Barnard’s 126th Commencement will be held on Wednesday, May 16, 2018 at 4:00 p.m. at Radio City Music Hall. The Barnard Ceremony will be live streamed and available to watch on this page.
Columbia University Commencement will take place earlier on the same day at 10:30 a.m. (Candidate procession begins at 9:00 a.m.) on the Morningside campus.
Please see information below regarding the schedule of Commencement activities as well as information about tickets to Barnard and University Commencement ceremonies, caps & gowns, guests with disabilities, accommodations, photography, parking and directions.
We look forward to celebrating the spectacular achievements of the Class of 2018!
Schedule of Commencement Activities
Sunday, May 13
BACCALAUREATE SERVICE
10:00 a.m. – 11:15 a.m.
Tickets are not required for admission.
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 a.m. and will march in procession to St. Paul's Chapel at 9:45 a.m. Caps and gowns are worn.
Monday, May 14
COMMENCEMENT REHEARSAL
11:00 a.m. - 12:30 p.m.
Majors: Africana Studies- Health Information Sciences
1:30 p.m. - 3:00 p.m.
Majors: History- Women's, Gender & Sexuality Studies
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).
Tickets to the Barnard Commencement ceremony will be distributed at Commencement Rehearsal.
Wednesday, May 16
CLASS PHOTO
8:30 a.m.
Graduates will gather on the Quad for a class photo and then process together from the Barnard campus to University Commencement.
UNIVERSITY COMMENCEMENT
10:30 a.m.
Candidate procession begins at 9:00 a.m. on the Morningside campus.
DEPARTMENTAL RECEPTIONS
12:15 p.m. – 2:15 p.m.
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.
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. Caps and gowns are to be worn. Buses will depart at 2:30 p.m.
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. – 6:15 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 and culminates with each Barnard degree candidate crossing the stage to receive congratulations from President Sian Leah Beilock. (Degrees are officially conferred at the University Commencement.)
- Speaker and Barnard Medalist of Distinction: Abby Wambach, all-time leading scorer in international soccer history and advocate for pay equity and LGBTQ rights
- Barnard Medalists of Distinction:
- Katherine Johnson, acclaimed mathematician and computer scientist who was portrayed by Taraji P. Henson in the film “Hidden Figures” (Note: The presentation of Johnson's award was conducted remotely.)
- Rhea Suh ’92, president of the Natural Resources Defense Council
- Barnard Board Chair Emerita Anna Quindlen ’74, distinguished author and Pulitzer Prize-winning journalist.
Accommodations
Please visit the Accommodations page for a list of area hotels. You many also wish to review Columbia's Where to Stay page for additional listings. Some offer discounted rates to Barnard and Columbia University guests.
Barnard's "Graduation Housing for Parents" offers a limited number of dormitory rooms ($150 per room, per night, with a two-night minimum requirement) for Tuesday, May 15th and Wednesday, May 16th (checkout on Thursday, May 17th at 12:30 p.m.), on a first-come, first-served basis.
Register here for Graduation Housing for Parents
Caps & Gowns
Barnard Students may pick-up a cap and gown from the Columbia Bookstore during open hours through Tuesday, May 15. There is no charge to Barnard students for a cap and gown, however, all students must present a valid Barnard ID to avoid being required to pay for the attire. Be sure to check that a tassel has been packed in the bag you are given before you leave the bookstore.
Guests with Disabilities
Disability Services at Barnard College, 212-854-4634, ods@barnard.edu is available to assist in coordinating a variety of accommodations for guests with disabilities.
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 11th to reserve appropriate seating.
Columbia University Commencement will also be accessible. Further information may be found here.
Parking
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.
Photography
Arrangements have been made with a photography company to take photos of each graduating senior while onstage at the ceremony. GradImages is the official photographer for the Barnard ceremony. Students will be given instructions for how to preregister on their website and will receive an information card at the student rehearsal.
Tickets
Baccalaureate Service: Tickets are not required, but indoor seating is limited. Graduates are asked to register for the service.
Barnard Commencement: Participating seniors will receive seven tickets at the student Commencement Rehearsal on May 14th.
University Commencement: Eligible candidates were eligable to register for tickets for the University Ceremony from March 29th through May 11th. The ticketing system is now closed.