Columbia University has canceled its university-wide commencement ceremony due to security concerns and ongoing campus unrest stemming from the war in Gaza.

The decision was made after consultations with students and is aimed at facilitating smaller, faculty-led celebrations.

Many seniors and their families are expressing disappointment after a year marked by pandemic-related challenges and protests over Israel's actions in Gaza.

The university is planning smaller ceremonies for individual schools at the Baker Athletics Complex and may host a celebratory event on May 15.

The cancellation of the traditional graduation ceremony particularly affects first-generation students and their families.

Campus life disruptions also include a shift to online final exams and the introduction of pass-fail grading options.

Other institutions like the University of Southern California and Emory University are similarly reconsidering their graduation events due to analogous security and unrest concerns.