University administration announced this afternoon that 2022 Commencement will take place in-person on May 18 on Columbia’s Morningside campus. Additionally, the Classes of 2020 and 2021 will both be recognized in an in-person ceremony the following day. 

Columbia’s Commencement ceremony will be held in-person on May 18 on the University’s Morningside campus, according to an email sent to the Columbia community by President Bollinger. The email also stated that the commencement would recognize the Classes of 2020 and 2021 in an in-person ceremony held on May 19. The full text of the email can be found below. 

While the last two years saw virtual Commencement ceremonies due to the ongoing COVID-19 pandemic, President Bollinger cited this announcement of in-person celebration as a “message of hope,” thanking community members for their continued dedication to combatting COVID-19. 

More details regarding graduate and alumni events from individual colleges will be available in the coming weeks. 

Email sent to the Columbia community from President Bollinger on Monday, February 7, at 2:10 pm:  

Dear fellow members of the Columbia community:

This is a message of hope, that after the institution has endured two harrowing years of the COVID-19 pandemic we can now begin to return to the normal rhythms of academic life, and, as always, a message of gratitude, for the institution could not have arrived at this point without the dedication and commitment of everyone here—beginning especially with those in our schools of health sciences. This is to announce that we are moving forward with hosting this year’s University Commencement ceremony on Wednesday, May 18, 2022, on our Morningside campus, in person, as well as all of the accompanying programs. We will also have the enormous pleasure of recognizing the Classes of 2020 and 2021 in a campus ceremony on Thursday, May 19, 2022, again, in person. Of course, individual schools will be organizing their own events for their graduates and alumni, and they will share further details about these programs over the coming weeks. 

We can all look forward to reuniting, with our colleagues and in the company of families and friends, in the unique culture of the academic traditions. 

Sincerely,

Lee C. Bollinger

Commencement via Bwog Archives