Columbia University has pushed back registration times to allow more time for the school to finalize spring 2021 semester plans.

Early this morning, University Registrar Barry Kane announced that registration times for Columbia College, the School of Engineering and Applied Science (both undergraduate and graduate), the School of General Studies, the Graduate School of Arts and Sciences, and the School of the Arts were being pushed back to December 1st, continuing through the rest of the month. Barnard’s Dean of Studies and Registrar sent out an email to students in the afternoon, announcing that Barnard would join the rest of the University in postponing registration.

Registration was originally set to begin next week on November 16th. In his email, Kane cited the need to finalize details for the format of the spring semester, particularly the methods of instruction (all-online, hybrid, or in-person) that will be available, before registration could begin. Though Barnard College announced their tentative spring 2021 plans on October 26, Columbia schools have yet to outline any preliminary plans as of today, November 10.

Revised registration appointments will be available on SSOL for students in the affected schools beginning November 11th (November 13th for the School of the Arts). 

The emails from the University Registrar and the Barnard Dean of Studies and Registrar can be found below in full. 

Dear Students:

I write today to let you know that course registration and enrollment for the upcoming spring 2021 semester will be adjusted to begin on Tuesday, December 1st, for students in Columbia College, the School of Engineering and Applied Science (both undergraduate and graduate), the School of General Studies, the Graduate School of Arts and Sciences, and the School of the Arts. Students in these Schools will have their registration appointments start according to the schedule below, with some beginning on Tuesday, December 1st, and continuing over the succeeding week. The schedule is as follows:

UNDERGRADUATE STUDENTS

(Columbia College, School of Engineering and Applied Science, School of General Studies)

GRADUATE STUDENTS

(Graduate School of Arts and Sciences, School of Engineering and Applied Science, School of the Arts)

Following the week of December 7th, all registration appointments remain the same as originally scheduled. More registration details can be found on the Registrar’s website.

These changes are made to allow for the details of the conduct of the spring 2021 semester to be finalized before registration and course enrollment begins. Once the plans for the spring semester are announced, members of the Faculty will then have additional time to determine the Methods of Instruction for the courses they are teaching. All of this information will enhance registration and course enrollment starting on December 1st by providing students with current, accurate, and reliable course data.

SSOL will be displaying revised registration appointments beginning on Wednesday, November 11th. Revised appointments for students in the School of the Arts will appear by Friday, November 13th.

Please discuss any questions you may have regarding the revised registration schedule with your academic advisers.

Yours truly,

Barry S. Kane

Associate Vice President and University Registrar

Columbia University in the City of New York

Dear Barnard Students,

We are writing to inform you that Columbia University, including Barnard College, has made a decision to postpone the start of spring registration for undergraduate students until after the Thanksgiving holiday.  

Spring registration will now occur as follows:

• Tuesday, December 1: Seniors begin registration

• Wednesday, December 2: Juniors begin registration

• Thursday, December 3: Sophomores begin registration

• Friday, December 4: First-years begin registration

• December 7 – 11: All students register

This postponement should allow you more time to meet with your advisers to plan for the upcoming spring semester. Remember that you will need your advisers to grant you permission to register before the start of your registration time.

We thank you for your patience and understanding,

Christina Kuan Tsu, Interim Dean of Studies

Jennifer Simmons, Registrar

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