Commencement

You can find previous announcements and emails you may have missed below.

• What Are You Waiting For? Order Your Cap & Gown Today! (2/18/25)

  

  Hello Graduate,

  Are you excited about the big day? Below are your Commencement Reminders.

  ---

  ORDER YOUR CAP & GOWN TODAY

  
  

  1.  DON'T WAIT! YOU MUST ORDER YOUR CAP & GOWN VIA HERFF JONES
  The information you provided on your graduation application does not automatically order your cap and gown. 

  2.  THERE'S NO OUT OF POCKET COST TO YOU.  
  That's right! It costs $0.00 to order your robe.

  Click here >

  Select CAP and GOWN >

  Select ORDER NOW.

  If you choose to order additional memorabilia (frames, stoles, rings, etc.), you will incur a cost.

  3.  YOUR CAP & GOWN WILL SHIP DIRECTLY TO YOUR PREFERRED ADDRESS.

  ---

  APPLY FOR THE COMMENCEMENT COMPETITIONS

  Represent your class by applying for one of the three commencement competitions below.
  Click here for more info and to apply. the deadline to apply is Monday, March 31.

  

  ---

  COMPOSE THE MANIFEST SONG AND WIN $1,000

  Compose the 2025 Manifest Song, perform LIVE at the Kick-Off and be featured in the Manifest video! The selected artist will win $1,000 and become a part of Manifest history! Submissions are open, so start composing! Click here for info!
  
  

  ---

  BE SURE TO READ THE COMMENCEMENT FAQ'S

  Do you have questions about your ceremony date, time, location, how many tickets you will receive, etc.? Then head over to visit https://students.colum.edu/commencement/faqs, your one-stop shop for all questions concerning the big day.

  For additional info, visit students.colum.edu/commencement, or email commencement@colum.edu.
• GRADUATES: It's Time to Order Your Cap & Gown (1/27/25)

  

  Hello Graduate,

  The countdown to graduation is here! Before you know it, you’ll be walking across that stage.
  Before we make it to the big day, here are a couple of reminders:

  ---

  ORDER YOUR CAP & GOWN TODAY

  1. You must order your cap and gown via the Herff Jones website!
     The information you provided on your graduation application does NOT automatically order your cap and gown. 

  2. There's no out of pocket cost to you!
     That's right, it costs $0.00 to order your robe, so don't wait.  Just click here > select 'CAP AND GOWN' > ORDER NOW.  If you choose to order additional memorabilia (frames, stoles, rings, souvenir tassles, custom cap, etc.), you will be charged for those items.
     

  3. Your cap & gown will be shipped directly to your preferred mailing address.

  4. The deadline to order your cap & gown is Monday, April 14th. 

  ---

  APPLY FOR THE COMMENCEMENT COMPETITIONS

  Represent your class by applying for one of the three student speaker competitions below. Click here for more info and to apply.
  

  

  ---

  COMPOSE THE MANIFEST SONG AND WIN $1,000

  Compose the 2025 Manifest Song, perform LIVE at the Kick-Off and be featured in the Manifest Video!  The selected artist will win $1,000 and become a part of Manifest history.  Submissions are open, so start composing!  Click here for info.

  

  ---

  BE SURE TO READ THE COMMENCEMENT FAQ'S

  
  Do you have questions about your ceremony date, time, location, how many tickets you will receive, etc.? Then head over to visit https://students.colum.edu/commencement/faqs, your one-stop shop for all questions concerning the big day.

  ---

  For additional information, please visit students.colum.edu/commencement, or email commencement@colum.edu.

• Account Reactivation Details (8/22/24)

  We hope this message finds you well. As a recent graduate, we wanted to inform you of an important opportunity to access your college account one last time.

  **Account Reactivation Details:**

  **Date:** Thursday, August 22nd

  **Duration:** 24 hours (from Thursday @9:00 AM to Friday @9:00 AM)

  Due to a miscommunication regarding the initial deactivation date of your account, we are providing a one-time reactivation period. This will be your last chance to download any information you may need from our college systems, including emails, documents, and other important files.

  **Steps to Access Your Account:**

  1. Log in to your account using your existing credentials.
  2. Download and save any necessary information.
  3. Ensure you complete this process within the 24-hour window, as the reactivation will not be extended.

  We strongly encourage you to take advantage of this opportunity to secure any important data you may need for your future endeavors.

  Thank you for your attention to this matter, and we apologize for any inconvenience caused by the initial miscommunication. We wish you all the best in your future endeavors.

  _______________________________________________________________________

  Regards,

  Kathie

  Kathie Koch
  AVP/Chief Information Officer
  Columbia College Chicago
  600 South Michigan Ave, #1101A, Chicago, IL 60605
  (O): 312-369-7436
  kkoch@colum.edu

• Important: Temporary Reactivation of Your College Account (8/15/24)
• Welcome Graduates! (1/31/24)

  Dear Graduates,

  We are proud that you have reached this milestone, and are looking forward to seeing you at your Commencement ceremony in May at the Arie Crown Theater, located at 2301 S. Jean Baptiste DuSable Lake Shore Drive. Specific times for each ceremony are listed below. All graduates will be given six tickets.

