<p>As told by President Sparr:
Barnard’s mission is enhanced by its relationship with Columbia University. Barnard avails itself of the resources of a major research university—the extraordinary library, specialized courses that augment those offered at Barnard, the presence of graduate students and graduate-level courses, and the professional schools—to enlarge the educational opportunities of its students in ways that are simply not possible at most liberal arts colleges. The proximity of Columbia allows these interactions to occur with regularity and geographical ease. These opportunities flow in both directions: several distinguished undergraduate programs available to Columbia students are housed only at Barnard. Barnard also offers Columbia students the chance
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to study in a more intimate setting, typically with closer relationships to faculty. Annually, there are approximately 6,900 Barnard student course registrations at Columbia and 6,300 Columbia student course registrations at Barnard (Exhibit: Cross Registration Data). In academic terms, the partnership is expressed formally in ways that also contribute to the unique experience of Barnard undergraduates: some study in Barnard departments that invite majors from Columbia (which does not offer study in those fields), while other choose majors that are only offered at Columbia; some study in departments that are complemented by a similar, freestanding department at Columbia; and some study in departments that are effectively unified with their counterpart department at Columbia.</p>