Friday, May 3, 2024
Jones School (MBA) Commencement Ceremony
2 p.m.
Tudor Fieldhouse
Saturday, May 4, 2024
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
IMPORTANT NOTE TO STUDENTS: You are eligible to cross the stage only once, either in December or May. If you participated on Tuesday, December 5, 2023, you are not eligible to participate in the May 2024 Commencement Ceremony.
As noted in the Spring 2024 Academic Calendar, the Registrar’s deadlines to apply for May Commencement degree conferral* are as follows:
- January 19 – Last day for graduate-level students to submit an 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 23 – Last day for graduate-level May (Spring) degree candidates to file applicable forms in the Office of Graduate and Postdoctoral Studies (see GPS Forms page) for May (Spring) degree conferral
- March 22 – 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 2024 final grades have been submitted, students should understand that participation in the ceremony is not a confirmation of a student’s degree conferral.
Additional information for May 2024 Commencement will be posted as it becomes available. In the meantime, please visit the FAQ webpage. General questions can also be directed to commencement@rice.edu.
Ceremony Entry
Doors will open 1.5 hours prior to each ceremony. There will be a bag-check at each venue. Guests are permitted to bring small or clear bags only, with the exception of diaper bags. Prohibited items include:
- Weapons of any kind
- Unauthorized banners, signs or flags
- Artificial noisemakers
- Balloons
- Oversized bags, briefcases, 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
The Jones School will hold its Commencement Ceremony for Master of Business Administration (MBA) degree recipients Friday, May 3 at 2 p.m. in Tudor Fieldhouse. 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 spo@rice.edu.
The Doctoral Commencement Ceremony will take place Saturday, May 4 at 9 a.m. in Tudor Fieldhouse. 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.
The Advanced Degrees Commencement Ceremony will take place Saturday, May 4 at 2 p.m. in Tudor Fieldhouse. 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.
The Undergraduate Commencement Ceremony will take place Saturday, May 4 at 7 p.m. in Rice Stadium, rain or shine. 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.