If you’ve been on campus recently, you’re bound to have seen parents running around, blue-robed students taking photos, and Facilities workers building imposing structures. While it’s a busy time of year regardless, with finals and undergraduate move-out, Commencement is upon us as well.
For those who may be living under a Pantone-290 rock, Commencement is the graduation ceremony and celebration for all students at Columbia. Don’t ask us why it’s called commencement, literally meaning “beginning,” but it signifies the end of students’ time at the University.
For all families, students, or even passers-by that want to know the low-down on this Low ceremony, read on for Spectrum’s guide to Commencement 2022, from scheduling to dining to move-out.
Columbia wants to see your Instagram photo shoots! There is a plethora of social media kits for students to use during watch parties, for photo props, or any other celebration content. For class of 2022 materials, check out the virtual graduation kit
here, and for the classes of 2020 and 2021 coming back to campus for Commencement, check out your social media materials
here.
Some schools are mandating students to wear regalia during their respective graduation ceremony. If this applies to you, or you just want to take nice photos in your blue robe, there are plenty of options for obtaining regalia this late in the game. If you go to the Columbia Bookstore, tell them your height and they should be able to provide you with a cap and gown. You can also use Facebook buy/sell groups to see if people are selling regalia, or you can post an ad to buy a gown.
Outdoor graduation ceremonies will be taking place rain or shine, and if PrezBo’s weather machine stays functional, the sun will be out and shining on all new—and old—graduates. It’s important to stay hydrated and energized for all the outdoor festivities, and to aid with that goal, Columbia has installed water fountains all over the Morningside campus for people to refill personal bottles or cups. Check out the
handy map of water stations to keep hydrated this Commencement season.
Most of the dining locations on campus have closed for the summer, but if you’re a graduating senior, it’s likely you have dining dollars left over. Take your family for a quick grab-and-go lunch at Blue Java Café in Butler Library, open May 16 to Sept. 2, or Lerner Hall, open until May 20. Since Flex expires upon graduation, you may want to check SSOL to see if you have any money left over and spend it at any
participating restaurants.
While non-seniors have been moving out of their dorms this past week, graduating seniors have until the day after the Commencement ceremony, Thursday, May 19, to check out. Seniors currently living in Broadway Hall, Hogan Hall, Ruggles Hall, or the West 114th Street brownstones have until 6 p.m. to move out, while seniors in every other building have a deadline of noon. 114th Street will be closed to cars until May 19 at 10 a.m. due to Commencement activities, giving students that live in buildings on this street extra time to move out. Columbia Housing is also encouraging seniors to move out on Wednesday, May 18 if possible because of graduation ceremonies for the classes of 2020 and 2021 taking place.
This year’s Commencement is about three times the size as normal years. Because of cancellations due to COVID-19, ceremonies were not held in person for the classes of 2020 and 2021, and are being made up this year instead. With 19 individual school ceremonies, a University Commencement, and other events for 2020 and 2021 graduates, this week is shaping up to be one of the busiest Columbia has seen in years.
Who: All 2021-22 graduates of Columbia-affiliated schools
When: Wednesday, May 18, at 10:30 a.m.
Where: Morningside campus
Celebration for the classes of 2020 and 2021
Who: All 2019-20 and 2020-21 graduates of all Columbia-affiliated schools
When: Thursday, May 19, at 9 a.m.
Where: Morningside campus
Who: All 2021-22 graduating seniors
When: Sunday, May 15, at 10 a.m.
Graduate School of Architecture, Planning and Preservation
Who: All 2021-22 graduates of the Graduate School of Architecture, Planning and Preservation
When: Saturday, May 14, at 12 p.m.
Where: Ceremony on the South Lawn on Morningside campus, receptions at Havemeyer Plaza and Avery/Schermerhorn Plaza
Who: All 2019-20, 2020-21, and 2021-22 graduates of the School of the Arts
When: Wednesday, May 18, at 4 p.m.
Where: Ceremony at Roone Arledge Auditorium in Lerner Hall, reception at Avery Plaza
Who: All 2021-22 graduates of Barnard
When: Wednesday, May 18, at 4 p.m.
Where: Ceremony at Radio City Music Hall, receptions at seven locations on Barnard’s campus grouped by academic department
Recognition Ceremony for Executive MBA Candidates
Who: All 2019-20, 2020-21, and 2021-22 Executive MBA candidates
When: Saturday, May 14, at 7:45 a.m.
Where: Ceremony on the South Lawn on Morningside campus
Recognition Ceremony for MBA Candidates
Who: All 2021-22 MBA candidates
When: Sunday, May 15, at 8 a.m.
Where: Ceremony on the South Lawn on Morningside campus, reception at Ancell Plaza
Recognition Ceremony for Ph.D. Candidates
When: Monday, May 16, at 6 p.m.
Where: Henry R. Kravis Hall
Recognition Ceremony for M.S. Candidates
When: Tuesday, May 17, at 5 p.m.
Where: Cooperman Commons, David Geffen Hall
Who: All 2021-22 graduates of the Climate School
When: Friday, May 13, at 11 a.m.
