Schedule of Events
Alumni Weekend consists of signature events that are sponsored by the Association of Rice Alumni as well as events hosted by schools, organizations and residential colleges across campus.
Registration for Alumni Weekend includes access to complimentary weekend programming sponsored by the Association of Rice Alumni, and you may individually select any additional paid sessions you wish, such as the Alumni Weekend Welcome Reception, Tailgate and Family Fest, and the Rice vs. Southern Methodist football game. You can also experience all the weekend has to offer by bundling these events together for a discounted price.
Events hosted by schools, organizations and residential colleges are separate from the Alumni Weekend signature events and may require a separate registration. See those events and details below in the Campus Events section.
Signature Events
| Event | Date | Time | Location | Description |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Alumni Weekend Headquarters | Friday November 3 |
8:30 a.m.-7 p.m. | Anderson-Clarke Center |
Upon your arrival, check in at Alumni Weekend Headquarters. At this location, you will be able to pick up name badges, ask questions and/or make any registration modifications. |
| Faculty Lecture: Scott Solomon | Friday November 3 |
9:30-10:30 a.m. | Hudspeth Auditorium, Anderson-Clarke Center | Listen to biologist and professor Scott Solomon as he discusses, “From Pacific Islands to Mars: How Exploring the South Pacific Can Inform Our Future in Space.” |
| Faculty Mini-Lectures | Friday November 3 |
10:45-11:45 a.m. | Hudspeth Auditorium, Anderson-Clarke Center |
Hear from four Rice faculty members as they discuss including undergraduate students in research endeavors and facilitating successful collaborations in these Tedx-style talks.
|
| President’s Town Hall | Friday November 3 |
2-3 p.m. | Hudspeth Auditorium, Anderson-Clarke Center | Join the Rice community on campus for a President’s Town Hall with Rice University President Reginald DesRoches and Association of Rice Alumni (ARA) President Tania Min ’90 ’92. Additionally, the 2023 Builders Award recipients will be recognized at this event. |
| Alumni Weekend Welcome Reception | Friday November 3 |
3-4 p.m. | Anderson-Clarke Center Lawn |
Mingle with fellow Owls and listen to Rice’s Mariachi Luna Llena at this Welcome Reception. Light bites and drinks will be provided. Cost: $15 (+$5 for day-of registrations) |
| Alumni Weekend Headquarters | Saturday November 4 |
8:30 a.m.-1 p.m. | Anderson-Clarke Center | Upon your arrival, check in at Alumni Weekend Headquarters. At this location, you will be able to pick up name badges, ask questions and/or make any registration modifications. |
| Alumni Weekend Community Market | Saturday November 4 |
8:30-11 a.m. | Greenbriar lot | Support your fellow Owls by perusing products and learning about services offered by Rice alumni business owners at this Community Market. See participating businesses or apply to participate here. |
| Tailgate and Family Fest | Saturday November 4 |
11 a.m.-1 p.m. | Tailgate Owley, east side of Rice Stadium |
Mingle with other Owls and enjoy pre-game festivities outside Rice Stadium. Price includes BBQ plate and unlimited water, tea and lemonade. Sodas, wine and beer will be available for purchase. Vegetarian options are also available. Activities include lawn games for all and inflatables for children. Alumni: $25 (+$5 for day-of registrations) Recent Alumni ('13-'23): $20 (+$5 for day-of registrations) Current Students: $15 (+$5 for day-of registrations) Children (ages 3-16): $5 (+$5 for day-of registrations) |
| Rice vs. Southern Methodist football game | Saturday November 4 |
TBD | Rice Stadium |
Show your Rice spirit as the Owls take on Southern Methodist University. Cost: $25 |
Please note that the deadline for canceling registration and receiving a refund is October 29.
Campus Events
Schools, organizations and residential colleges will be hosting additional events throughout Alumni Weekend. These events are separate from the Alumni Weekend signature events and may require a separate registration.
