In a message to students Monday, Columbia announced that its university-wide commencement would be canceled following weeks of protests and the shutdown of the University campus.

On Monday, May 6, Columbia announced that the university-wide commencement ceremony formerly scheduled for May 15 would be replaced by the smaller Class Day celebrations, and that all events would take place at Baker Athletics Complex rather than on campus.

“Our Deans and other colleagues who work directly with our students have been discussing plans with student leaders, and, most importantly, listening,” the University said. “Our students emphasized that these smaller-scale, school-based celebrations are most meaningful to them and their families. As a result, we will focus our resources on those school ceremonies and on keeping them safe, respectful, and running smoothly.”

The University also announced that the Class Day events would be moved from the South Lawns of campus to the Baker Athletics Complex at 218th Street. Campus has been inaccessible to most students since April 30, when Columbia restricted gate access after protestors occupied Hamilton Hall. That evening, NYPD officers in riot gear swept campus and arrested more than 100 students.

According to NBC News, “security concerns” were one of the main reasons the administration ultimately decided to move its ceremonies and focus on smaller events.

Most of the Class Days and other school ceremonies, despite their relocation, will be held at the same time, the University announced. The only exceptions are Columbia College Class Day, which will be held an hour later on May 14 (starting at 9:30 am) and the Columbia Climate School. Tickets will still be required for the events and existing tickets will still work for the ceremonies.

The university acknowledged that “these past few weeks have been incredibly difficult for our community.” In Columbia College’s and Columbia Engineering’s message passing on the university announcement (which was not sent directly to students), the schools wrote, “We recognize the disappointment many of you will feel on receiving this news, and we are aware that this shift may interfere with or place strains on plans already made with your loved ones.” With the cancellation of Commencement, the university said it is “continu[ing] to solicit student feedback and are looking at the possibility of a festive event on May 15 to take the place of the large, formal ceremony.”

Message from Columbia College and Columbia Engineering on Monday, May 6 at 8:53 am:

Dear Class of 2024,

We are writing to share with you the University’s announcement (please see below) of its decision to relocate all Class Day ceremonies from the South Lawns to the Baker Athletics Complex, as well as a significant shift to the plans for a Commencement celebration. Our special events team will receive additional information from University partners and we will share updates with you as soon as possible.

At Present we can confirm the following:

  • Columbia Engineering’s Undergraduate Class Day will take place as scheduled on Monday, May 13, from 11:45 a.m. to 1:30 p.m.
  • Columbia College’s Class Day will begin 1 hour later on Tuesday, May 14, now from 9:30 a.m. to 12:00 p.m.

We recognize the disappointment many of you will feel on receiving this news, and we are aware that this shift may interfere with or place strains on plans already made with your loved ones. However, we hope to work with student leaders to help make Class Day as meaningful as possible, given these changes.

You will hear much more in the days ahead.

— Columbia College and Columbia Engineering

Message from Columbia University:

Our graduating students, their families, and their loved ones are very focused on our upcoming Commencement celebrations. We are as well. We are determined to give our students the celebration they deserve, and that they want. Our Deans and other colleagues who work directly with our students have been discussing plans with student leaders, and, most importantly, listening. Based on their feedback, we have decided to make the centerpiece of our Commencement activities our Class Days and school-level ceremonies, where students are honored individually alongside their peers, rather than the University-wide ceremony that is scheduled for May 15.

Our students emphasized that these smaller-scale, school-based celebrations are most meaningful to them and their families. They are eager to cross the stage to applause and family pride and hear from their school’s invited guest speakers. As a result, we will focus our resources on those school ceremonies and on keeping them safe, respectful, and running smoothly. A great deal of effort is already underway to reach that goal, and we understand the Deans and school teams are looking forward to working with their students to incorporate the most creative and meaningful ideas to celebrate this extraordinary moment.

To ensure we will have the best conditions and resources for a meaningful experience, we have decided to relocate our Class Days and school ceremonies scheduled for the South Lawn of Morningside campus. The majority of these ceremonies will be hosted at Columbia’s Baker Athletics Complex, the timing will remain the same (with the exception of the Columbia College Class Day and Columbia Climate School), and there is no need for a change in travel plans for families. Please see below for the full list of school ceremonies, times and locations. 

Tickets are still required, and guests can use the tickets they already have. All qualifying graduates will receive a follow-up email with more details. Students and families who have not yet registered should make sure to do so.

These past few weeks have been incredibly difficult for our community. Just as we are focused on making our graduation experience truly special, we continue to solicit student feedback and are looking at the possibility of a festive event on May 15 to take the place of the large, formal ceremony. We are eager to all come together for our graduates and celebrate our fellow Columbians as they, and we, look ahead to the future. We will share more in the coming days.

Campus via Bwog Archives