Information for Degree Candidates

International Students
If your parents will need documentation from Rice University to secure a visa to attend Commencement, please contact the International Services Office in Lovett Hall at 713-348-6095.

Academic Regalia
Academic regalia must be worn by all degree candidates choosing to participate in the Commencement ceremony. Regalia must be ordered from the Campus Store by the end of March. For more information, call 713-348-4052.

Announcements and Class Rings
Personalized graduation announcements to send to family and friends also are available for purchase from the Campus Store. Rice University class rings also may be ordered at anytime. For more information, call 713-348-4052

Photographs and Videotapes
A still photograph of each diploma recipient will be taken by a professional photographer working on the platform.  The photographer also will be available in the Rice Memorial Center May 12-15 from 10-2, Friday, May 14th from 9-12 and then May 15th after the ceremony in the lobby of the RMC until 1:30 p.m. The entire ceremony also will be professionally videotaped. Photographs and videotapes will be offered for sale by the vendors, who will contact all graduates at their permanent address on file with the Office of the Registrar within a few weeks following Commencement. To contact the videographer, Media Distributors, Inc., send an email to info@mdivideo.com. To contact the photographer, send an email to marc@mnathanphoto.com.

Family members and other guests will be allowed to spend a short time in special photo areas near the front, off to the side. Please do not block the aisles or other peoples view, and please observe the directions of the marshals and ushers.

Diplomas
The Office of the Registrar will make the diploma order the Monday following the Commencement ceremony, May 17, 2010. Processing at the diploma company takes approximately six to eight weeks. Diplomas will be available to degree recipients for pick up in the Office of the Registrar, 116 Allen Center, from (Dates TBD), between the hours of 8:30 a.m. and 4:30 p.m.

Beginning (Date TBD), all diplomas not picked up in person will be mailed in a protective tube via certified mail to the degree recipient's permanent address as listed in ESTHER. Diplomas sent internationally will be shipped via Federal Express and can only be delivered to a physical address, not a P.O. box. All graduating students are encouraged to log into their ESTHER accounts to update their address and contact information as necessary. Questions regarding diplomas should be directed to registrar@rice.edu.

Rice Email
Rice email accounts for all degree recipients will remain active until (Date TBD). After that date, access to your Rice email account will be terminated. Graduating students are encouraged to contact the Office of Alumni Affairs for information on applying for an email forwarding address.

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 log into ESTHER to update your permanent address and contact information as necessary.

Tickets
No tickets will be issued for the Commencement ceremony in the Academic Quadrangle. Seating is on a first-come, first-served basis.

Attention degree candidates: If you are not planning to attend the Commencement ceremony, please notify the Office of the Registrar at registrar@rice.edu to advise them that you will not be attending.

Last updated 04/06/09