Principal Graduation Events

GS Senior Portraits

Mon., March 11-Wed., March 13
408 Lewisohn Hall, Baer Room

Graduating seniors are invited to take senior portraits free of charge with Prestige Portraits by Lifetouch.

To schedule an appointment, visit Prestige Portraits' website and enter school code 600, or call (800) 687-9327.

Students will receive information on preparing for the portrait sitting upon registration.

Senior Survey

The Senior Survey will be available at the beginning of April.

In preparation for General Studies Class Day and University Commencement, you are required to complete the Senior Survey, also known as the Blue Card survey. The survey is an opportunity for you to give us important information such as the correct pronunciation of your name for the ceremony and the address to which we should send your copy of The Owl, the GS alumni magazine.

The survey takes about five minutes to complete. Commencement tickets and grad packets cannot be released until the Senior Survey has been completed.

Please complete the survey by Tuesday, April 23, at 12 p.m, in order to receive your graduation packet, including Commencement tickets, at the Graduation Kick-off event (below).

Graduation Kick-Off Event

Wednesday, April 24, 2013
2:30-4:00 p.m.
GS Lounge, Lewisohn Hall
Open only to those who have applied for May and October graduation and February grads.

Come join fellow seniors and start the countdown to graduation. Pick up tickets for Commencement, partake of a champagne toast to 2013 graduates, make a donation to the Senior Class Fund, buy tickets for the Senior Class Dinner Cruise, purchase GS jewelry and clothing, and enter a drawing for an exquisite piece of GS jewelry exclusively designed by GS Grad Philip Ehrlich (designer of the Columbia 250th Anniversary pins and the GS Owl that stands proudly in the GS Lounge).

GS Class Day

Monday, May 20, 2013
9-10:45 a.m.
Morningside Campus, South Lawn

Grads: Academic regalia required; grads must report by 7:30 a.m. to Roone Arledge Auditorium in Lerner Hall
Alumni: Academic regalia required.
Guests: Tickets are not required.

For detailed information, see the Class Day page.

Presentation of degree candidates to the President and assembled faculty and guests. Following the ceremony, a reception will be held until noon.

All alumni are invited to attend the Class Day ceremony. This year, alumni from classes ending in '3 or '8 are invited to participate in the Class Day procession. To learn more about serving on the Reunion Committee and becoming an alumni marcher please contact Janet Griffin at jg3173@columbia.edu.

Baccalaureate Service

Sunday, May 19, 2013
9:30-11 a.m.
St. Paul's Chapel

Grads: Academic regalia required.
Guests: Families and friends of degree candidates are welcome. No tickets required.

Registration: TBA.

The Baccalaureate Service is an interfaith, intercultural service celebrating the completion of each undergraduate's academic career, and is the opening event of Commencement week. The service is prepared and coordinated by the Office of the University Chaplain; the chaplain, president, and deans preside, students from each of the undergraduate schools participate.

For more information, visit the University Commencement website.

Columbia 259th Commencement

Wednesday, May 22, 2013
10:30 a.m.-12 p.m.
Low Plaza

Grads: Academic regalia required; assemble in front of Lewisohn Hall (117th St. & Broadway entrance) by 9:00 a.m. Candidate procession begins at 9:30 a.m. and academic procession at 10:30 a.m.
Guests: Tickets required. Gates to campus open at 8:30 a.m. to ticket holders.

For detailed information, see the Commencement page.

It is during the Commencement ceremony that your degree is officially conferred. All of Columbia’s 17 schools participate in this event. The Commencement speaker is traditionally the president of Columbia. The ceremony includes awards to honorary degree recipients and outstanding Columbia teachers. If it rains, Commencement still takes place outside.

GS Post-Commencement Reception

Wednesday, May 22, 2013
12-1 p.m.
308 Lewisohn Hall, GS Lounge

Grads and Guests: Open to all GS grads and their guests. No tickets required.

Here you may meet your advisors and deans, get your official Columbia alumni card, and arrange to meet your family after the Commencement ceremony. Diplomas for May 2013 graduates may not be picked up at this event; they will be mailed to graduates within three weeks of University Commencement. Graduates are advised to confirm their Diploma Address in SSOL prior to Commencement.

October 2012 and February 2013 graduates will have received their diplomas in the mail up to two months following their graduation dates. Graduates from these dates who have not received their diploma should visit the Diploma Division in 205 Kent Hall to inquire further.