Graduating Students and Alumni

As you prepare to complete your graduate studies, the Columbia Climate School is here to support your next steps. This page provides key information about degree conferral, alumni resources and benefits, and ways to stay connected with our growing network of climate professionals.

Degree Conferral & Graduating

Degrees are awarded in October, February, and May each year.

Students complete the online application for degrees available directly within SSOL.

  1. Under the Degree Application Status tab
  2. Click the button labeled Apply for Degree or Certification.
    • You will only see this button if you are eligible to apply for a degree
  3. The application will show multiple graduation dates – select the correct graduation date for your program.
    • The application will default to the next available conferral date, so choose the correct one.

After submitting, you may check the status of your degree application in SSOL at any time.

Diplomas will be ordered and mailed by our printing vendor roughly three weeks after the conferral date.

If you need to update your Diploma Address for any reason, you may do so through Student Services Online (SSOL) anytime until 5 p.m. on the Monday before graduation.

If you are not certain of your address after graduation, you can always elect to have your diploma held for future release. In this circumstance, please designate your Diploma Address as “HOLD FOR MAILING.” Once you have a stable address, you will need to write to the Office of the University Registrar at [email protected] so that they can release your diploma to you.

The University Registrar can accommodate international shipping, but they strongly encourage all students to use an address in the United States or Canada for diploma delivery. They cannot guarantee successful delivery outside of the US or Canada.

For more information, go to the University Registrar Graduation Requirements and Diplomas page.

A lost or damaged diploma can be replaced for a $100 fee (plus shipping costs, if applicable) when you submit an Application.

Once you have placed the order and received a confirmation email you must send an email, with the subject PARADIGM DIPLOMA REPLACEMENT, to [email protected] with the required proof of identification attached. If we do not receive the documentation within ten business days your order will be cancelled and you will not be charged.

Replacement diplomas display the signatures of the current Columbia University President and Dean of your school but show the original date of the award.

A transcript is an official record of a student's entire tenure at Columbia. It reflects all coursework and grades per term for each school attended within the University. Current students should request transcripts online using Vergil. There is no fee for this service.

Becoming an Alumni

Students officially lose ID swipe access as of your degree conferral. However, given that you will no longer be considered a full time student at the beginning of the following semester, you will most likely lose access at the end of the add/drop registration period.

Alumni of Columbia University enjoy free lifetime access to library services.

These services include physical access to most Columbia University Libraries and the ability to purchase borrowing privileges for a monthly fee. For continued access to libraries, alumni should apply for a Community CUID. 

Alumni also have access to a selection of Libraries e-resources, which only require an active UNI. Access to e-resources do not require a Community CUID.

You will keep access to your individual classes on Courseworks as long as the class modules stay active. We strongly recommend that you download any assignments, syllabi, etc. that you want for your records prior to your degree conferral.

Once you lose ID swipe access, you will not be able to access the gym. Dodge offers alumni memberships.

Columbia graduates of non-medical programs will be able to continue using their LionMail email account automatically. It will not expire. Your quota will be set at 5GB as an alumni. It is likely your quota will reduce to 5GB within 30 days of graduation. About 90 days after graduation you are eligible for a Columbia Alumni Association (CAA) email service. More information here.

All recent graduates who are full-time students, international students, and part-time students on the Columbia Student Health Insurance Plan can still make appointments with Medical Services and Counseling and Psychological Services until their annual plan expires.

Keep in Contact

Keep in touch with us via [email protected].

Subscribe to the bi-weekly alumni newsletter to read about alumni spotlights, events, mentorship opportunities, and more. Recent graduates are automatically added. Subscribe here.

The Climate & Sustainability Alumni Network comprises 5,000 professionals worldwide. The network includes graduates of the Columbia Climate School as well as from our partner degree programs (including degrees offered and conferred by Columbia College, School of General Studies, the School of International and Public Affairs, and the School of Professional Studies). Programs and partner programs of the Climate School are grateful for their collaborative alumni board leadership. Read more about the Alumni Board Leaders.

The Hub on LinkedIn is a professional network and online community for BIPOC students and alumni. It cultivates a sense of community among its members, to expand their professional networks, participate in members-only programs, and to generate opportunities for career advancement and mentoring. Check out the HUB.

Connect with the Columbia Alumni Association (CAA) and join alumni gatherings around the world.

Designed to strengthen and build community, the Columbia Alumni Center offers alumni from all Schools a place to meet fellow alumni, students, and our alumni relations and development administrators or to enjoy a quiet moment when visiting Morningside Heights.