Columbia University held its 2024 commencement ceremonies on Wednesday amid challenging circumstances marked by intense heat and ongoing campus tensions. Approximately 18,000 students received graduate and undergraduate degrees during events held at the university’s Morningside Heights campus in New York City.
A sweltering heat wave brought temperatures nearing 90 degrees Fahrenheit to the morning ceremony, where graduate students took measures to stay cool, including draping towels over their mortar boards and seeking shade. The undergraduate ceremony later that afternoon narrowly avoided delay due to a forecasted thunderstorm, successfully concluding just before the rain began.
The university’s acting president, Claire Shipman, who has served in an interim capacity following leadership changes, delivered addresses at both ceremonies urging students toward a centrist approach and the value of “generosity of spirit.” Her speeches were met with mixed reactions; some graduates responded with boos, reflecting ongoing dissatisfaction with the administration. Critics on campus have faulted Shipman for implementing new restrictions on student protests and for negotiations with the Trump administration to restore federal funding.
The 2024 commencement comes after a turbulent period for Columbia. When many graduates enrolled in 2022, the university was transitioning from the long tenure of President Lee C. Bollinger and expanding its Manhattanville campus. Known for fostering a robust culture of free expression, Columbia faced significant unrest following the Hamas attack on Israel on October 7, 2023. Clashes between pro-Palestinian and pro-Israeli student groups disrupted campus life and heightened security concerns. By May 2024, tensions culminated in a police intervention to end a two-week pro-Palestinian encampment and building occupation, leading to the cancellation of the main university commencement ceremony and the shift of final exams to an online format.
Since that crisis, Columbia has been led by two interim presidents, including Shipman, who previously co-chaired the university’s board of trustees. During this time, the university navigated pressure from the federal government regarding antisemitism allegations, which resulted in a temporary withdrawal of over $400 million in federal grants. A complex agreement restored much of that funding.
Students expressed varied perspectives on the recent challenges. Some, like Daniel Bremer, an MBA graduate from Brazil, described their experiences as opportunities for growth despite concerns. Others, including student body president Sam Cano Cabrera, criticized the administration for insufficiently listening to the broad spectrum of student voices, particularly around campus policing and governance issues. He suggested that reopening the campus gates to the public and including student representation on the board of trustees could foster better relations.
The university is preparing for the arrival of its next president, Dr. Jennifer Mnookin, a legal scholar with expertise in law and science, scheduled to assume leadership in July. Mnookin joins Columbia from the University of Wisconsin-Madison, where she has dealt with political and funding challenges in a conservative state environment. Graduates like Nabiha Subzwari, who earned a master’s degree in public health, encouraged Mnookin to engage openly with all student groups to address differing perspectives on campus.
In a brief moment of levity during the morning ceremony, musician Jon Batiste, who received an honorary doctorate, performed an eclectic mix of classical, jazz, and popular tunes, earning a standing ovation from attendees.
As the afternoon ceremony concluded before the arrival of thunderstorms, Shipman acknowledged the difficult experience of the day’s heat, remarking on the relief of finally dismissing the graduates. Wednesday’s events reflected Columbia’s ongoing efforts to maintain institutional stability amid significant social and political challenges.