Venue

UNITED PALACE THEATER

 4140 Broadway at 175th St, New York, NY 10033, United States

We are looking forward to celebrating our graduates next week at our Convocation ceremonies. TC’s objective for Convocation is to honor the achievements for our graduates and their loved ones in a safe, inclusive and joyous environment as we have done every year for the last 138 years. This aligns with our vision of fostering a community of mutual respect. Above all, we value learning and contributing to the public good.
 
We ask that you please make note of the 

Entry to the United Palace Theater
As is standard practice for all guests at the United Palace, all TC graduates, their guests and members of the TC community will:
 
Step 1: All grads and guests will be required to show their ticket barcode. No walk ins allowed.

Step 2:  Be asked to show their TC ID card or other government issued ID such as a driver's license.
 
Step 3:  Walk through metal detectors.
 
Step 4:  Will be searched. The search includes the person, all bags and accessories. Prohibited items will not be allowed in the Theater.

Step 5: Will be wanded by a member of the United Palace Public Safety Team.
 
The list for Convocation highlights some of the items that will not be allowed inside the United Palace Theater. They will also not be allowed in TC’s Diversity and First Generation Celebration for Families on May 22, 2025.

• Flags
• Banners/posters
• Signs
• Balloons
• Aerosol cans (i.e. pepper spray) and noise-making devices
• Any other items deemed dangerous or inappropriate by United Palace personnel, at their sole discretion

 
For a full list of prohibited items please visit the Convocation website.

If these items are found they must be discarded or removed from your person prior to entry. The United Palace is not responsible for holding prohibited items and may only do so at their discretion. 

Disruptions
We are committed to honoring TC’s graduates and their guests with a joyous ceremony and will not allow prolonged or repeated disruptions.
 
In the event of a disruption, the United Palace security team will make a determination as to whether or not those involved and their guests will be removed from the Theater. Once removed, there will be no reentry. Our first priority is to enable the graduates and guests in the audience to participate fully in this important milestone event for their families.
 
Academic Attire
TC has a long-standing tradition of welcoming graduates to wear stoles, cords and otherwise decorate their robes, caps and tams. Bearing in mind that Convocation and other year-end ceremonies are designed to be joyous celebrations of our graduates and their families, embellishments should be chosen in that spirit.
 
Embellishments that are not allowed at Convocation or other off/on-campus celebrations including TC’s Diversity and First Generation Celebration for Families on May 22, 2025 are those that contain:

• Hateful or discriminatory symbols or language
• Political or other language meant to incite
• Abusive or threatening language
• Obscene or vulgar language
• False or defamatory statements
• Anything else deemed to be offensive, off-topic, harmful, or otherwise in violation of College policies or guidelines
• Anything in violation of College policies or guidelines

 
If graduates arrive wearing academic attire that includes any of the above, they will be asked to remove it and will be offered new attire before they are admitted. If the graduate does not accept the replacement academic attire, they will not be permitted to enter.
 
Safety
If graduates experience any hateful or abusive language during the ceremonies, please report it immediately to a member of the United Palace security team.
 
TC Code of Student Conduct
All graduates attending Convocation and the Diversity and First Generation Celebration for Families are subject to the TC Code of Student Conduct. In particular, we would like to highlight:
 
3.1.2 Physical abuse, verbal abuse, threats, intimidation, harassment, coercion or other conduct that may endanger the health and/or safety of others.  This includes threats of violence against another person and physical or verbal intimidation that unreasonably impairs the security or privacy of another person;
 
3.1.3 Discrimination and harassment. Prohibited discrimination is adverse treatment of any student on the basis of race, color, religion, creed, sex, sexual orientation, national origin, ancestry, age, marital status, citizenship status, veteran status, disability, pregnancy, gender expression or any other criterion specified by federal, state, or local laws. Prohibited discrimination is subjecting an individual to humiliating, abusive, or threatening conduct, whether verbal or physical, that creates an intimidating, hostile, or abusive work, educational or living environment; alters the conditions of employment, education, or residential life; or unreasonably interferes with an individual's work or educational performance or living environment on the basis of race, color, religion, creed, sex, sexual orientation, national origin, ancestry, age, marital status, citizenship status, veteran status, disability, pregnancy, gender expression or any other criterion specified by federal, state or local laws;
 
3.1.4 Unauthorized entry or use of TC facilities or unauthorized possession or use of TC property assigned to others;
3.1.5 Disorderly conduct or highly offensive conduct or expression;
3.1.11 Failure to comply with authorized directions of or furnishing false information to TC or Columbia University officials or representatives of the SCC acting in performance of their duties;
3.1.12 Failure to engage in responsible social conduct and to model good civil conduct and citizenship;
3.1.13 Violations of any other TC or Columbia University policy, rule or regulation, or of federal, state, or local law that reflect upon or are related to the Student’s activities or status as a TC student.
 
 
Graduates, please take a moment to share this information with your guests who are planning to attend Convocation. 

You’re All Set If You Know This

• All four ceremonies will take place in the United Palace Theater.
• The Theater is located on Broadway between 175th & 176th Streets. 
• The grad & guest entrance is closer to 175th street.
• Grads and guests will enter through the main entrance under the marquee.

If You Want to Know More

• Click here for more information about the iconic United Palace Theatre.

How to Get to the United Palace Theater

We strongly suggest arriving by mass transit, taxi, or other car service as street and garage parking is limited. 

Mass Transit

Subway: A Train to 175th Street & Fort Washington Avenue, and walk 1 block east to Broadway

C Train to 168th Street & Broadway, and walk to 175th Street

1 Train to 181st Street & St. Nicholas Avenue, and walk 2 blocks west and 5 blocks south to 175th Street & Broadway, or exit train at 168th Street and walk to 175th Street

Manhattan Buses: M5 | M100 | M7 |  M4  |M3 

Bronx Buses: BX3 | BX7 | BX11 | BX13 | BX35 | BX36

New Jersey Buses: The George Washington Bridge Bus Station (3 blocks from United Palace) also has buses to and from New Jersey.

Metro North: Hudson River Line to Marble Hill, quick transfer to the Subway 1 Train at 225th Street to 181st or 168th Streets

The MTA website, mta.info, provides complete schedules and information about the most convenient ways to get to the United Palace.

Map it

Although we recommend mass transit, there are private lots nearby that are not part of United Palace. Each lot is privately owned and surge fees may be applied for special events.