Additional events and details will be added as they are confirmed.
| Event | Date | Time | Location | Description |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Hidden Gems Tour | Friday November 3 |
10-10:45 a.m. 1-1:45 p.m. |
Lovett Hall - Founder's Court (in front of Sallyport) |
Be one of the first to take our Hidden Gems tour. Our student tour guides will highlight unique architectural features and provide history on our beautiful campus. Please RSVP if you plan to attend. |
|
Rice Architecture Homecoming Weekend |
Friday November 3 |
10-11 a.m. 11 a.m.-noon 2-3 p.m. 3-4 p.m. |
MD Anderson Hall |
Rice Architecture and Linbeck Group are hosting hard hat tours of new construction project, William T. Cannady Hall. All tour times are open to the public, and an RSVP is required. Hard hats will also be provided to guests, and they are required to enter the site. There is no wheelchair accessibility to the building at this stage of construction. Please RSVP if you plan to attend. |
|
U.S. Elections and the Health of our Democracy |
Friday November 3 |
11:45 a.m.-1:30 p.m. | Ralph S. O’Connor Building for Engineering and Science, Bill and Stephanie Sick Event Suite and Terrace (5th Floor) |
Join us for an educational program presenting research and analysis related to voters’ trust in U.S. elections, endorsed by the Baker Institute of Public Policy and the School of Social Sciences. Professor Mark P. Jones & Mr. John Williams will be the two panelists. Please RSVP if you plan to attend. |
| Friday November 3 |
12-1 p.m. |
MD Anderson Hall, Farish Gallery |
Architectural historian and lecturer at the Rice School of Architecture, Stephen Fox will deliver a lunchtime lecture. The event is free and light refreshments will be served. | |
|
Moody Center Exhibition Tour |
Friday November 3 |
12-1 p.m. | Moody Center for the Arts | Explore the fall 2023 exhibit "Above Front Tears Nest in South" by artist Laure Prouvost in this tour. |
|
Garden Tour |
Friday November 3 |
12-1:45 p.m. | The Betty and Jacob Friedman Holistic Garden | Refreshments made from garden produce, such as mint tea and lemon grass tea, will be provided. |
|
Ralph S. O'Connor Building for Engineering and Science Tours |
Friday November 3 |
12:30-1 p.m. 1-1:30 p.m. 1:30-2 p.m. |
Ralph S. O'Connor Building for Engineering and Science | Join us every 30 minutes (12:30, 1:00 and 1:30 p.m.) for guided tours of the engineering quad's newest building, the Ralph S. O'Connor Building for Engineering and Science. Opened in September 2023, this building is home to two large classrooms, a café and state-of-the-art research laboratories. Learn about Rice's engineering and science research neighborhoods where students work alongside world-class faculty to translate bold ideas into groundbreaking research. |
|
A Natural History Tour of Rice University |
Friday November 3 |
1-1:45 p.m. | Meet at Johnson Owl Deck at Harris Gully. | Join Cin-Ty Lee, Professor of Earth Sciences, on a walking tour of our beautiful campus, where 265 birds, 350 plants and 800 insect species have been recorded. On this tour, you will get a taste of urban biodiversity. If time permits, we will also visit the university’s geology museum. |
| Sid Fiesta in the Quad | Friday November 3 |
4-5 p.m. | Sid Richardson Quad |
Meet students, see new Sid and munch on chips, queso and other tidbits. |
|
Sid Magister Open House |
Friday November 3 |
4-6 p.m. | Sid Magister House | Enjoy wine, cheese and great conversations with fellow alumni and the Sid Magister. |
| Hanszen Family Homecoming | Friday November 3 |
4-5:30 p.m. |
Hanszen Quad |
Enjoy light drinks and bites with our awesome magisters and associates. There will be opportunities to snag merch for Homecoming Week and from the previous Beer Bikes. |
|
Wiess Taco Tuesday on Friday |
Friday November 3 |
4-5:30 p.m. |
The Acabowl (Wiess College Quad) |
Calling all Wiess Alumni, please join us in the Acabowl for Taco Tuesday on Friday! Drinks included and no fee required. |
|
Residential College Reception at Baker |
Friday November 3 |
4-5:30 p.m. | Baker Quad | Details to come. |
|
Brown Alumni FITQ |
Friday November 3 |
4-5:30 p.m. | Brown Quad | All Brownies past and present are welcome to attend a FITQ in the Brown quad. Join us for an ice cream sundae bar, music, snacks and beverages! No fee required. |
