This page is dedicated to stories about Columbia's campus and community. From student, staff, and faculty profiles to interesting events happening on campus and in our surrounding neighborhoods, here is where you can find the latest about what's happening on and around Columbia's campuses.
Story Highlight
Columbia University has marked Commencement since 1758, and for the past 100 years, outdoors on Low Plaza in front of the proud eyes of Alma Mater. On May 20, the Class of 2026 carried that tradition forward as the University’s 272nd academic year closed with the conferral of 18,000+ degrees upon graduates of 19 schools and affiliates, representing all 50 states (plus Washington, D.C., and Puerto Rico) and 140 countries from around the globe.
Over the past week, the graduating class was also celebrated through school ceremonies, festive fêtes, and beloved traditions like the lighting of the Empire State Building.
Although rain was predicted during a record heat advisory, the weather held out for graduates of two Commencement ceremonies, with sunny skies in the morning for graduate schools and blessed, intermittent cloud cover in the afternoon for undergraduate schools. It was a fitting tribute to a century of Commencement, rain or shine, on the Morningside campus.
COLUMBIA HISTORY
Christopher Brown spends a lot of time thinking about the past. A Professor of History at Columbia, Brown's work focuses on Britain and the British Empire, principally in the seventeenth and eighteenth centuries. As the nation celebrates its semiquincentennial, Professor Brown discusses the importance of inspiring a love of history in future scholars and leaders.
We also speak with University Archivist Jocelyn Wilk about a recent acquisition to Columbia's Rare Book and Manuscript Library. Also known as the RBML, the library preserves the documents, books, pamphlets, maps, and other items that tell the story of the people who built the school once known as King's College.
This video offers a closer look at Professor Brown, the RBML, and how Columbia helps protect the memory and memorabilia of the early years of the university and the United States.
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Out and About
More Stories
Test your knowledge of 2021 at Columbia with questions on centennial celebrations, the Olympics, Columbia's entry into the Marvel Cinematic Universe, and much more.
During the pandemic, a group of Columbia graduate students launched the Physics and Coding Club at Democracy Prep Harlem High School. A year later, they’ve left the virtual world of Zoom to gather in real rooms for the first time.
What stories grabbed the attention of our readers in 2021? The results may surprise you.
With finals and wintertime dreariness upon us, we could all use some new coffee spots to add to the caffeination rotation.
On Dec. 2, the Columbia community lost one of its own: Davide Giri. On Dec. 3, the Columbia community came together to remember him and mourn his loss.
Content advisory: This article includes information about mental health distress, suicide, and suicide prevention.
With Halloween around the corner, Columbia News is taking a look at some of the ghoulish lore surrounding this 267-year-old university.
Columbia students, faculty, and staff talk about the history of the university and the strides made by the indigenous community.
Did you know that Columbia was home to one of the first student gay rights organization in the U.S.? New resources from the university are tying the history of queerness at Columbia to our current moment.
Read what directors, artists, filmmakers, and playwrights from the School of the Arts are excited about as the "cultural capital of the world" returns with a full slate of offerings.
The memorial signs are part of a larger project from the Offices of Religious and University Life. Special events are slated for September 20 and 21, 2021.
This year’s Climate Week NYC will feature Columbia professors on communicating climate solutions, financing mitigation and adaptation measures, decarbonizing Columbia's campus, and more.
