connect them to educational opportunities at a range of colleges and universities. https://barnard.edu/admissions/questbridge

Mellon Mays

  • For more than a quarter century, Barnard has been an active participant in The Mellon Mays Undergraduate Fellowship Program (MMUF), a national fellowship program that supports underrepresented students who are pursuing a PhD, with the goal of promoting the values of multiple interpretations and narratives in the humanities and related disciplines. MMUF identifies and nurtures students displaying significant potential, aiding them in becoming eminent scholars through fostering independent research endeavors, collaborating with faculty mentors, and gaining insights into graduate school and academic careers. https://barnard.edu/mmuf/mellon-mays-undergrad-fellowship
     

Access Barnard initiatives

  • Access Barnard plays a critical role within Barnard College's commitment to bolster and enhance the academic experiences of first-generation, low-income, and international students as they embark on their Barnard journey. This is achieved through a comprehensive set of services and resources. https://barnard.edu/access-barnard

 

1. Summer Pre-Orientation Program

  • The program is a chance for participating students to get an academic and social edge, while gaining exposure to campus resources and the Barnard community. The program also encourages students to form lasting bonds of friendship and a strong peer support network through social and cultural activities. 

 

2. First-Generation/Low-Income Student Initiatives

  • (FLI) at Barnard is committed to providing resources and support to all students who identify with the first-generation and/or low-income college experience. Our goal in executing the FLI program is for students to use our office resources to find the support and enrichment they need to achieve academic success.

3. Opportunity Programs

  • The Arthur O. Eve Higher Education Opportunity Program (HEOP) provides bright and motivated students who are economically disadvantaged access to higher education. Once a student is admitted to Barnard as HEOP scholar, the program provides academic support services to ensure their success in college.
  • The Collegiate Science and Technology Entry Program (CSTEP) is an enrichment program designed to foster students’ academic success in preparing for professional licensure or careers in the scientific, technical including social work, law, teaching or health-related fields.

4. International Student Services

  • International Student Services caters to F-1, J-1 visa, and self-identified international students, offering a broad range of services and year-round academic, cultural, and social programming while serving as a global resource for the Barnard community.​​​​​​​

5. Peer Mentoring Program

  • Access Barnard Peer Mentors play a crucial role in identifying students' needs and connecting them to institutional resources. Peer mentoring is widely recognized as a high-impact practice that enhances students' sense of belonging and satisfaction, particularly for first-generation students.