Barnard’s 127th Commencement will be held on Monday, May 20, 2019 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 on Wednesday, May 22, 2019 at 10:30 a.m. (Candidates will process from the Barnard gate at 8:10 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, accommodations, photography, parking and directions.
We look forward to celebrating the spectacular achievements of the Class of 2019!
Schedule of Commencement Activities
Friday, May 17
COMMENCEMENT REHEARSAL
10:00 a.m. – 11:30 a.m.
Students with majors falling alphabetically between Africana Studies and English should attend this rehearsal.
12:00 p.m. – 1:30 p.m.
Students with majors falling alphabetically between Environmental Biology and Yiddish should attend this 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).
7 Tickets to the Barnard Commencement ceremony will be distributed at Commencement Rehearsal.
Should there be extenuating circumstances that prohibit attendance, please contact commencement@barnard.edu.
Saturday, May 18
MAKE SOME NOISE: A CELEBRATION OF WOMEN & MUSIC
5:30 p.m. – 8:00 p.m.
For the fifth annual "Make Some Noise" concert, Barnard College and Summer on the Hudson (NYC Parks & Riverside Park Conservancy) welcome back some of the standout artists from over the years. This free concert celebrating women and music features unforgettable performances by student and alumnae musicians from New York City colleges and universities in a lovely setting.
More Information
Sunday, May 19
BACCALAUREATE SERVICE
10:00 a.m. – 11:15 a.m.
Tickets are not required for admission; however, registration is required for eligible graduates to participate. Students may register here.
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 cross Broadway together at 9:00 a.m. to Low Memorial Library. The procession from Low Memorial Library to St. Paul's Chapel will begin promptly at 9:45 a.m. Caps and gowns are worn.
*NEW* MAKE-UP COMMENCEMENT REHEARSAL
12:00 p.m. – 1:30 p.m.
Students who were unable to attend one of the two rehearsals on May 17th due to extenuating circumstances may attend the make-up rehearsal. Students who do not attend a rehearsal on the 17th will have their tickets transfered to this rehearsal location for pick up.
Held Lecture Hall, Barnard Hall
Monday, May 20
ACADEMIC RECEPTIONS
12:30 p.m. – 2:15 p.m.
Preceding the Barnard ceremony, academic 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.
Below is the map with academic receptions including a downloadable pdf:
Academic Receptions Map (pdf)
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. (Please note, diplomas are not issued until the University officially confers the degree. Conferral will happen at the University Commencement Ceremony. Barnard graduates will not receive their diploma at the Barnard Ceremony. Diplomas will be distributed on campus following the University Commencement Ceremony on Wednesday, May 22nd.)
Wednesday, May 22
CLASS PHOTO
8:00 a.m. (Assemble by 7:45 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 8:10 a.m. Barnard students will cross from the Quad over to the Morningside Campus as a class.
Accommodations
Barnard's "Graduation Housing for Parents" offers a limited number of rooms located in one of our residential buildings for $100 per night/per room from Sunday, May 19 - Thursday, May 23 (Final check-out on May 23) on a first-come, first-served basis.
Please click HERE to submit your reservation.
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 accommodations offer discounted rates to Barnard and Columbia University guests.
Caps & Gowns
Registration for participation in Barnard Commencement will be e-mailed to eligible Barnard seniors in March. 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 beginning April 8th at 9:00 a.m. with final pick-up May 20th at 12 noon.
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.
Be sure to check that a tassel has been packed in the bag you are given before you leave the bookstore!
Diploma Distribution
The Registrar's Office will distribute diplomas immediately following the University Commencement cermony from noon-2:00 p.m. on Wednesday, May 22nd.
Diplomas will be available for pick up in the Registrar's office from May 23rd-June 5th. (Please note, their office will be closed for Memorial Day, Friday, May 24th-Monday, May 27th).
Diplomas not picked up by June 5th will be mailed to the student address on file.
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 17th 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
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.
Tickets
Barnard Commencement: Participating seniors will receive seven tickets at the student Commencement Rehearsal on Friday, May 17th or at the new make-up rehearsal on Sunday, May 19th.
University Commencement: Eligible candidates may register for up to four tickets for the University Commencement ceremony. The last day to request tickets for the Univeristy Commencement ceremony is May 10th.
The sale of commencement tickets for either the Barnard or Columbia University Commencement ceremonies is stricktly prohibited. Barnard Commencement tickets are the property of the College, not the student. Students found selling tickets risk having their tickets revoked and their diplomas delayed, and could face additional sanctions such as academic probation.
Barnard’s 126th Commencement was held on Wednesday, May 16, 2018 at 4:00 p.m. at Radio City Music Hall. The full ceremony is above. See more from the full day of ceremonies and celebrations in the archives.