GSAPP has partnered with the new and experimental online platform ohyay to create a unique Virtual Ceremony experience on Thursday, April 29th. The event will occur in an online space crafted especially for GSAPP to include the broadcast of the ceremony, as well as interaction with graduates, live on-screen as their names are called, a live feed of the Faculty stage party, and chat with emoji reactions for graduates, faculty, and the audience of family and friends.

Anyone can join on ohyay and the number of guests per graduate is not limited. ohyay is web browser-based and works best on Chrome. A log-in is required, but advanced registration is not. Guests will not be visible during the ceremony (i.e., their audio/video will be off), but they can participate in chat and reactions.

Immediately following the ceremony, all participants and guests are invited to mingle in the ohyay virtual reception spaces. Here, guests can explore different “rooms,” meeting each other’s families and faculty. These spaces will allow for live audio/video, chat, and emoji reactions for any participant.

Advanced instructions for joining the ceremony on ohyay will be available soon. For those who choose not to participate on ohyay, the ceremony will also be broadcast on our website at arch.columbia.edu/commencement and will be available on Youtube and Panopto.