Commencement

Graduating students will be sent information via their CUMC email account. As a reminder, graduating students must register to attend both ceremonies, and will need to request guest tickets for the University Commencement and the Columbia Nursing Graduation Ceremony. Graduating students will receive further registration and guest registration information in the coming weeks.

Graduates with questions can contact the Office of Student Services at OSSnursing@cumc.columbia.edu.

Doctoral graduates wear a gown, velvet tam, and hood. Gowns and hoods can be rented or purchased. Velvet tams must be purchased. Students will need to indicate which program they are graduating from when ordering regalia since this determines the color of the hood:

• Doctor of Philosophy (PhD): Standard PhD blue hoods
• Doctor of Nursing Practice (DNP): Apricot hoods with green cord lining

There are two ways to receive your regalia:

1. On-Site at Columbia Morningside Bookstore: Doctoral students can be measured for their gown and place their rental doctoral gown order at the Morningside Bookstore starting February 18, 2025. Doctoral Regalia may be reserved in-store by April 10 to avoid incurring a late fee. Gowns can be picked up at the Columbia Morningside Bookstore (2292 Broadway). Rental gowns must be returned to the Morningside bookstore. *Rental Doctoral Regalia must be returned to the Morningside Bookstore by Friday, May 30.
2. Online Ordering: Doctoral students can rent or purchase their regalia online.
   1. To rent your doctoral regalia online (online ordering accepted from 2/22-4/10): The recommended date to order rental doctoral regalia online and receive order by the 2025 Graduation Ceremonies was by April 10. Please reserve your gown by April 10 to avoid incurring a late fee. Doctoral rental regalia will be available for pickup in-store at the Morningside Campus bookstore beginning April 28. If graduates don't receive a notification on 4/28, please call the bookstore to check on the status of your regalia, prior to making a trip to the bookstore. A ship-to-home option is not available online.  *Rental Doctoral Regalia must be returned to the Morningside Bookstore by Friday, May 30.
   2. The deadline to purchase your doctoral regalia online has passed. 

*Rental Doctoral Regalia must be returned to the Morningside Bookstore by Friday, May 30.

For Assistance Purchasing Regalia, call the Columbia University Bookstore at 212-854-4131 or visit the Columbia University Bookstore website.

Master’s candidates at Columbia University and its affiliated institutions wear a cap (mortarboard) with tassel and gown. No hood is worn. Master’s degree candidates purchase souvenir student regalia (items are yours to keep) and you do not need to pre-order your gown.

There are two ways to receive your regalia:

1. On-Site at Columbia Morningside Bookstore: Students can purchase their regalia on site at the Morningside Bookstore beginning February 18, 2025. Pre-ordering is not necessary for Master’s gowns. Gowns can be picked up at the Columbia Morningside Bookstore until Commencement day (though students are encouraged to pick up their regalia early).
2. Order Online to be shipped (online ordering accepted from 2/22-3/21): Out-of-town students can have their gown shipped to them (for a fee) through the Morningside Bookstore. *Note: Online ordering ends March 21. To place an order after March 21, please visit the Columbia Morningside Bookstore.

For Assistance Purchasing Regalia, call the Columbia University Bookstore at 212-854-4131 or visit the Columbia University Bookstore website.

• All guests over the age of three must have a ticket for entry to The Armory. Each guest needs an individual ticket; only ticketed guests will be allowed into the venue.  
• For an efficient guest entry process, please have your ticket printed or saved/loaded and ready to be scanned at the door when you reach the entrance. Each ticket can only be scanned once, and ticket QR codes cannot be shared with another guest. 
• A Photo ID is required for guest and graduate entry. Graduates should bring their CUMC ID Card for HSC entry (alumni without CUMC ID Card can show Photo ID).
• Guests with disabilities, limited mobility, or the elderly needing assistance do not need special tickets. Event host staff will have wheelchairs available to help escort guests needing assistance to the designated seating area. 
• Tickets do not allow for re-entry; no re-entry is allowed to The Armory once a graduate or guest leaves.
• For the safety of all guests, aisles must be kept clear at all times - please refrain from standing in the aisles once inside.