  If you intend to participate in the ceremony, it will be important for you to stay informed about Commencement planning. Please continue to monitor Commencement communications including the Commencement Website, and the All Things Commencement group in the Engage Portal. All graduates should refer to the Graduation Checklist below to ensure you have completed all necessary steps prior to graduation. If you have questions regarding the status of your final classes, please contact your academic advisor.

  There are several Commencement Competitions that you are eligible to participate in which are officially open. The Student Speaker Selection, the Commencement Photography and Poetry competitions will each feature a graduate from your class. I encourage you to consider entering your work. Please continue to monitor your Columbia email; you will have access until the end of August 2024.

  Once again, congratulations, and I look forward to seeing you at Manifest and Commencement!

  Sincerely,

  Sharon Wilson-Taylor, Ph.D.
  Vice President of Student Affairs

  THE GRADUATION CHECKLIST 

  1.) Prepare to Graduate

  • Apply for graduation in MyColumbia
  • Review your advising guide or UAchieve Degree audit in MyColumbia
  • Columbia Central Exit Counseling (required for students with loans)

  How to Apply for Graduation

  Apply for graduation today by logging in to MyColumbia, clicking the MyAcademics tab and selecting the Undergraduate or Graduate Graduation application link.

  2.) Prepare for Your Career

  With graduation approaching, get the support you need to start your career after Columbia. Work with the team at the Career Center to help enhance your résumé, cover letter, and portfolio in one-on-one appointments or at a workshop. Connect with professionals at industry-related events. Utilize Handshake to search for jobs, register for workshops/events, and request appointments with Career Center staff. For updates, event announcements, career advice, student highlights, and more, follow the Career Center on Instagram @ columcareer. Use #columhired to share your successes! Contact careercenter@colum.edu with any questions.

  3.) Participate in Manifest - May 10
  

  Showcasing your body of work for family and friends at Manifest will be a highlight of your academic career. Your department will connect with you on how to participate in your academic showcase. Also, be sure to check the manifest.colum.edu website and follow @ cccmanifest on social media for the latest festival updates!

  4.) Participate in Your Ceremony - May 11 or 12
  

  Commencement will be held at the Arie Crown Theater on May 11 and May 12, 2024. There will be two ceremonies each day with majors divided in the following manner. Ceremony times will be announced soon.

  Saturday, May 11	Sunday, May 12
  Ceremony 1 @ 10 a.m. American Sign Language (U) English and Creative Writing (U/G) Dance (U/G) Theatre (U/G) Fashion Studies (U)	Ceremony 3 @ 10 a.m. Cinema and Television Arts (U/G)
  Ceremony 2 @ 3 p.m. Business and Entrepreneurship (U/G) Communication (U/G) Audio Arts and Acoustics (U) Photography (U/G)	Ceremony 4 @ 3 p.m. Art and Art History (U/G) Design (U) Music (U/G) Interactive Arts and Media –  includes Animation (U)

  U – Undergraduate
  G – Graduate 

  5.) Plan to Stay Connected

  You’re almost a Colum alum! What’s next?

  1. Click here to update Alumni Relations on your post-graduation contact info . By doing so, you’ll receive an invitation to join the Alumni Network, a dynamic community of Columbia alumni. As a member, you'll have access to alumni-only events, professional development and career support, news, announcements, and more. Keep an eye out for more information!
  2. In the meantime, check out Events, Career Resources, and more at alumni.colum.edu .
  3. Follow us at the accounts below and find new ways to network.
  4. Tag #ColumAlum after graduation for all of your social media posts.

  • LinkedIn: Columbia College Chicago ALUMNI
  • Twitter/X: @ ColumAlum
  • Instagram: @ColumAlum
  • Facebook: Columbia College Chicago Alumni Projects
  • Show your work on Facebook: Columbia College Chicago Alumni Projects

Dear Graduates, 

We are proud that you have reached this milestone, and we wish you the best as you embark on your professional journey. We are looking forward to seeing you at your Commencement ceremony on Sunday, May 18, 2025, at the Credit Union 1 Arena, (525 S. Racine Avenue, Chicago, IL). The ceremony times are 11:00am and 4:30pm and all graduates will be given seven tickets. 

If you plan to participate in the ceremony, it is important for you to stay informed about Commencement planning. Please continue to monitor your Columbia email, the Commencement Website, and ensure you have access to the All Things Commencement group in the Engage Portal. All graduates should refer to the Graduation Checklist below to make sure you have completed all necessary steps prior to your ceremony.  

There are several Commencement competitions that you are eligible to participate in which will open during the spring semester. The Student Speaker Selection, the Commencement Photography and Poetry competitions will each feature a graduate from your class. As you continue to monitor Commencement communications, look out for these competitions, and consider entering your work.

Once again, congratulations and I look forward to seeing you at Manifest and Commencement! 

 
Sincerely, 

Dr. Sharon Wilson-Taylor, Ph. D. 
Vice President of Student Affairs