FAQ & Resources
We are excited to welcome Rice families to campus Oct. 3-4 for Families Weekend. Use these resources to help plan your visit.
FAQ:
Do I need to register in advance for Families Weekend?
Yes, we strongly encourage you to register in advance. Walk-up registration is available at Headquarters and Check-in, located in Susan and Fayez Sarofim Hall. There will be an additional $5 charge for walk-up registrations for the tailgate. We strongly encourage advance registration so our support teams can provide each attendee with an unforgettable experience.
If registering in advance, please be advised that the deadline for canceling registration and receiving a refund is Friday, Sept. 26.
Please note that walk-up registration is a cashless process. Additionally, we are not able to accept payments using Apple Pay or Venmo. Credit and debit payments only.
Where do I check in for Families Weekend?
Upon your arrival, check in at Families Weekend Headquarters and Check-in located in Susan and Fayez Sarofim Hall during the hours noted below. At this location, you will be able to pick up name badges, ask questions and/or make any registration modifications.
Friday
8:30 a.m. to 4 p.m.
Saturday
9 a.m. to noon
Please note: for walk-up registration, we are unable to accept payments using Apple Pay or Venmo. Credit and debit payments only.
Is parking available on campus during Families Weekend?
Parking is free in West Lot 4 during Families Weekend. Additional parking is available in West Lot 3 and Greenbriar Lot. Show the gate attendant your Families Weekend badge for entry.
Can I attend class with my student during Families Weekend?
In keeping with Rice’s interpretation of FERPA, classes are closed to visitors, so family members and guests may not attend. In addition, Friday's Class in Session: Faculty Lectures from 1-2 p.m. offer a chance to hear from professors and get a glimpse into the classroom experience at Rice.
Why do some Families Weekend events require a separate registration?
In addition to the featured Families Weekend programming, many schools, organizations and residential colleges across campus host their own events to enhance the experience. Some of these activities require separate registrations to help organizers plan accordingly, but all are part of what makes Families Weekend fun, vibrant and uniquely Rice.
Resources:
Lodging
Please refer to this list of Rice University area hotels.
Navigating Campus
If you need help navigating around campus, use this handy Interactive Map or the Rice Google Map to get you where you need to go!
There will also be printed maps available at Headquarters and Check-in, located in Susan and Fayez Sarofim Hall (Friday, 8:30 a.m. to 4 p.m., Saturday, 9 a.m. to noon).
Transportation
Visitors to campus have access to Rice’s shuttle system. In addition to circling the university’s inner loop, the shuttle also connects Rice Stadium, the Annex Building, Graduate Apartments on Bissonnet and Rice Village Apartments to the rest of campus. Explore available shuttles and specific routes.
Rice Football Tickets
Your ticket to the Family Tailgate on Oct. 4 does not include entry to the Rice football game. Information to purchase game tickets is below.
Football tickets can be purchased through Families Weekend registration until Friday, Sept. 26. Digital tickets are also available through Rice Athletics until game day or at the box office. Families may sit with their students in sections 106 and 107. General admission tickets cost $20. Current Rice students get in free with a Rice ID. Children 2 and under do not require a ticket. Tickets will be delivered via Rice Athletics, and purchasers will receive an email notification when their tickets are available in their account.
For questions, please visit the Rice Owls Mobile Ticketing Guide or contact the ticket office at 713-348-OWLS (6957).
If you have additional questions, please call 713-348-6094 or email us at parents@rice.edu.