• Regalia is required to participate in all Commencement events. Graduates must arrive to student line-up with regalia unzipped, as checks may take place before entry or during lineup.
• Graduates and guests are strongly encouraged to leave ALL bags at home to facilitate a quick and easy entry into The Armory. Any items that are brought must meet the requirements below. All items are subject to security screening. If you or a guest are bringing a medical or parenting bag, please be prepared to open the bag for screening at building entry. 
• Graduates – Do not bring bags, your items must fit in your pockets. Graduates cannot carry bags/items to seats or onstage, as items at seats may create a tripping hazard for other graduates. Do bring comfortable footwear and a fully charged phone (maybe even an external battery). 
• Water is available for guests inside the venue. 
• The Armory does not have a storage area or coat/bag check.
• Graduates – Do not bring bags, your items must fit in your pockets. Graduates cannot carry bags/items to seats or onstage, as items at seats may create a tripping hazard for other graduates. Do bring comfortable footwear and a fully charged phone (maybe even an external battery). 

Acceptable Items

• Clear bags under 12" x 6" x 12"
• Medical bags and parenting bags (with child present)  
• Medically needed items, such as mobility equipment 
• Strollers for infants 
• Cameras 
• Flowers 
• Umbrellas (that can be folded/placed under the seat) 
• Pre-filled, reusable water bottle 

Prohibited Items

We want to work together as a community to provide a safe, positive, and unobstructed experience for all. Guests or graduates that arrive with unacceptable items, including oversized bags, will not be admitted to the Armory. Guests will need to return prohibited items to their vehicles/home, or discard items to enter The Armory.

• Suitcases, backpacks, and large purses larger than 12" x 6" x 12" are not permitted inside the Armory. Security will check all bags upon entry.     
• Signs, placards, or banners of any kind
• Large flags/flags on poles  
• Outside food or drinks  
• Balloons or sky lanterns
• Pets/Animals (except for certified service animals, which are allowed)  
• Noise-making devices, including airhorns and cowbells
• Any item or devices that may interfere with and/or distract graduation speakers, graduates, or guests  
• Dangerous Items
  • Weapons of any kind , including pepper spray or mace
  • Glass bottles or projectiles
  • Lighters, matches, or flammable materials 
  • Sharp objects or laser pointers 
  • Any other item deemed dangerous, inappropriate, or in violation of University policies

• Only guests with tickets will be allowed into the Armory. No exceptions will be made. 
• Face coverings are not permitted unless required for religious or medical reasons.
• Mortarboards, stoles, or other regalia should not contain language, symbols, or imagery that could violate University policies.
• By participating in the University Commencement ceremony and/or your school-specific ceremony, all participants are giving consent to being photographed, filmed, and recorded. Please note that these photos and recordings may be shared publicly or on social media at the discretion of the University, and an archived video will be made available online for viewing after the event.

For family and friends that cannot attend, a live webcast will be available for viewing during the Columbia Nursing Graduation Ceremony. 

You can view the 2025 Columbia Nursing Graduation Ceremony below on the morning of the ceremony:

School of Nursing Graduation Ceremony | May 20, 2025 at 10:00am ET

Island Photography will be providing the photo coverage for our commencement ceremony. They can be contacted at custserv@islandphoto.com with any questions.

5/20 School of Nursing Graduation Ceremony

Guests with disabilities, limited mobility, or the elderly needing assistance should enter the Armory at 216 Fort Washington Avenue – there is a ramp available. Event Host staff will have wheelchairs available to help escort guests needing assistance to the seating area. No reservation is required for assistance with seating – guests only need a guest ticket to enter.

Graduates requiring accommodations, including those whose disabilities limit their ability to walk or negotiate stairs, should contact Disability Services at disability@columbia.edu or (212) 304-7029. May 2 is the deadline for requesting sign language interpretation, assisted listening systems, and open captioning for the ceremony.

5/21 University Commencement

View commencement accessibility information here.

Columbia University Irving Medical Center (CUIMC) is located west of Broadway on 168th Street. The School of Nursing Graduation Ceremony is held at the Armory (216 Fort Washington Avenue at West 168th Street).

Parking on campus is extremely limited on campus. This is especially compounded during Commencement like events when thousands of additional guests visit our campus. Guests are encouraged to take public transportation; information on alternative transportation (instead of driving) is available here. Including but not limited to:

• Public Transportation such as the MTA Bus and Subway system
• Bicycle
• Train or Interstate Bus

Visitors and Personal Travel Resource

https://www.worldtravelinc.com/columbia.visitors.portal

Columbia University offers negotiated car and hotel rates for campus visitors. To book a car or hotel reservation new users must create an account to access the Visitors Online Booking Tool. Registered users may sign in to the Visitors Online Booking Tool to book Columbia negotiated rates or to change/cancel an existing reservation. Visitor and personal travel may only be booked online and users must carefully review details, rules and cancellation policies of each hotel and car rental supplier prior to completing a booking as some rates selected may be completely non-refundable and non-changeable.