CSSW Graduation Information

Congratulations, Class of 2022—and to the Classes of 2020 and 2021! The Columbia School of Social Work 2022 Graduation Ceremony will take place on Saturday, May 14, 2022 at 4:00 p.m. Information on the 2020-2021 graduations below. We are excited to celebrate all that you have accomplished during your time at the School of Social Work!

The CSSW graduation date is assigned by Columbia University’s Commencement Office. Alternative options are available for graduating students unable to attend due to religious reasons. If this applies to you, please reach out to cssw-graduation@columbia.edu.

2022 Location & Schedule

Location: South Lawn, Morningside Campus
Date: Saturday, May 14, 2022
Time: 4:00-5:45 PM

Information for Graduates:

  • Please arrive by 3:00 PM at the Graduate Entrance for Lerner Hall by 114th and Broadway (please see the Graduate Map).
  • The Graduate Procession begins promptly at 3:50 PM. Graduates who do not arrive by 3:00 PM may not be able to participate in the Graduate Procession. Graduates process from Lerner Hall to Butler Library to Graduate Seating.
  • Graduates will be seated in the Graduate Seating area. There is no lineup order.
  • Graduates will cross the stage from East to West. In the next few days, you will receive a GradPass. GradPasses are electronic graduate cards that graduates will use to check-in and process across the stage at CSSW’s Graduation Ceremony. Each GradPass has a unique QR code that when scanned prior to coming on stage, will trigger the software to display and announce your name.
  • Graduates need to have their GradPass on them when they cross the stage. Graduates have the option to download it to their phones or print it out but they MUST have it in order to cross the stage.
  • As you cross the stage, please note that Dean Begg will not be shaking hands in order to minimize health risks. Dean Begg will hand each graduate a folder for the photo opportunity.

    • 2020-2021 Location & Schedule

    University-Wide Celebration
    Location: Morningside Campus
    Date: Thursday, May 19, 2022
    Time: 9:00-10:30 AM (Gates open at 8:00 AM)

    A livestream of the University-Wide Celebration will be available here.

    Columbia Celebration
    Location: Levien Gym, Columbia University
    Date: Thursday, May 19, 2022
    Time: 11:30 AM-2:00 PM

    Guest Attendance & Ticketing Information

  • Gates for guests will open at 3:00 PM. Guests should enter through the 114th St. Entrances at Carman and John Jay Gates (please see the Guest Map below and attached).
  • The Disability Entrance is at 116th St. and Amsterdam.

    • Each student will receive six (6) guest tickets. We anticipate the launch of the ticketing website to be sometime in the middle of April.

    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 visit the Commencement website announcements page for more detailed information on requirements.