Ceremony Ticketing and Seating Capacity
No tickets will be issued for Rice University Commencement Ceremonies. There are no seating capacity limitations and all seating is on a first-come, first-served basis.
Special Accommodations
Hard of Hearing
An interpreter for the deaf will interpret the undergraduate ceremony as well as the advanced degrees and doctoral ceremony. For more information, refer to the section on “Accessible Seating.”
A limited number of assisted listening devices for the ceremonies will be available on a first-come, first-served basis. Please see a staff member in the lobby for assistance.
Accessible Seating
All special accommodation seating is located on the second level of Autry court. Persons with wheelchairs should use the elevators to access this level. Please note that ADA seating (available on a first come, first served basis) is limited.
There will be a reserved area in the first couple of rows of Section 111 for those needing American Sign Language interpreting services. Please see a staff member for assistance finding this area, if needed.
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.
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.
Lodging
Several hotels are extending special rates for Rice University December Commencement, December 5, 2023. You can visit https://campustravel.com/university/rice-university/. Make reservations early in order to secure the negotiated rates and ensure room availability. All rates are subject to applicable state and local taxes. Some restrictions apply. Several of the hotels offer transportation to the campus. If you need shuttle services, be sure to ask about availability when making reservations.
Please stay tuned to this website for additional information. Updates are posted frequently when they become available.