Climate School Class Day

The Columbia Climate School Class Day for the Class of 2025 will take place on Friday, May 16, 2025 at 11:00 am ET at Miller Theater. 

Columbia University’s Commencement ceremony will take place on May 21, 2025, at 10:30 a.m.

Class Day Livestream and Program

To be added later this spring!

Keynote Speaker

To be announced later this spring!

Important Information

To be added later this spring!

  • Class Day: Each individual school has their own graduation day called "Class Day." This ceremony involves a keynote speaker, award recognition, and individual diploma handouts.
     
  • University Commencement: University Commencement is the graduation ceremony for all the schools together under the University. No students walk across the stage. This is a change to see graduates come together across the University.

 

Climate School Class Day: MA in Climate and Society students are eligible to participate in the Climate School Class Day ceremony if they meet the following criteria:

  • Their degree was conferred in February 2025
  • Their degree is expected to be conferred in May 2025
  • Their degree is expected to be conferred in October 2025
     

University Commencement: Climate School students are eligible to participate in the University's Commencement ceremony if they meet the following criteria:

  • Their degree was conferred in February 2025
  • Their degree is expected to be conferred in May 2025
  • Their degree is expected to be conferred in October 2025

Class Day

  • Students must register to participate in the Climate School Class Day
     
  • Each graduating student will receive guest tickets to use for friends and family. Students must register their guests for Climate School Class Day.

     

University Commencement

  • Graduating students who want to attend University Commencement will be given 2 guest tickets.
     
  • The University Commencement office handles guest ticketing for Commencement. You will receive information directly from them starting in March
     
  • If you have any questions or have trouble registering, please contact [email protected]


**Please note: Guests of graduating students cannot directly register for tickets—graduates must do so on behalf of their guest(s).

Academic regalia is required to participate in the Climate School Class Day and University Commencement ceremonies. 

  • Regalia: Master's regalia consists of a cap and gown
     
  • Rent or Buy: Regalia is available for purchase only and not for rental
     
  • Where to Buy: Regalia may be obtained through the Columbia University Bookstore in Lerner Hall (2922 Broadway)
     
    • In-Store Ordering: Orders can be placed in-store beginning [XX DATE]
       
    • Online Ordering: Online orders, to be shipped to the student, can be placed beginning on [XX DATE] and ending on [XX DATE]

**For more details on Regalia, please visit the University Commencement office page on Regalia.

We will have a professional photographer and videographer present during Class Day to capture the graduates and ceremony. Individual photographs of each student participant taken by the photographer will be available for purchase following the ceremony. The photographer will contact graduates via email for purchasing. 

Students, and their guests, requiring accommodations during the Climate School Class Day and/or University Commencement ceremonies, including graduates whose disabilities limit their ability to walk or negotiate stairs, should contact Disability Services at [email protected].

Looking Back

  • Class of 2024
  • Class of 2023
    • The second class of students to graduate from the Climate School! Class Day was on Friday, May 12, 2023 and University Commencement was on May 17, 2023. Look back at the Class Day ceremony!
  • Class of 2022
    • The first class of students to graduate from the Columbia Climate School celebrated in a school-wide Class Day ceremony on May 13, 2022, and in a university-wide Commencement ceremony on May 18. Here are some of the highlights!