This year’s University Commencement on Wednesday, May 20, 2026, will be held on the Morningside campus over two ceremonies: one for the graduate students at 10:30 am and one for the undergraduate students at 5:00 pm. As we get ready to celebrate this year’s graduates, it is only fitting that we look back to another […]
Tag: commencement
First Commencement
The current exhibition of King’s College Diplomas in RBML’s Chang Octagon features reproductions of diplomas awarded by what we now know as Columbia from 1763 to 1773. King’s College’s first President Samuel Johnson did not award diplomas at Commencement. His ceremonies included a more intimate ritual between the President, the graduate, and Johnson’s own Hebrew […]
A President’s Degree and a Long-Lost Letter
As Columbia gets ready to host Commencement in person once again (May 18 for the Class of 2022 and May 19 for the Classes of 2020 and 2021) and in honor of Presidents’ Day, we look back to Commencement 1861. During the Commencement exercises in June 1861, Columbia President Charles King announced that the College […]
RBML opens later on Commencement Day
As it does every year, Butler Library and the Rare Book & Manuscript Library will open at 1pm on Commencement Day. This year the celebrations fall on Wednesday, May 22nd. Please plan your research agenda and travel options keeping the festivities in mind. Here are some tunes from Columbia alumni to enjoy while you wait […]