Convocation for PhD degree recipients in Engineering, the Biomedical Sciences and
all GSAS-affiliated schools
Monday, May 19, 2008, 3:30 p.m.
St. Paul’s Chapel - Morningside Campus
Reception immediately following Convocation on Philosophy Hall lawn
NOTE: One need only to have defended successfully to be eligible to participate in the Convocation and Commencement ceremonies.
Schedule
2:30 PM - Arrival of Candidates
Candidates arrive by 2:30 PM outside Room 109 in Low Library to line up in advance of the academic procession next to the candidate’s home department sign. If you forget or arrive without your Name Card please report to the information table located in the hallway outside of Room 109 in Low Library for a duplicate.
2:30 PM - Arrival of Guests
Family and friends of candidates are seated in St. Paul's Chapel (East of Low Memorial Library)
3:15 PM - Academic Procession
Academic Procession of Candidates, Faculty, and Administration into St. Paul's Chapel. Candidates are led over to the Chapel and seated inside by GSAS officials.
3:30 PM - Convocation Begins
Convocation ceremony includes brief speeches by students, faculty, and administrators and various awards for candidates, faculty, and alumni are given.
Between 4:00 PM and 5:00 PM - Presentation of Candidates
Doctoral Candidates are directed by GSAS marshals to proceed left of stage, where each is photographed by professional photographers from Island Photographers. Next, candidates ascend the stage to present the Name Card to the Faculty Reader. The Faculty Reader uses it to announce each degree candidate’s name and department. Next, candidates are greeted by Dean Henry Pinkham and a second professional photo is taken. After this, candidates return to seats. Island Photographers contacts candidates later regarding photos (see the section Photographing below).
4:55 PM - Academic Recession
Faculty process out of Chapel followed by Candidates.
5:00 PM - Reception
Reception on Philosophy Lawn hosted by Dean Henry C.Pinkham.
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Academic Regalia (Attire)
All candidates who wish to participate in convocation must wear academic attire.
Information regarding academic attire is available at www.columbiagraduation.com .
To download the order form for academic attire click here.
The form may be sent or taken to the Columbia University Bookstore,
2922 Broadway, New York, NY 10027, 212-854-4132, fax: 212-866-8713, columbia@bkstore.com
Master's
candidates purchase their robes (for $50) through the Columbia
Bookstore. They may be purchased any time from March 17 to May 16.
March
25-27
“Grad Fair” at Columbia Bookstore, Morningside Campus
March 28
"Grad Fair" at CUMC Bookstore, Columbia Medical Center Campus
Candidates
may either rent or purchase regalia at this event. If attire are
purchased candidates are measured by a tailor. Rented and purchased
regalia are available for distribution beginning May 6 at the Book
Store. Also present at the Grad Fair are representatives from Herff
Jones Company to take orders for class rings and graduation
announcements. Representatives from Framing Success answer questions
about diploma framing with frames available for sale.
April 11 (Friday)
Final day to order Academic Attire without assessing a late fee.
May 2 (Friday) Last day to order Academic Attire
Orders placed after this date can not be guaranteed to arrive by May 19.
May 6 (Tuesday) Academic Attire Distribution at CU Bookstore
Academic Attire distribution to students begins. This will continue through May 19 for students who ordered on or before April 4 (CU Bookstore:2922 Broadway, New York, NY 10027, 212-854-4132, fax: 212-866-8713, columbia@bkstore.com)
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Convocation Guest Tickets
Guest Tickets are required for GSAS Convocation and for University Commencement
Only candidates can obtain guest tickets
Two guest tickets maximum are available for reservation or pickup from April 18 through April 25 in 301 Philosophy.
To reserve and/or pick up guest tickets contact Craig Knobles at jck2@columbia.edu or at 212-854-2889
Deadline to pick up tickets is April 25.
Additional Ticket Requests Deadline is also April 25ADDITIONAL TICKET requests (maximum two) should be made before April 25 and are placed on a waiting list. After April 25, tickets not reserved or picked up by other candidates will be distributed between April 30 and May 14 to those who requested to be placed on the waiting list for additional tickets.
Convocation Guests with Disabilities
A location will be designated for ticketed guests with special needs. Please contact Erika Gaynor at edg14@columbia.edu by April 25 with the number of ticketed guests who need a space in this area. Upon arrival at Convocation please ask our staff wearing a Blue and White button for directions to this area.
