Barnard Commencement 2015

Barnard's 123rd Commencement will take place on Sunday, May 17, 2015, at 2:00 p.m., at the Theater at Madison Square Garden.  Each Barnard graduate will receive seven tickets to the ceremony. Before the ceremony, we hope you will attend the Baccalaureate Service at 9:30 a.m. in St. Paul's Chapel.  Following the Baccalaureate, the Class of 2015 will gather on campus for a celebratory reception with friends, family, and faculty. Bus transportation to Madison Square Garden will be provided for all graduates, departing from Barnard at 12:45 p.m.

The University Commencement will take place on the morning of Wednesday, May 20th. More information and any updates will be posted over the next several weeks on this site.

We very much look forward to celebrating the spectacular achievements of the Barnard Class of 2015 on May 17th.

Quicklinks to Important Information:

• SCHEDULE OF COMMENCEMENT ACTIVITIES 
• COMMENCEMENT RECEPTIONS 
• TICKETS   
• DIPLOMAS
• ACCOMMODATIONS
• GUESTS WITH DISABILITIES
• PHOTO AND VIDEO
• GRADUATION ANNOUNCEMENTS
• PARKING
• DIRECTIONS TO CAMPUS
  
   

SCHEDULE OF COMMENCEMENT ACTIVITIES

FRIDAY, MAY 15

1:30 p.m.  REHEARSAL  

All candidates participating in Commencement are required to attend the rehearsal in the Barnard gymnasium (caps and gowns are not worn).  A group photo will be taken at 1:15.  Tickets will be distributed during the rehearsal.  (See "Tickets" for further information.)  Rehearsal is expected to end at approximately 3:45 p.m.
 

SUNDAY, MAY 17

9:30 a.m.  BACCALAUREATE SERVICE

Tickets are not required. 

This 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.

10:45 a.m.  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.  Please check back in early May for locations.

12:45 p.m.  STUDENTS AND FACULTY BOARD BUSES

At approximately 12:45 p.m., students and faculty will board buses which will take them to the ceremony at The Theater at Madison Square Garden.  Caps and gowns are to be worn. 
 

1:00 p.m.  SEATING OPENS AT MADISON SQUARE GARDEN  

Tickets are for general admission seating.
 

2:00 p.m.  BARNARD COMMENCEMENT 

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 candidate crossing the stage to receive congratulations from President Debora Spar. (Degrees are officially conferred on Wednesday at the University Commencement.)  Read about the 2015 recipients of the Barnard Medal of Distinction.  Tickets are required (see “Tickets” below). The ceremony is expected to end at approximately 4:00 p.m.
 

WEDNESDAY, MAY 20

10:30 a.m.  COLUMBIA UNIVERSITY COMMENCEMENT, Columbia campus.

Degrees are officially conferred on the candidates of each of the divisions of the University.  Tickets are required (see “Tickets” below).  The ceremony is expected to end at 12:00 noon.

Candidates will assemble in the Barnard gymnasium at 8:45 a.m. and go in procession across Broadway to the Columbia ceremony at 9:00 sharp.  There is no assigned seating. 

The Columbia gates will open at 8:30 a.m., and seating is on a first-come, first-served basis.  The candidate procession will begin at 9:30 a.m., and the academic procession begins at 10:15 a,m.   Further information about the Columbia ceremony is available at University Commencement. 
 

TICKETS   

Baccalaureate Service: 
Tickets are not required, but indoor seating is limited. Additional tented seating will be available on the Chapel lawn.

Barnard ceremony:   Participating seniors will receive seven tickets at rehearsal, on Friday, May 15.  Tickets not picked up at rehearsal will be placed at the Will-Call table at Barnard on Sunday morning during the receptions.

University Commencement:  Each candidate is eligible to register for up to a maximum of four tickets and will be able to print or download them.  Registration instructions will be sent to students shortly.
 

DIPLOMAS

Diplomas for the graduates whose records are cleared and whose accounts have no holds will be available in Barnard Hall following the Columbia ceremony on May 20, from 1:00 to 2:00 pm.  After 2:00 pm the diplomas will be available at the Registrar's window.  Diplomas not picked up within a few weeks of graduation will be shipped by Fedex to the address on the online diploma name card. 
 

ACCOMMODATIONS

Please visit the Barnard website for a list of area hotels.  You may also wish to visit the Columbia website for additional listings (see “Alternate Accommodations”).  Some offer discounted rates to Barnard and Columbia University guests. 

Barnard’s “Graduation Housing for Parents” offers a limited number of dormitory rooms ($150/room/night, with a 2-night minimum requirement) for Saturday through Wednesday nights, May 16-20 (checkout on May 21), on a first-come, first-served basis.

GUESTS WITH DISABILITIES  

The Office of Office of Disability Services  at Barnard College (212-854-4634, ods@barnard.edu) is available to assist in coordinating a variety of disability-related accommodations for guests with disabilities. Please contact the Office of Disability Services no later than 4 pm on Monday, May 4, 2015 to discuss any needed accommodations. Both the Barnard reception and the ceremony at Madison Square Garden are wheelchair accessible.  

PHOTO AND VIDEO

Arrangements have been made with photography and video companies to take footage of the ceremony and of your daughter crossing the stage.

Photography:  GradImages is the official photographer for the Barnard ceremony.  Please visit their website for information about what they offer.

Videos may be ordered online from Collegiate Video.  (Please be sure to use Order Code #012372B when prompted.)

GRADUATION ANNOUNCEMENTS

Personalized graduation announcements may be purchased through Jostens.

PARKING

Parking—both near Barnard and Madison Square Garden-- 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.

DIRECTIONS

Please visit the Barnard website for information about getting to campus.