Where: Ceremony at Miller Theatre, reception at Ancell Plaza
Who: All 2021-22 graduates of Columbia College
When: Tuesday, May 17, at 8 a.m.
Where: Ceremony on the South Lawn on Morningside campus, receptions at different locations on Morningside campus separated by department
College of Dental Medicine
When: Thursday, May 19, at 11:00 a.m.
School of Engineering and Applied Science
Who: All 2021-22 graduates of Engineering and Applied Science
When: Monday, May 16, at 12:15 p.m.
Where: South Lawn on Morningside campus, reception at Pupin Plaza
School of General Studies
Who: All 2020, 2021, and 2022 graduates of General Studies
When: Monday, May 16, at 7:45 a.m.
Where: Ceremony and reception on south Morningside campus
Graduate School of Arts and Sciences
Who: All 2019-20, 2020-21, 2021-22 Ph.D. recipients and expected recipients in GSAS
When: Sunday, May 15, at 12 p.m.
Where: South Lawn on Morningside campus
Who: All 2019-20, 2020-21, 2021-22 MA recipients in the Graduate School of Arts and Sciences
When: Sunday, May 15, at 2:45 p.m.
Where: South Lawn on Morningside campus
School of International and Public Affairs
Who: All 2021-22 graduates of SIPA
When: Sunday, May 15, at 6 p.m.
Where: South Lawn on Morningside campus, reception at Ancell Plaza
SIPA Graduation Celebration for the Classes of 2020 and 2021
Who: All 2019-20 and 2020-21 graduates of SIPA
When: Thursday, May 19, at 3:30 p.m.
Who: All 2019-20, 2020-21, 2021-22 graduates in the Journalism School
When: Wednesday, May 18, at 2 p.m.
Who: All 2021-22 graduates of the Law School
When: Monday, May 16, at 5 p.m.
Where: South Lawn on Morningside campus, reception at Ancell Plaza
Columbia Law School Stage Crossing
Who: All 2019-20 and 2020-21 graduates of the Law School
Mailman School of Public Health
Mailman School of Public Health Class Day ceremony
Who: All 2021-22 graduates of the Mailman School of Public Health
When: Tuesday, May 17, at 4 p.m.
2022 Alumni Summit: Alumni Celebration Honoring the Classes of 2020 and 2021
Who: All 2020 and 2021 graduates of the Mailman School of Public Health
When: Thursday, May 19, at 5 p.m.
Where: The Italian Academy
Who: All 2022 graduates of Columbia Nursing
When: Tuesday, May 17, at 10 a.m.
Where: The New Balance Track & Field Center at The Armory
School of Professional Studies
When: Friday, May 13 at 10:00 a.m.
Where: South Lawn on Morningside Campus
When: Friday, May 13, at 1:30 p.m.
Where: South Lawn on Morningside Campus
Reception for the Class of 2020 and 2021
Who: All 2020 and 2021 graduates of SPS
When: Thursday, May 19, at 11:00 a.m.
Columbia School of Social Work 2022 Graduation Ceremony
Who: All 2022 graduates of the School of Social Work
When: Saturday, May 14, at 4:00 p.m.
Where: South Lawn on Morningside Campus
Columbia School of Social Work 2020-2021 Graduation Ceremony
Who: All 2020 and 2021 graduates of the School of Social Work
When: Thursday, May 19, at 11:30 a.m.
Who: All 2019-20 and 2020-21 graduates of Teachers College
When: Sunday, May 22, at 4 p.m.
Where: Louis Armstrong Stadium in the USTA Billie Jean King National Tennis Center
Who: Master’s graduates of Teachers College in these five academic programs—arts and humanities, biobehavioral sciences, counseling and clinical psychology, curriculum and teaching, and health and behavior studies
When: Monday, May 23, at 10 a.m.
Where: Louis Armstrong Stadium at the USTA Billie Jean King National Tennis Center
Doctoral Ceremony (All Departments)
Who: All doctoral graduates of Teachers College
When: Monday, May 23, at 2:45 p.m.
Where: Louis Armstrong Stadium at the USTA Billie Jean King National Tennis Center
Who: Master’s graduates of Teachers College in these five academic programs: EPSA, HUD, ITS, MST, ORL
When: Monday, May 23, at 6:15 p.m.
Where: Louis Armstrong Stadium at the USTA Billie Jean King National Tennis Center
Vagelos College of Physicians and Surgeons
Vagelos College of Physicians and Surgeons Graduation Ceremony
When: Wednesday, May 18, at 2:00 p.m.
Institute of Human Nutrition MS Year-End Celebration
Who: All 2019-20, 2020-21, 2021-22 graduates in the Institute of Human Nutrition
When: Thursday, May 19, at 2:30 p.m.
Programs in Occupational Therapy
When: Thursday, May 19, at 10:00 a.m.
Programs in Physical Therapy
When: Tuesday, May 17, at 10:00 a.m.
Where: Ceremony at Alumni Auditorium, reception at 50 Haven Avenue
Program in Genetic Counseling M.S. Year-End Celebration
Who: All 2021-22 graduates in the Genetic Counseling program
When: Wednesday, May 18, at 2:30 p.m.
For all those graduating or coming back to celebrate Commencement, congratulations! You made it!