Commencement

Graduating students are being sent information via email. As a reminder, graduating students must register to attend both ceremonies, and will need request to guest tickets for the University Commencement and RSVP their guests for the Columbia Nursing Graduation Ceremony.  Graduating students received registration and ticketing information on March 23, 2023. The deadline for graduates to register is Friday, May 12, 2023 at 11:59pm ET. If you are a graduating student and have not received the information, please email the Office of Student Services at OSSNursing@cumc.columbia.edu.

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 and CUIMC Bookstores: Students can purchase their regalia on site at the Morningside Bookstore and CUIMC Bookstore. Pre-ordering is not necessary for Master’s gowns. Gowns can be picked up at the Columbia Morningside and CUIMC Bookstores until Commencement day (though students are encouraged to pick up their regalia early).
2. Order Online to be shipped (online ordering accepted from 3/13-4/12): Out-of-town students can have their gown shipped to them (for a fee) through the Morningside Bookstore. Visit https://columbia.shopoakhalli.com/purchasewizard/Welcome for information, including deadlines, cost, and or to place an order. *Note: Online ordering ends April 12. To place an order after April 12, please visit the Columbia Morningside and CUIMC Bookstores.

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

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 doctoral gown order at the Columbia Morningside Bookstore. Gowns can be picked up at the Columbia Morningside Bookstore (2292 Broadway). Rental gowns must be returned to the Morningside bookstore. *Gowns can be reserved in-store by April 11 to avoid incurring a late fee. 
2. Order Online: Doctoral students can rent or purchase their regalia online.
   1. Online ordering for rental regalia ended on March 29. To place a rental doctoral regalia order after March 29, please visit the Columbia Morningside Bookstore to reserve your gown by April 11 to avoid incurring a late fee. Doctoral rental regalia will be available for pickup in-store at the Morningside Campus bookstore beginning May 5. The bookstore will notify doctoral graduates when regalia is on campus for pick up (5/5). If graduates don't receive a notification on 5/5, 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. 
   2. The recommended date to purchase doctoral regalia and ensure delivery by the 2023 graduation ceremonies ended on March 21. If you would still like to purchase your regalia online with the understanding that your regalia will not arrive by the graduation ceremonies, visit https://columbiafinequality.shopoakhalli.com/purchasewizard/SelectEvent for information, including deadlines, cost, and or to place an order. *Note: It takes 6-8 weeks for delivery if you are purchasing your doctoral regalia. 

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

Columbia University is committed to protecting the health and safety of its community. Effective May 11, 2023, graduates, visiting alumni, and guests attending Commencement activities on Columbia’s campuses are strongly recommended to follow CDC guidelines for COVID-19 vaccination and community guidance on indoor masking. Attendees will not be required to attest, show proof of vaccination status or recent test results, however, are encouraged to stay home if feeling unwell or testing positive for COVID-19.

Please visit Columbia University’s Hub for Emergency Preparedness for the latest health and safety policies as they are subject to change. 

For family and friends that cannot attend, a live webcast will be available for viewing during the Columbia Nursing Graduation Ceremony. The live webcast can be accessed using the link below:

2023 Columbia University School of Nursing Graduation Ceremony Livestream

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

Guests with disabilities, limited mobility, or the elderly needing assistance should enter the New Balance Track and Field Center (Armory) at 216 Fort Washington Avenue. Event Host staff will have wheelchairs available to help escort guests needing assistance to the seating area. No reservation is required for assistance or for seating.

If you haven't already, students, and their guests, requiring accommodations during University Commencement or school graduation ceremonies, including graduates whose disabilities limit their ability to walk or negotiate stairs, should contact Disability Services at access@columbia.edu or at 212-854-2388.

Columbia University Irving Medical Center (CUIMC) is located west of Broadway on 168th Street. The School of Nursing Graduation Ceremony is held at The New Balance Track & Field Center at the Armory, Arena (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.