|
Residential College Reception at Duncan |
Friday November 3 |
4-5:30 p.m. | Duncan Quad | Details to come. |
|
Jones Alumni FITQ |
Friday November 3 |
4-5:30 p.m. | Achard Courtyard | We are excited to invite alumni back to Jones. Join current students and alumni for a traditional FITQ with games, a nacho bar and beverages. |
|
Lovett College Alumni Fun Friday |
Friday November 3 |
4-5:30 p.m. | Lovett Quad |
We are so excited to welcome alumni back to Lovett for our Alumni Fun Friday. Come out to join current Lovetteers and other alums for food, drinks, music and most of all, FUN! Please RSVP if you plan to attend. |
|
Residential College Reception at Martel |
Friday November 3 |
4-5:30 p.m. | Martel Quad | Join us for loaded nachos and beverages! Share stories of your time at Martel with students. |
|
Will Rice Keg in the Quad |
Friday November 3 |
4-5:30 p.m. |
Will Rice Quad |
Details to come. |
| McMurtry Alumni FITQ | Friday November 3 |
4-6 p.m. |
McMurtry Quad |
We are excited to welcome alumni back for a FITQ at McMurtry. In the same way McMurtry was your home base at Rice during your time here, we hope it can serve as your home base during the Alumni Weekend celebrations. Join current students and alumni in a traditional FITQ with games, music and refreshments! |
| School of Engineering Alumni Reception & Conversation with the Dean | Friday November 3 |
5-6:30 p.m. |
Duncan Hall |
You’re invited to a special engineering Alumni Weekend event. Join us at 5:15 p.m. in McMurtry Auditorium for a moderated discussion with Dean of Engineering Luay Nakhleh, followed by a toast to graduates from the Class of 1973 celebrating their 50th reunion. Dean Nakhleh will take your questions live or you can submit them when you register. Then join us in Martel Hall and enjoy delicious light bites and beverages while catching up with former classmates and engineering faculty. Please RSVP if you plan to attend. |
| School of Social Sciences Alumni Homecoming Reception | Friday November 3 |
5:30-7 p.m. | Kraft Hall 130 |
You are invited to join School of Social Sciences Dean Rachel Kimbro and former classmates for cocktails and a light dinner during Alumni Weekend! |
| Science in a Flash and Natural Sciences Dean State of the School Champagne Reception | Friday November 3 |
5:30-7 p.m. | Brockman Hall for Physics |
Join us for graduate student presentations and Dean Killian's address to alumni. There is no cost for this event. |
| Friday November 3 |
5:30-7 p.m. | Lee and Joe Jamail Courtyard and Humanities Building lobby, School of Humanities |
You are invited to join Kathleen Canning, Dean of the School of Humanities, and John Eldridge ’75, Chair of the Humanities Advisory Board, for a wine and champagne reception. This is a free event open to all Rice alumni, especially our Humanities graduates. |
|
| Friday November 3 |
5:30-7 p.m. | MD Anderson Hall | All alumni are invited to attend. The event is free. | |
| Friday November 3 |
6-8 p.m. | Valhalla |
Alumni, are you looking for a way to share your wisdom from your grad school experience and pass it forward? Or are you looking to recruit from soon-to-be-graduating students? Or are you just looking to hang out with students and other alumni? Well, say no more: the GSA is hosting a get-together between graduate students and alumni on Friday, November 3rd at 6-8 p.m. in the Grad Student Commons outside Valhalla! Many of our students have asked for more interactions with alumni to see what it was like in your shoes and what opportunities are out there in the world following grad school. Please fill out this form and we look forward to seeing y'all there! |
|
| Friday November 3 |
6-8 p.m. | Tudor Fieldhouse | Watch the nationally renowned Rice volleyball team take on new conference rival Tulane. Tickets are $10. | |
|
Rice Business & The Consortium Partnership: 5 Years of Success! 5th Year Anniversary |
Friday November 3 |
6-9 p.m. | Gibbs Gallery - McNair Hall | Join us for a reception and dinner to celebrate this partnership. |
| Friday November 3 |
