Commencement

Sunday, May 17

BACCALAUREATE SERVICE
St. Paul’s Chapel at Columbia University

10:00 a.m. – 11:15 a.m.

The Baccalaureate Service is a multi-faith service celebrating the completion of each undergraduate's academic career. Students are required to register if they wish to participate and are encouraged to invite friends and family to attend. Tickets are not required for guest admission; however, seating in the Chapel is only guaranteed for degree candidates. 

Barnard students who plan to attend should assemble in front of Barnard Hall at 8:45 a.m. and will march in procession to St. Paul’s Chapel at 9:45 a.m. Caps and gowns are worn.

BARNARD COMMENCEMENT REHEARSAL
Event Oval, Diana Center

12:00 p.m. – 1:30 p.m.

Graduating seniors seated by major, alphabetically (e.g. Majors A-H*)

2:00 p.m. – 3:30 p.m.

Graduating seniors seated by major, alphabetically (e.g. Majors I-W*)

It is mandatory for all graduating seniors participating in Barnard College Commencement to attend the rehearsal. (Caps and gowns are not worn).

Tickets to the Barnard Commencement ceremony will be distributed at rehearsal.

*Alphabetical division of majors may change based upon final Barnard Commencement participation list determined in March.  For double-majors, graduating seniors are asked to indicate the major with which they’ll be sitting. 

Monday, May 18

ACADEMIC RECEPTIONS
12:30 p.m. – 2:00 p.m.

Preceding the Barnard ceremony, academic receptions by department, program, or major 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.
 

STUDENTS AND FACULTY BOARD BUSES FOR RADIO CITY MUSIC HALL
2:15 p.m.

At approximately 2:15 p.m., students and faculty will board buses which will take them to the ceremony at Radio City Music Hall. Buses will depart at 2:30 p.m. Caps and gowns are to be worn.

GUEST SEATING OPENS AT RADIO CITY MUSIC HALL
3:00 p.m.

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 entrance on 6th Avenue.

BARNARD  COMMENCEMENT (PRESENTATION OF DEGREE CANDIDATES)
4:00 p.m. – 6:30 p.m.

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 (Barnard and Columbia) and culminates with each Barnard degree candidate crossing the stage to receive congratulations from President Sian Leah Beilock. (Degrees are officially conferred at the Columbia University Commencement).

Wednesday, May 20

BARNARD CLASS PHOTO
TIME TBD

Graduates will gather on the Quad for a class photo and then process together from the Barnard campus to Columbia University Commencement.

COLUMBIA UNIVERSITY COMMENCEMENT
10:30 a.m.
Candidate procession begins at 9:00 a.m. on the Morningside Campus.

Barnard is pleased to offer accommodations in one of our residential halls from Sunday, May 17, through Friday, May 22, 2020 (final checkout on Friday, May 22, 2020).  Housing is available for families of our 2020 graduates, with a limit of two rooms per Barnard graduate. Children under the age of 13, regardless of adult accompaniment, cannot stay in our residence halls.

Application

We will begin accepting applications on Tuesday, Feb. 4, 2020, on a first-come, first-served basis. We will send an email to the families of our graduates once we begin accepting applications for these housing accommodations. We will also keep this information updated on this website. If you have general questions about Barnard graduation housing for families, please contact gradhousing@barnard.edu.

Rates

The nightly rate is $100 per room, per night. Once applications are processed, you will receive a confirmation that will have a secure link to submit payment. Major credit cards are the only accepted forms of payment.

For more information about your stay, including room layout and location, please visit the application website once it opens on February 4, 2020. 

If you have general questions about Barnard graduation housing for families, please contact gradhousing@barnard.edu.

For additional accommodations, please visit the Accommodations page for a list of area hotels. You may also wish to review Columbia’s Visitors Center page for additional listings.  Some accommodations offer discounted rated to Barnard and Columbia University guests.

Once registered to attend Barnard Commencement and approved to participate by the Registrar’s Office, Barnard seniors will be eligible to receive a cap and gown from the Columbia Bookstore during designated pick-up hours.

There is no charge for a cap and gown; however, all students must present a valid Barnard ID and appear on the list of eligible graduates.

The Center for Accessibility Resources & Disability Services (CARDS) at Barnard College, 212-854-4634, cards@barnard.edu is available to assist in coordinating a variety of accommodations for guests with accessibility needs. 

Both the Barnard campus receptions and the ceremony at Radio City Music Hall are wheelchair accessible. Guests do not need to notify the College in advance to reserve seating and there are no special tickets needed. Ushers will be available to assist guests with locating appropriate seating. Radio City Music Hall ushers will allow early entry at 2:45 p.m. for guests with mobility needs.

We strongly recommend that guests review the Radio City Music Hall policy for service and emotional support animals.

Large Print Programs will be available to pick up from ushers at Radio City Music Hall. Sign Language Interpreters will be available. If you require Sign Language Interpretation for this event, please contact Disability Services by Friday, May 15th to reserve appropriate seating.

Columbia University Commencement will also be accessible. Further information may be found here.

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 parking garages near the Barnard campus.

GradImages will take photos of each graduating senior participating in the Barnard Commencement ceremony at Radio City Music Hall.

At Commencement Rehearsal, graduating seniors will receive an information card to provide to GradImages, and graduating seniors may also pre-register online with GradImages.

Baccalaureate Service: Tickets are not required, but indoor seating is limited. Graduates are asked to register for the service. 

Barnard Commencement: TBD

Columbia University Commencement: All graduating students who wish to participate in the University Commencement ceremony are required to register online and to obtain guest tickets, if needed. Registration for University Commencement and guest tickets will open after Spring Break. You will receive ticket registration information from your individual school. The significant number of graduates, along with the spatial and security constraints of campus, necessitate a limit on the number of tickets per student. Each undergraduate degree candidate may request up to four (4) tickets and graduate degree candidates may request up to two (2) tickets. Graduating students do not need tickets for themselves; your regalia and University ID will give you access to upper campus on Commencement Day. All guests over the age of three must have a ticket to attend the ceremony.