PhD orientation - Walk through Sallyport

The Walk through Sallyport is a ceremonial kickoff activity held as part of Rice University's doctoral orientation on Wednesday, August 19, 2026. Incoming PhD students in the Mathematics department meet at the Sallyport — the arched gateway of Lovett Hall — and walk through as a cohort to officially mark the beginning of their time at Rice. The Sallyport tradition is one of Rice's most recognized customs. Incoming students enter through the arch at matriculation, and the tradition holds that they do not pass back through it until commencement. For doctoral students, this walk has become a newer extension of that same rite of passage, now formally incorporated into graduate orientation. The in-person doctoral orientation on August 19 also includes a mandatory half-day session in Hamman Hall from 9 AM to noon, focused on connecting students with campus resources. The Graduate Student Association (GSA) hosts a welcome picnic afterward at the Graduate Commons, with free food, drinks, and T-shirts for new arrivals.