Friday, May 9, 2025
Jones Graduate School of Business (MBA) Commencement Ceremony
2 p.m.
Tudor Fieldhouse
Saturday, May 10, 2025
Doctoral Commencement Ceremony
9 a.m.
Tudor Fieldhouse
Advanced Degrees Commencement Ceremony
(includes Bachelor of Architecture, as well as Jones School MAcc and MA degree recipients)
2 p.m.
Tudor Fieldhouse
Undergraduate Commencement Ceremony
7 p.m.
Rice Stadium
Additional Information
Participation
Students are eligible to cross the stage only once, either in December or May. If you participated in the Tuesday, December 10, 2024 Commencement Ceremony, you are not eligible to participate in the May 9-10, 2025 Commencement Ceremonies.
As noted in the Spring 2025 Academic Calendar, the Registrar’s deadlines to apply for May Commencement degree conferral* are as follows:
- January 24 – Last day for graduate-level students to submit a paper Application for Degree (accessible in ESTHER) for May (Spring) degree conferral with the Office of the Registrar either in-person or via email to registrar@rice.edu.
- February 28 – Last day for graduate-level May (Spring) degree to file applicable forms in the Office of Graduate and Postdoctoral Studies (see GPS Forms page) for May (Spring) degree conferral.
- March 28 – Last day for undergraduate-level May (Spring) degree candidates to declare any additional major, minor or university certificates, if applicable.
*Since the ceremony will take place before Spring 2025 final grades have been submitted, students should understand that participation in the ceremony is not a confirmation of a student’s degree conferral.
Ceremony Entry
There will be a bag-check at each venue. Only small (4.5” x 6.5” max) or clear (12"x16" max) bags will be permitted. Please allow extra time for bag check and security. Prohibited for both guests and degree candidates items include:
- Weapons of any kind
- Banners, signs or flags
- Artificial noisemakers
- Balloons
- Pets (Exception: service animals)
- Tobacco products
- Laser pointers
- Drones
- Food and Beverages (Exceptions: food for small children or medical issues; factory sealed bottled water)
Weather
The Undergraduate Commencement Ceremony in Rice Stadium will take place rain or shine. Guests can bring umbrellas for rain or if they wish to use them in the sun as there are not many shady areas in the stadium.
Web Broadcasting
Commencement will be broadcast over the internet for family members and friends who are not able to attend the ceremony. The links will go live 20 minutes before scheduled start times. They also appear on the Commencement website the day of the event.
All MBA degree recipients are expected to attend, along with all faculty members with appointment in the Jones School. Additional questions regarding this ceremony can be directed to apse@rice.edu.
Doctoral degree (Ph.D. and DMA) recipients are expected to attend, along with the faculty member whom they have selected to hood them—typically, their thesis advisor.
All recipients of a master’s degree, with the exception of the Master of Business Administration (MBA) degree, are expected to attend. Additionally, those graduates who are receiving a Master of Accounting, Master of Arts from the Jones School, Artist Diploma in Music, a Diploma in Liberal Sciences, or a Bachelor of Architecture should attend the Advanced Degrees Commencement.
All recipients of bachelor’s degrees (except the Bachelor of Architecture) are expected to attend. Each student will cross the stage, receive a diploma tube, and be congratulated. The ceremony will feature brief remarks by a student‐selected member of the graduating class, a college magister, the President, as well as the commencement speaker’s address.