Rice’s 102nd commencement ceremonies planned for May 15 and 16

Like last year, Rice’s 2015 commencement ceremonies will be spread over two days.

During events on Friday, May 15, each degree recipient will be named, presented and congratulated. Professor Keith Cooper ’78, chief marshal for commencement, said this approach helps shorten the length of the plenary ceremony on Saturday, May 16, at which degrees will be conferred.

Friday’s ceremonies begin at 9 a.m. with the Advanced Degrees Convocation in Alice Pratt Brown Hall’s Stude Concert Hall. All recipients of a master’s degree, other than graduates included in the Jones School’s Investiture, should attend, along with graduates who are receiving an Artist’s Diploma in Music or a Bachelor of Architecture degree.

The Jones Graduate School of Business Investiture will be at 1 p.m. Friday in Tudor Fieldhouse. All degree recipients from the Jones School should attend, along with faculty members who have an appointment in the Jones School.

The Doctoral Hooding Ceremony will be at 2 p.m. Friday in Stude Concert Hall. Ph.D. recipients should attend, along with the faculty member they have selected to hood them.

The Undergraduate Convocation will take place at 7:30 p.m. Friday in the Academic Quad unless the weather makes it necessary to hold the ceremony in Tudor Fieldhouse. All recipients of bachelor’s degrees except for the Bachelor of Architecture degree should attend. The ceremony will conclude with a fireworks display.

Saturday’s ceremony will begin at 8:30 a.m. and feature the traditional academic processions, conferring of degrees and a commencement address by Retired Gen. Colin Powell, former secretary of state and former chairman of the Joint Chiefs of Staff. The plenary session will be held in the Academic Quad unless inclement weather warrants an indoor ceremony at Tudor Fieldhouse. All graduates and faculty members should attend.

A number of receptions are planned during commencement week. For details, check the schedule of events at http://students.rice.edu/students/Commencement.asp, which also offers additional information for graduates and their families and guests.