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Name Cards
Name Cards for degree recipients are used during Convocation for the following two reasons:
1. Each candidate presents to the faculty reader a name card so that the faculty reader can announce the candidate’s name and program or department during Convocation.
2. Professional Photographers will be taking photographs of the candidates, and they use name cards to identify the subjects of each
Name cards are sent to candidates in March.
Students should bring their cards to Convocation. In case of lost or forgotten name cards, a duplicate name card will be available at the Low Library Information table one hour before Convocation.
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Convocation Booklet
Names of degree recipients, their programs, dissertation titles, and faculty sponsors appear in the Convocation Booklet distributed at Convocation. Only those who have deposited their dissertations are listed in this booklet (NOTE: one need only have defended successfully to be eligible to participate in the Convocation and Commencement ceremonies).
The deposit deadline to be included in the booklet is Thursday, May 1.
The deadline to be included in the addendum insert is Thursday, May 15.
Those who deposit after May 15 are listed in the 2008 Convocation Booklet.
Aside from booklet inclusion concerns, the deposit deadline for the May 21, 2008 conferral date is Friday, May 16.
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Photographing
Professional photographers stand near the stage to capture the moment when candidates process up to the stage to shake hands with the Dean.
Two professional photos of each degree recipient—one alone and one with the Dean on the stage—will be available for purchase after convocation.
Island Photographers http://www.islandphoto.com will contact graduates a few days after Convocation using information on the NAME CARDS that the student gives to the faculty reader.
So that all candidates are ensured an individual photograph, family and friends wishing to take photographs are asked to remain well behind the professional photographer.
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Parking
The following web sites are useful in deciding where to park during Convocation and Commencement week: http://www.columbia.edu/cu/ceremonies/commencement/ and http://www.columbia.edu/about_columbia/parking.html
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Valuables & Baby Strollers At Convocation
Please do not bring valuables to Convocation as there is no place to keep them safely. GSAS cannot be responsible for lost or stolen items.
Strollers will not be allowed in or near the Chapel and we strongly advise against bringing them. For those who leave strollers well outside the Chapel, they do so at their own risk and GSAS cannot be responsible for lost or stolen items.
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Commencement
May 21, 9:30 AM: GSAS candidates arrive by 9:30 AM to line up on Low Plaza at the designated location point to participate in University-wide Commencement. Commencement lasts from 10:30 AM until 12:00 Noon. All Columbia University degree recipients for academic year 2007-2008 (October 2007, February 2008 and May 2008 conferral dates) and post-defense PhD candidates are invited to take part. Those in academic robes/attire or in possession of a Columbia ID do not need tickets to access the campus.
Each graduate is entitled to a maximum of four May 21 Commencement guest tickets, available beginning April 14 by contacting Craig Knobles jck2@columbia.edu at 212-854-2889 in 301 Philosophy. The last day to pick up Commencement Tickets is May 14. For on-line information on Commencement please visit http://www.commencement.columbia.edu and information about the designated location point for MA and PhD students is mailed to candidates in March.
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Diplomas & Alumni Gifts
Diplomas can be picked up on the afternoon following University Commencement on May 21, from 12:00 pm until 2:00 pm in 301 Philosophy.
Graduates may also pick up gifts from the GSAS Alumni Officers who will be available to welcome new graduates into the Alumni Association. Please bring your CUID to pick up gifts.
On May 22, the Registrar’s
Office will begin to mail out diplomas which were not retrieved on Commencement
Day. Since it will take some time to complete the mailing, many diplomas will be
available for pick up in 210 Kent Hall for a few weeks after May 21. Questions
about availability should be directed to Sheila Kelly in the Diploma Division
at 212-854-8319 / sdk1@columbia.edu.
October and February diplomas have been mailed to the addresses provided by the
recipients; please contact the Diploma Division at registrar@columbia.edu if you have not
received yours.
Only diplomas for dissertations deposited on or before April 10 are available on Commencement day. Diplomas for dissertations deposited on or after April 10 will not be available for pick up on Commencement day; the registrar orders diplomas on May 20 for students who deposited between April 11 and May 16. These diplomas will be available for pick up at the registrar's office towards the end of May; or they will be mailed out during May - August.
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