2022 - Columbia GSAPP

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Columbia GSAPP Commencement
May 14, 2022

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Columbia GSAPP Commencement
May 14, 2022

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Columbia University Commencement
May 18, 2022

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Columbia GSAPP Commencement
May 14, 2022

The Columbia GSAPP Commencement ceremony took place on
Saturday, May 14, 2022, at 12:00pm EDT. Please also see the University’s Commencement webpage, the Columbia FAQ for Graduates, and the GSAPP Commencement FAQ.

Commencement Day Schedule and Information

Ceremony Schedule

10:00am – Student check-in opens, graduates line up in Lerner Hall
11:00am – Gates open for guests
12:00pm – Ceremony begins with Graduate Procession to South Lawn
2:00pm – Receptions begin in Havemeyer Plaza and Avery/Schermerhorn Plaza
5:00 pm – Receptions end

Event Maps

Participation

All graduates who intend to walk at the 2022 GSAPP Commencement ceremony need to register online by Saturday, April 23, regardless of their need for guest tickets. Graduates received an email on Monday, April 4 to complete this step through the Marching Order website. On that site, graduates will be able to:

Register to confirm walking with your program (dual degree students have to choose one program)
Complete the Photo Consent Form (GradImages)
Complete the Alumni Survey to stay in contact after graduation
Record your name for the preferred pronunciation

Ticketing

Ticketing will be available beginning on Wednesday, April 13. Graduates will receive a separate email with the access link to request guest tickets through the AudienceView online ticketing system. Graduates do not need tickets for themselves once they have confirmed their participation.

All guests must have an advance ticket to attend the ceremony and reception. All guests must be in compliance with the University’s current health guidelines and must be prepared to show proof of vaccination in order to attend the ceremony.

All eligible graduates will be able to use AudienceView to order up to four (4) guest tickets for GSAPP Commencement on May 14, and up to two (2) guest tickets for the University Commencement on May 18. Graduates do not need their own ticket for the May 14th GSAPP Ceremony, but they will need a ticket for the May 18th University Ceremony.

Registration deadline for 5/14 GSAPP commencement is May 1
Registration deadline for 5/18 University commencement is May 13

Download the University Ticketing Guide for help.

Given vaccine requirements and health attestations made during registration, each ticket is unique to the individual listed and cannot be used by another guest. Selling or buying tickets for Commencement Week events is strictly prohibited.

Additional Ticketing

After the initial registration period closes on May 1st at 5:00pm, graduates will have the opportunity to register for up to two (2) additional tickets for the May 14th ceremony on a first-come, first-served basis. Details will be shared once the initial registration period closes.

Health Guidelines

Columbia University is committed to protecting the health and safety of its community. To that end, all graduates, visiting alumni, and guests (except children 5 years and under), must meet the University requirement of full vaccination status in order to attend in-person Commencement events this May. Vaccination cards will be checked upon entry.

Columbia University continues to evaluate the current public health landscape. Given low rates of transmission in New York, the University is now comfortable accepting vaccination exemptions for medical, religious or other reasons to allow graduates and guests previously impacted to now plan ahead for Columbia University Commencement event attendance. All graduates, visiting alumni and guests, who are unable to receive the COVID-19 vaccination(s) for medical, religious, or other reasons will be required to do the following:

Each unvaccinated individual over the age of 2 years old will wear a face mask during all events.
Proof of a negative COVID-19 test, a same-day, at-home antigen test on the day of each event or PCR test within 48 hours of the first attended event, is required for any unvaccinated guest over age 5, and must be shown at entry for all indoor and outdoor events.

Please don’t leave home without a face mask, as you will need one to enter restrooms which are located inside campus buildings.

Please visit the University Commencement Announcements webpage for more detailed information on requirements.

Academic Attire

Note that academic regalia (cap and gown) is required to participate in any University Commencement, including the GSAPP Ceremony on May 14.

Regalia can be purchased either in-person at the Columbia University Bookstore in Lerner Hall, or through the online store.

Please note that the last day to order regalia online is April 27, 2022.

Water Stations

Bring a Reusable Water Bottle to Commencement
Please note that single use plastic bottles will not be distributed during Commencement. Guests and students should bring their own reusable bottle and fill up at any of our water refill stations available on Morningside Campus. By using outdoor water stations, Columbia will be able to prevent the use of nearly 50,000 plastic bottles on University Commencement Day alone. For more information, visit Columbia’s Green Initiatives website.

Live Stream

The ceremony will be live-streamed on the University website for anyone unable to attend: commencement.columbia.edu/content/webcast

Pre-Ceremony Slideshow

A slideshow will play for the family and guests at the event in advance of the ceremony. Please share your favorite moments of your time at GSAPP, and you may include greetings or thank-you messages to family or classmates: submit your photos and messages here.

Commencement Photography

Please note that a professional photography firm, GradImages, will be present at the GSAPP Commencement Ceremony. Each graduate will be photographed at the ceremony and will have the opportunity to purchase photos following commencement. Graduates will have the opportunity to opt-in to pre-register to receive proofs of their images on the commencement registration website.

Dual Degree Candidates

Each graduate with a GSAPP dual degree will choose one of the programs with which to walk during the ceremony. Graduates will select this in the graduate registration form confirming your participation. The second degree will be noted when graduate’s name is read at the ceremony. Students who are completing their dual degree in the Fall 2022 semester are eligible to participate in the May graduation ceremony.

International Guests

Please see the ISSO’s information on inviting family and friends to visit here. If graduating students need a formal invitation letter for international guests, please contact mail_arch@columbia.edu to request one.

Disability Services

Graduates with guests who will need assistance or extra time to be seated are encouraged to contact us in advance at commencement@arch.columbia.edu and at access@columbia.edu with details so we will be prepared for your arrival and have appropriate seating available. We ask guests needing assistance or in wheelchairs to enter at the Amsterdam at 116th Street gate. Visit the Disability Services webpage for additional information.

Diplomas

Diplomas are not distributed during commencement celebrations, but will be mailed to the “Diploma Address” that is on file in SSOL. Please review the related instructions on the Columbia University Registrar website.

Portfolio Requirement

Please be reminded that all students graduating in May 2022 from the Master of Architecture, M.S. in Advanced Architectural Design, or M.S. in Architecture and Urban Design programs are required to submit a portfolio of representative work from each semester, which is evaluated by all studio faculty. The portfolio should specify the year, semester, and studio critic for all work. In addition, the portfolio may include work such as essays and other drawings from history/theory courses; technology courses; and visual studies.

Portfolios are due on Sunday, May 8th at 2pm.

The digital portfolio shall be in PDF format not to exceed 75 pages, including cover pages and, if applicable, table of contents. Two page spreads count as one page. The maximum accepted file size is 32 MB. The portfolio should be optimized for viewing on standard size computer screens.

Portfolios will also be used to assist the Faculty Awards Committee in determining the recipients of the various design prizes awarded to graduates.

Columbia University Alumni Community

Graduates are invited to join the Columbia University online directory. Take advantage of this valuable lifelong networking resource. Reach out to a former classmate, network with alumni in your region, share life updates and accomplishments, or offer up your expertise and thought leadership to others.

The Online Alumni Community is the only verified space to search for and connect with fellow Columbia alumni across Schools, degrees, graduation years, regions, interests, and more. Login in with your UNI at the alumni website.

Student Awards

2022 Student Award recipients are announced here.
You can find information about graduation prizes and requirements on the GSAPP Student Awards webpage.