December Commencement is just around the corner!

Stay in-the-know on general information for degree candidates with the resources available on this page.

Commencement Participation

Students are eligible to cross the stage only once, either in December or May. Students that participate in the December 2024 Commencement Ceremony on Tuesday, December 10, 2024 are not eligible to participate in the May 2025 Commencement Ceremonies on Friday, May 9 or Saturday, May 10, 2025.

An invitation to RSVP for the December Commencement Ceremony has been sent out to the Rice emails of eligible August and December participants to confirm their intent to participate in the ceremony. The deadline to confirm intent to participate in the ceremony is Sunday, October 27.

Details regarding the faculty member doctoral degree candidates wish to place their hood during the ceremony will also be collected via that brief survey.

Please contact commencement@rice.edu if you have any issues or questions about the RSVP process.

Bag Check

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

International Students

If your parents will need documentation from Rice University to secure a visa to attend Commencement ceremonies, a family member or friend often needs a letter for the US Consulate or Embassy in order to apply for a visitor’s visa. The Office of International Students & Scholars (OISS) has prepared an invitation letter template to assist with this process. OISS can be reached by phone at 713-348-6095 or by email at oiss@rice.edu.

Class Rings

Graduating students wishing to order a class ring may place their order through Balfour. Class rings can be ordered online at any time and will be shipped to students at the address provided at the time of order. For more information, visit balfour.com/rice or call the Campus Store at 713-348-2039.

Photo and Video

While receiving their diplomas, all graduates will be professionally photographed 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. You also may visit www.gradphotonetwork.com to view all the images from the ceremony following the event. Complimentary cap and gown photo sessions will also be available in Farnsworth Pavilion, Rice Memorial Center Monday, December 9th from 10 a.m. until 2 p.m. Please visit nathan53.youcanbook.me/ to make an appointment for these portrait sessions. (Walk-ups are welcome if time allows.) Immediately following the ceremony on December 10th, portraits will be available in Room 1402 in Alice Pratt Brown Hall until 2 p.m. No appointment is necessary and there is NO OBLIGATION to purchase anything. If you have any questions, please contact grads@mnathanphoto.com or 281-549-2367.

Each ceremony will also be professionally video-recorded. These recordings will be available the week following Commencement on Rice’s YouTube channel at www.youtube.com/user/RiceUniversity.

Announcements

Graduation announcements can be ordered through Balfour.

Diplomas

The processing and printing at the diploma company will take approximately four weeks. The diploma will list your name, degree, and any applicable university honors (Latin Honors and/or the Distinction in Research and Creative Work). Completed majors, minors, and certificates are not listed on the diploma.

The name displayed on your diploma and the address to which it will be mailed can be viewed and edited by logging into ESTHER and navigating to: ESTHER > Students - General > Graduation > Verify Diploma Information > Diploma Name and Address.

Rice University diplomas are large in size and generally require framing by a professional framer. The dimensions are 17 inches wide by 23 inches tall. To purchase your official Rice University diploma frame, visit the Rice Campus Store or purchase online at ShopRiceU.com. For more information on diplomas, visit the Diplomas page maintained by the Office of the Registrar.

ESTHER

Accounts in the ESTHER system remain active indefinitely after Commencement. As a graduating student, you retain the ability to login and access your account any time at your convenience. You are encouraged to login to ESTHER to update your permanent address and contact information as necessary.

Association of Rice Alumni / The Rice Portal

Welcome to the Association of Rice Alumni (ARA)! The ARA was founded in 1919 to continue the relationship between the university and its alumni. 100 years later, the ARA has over 64,000 members worldwide. There are no membership dues to join the association; as a graduate of Rice, you are immediately part of this global community.

Wherever you are in the world, you can keep in touch with the university and your fellow Rice Owls! To view a calendar of all upcoming Rice alumni events, and to learn more about Rice alumni regional and affinity groups, visit alumni.rice.edu.

Through the Rice Portal, alumni can access a suite of online services that allows you to keep in touch with other Owls and engage with the university. You can sign up for your alumni email account, search for a classmate, register for an event, update your communication preferences, or share an update about your life or career — all through the Rice Portal.

To register for your personal account, visit alumni.rice.edu/connect and click on “New user registration.” Once you've signed up, don't forget to update your contact information so you don't miss out on the latest news and events taking place in your region.

Congratulations again, and welcome to the Association of Rice Alumni!