7:30-10 p.m. | Lucian and Nancy Morrison Theater, Brockman Hall for Opera | Overflowing emotions, a heart-pounding duel, glittering spectacle, gripping drama, and unforgettable melodies—Eugene Onegin has it all. Be transported as Tchaikovsky’s ardent, achingly beautiful music meets Pushkin’s fascinating tale of unrequited love, missed opportunity, and pride driven past the point of no return. The Shepherd School of Music presents the fully staged opera directed by Paul Curran with the Shepherd School Chamber Orchestra under the baton of Stephanie Rhodes Russell. Sung in Russian with English surtitles. Tickets required. $15+ | |
| Saturday November 4 |
9-11 a.m. | 5th Floor Event Space in the Ralph S. O'Connor Building | There is no cost to attend. Alumni, students, faculty and staff are welcome to join Praying Rice Owls for their annual Prayer Breakfast. | |
| Coffeehouse Founder Chat | Saturday November 4 |
10:30-11:30 a.m. | Farnsworth Pavilion | Grab a warm beverage and join us as we hear from Coffeehouse founder Martha Sharkey and other Coffeehouse managers over the years. From founding to space changes to global pandemics, dive into the rich history of Rice's favorite student-run caffeine hub. |
|
Former ARA Board Table at Tailgate |
Saturday November 4 |
11 a.m.-1 p.m. | Tailgate Owley, east side of Rice Stadium | Former Association of Rice Alumni Board Members Tailgate Table (Cost: Same as Tailgate and Family Fest Pricing.) |
| Saturday November 4 |
noon-1:30 p.m. | O'Connor Building 5th Floor Event Space |
Mixer for Rice Computer Science alumni to catch up with fellow CS alumni, find out about the latest updates with the department and see the new O'Connor building on campus. Please RSVP if you plan to attend. |
|
| Saturday November 4 |
1-1:45 p.m. | Lovett Hall - Founder's Court (in front of Sallyport) |
Be one of the first to take our Hidden Gems tour. Our student tour guides will highlight unique architectural features and provide history on our beautiful campus. Please RSVP if you plan to attend. |
|
| Saturday November 4 |
2-4 p.m. | Tudor Fieldhouse | Watch the nationally renowned Rice Volleyball team take on new conference rival Tulane. Tickets are $10. | |
|
New Art/New Music |
Saturday November 4 |
3-5 p.m. |
Moody Center for the Arts |
Experience musical responses to the Moody's fall exhibition, composed and performed by Shepherd School of Music students. Original compositions will be played in the galleries, followed by a reception. The event is free and open to the public. |
| Saturday November 4 |
4-6 p.m. | Peter and Nancy Huff House | Rice Alumni Pride will be hosting a reception to celebrate the work being done and to offer alumni a chance to reconnect with the affinity group. Free to attend. | |
|
Rice Business Homecoming Tailgate 2023 |
Saturday November 4 |
Dependent upon the football game time | Outside Rice Stadium |
Join us for a tailgate outside the stadium. We'll have tents, a DJ, food and a bar. Details and registration link to come. |
|
Rice Football Roadshow Tailgate Booth |
Saturday November 4 |
Tailgate time | Outside Rice Stadium | Come see football memorabilia from the Rice University Archives on display in a booth/tent. There will be no cost. Hosted by Fondren Library (Friends of Fondren Library and Woodson Research Center). |
| Saturday November 4 |
Pregame concert to begin 1.5 hours prior to kickoff. | Outside Rice Stadium | As the season reaches its peak, we are thrilled to announce the season headliner for the concert series - the one and only Kyle Park! Taking the stage on November 4, this Texas country music sensation will serenade us with his chart-topping hits and high-energy performances. It's a day you won't want to miss, as we cheer on the Rice Owls against Southern Methodist University during Alumni Weekend. |
Additional Alumni Weekend Events
Rice Global Paris Center Alumni Event | Monday, November 6 from 6-8 pm
Rice Global Paris Center will celebrate Rice Alumni Weekend in Paris! We will host an open house and reception for alumni who reside in France/Europe and are unable to join the Houston events. Alumni will be able to mingle with other alumni abroad, get a tour of the newly opened Paris Center and learn about what the center is doing along with upcoming events.
Check out who's attending Alumni Weekend 2023!
Please note that only those who have selected to be displayed on the attendee list (via the opt-in included in the registration process) will appear.
