Supporting STEM at Barnard

Supporting STEM

The Barnard Year of Science is a time to inspire critical financial support for STEM initiatives at the College. Prior to the launch of the Barnard Year of Science, we initiated a silent phase of the campaign with a commitment goal of $250 million for critical renovations to the Science Center (previously named Altschul Hall), our primary science facility, and science programming across the campus. We are pleased to report that we have raised 85 percent of our goal and hope to reach it this academic year.

Over the course of the 2021–22 academic year, the Barnard Year of Science will secure our standing as a leader in STEM education. Gifts of all sizes can help secure the College’s reputation as THE place for young women scientists seeking to develop their skills and to prepare for fulfilling, dynamic careers. Below, we highlight several areas that would benefit from the support of our community.

To discuss additional philanthropic options related to the Barnard Year of Science, please contact Kate Martinez, Assistant Vice President for Development and Alumnae Relations, at (212) 853-8329 or kmartinez@barnard.edu.

A special category of the Barnard Annual Fund unique to Barnard Year of Science, the Barnard Science Fund enriches the student experience by supporting all aspects of science-related learning, research, and innovation on the Barnard campus. Gifts of ALL sizes to the Barnard Science Fund help cover costs associated with laboratory equipment and maintenance; curricular innovations; faculty research and travel; student research opportunities; and initiatives that promote diversity in the sciences.

Science Center Renovations

Barnard’s STEM programs and offerings have significantly expanded in recent years, and student demand continues to rise. Meeting our students’ needs requires support for capital improvements to Science Center (previously Altschul Hall) and enhanced STEM programming at the College.

Completed in 1969, the Science Center primarily houses science classrooms and labs. Architect Vincent Kling designed the 14-story structure, which was named for Helen Goodhart Altschul, Class of 1907, a trustee emeritus of Barnard. Since its completion, it has served as the center of all STEM innovation and research at the College. 

For gifts of at least $250,000 and up to $25 million, we would be pleased to discuss commensurate naming opportunities within the renovated spaces. We deeply appreciate your support, and we will be honored to recognize your generosity. A matching campaign (details coming soon) will offer exceptional opportunities for donors to support the renovation of the Science Center and expansion of STEM programming at the College. 

To discuss additional philanthropic options related to Barnard Year of Science, please contact Kate Martinez, Assistant Vice President for Development and Alumnae Relations, at (212) 853-8329 or kmartinez@barnard.edu


Program Support

As we celebrate the Barnard Year of Science, we hope to further engage the Barnard community in our efforts to ensure that STEM not only grows but flourishes at the College. Below are areas of need that could benefit from your support.

Science Writing Fellows
Specially trained to teach scientific writing and working out of the Erica Mann Jong ’63 Writing Center, the Science Writing Fellows are paid student tutors dedicated to preparing their peers for advanced scientific communication.
 
Barnard Computing Fellows
Based within the Vagelos Computational Science Center (CSC), the Barnard Computing Fellows are paid undergraduates who assist students and faculty in computational projects.

Summer Research Institute (SRI)
Each summer, over 200 Barnard students spend 10 weeks conducting paid scientific research alongside faculty from the College, Columbia University, or elsewhere in New York City.

Computer Science Prizes for Excellence
Two of these new annual awards recognize CS majors who have either made remarkable strides in their studies or promoted community within the CS Program. A third prize recognizes any Barnard student—including non-CS majors—who has used computing to positively impact broader society.

Science Pathways Scholars
Science Pathways Scholars is a highly selective four-year program that supports students who identify as underrepresented minorities or as first-generation college students and convey a strong interest in the sciences. Selected Scholars benefit from faculty mentorship, networking, and cohort support.

Academic Support for STEM Departments
Academic support funds assert the College’s confidence in our professors’ scholarship and teaching, improve faculty retention and enhance Barnard’s ability to attract top scholars from across STEM fields.

STEM Scholarships
With your support, we can expand the scholarship resources available to students majoring in STEM-related fields, providing critical financial assistance and encouragement.

STEM Internships
Beyond Barnard assists Barnard women as they identify and pursue internship opportunities. Many STEM-related internships, however—particularly those in the nonprofit or start-up sectors—are unpaid, and internship funds help support student compensation and living expenses.

Barnard Tutoring Corps
This new program pairs Barnard student tutors with school children from our campus’s surrounding communities. Focusing on STEM-related subjects, Barnard tutors reinforce classroom teaching and boost students’ confidence in the sciences. 

STEM Professorships
Named professorships are among the highest honors the College can bestow upon faculty who have made extraordinary contributions to research and teaching. When recruiting new faculty, the possibility of occupying an endowed professorship is a particularly effective way to draw outstanding teachers, scholars, and institutional leaders to the College and reaffirm the excellence and ideals of the Barnard faculty. 

STEAM in the City
Launched in 2020 in partnership with the Stavros Niarchos Foundation, STEAM in the City engages local teachers to strengthen science curricula in neighboring public schools. 

Annual Gala
Each year, the Barnard community gathers for a special event to raise funds to help underwrite financial aid. The 2022 Annual Gala will take place April 25, 2022 at the American Museum of Natural History.