In the Loop

Everything guide to Commencement 2022

By Ariana Novo  |  May 16, 2022 at 9:00 PM

By Margaret Maguire / Columbia Daily Spectator
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.

Social media

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.

Regalia

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.

Dining and water

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.

Move-out

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.

Scheduling

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.

University Commencement

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



Baccalaureate Service

Who: All 2021-22 graduating seniors

When: Sunday, May 15, at 10 a.m.

Where: St. Paul’s Chapel



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



School of the Arts

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



Barnard College

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



Business School

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



Climate School

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



Columbia College

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

DDS Graduation Ceremony

When: Thursday, May 19, at 11:00 a.m.

Where: The Armory



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

Ph.D. Convocation

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

M.A. Convocation

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

SIPA Graduation

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.

Where: Ancell Plaza



Journalism School

Who: All 2019-20, 2020-21, 2021-22 graduates in the Journalism School

When: Wednesday, May 18, at 2 p.m.

Where: Ancell Plaza



Law School

Graduation 2022

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

When: May 19 at 4 p.m.

Where: Levien Gym



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.

Where: The Armory

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



School of Nursing

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

Ceremony 1

Who: 2021-2022 graduates of SPS in eight academic programs

When: Friday, May 13 at 10:00 a.m.

Where: South Lawn on Morningside Campus

Ceremony 2

Who: 2021-2022 graduates of SPS in nine academic programs

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.

Where: Ancell Plaza



School of Social Work

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.

Where: Levien Gymnasium



Teachers College

2020 and 2021 Ceremony

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

Master’s I Ceremony

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

Masters II Ceremony

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.

Where: The Armory

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.

Where: Alumni Auditorium

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.

Where: Alumni Auditorium



For all those graduating or coming back to celebrate Commencement, congratulations! You made it!

Spectrum Editor Ariana Novo can be contacted at ariana.novo@columbiaspectator.com.

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