Dear Barnard Class of 2025,
It is with great pleasure that we announce that Barnard College Commencement 2025 will be held on Tuesday, May 20, 2025 at 4 p.m. at Radio City Music Hall in midtown Manhattan.
As students of Barnard College, you are
invited to participate in both the Barnard College Commencement and the
Columbia University Commencement ceremonies. The Columbia
University Commencement will be held the following day, Wednesday, May
21, on Columbia’s Morningside Heights campus. For more information on the Columbia University Commencement, including ticketing and other key details, please visit the Columbia University Commencement website.
Commencement is a milestone event that marks your tremendous
achievements. We are working hard to plan a memorable day and are so
glad to be able to return to Radio City, a beautiful and iconic venue,
for the Barnard ceremony. Each graduating student will receive 4 tickets for guests to Barnard’s Commencement;
this is one fewer ticket than was allocated to last year’s graduates
due to the larger number of students in this year’s graduating class. We
will work to accommodate as many requests for extra tickets as possible
through a ticket redistribution program. Students may also share their
unused tickets directly with other students who are looking to bring
more guests. Tickets will be available in the spring semester and
registration will be required for all graduating students and their
guests.
As you may know, the Barnard Medal of Distinction, the College’s highest
honor, is bestowed upon at least one extraordinary individual every
year at Commencement. Honorees are individuals of high distinction whose
mark on the world bears some relation to Barnard: as a college
dedicated to the education and advancement of women, connected to its
location in New York City, and committed to intellectual and creative
achievements across the arts and sciences. These medalists also
exemplify the best qualities found in our students and alumnae:
leadership, resilience, creativity, and excellence. The Medal is
equivalent to an honorary degree and has been awarded to a broad and
wonderful group of recipients including Billie Jean King, Cecile
Richards, Joanne Liu, Toni Morrison, Meryl Streep, and Barack Obama. A list of prior recipients is here for your reference.
Nominations for the 2025 Medalists are now being accepted via this nomination form, which will close December 18, 2024.
The nominations will be submitted to the Medalist Committee, and the
Medals of Distinction will be conferred at Barnard's Commencement in May
2025.
Additional Commencement details, such as
ticketing information, guest accommodations, and information on where to
get your cap and gown, will be posted on the Commencement 2025 webpage
and communicated via email to graduates as they become available. If
you have any additional questions in the months leading up to
Commencement, please email commencement@barnard.edu.
We look forward to celebrating this important achievement with you!
Sincerely,
Leslie Grinage
Dean of the College
Vice President for Campus Life and Student Experience
