Barnard's 124th Commencement will be held on Tuesday, May 17, 2016, at 4:00 p.m. at Radio City Music Hall. Each Barnard graduate will receive seven tickets to the ceremony. Before the ceremony, the Class of 2016 will gather on campus for a celebratory reception with family, friends, and faculty beginning at 12:45 p.m. Bus transportation to Radio City Music Hall will be provided for all graduates, departing from campus at 2:30 p.m.
University Commencement will take place on Wednesday, May 18, 2016 at 10:30 a.m. on the Morningside campus.
Please see information below regarding the schedule of Commencement activities as well as information about tickets to both Barnard and University Commencement ceremonies, caps & gowns, guests with disabilities, accommodations, photography, parking, and directions.
We very much look forward to celebrating the spectacular achievements of the Class of 2016.
Schedule of Commencement Activities
FRIDAY, MAY 13
COMMENCEMENT REHEARSAL, Event Oval, Diana Center
It is mandatory for all graduating seniors participating in Commencement to attend the Commencement Rehearsal (caps and gowns are not worn).
11:30 a.m. - 1:00 p.m., Africana Studies through English majors
1:30 p.m. - 3:00 p.m., Environmental Biology through Women's, Gender & Sexuality Studies majors
Due to rain, the senior class photo originally scheduled for Friday, May 13 will take place on Wednesday, May 18. Seniors must arrive at the Quad at 8:00 a.m. on Wednesday, May 18 for the senior class photo.
Tickets to the Barnard Commencement ceremony will be given out at Commencement Rehearsal.
Note: Any students who want to practice pronunciation of their name with Dean Hinkson are invited to meet her at the Event Oval at 11:00 a.m.-11:30 a.m. and 3:30 p.m.-4:00 p.m. on Friday, May 13.
SUNDAY, MAY 15
9:30 a.m. – 11:00 a.m., BACCALAUREATE SERVICE
Tickets are not required for admission.
The Baccalaureate Service is a nondenominational service in St. Paul's Chapel on the Columbia University campus. Candidates from the undergraduate divisions of the University and their guests may attend. Barnard students who plan to attend should assemble in front of Barnard Hall at 8:45 am and will march in procession to St. Paul's Chapel at 8:55 am. Caps and gowns are worn. Graduates are asked to register for the service.
TUESDAY, MAY 17
12:45 p.m. – 2:15 p.m., DEPARTMENTAL RECEPTIONS
Preceding the Barnard ceremony, departmental receptions will take place at various locations on the Barnard campus, which will give parents and guests an opportunity to meet members of the faculty and administration.
See campus map below for departmental reception locations. 
commencement_departmental_receptions_map.pdf
2:15 p.m., STUDENTS AND FACULTY BOARD BUSES FOR RADIO CITY MUSIC HALL
At approximately 2:15 p.m., students and faculty will board buses which will take them to the ceremony at Radio City. Caps and gowns are to be worn. Buses will depart at 2:30 p.m.
3:00 p.m., GUEST SEATING OPENS AT RADIO CITY MUSIC HALL
Entrance doors to Radio City Music Hall are located at both 50th and 51st Streets, just east of Avenue of the Americas (6th Ave.). Wheelchair access is available through the entrane on 6th Avenue.
4:00 p.m. – 6:15 p.m., BARNARD CEREMONY (PRESENTATION OF DEGREE CANDIDATES)
Tickets are required.
At this ceremony, Barnard degree candidates are individually recognized. The Presentation of Degree Candidates is the more intimate of the two commencement ceremonies and culminates with each Barnard degree candidate crossing the stage to receive congratulations from President Debora Spar. (Degrees are officially conferred on Wednesday at the University Commencement.) Read about the 2016 recipients of the Barnard Medal of Distinction.
WEDNESDAY, MAY 18
10:30 a.m. – 12:00 noon, COLUMBIA UNIVERSITY COMMENCEMENT EXERCISES
Tickets are required.
Degrees are officially conferred on the candidates of each of the divisions of the University. The Columbia gates will open at 8:30 a.m., and guests are advised to be in their seats by 10:00 a.m., if not earlier. Further information about the Columbia ceremony is available at University Commencement.
Candidates should arrive at the Quad on the Barnard campus at 8:00 a.m. for the senior class photo and then to line up for the procession. Candidates will be in position by 8:45 a.m. and go in procession across Broadway to the Columbia ceremony at 9:00 a.m. sharp.
DIPLOMAS ****Diplomas for the graduates whose records are cleared and whose accounts have no holds will be available in Barnard Hall Lobby following the Columbia ceremony on May 18th. After 2:00pm, the diplomas will be available at the Registrar's window. The Registrar's Office is open Monday through Friday, 9:30am-4:30pm. Diplomas not picked up within a few weeks of graduation will be shipped to the address on the online diploma name card.****
Baccalaureate Service: Tickets are not required, but indoor seating is limited. Graduates are asked to register for the service.
Barnard ceremony: Participating seniors will receive seven tickets at Commencement Rehearsal.
University Commencement: Each candidate is eligible to register for up to a maximum of four tickets with the candidate’s UNI and password. Candidates will be able to print or download these tickets to a web-enabled device immediately upon registering.
Students who filed Dean Friedman’s online questionnaire may pick up a cap and gown from the Columbia Bookstore, at no charge. Candidates must present their student ID at that time.
Please visit the Barnard website for a list of area hotels. You many also wish to visit the Columbia website for additional listings (see "Alternate Accommodations"). Some offer discounted rates to Barnard and Columbia University guests.
Registration for Barnard's "Graduation Housing for Parents" is closed.
Disability Services at Barnard College, 212-854-4634, ods@barnard.edu
If you have inquiries related to accommodations for guests with disabilities after April 29th, please contact Carolyn Corbran, Director of Disability Services, via e-mail at ccorbran@barnard.edu through Friday, May 13th.
Arrangements have been made with a photography company to take photos of each graduating senior while onstage at the ceremony.
Photography: GradImages is the official photographer for the Barnard ceremony. Please visit their website for information about what they offer.
Parking—both near Barnard and Radio City Music Hall-- is extremely limited, and the use of public transportation is strongly encouraged. Please visit the Barnard website for a listing of local garages near the Barnard campus.
Please visit the Barnard website for information about getting to campus.