On Wednesday, September 16, Bwog Editor-in-Chief Eve Bertrand attended the second roundtable discussion held by Barnard College Administrators held for student media.

Barnard senior administration held a student media roundtable, the second of its kind under President Laura Rosenbury, on Wednesday, September 16. Representatives from three different campus news organizations were present, as well as Rosenbury, Provost and Dean of Faculty Rebecca Walkowitz, Vice President for Community Engagement and Lifelong Success A-J Aronstein, Vice President for Strategic Communications and Government Affairs Robin Levine, Interim Dean and Vice President for Inclusion and Belonging Akilah Rosado, and Vice President for Strategy and Chief Administrative Officer Kelli Murray. 

The discussion touched on artificial intelligence in classrooms, the financial outlook of the college, campus safety, and more.

The administrators began the session by introducing themselves and some of the initiatives they are working on. In particular, President Rosenbury mentioned the success of the New Student Orientation Program, alumnae and visitor access to campus, and the opening of the Roy & Diana Vagelos Science Center (RDSC). 

Campus Safety & International Students

During the first week of the semester, Columbia President Jennifer Mnookin reinstated a community access advisory committee which would look at the reopening of the gates. Regarding the future of campus accessibility at Barnard, President Rosenbury stated that the guest access pilot at Barnard, which allows alumnae and guests of students to register on the spot, has allowed easier access to Barnard’s campus. She said that she was glad that President Mnookin had moved to reinstate the committee for Columbia’s campus access. 

Vice President Murray explained that Barnard’s campus policy needs to balance safety and student needs. The Campus Safety Advisory Council, which was established in 2019, is made up of staff, students, and faculty, and is still working on access to members of the community. Murray did not give any indication of a timeline for reopening the gates or expanding access to the Morningside Heights community.

Rosenbury and other administrators pointed to the newly opened Roy & Diana Vagelos Science Center (RDSC) as a milestone in Barnard’s development throughout the discussion. Rosenbury said that she hoped the building would act as a “gathering space” for the community, adding that the College has engaged in partnerships with K-12 schools to promote STEM to female students beyond the Barnard community.

In August, Barnard paused approvals for Curricular Practical Training (CPT), a program that allows international students to participate in internships, after the federal government sent memos to the College regarding their process of approvals for CPT. Vice President Aronstein stated that international students are “full members of the Barnard community,” and said that the College will not do anything to put international students’ status at risk as they continue to navigate the situation regarding CPT. Aronstein described the jobs available on campus, while Walkowitz said that they have designed courses to better align with major programs for CPT students. 

Barnard’s Financial Outlook

With Barnard’s long-term debt at $277 million, tuition increases, and changes in the number of staff, the roundtable brought up the issue of the College’s financial outlook and affordability for students. President Rosenbury said that the money is being used in a way comparable to other colleges, with the debt being used to fund long-term projects such as the RDSC, showing a different picture than the annual budget.

In terms of the long-term debt-to-endowment ratio, Rosenbury restated the College’s goal to reach an endowment of $1 billion by fiscal year 2030, and claimed that Barnard’s debt is “pretty standard,” while acknowledging that there is room for improvement. Rosenbury rejected a comparison of Barnard to Radcliffe College, which folded in 1999 under financial pressure, officially merging with Harvard University. Rosenbury affirmed that all decisions made by Barnard administration are made with the idea that the college will exist “well into the future.”

On the subject of affordability, Rosenbury pointed to Barnard’s need-blind admissions policy. The Financial Aid Office relies partially on the endowment to meet the “full demonstrated need” of students. 

Artificial Intelligence

On Thursday, September 3, Barnard sent an email to students announcing a new system to regulate the use of artificial intelligence in classes. The Pilot AI Usage Scale (PAUS) ranges from zero to four, with a zero indicating no AI usage allowed, and a four allowing AI to complete tasks.

On the subject, President Rosenbury said that AI “reinforces [the] need for rigorous liberal arts education,” emphasizing the importance of a liberal arts education while also allowing for exposure to AI and understanding its usage for the future. She explained that the PAUS system was developed in conversation with faculty and the Board of Trustees. 

Expanding on Rosenbury’s response, Provost Walkowitz said that the system was created in part using the BEAR (Barnard Experience and Reflection) survey, which is sent to students twice a year, as well as feedback from faculty. The scale came out of a desire to clarify expectations and “develop shared vocabulary” around AI, with Walkowitz observing that there is a wide range of usage among students and between courses.

Student Code of Conduct and Faculty Freedom of Expression

A pilot code of conduct, initially announced by Barnard in November 2025, was initially planned to run for one semester, but has since been extended, as the committee has not yet heard any cases where a student stands to be expelled or have their degree revoked.

President Rosenbury said she was proud of the “tripartite committee,” made up of 12 students, faculty, and staff. The updated code of conduct created one place for three previous different conduct processes, that of the Honor Code, Residential Life, and the Conduct Committee. Rosenbury stated that the pilot will continue into the fall semester.

In response to a question about the disciplinary process in the wake of protests surrounding the opening of the LeFrak Center, Rosenbury and Rosado affirmed a need for better communication with students about the Code of Conduct and rules for demonstrations on campus.

Also discussed was the delay in approval of a new policy for academic freedom, created by the Freedom of Expression committee amidst concerns from the Barnard chapter of the AAUP about committee turnover and delay in action. In January 2026, Barnard faculty voted to form a new committee, with members appointed via election by the faculty. 

Rosenbury said that the new document would be voted on in an October faculty meeting. After the policy is approved by the faculty, it will go through the Board of Trustees before being adopted officially by the College. Walkowitz described how the committee had gone through various iterations of the document, noting that “genuine collaboration takes a long time.”

The roundtable concluded with President Rosenbury and other administrators stating their support for student media and increased engagement with journalists on campus.

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