December Commencement Ceremony

Helpful details for your visit to Tudor Fieldhouse are available below.

Tudor Fieldhouse Entry

Doors will open 1 hour prior to each ceremony. Tickets will not be issued for Rice University December Commencement Ceremony. There are no seating capacity limitations and all seating is on a first-come, first-served basis. There will be a bag-check at each of the entrances to Tudor Fieldhouse. Ceremony participants and guests are permitted to bring small or clear bags only. Prohibited items include:

• Weapons of any kind
• Unauthorized banners, signs or flags
• Artificial noisemakers
• Balloons
• Oversized bags, large diaper bags, coolers, etc. (Exception: diaper bags)
• Pets (Exception: service animals)
• Tobacco products
• Food and Beverages (Exceptions: food for small children or medical issues; factory sealed bottled water)
• Laser pointers
• Drones

Clear bag policy

Restrooms, Water, First Aid

Restrooms are open throughout Tudor Fieldhouse. First aid triage is located in the lobby.

Photography and Videography

While receiving their diplomas, all graduates will be professionally photographed by Marc Nathan Photographers, Inc., who will be on the platform. Information on availability of those images will be sent to each graduate’s email address provided with his or her permanent address on file.

A recording of the entire ceremony will be made and will include each graduate receiving the diploma. Video recordings of ceremonies will be available the week following Commencement on Rice’s YouTube channel at www.youtube.com/user/RiceUniversity.

We ask that guests not leave their seats during the ceremony to take photographs of their graduate. Please observe all directions from the Marshals and ushers as they work to ensure the safety of our guests.

Web Broadcast

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 home page of https://commencement.rice.edu/video/current-event on the day of the event.