0 CommentsAmidst student criticism for the February 9 decision to hold the 2026 Commencement off-campus at Baker Athletic Complex, the University announced their decision on Tuesday, following conversations with student leaders.
On Tuesday, February 24, Columbia announced that the location for Commencement will be changed back to the Morningside campus, two weeks after the original announcement that Commencement will be held at Robert K. Kraft Field at Baker Athletics Complex, the University’s football stadium on 218th St.
This change came after student leaders voiced widespread concerns from students, parents, alumni and faculty about the decision to hold Commencement at Baker. Historically, Commencement has been held on Morningside’s Low Plaza since 1926. In recent years, however, Commencement was cancelled for the classes of 2020 and 2021 due to the COVID-19 pandemic, and was again cancelled for the Class of 2024 amidst student protests, with most Class Day ceremonies moved to Baker.
In the original email sent on Monday, February 9, the University had announced that after eight months of deliberation, University Commencement was to be held on May 20, 2026 at Robert K. Kraft Field at Baker Athletics Complex, split into graduate and undergraduate ceremonies. In deciding to move Commencement off-campus and hold two separate ceremonies instead of one, the University stated that more individual school ceremonies will now be held on Morningside and that “the University Commencement ceremonies will have more flexibility to accommodate guests.”
In an email sent on Sunday, February 15, the University Senate Student Affairs Committee stated that it had received concerns regarding the “accessibility, transportation, and experience of the ceremony” and that it had gone directly to the Administration to voice these concerns. Following conversations with student council leaders, the University stated it would reconsider the location of Commencement and make a final decision in the following week.
In the February 24 announcement, the University further explained its reasoning behind its original decision, stating issues with a Morningside Commencement such as “not being able to host all class day graduation ceremonies on campus, long entry lines, ticket allotment restrictions, limited sight lines for audience members, and the disruption of lawn space and restricted campus movement during the spring semester.” It also stated that having the Commencement on Baker would give “students plenty of time for photos on Morningside” and get “tens of thousands of people in and out of our campus more quickly than usual to accommodate the two ceremonies.” Additionally, a “celebratory opportunity on Morningside campus in between the two ceremonies at Baker” was to be held as well.
However, after consulting with student leaders on the significance of graduating “in front of Low Library and Alma Mater,” the University has chosen to move Commencement back to Morningside, noting that they had not heard “directly from our graduating students” before the original decision to hold it at Baker. Commencement will still be held with two separate ceremonies for graduates and undergraduates, a new precedent.
Following the email sent on February 24, 9:32 am by University Ceremonies on the updated Commencement, the Student Affairs Committee of the University Senate sent out an email on the same day at 4:17 pm addressing the student consultation behind the decision. The email stated that “[a]fter a tumultuous recent history, the establishment and maintenance of these structures of dialogue is an important step in rebuilding trust and strengthening our sense of community.” Additionally, the email highlighted recent events concerning the University’s reception of student input, including “the removal of student members of the University Judicial Board, the exclusion of students from the Presidential Search Committee, and the rejection of suggestions for student Trustees.” In light of the lack of student feedback prior to the University’s original decision, the email concludes that “decisions made together, drawing from the experience, expertise and concerns of our broader community, are more likely to result in effective outcomes.”
In response to the question of whether Commencement was moved to punish students, the University stated, “No. Absolutely not,” and that the decision was solely based on long-standing logistical issues. In addressing the challenges of a Commencement on Morningside, the University stated restrictions such as “[t]emporary lawn closures and restricted campus access starting Mid-April,” “[i]ndoor and overflow viewing spaces will be available if outdoor seating areas reach capacity,” and “[g]uests and students will not be able to remain on campus following the first ceremony, as the campus must be cleared and prepared for the second event.”
Commencement is still set for the same date and times—May 20. The ceremony for graduate and professional schools will be held first from 10:30 am to 12:00 pm, then the ceremony for undergraduate schools will be from 5:00 to 6:30 pm.
Email from University Ceremonies to the Columbia community on February 24, 2026 at 9:32 am:
Dear Members of the Columbia University Community,
We are writing to let you know that after careful deliberation and consultation with our student leaders, University Commencement is moving back to Morningside campus.
Two weeks ago, we shared information about changes to University Commencement, notably the change in location to Baker Athletics Complex. Our student leaders came forward to engage in a productive dialogue with the University Commencement team, to express their concerns, and to better understand the reasons for the change.
The University originally selected Baker because the venue could solve several longstanding issues posed by hosting Commencement on Morningside campus. Those concerns, namely not being able to host all class day graduation ceremonies on campus, long entry lines, ticket allotment restrictions, limited sight lines for audience members, and the disruption of lawn space and restricted campus movement during the spring semester, remain real and significant. The event experience on Morningside, for 19 schools at once, has become less than ideal for all of the family and friends we welcome to campus for Commencement.
Student leaders shared that having Commencement on Morningside campus, as the capstone to their time at Columbia, was deeply important to their graduation experience, even with the class day graduation ceremonies on Morningside. They understood the trade-offs and pain points we were trying to alleviate with a move to Baker, including giving students plenty of time for photos on Morningside and getting tens of thousands of people in and out of our campus more quickly than usual to accommodate the two ceremonies. Despite those challenges, they felt strongly that being together in community, in front of Low Library and Alma Mater, would be more meaningful to their graduating class and would outweigh those concerns.
The University moved quickly to consider in greater detail the possibility of two ceremonies on Morningside campus. It’s logistically challenging, but after several constructive and detailed meetings, we are delighted to report that Commencement is now shifting the celebration back to Morningside campus. While we felt we had a good understanding of the student perspective given the feedback we had received over the years, we recognize that hearing directly from our graduating students in advance of this decision would have been helpful. We appreciate the constructive feedback that was provided by our students over the last two weeks.
The original date of May 20 and times for Commencement will remain the same. The ceremony for graduate and professional schools will be held from 10:30 a.m. to 12:00 p.m., and the ceremony for undergraduate schools will be held from 5:00 p.m. to 6:30 p.m. The full schedule for University Commencement and additional updates are posted on the Commencement website.
We are committed to engaging with student leadership in the planning process in the years ahead and look forward to maintaining those traditions that have the deepest meaning while also exploring new ones that enhance the overall experience for our graduates and guests.
In the meantime, we look forward to a great remainder of the spring semester and a wonderful Commencement celebration in May.
Sincerely,
University Ceremonies
Low Library via Bwog Archives
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