Get Your Rice University Student Id Card: A Quick Guide

To obtain a student ID card at Rice University, you must be a new incoming student. You will be required to electronically submit a photo that meets specific requirements, including a uniform light-coloured background, eye-level camera angle, and clear lighting. The photo must show your full face with eyes open and no headwear or sunglasses. Once your photo is approved, your student ID card will be prepared and distributed either by an appointed contact or picked up from the RUPD building. There is no charge for the first ID card issued. Rice University ID cards are essential for all students and provide access to various services and benefits on campus, including library book loans and meal plans.

Photo requirements

To get a Rice University student ID card, you must electronically submit a photo that meets specific requirements. Here are the detailed guidelines for the photo submission:

The photo must be in a passport-style format, taken against a uniform, light-coloured background. Ensure the camera is at eye level, and the photo is well-lit, without shadows, and with correct brightness and contrast. Your full face must be visible, with eyes open and shoulders showing. If you wear glasses, your eyes must be visible. No headwear or sunglasses are allowed, nor anything that obscures or alters your appearance. The photo must be in JPEG format, with a minimum resolution of 640x480 pixels and a file size not exceeding 2MB.

This photo will be your permanent Rice ID card picture throughout your time at the university, unless a replacement ID is needed, so choose your photo wisely. If your photo is approved, your student ID card will be ready before you arrive on campus and will be distributed during O-Week.

Submission process

To obtain a Rice University ID card, you must be a new incoming student, faculty/staff member, visitor/contractor, spouse/dependent, retiree, or community affiliate. At this time, only new incoming students can obtain a Rice University ID card.

To obtain a Rice University ID card, you must submit a current US government-issued photo ID. This can include a US driver's license, US passport/visa, US state-issued ID, US military card, or permanent resident card. The name on your Rice University ID card must match your legal name as shown on the government-issued ID.

In addition to submitting a government-issued ID, you must also submit a photo for use on your Rice University Student ID Card. This photo must be in passport style, with a uniform, light-colored background, taken with the camera at eye level, and with good lighting. The photo must show your full face with eyes open and shoulders visible, and if you wear eyeglasses, your eyes must be visible. No hats, sunglasses, or anything that alters your appearance are allowed. The file size must not exceed 2 MB, and the file must be in JPEG format with a minimum photo resolution of 640x480 pixels.

Once your photo is approved, your Student ID Card will be prepared before your arrival on campus and distributed by an appointed contact in your respective college during O-Week. For graduate students, you can pick up your Student ID Card at the RUPD building after your photo has been approved.

If you are an undergraduate student and need a replacement card, you can email Access Control at AccessControl@rice.edu with your request. The ID card will be printed and brought to your College contact twice a day, at 11 am and 3 pm. Graduate students with visa status will visit RUPD for processing, while all other graduate students will follow the same process as undergraduate students.

ID collection

Submission of Photo

To obtain a Rice University Student ID Card, new incoming students must electronically submit a photo. The photo must be in JPEG format, with a file size not exceeding 2 MB. The photo must be taken with a uniform, light-coloured background, with the camera at eye level, and the student's full face and shoulders must be visible. The photo will be the student's permanent Rice ID card picture throughout their time at the university, unless a replacement ID is needed.

ID Card Collection

If your photo is approved, your ID card will be prepared before your arrival on campus and distributed by an appointed contact in your college during O-Week. Graduate students who have had their photo approved can collect their ID card from the RUPD building.

Replacement Cards

Undergraduate students requiring a replacement card should email Access Control at AccessControl@rice.edu. The ID card will be printed and brought to the College contact twice a day, at 11 am and 3 pm. Graduate students with visa status must visit RUPD for processing, while all other graduate students should email Access Control. The ID card will then be printed and brought to the Department's appointed contact as needed.

Identification Requirements

To receive your Rice ID card, you must present a current US government-issued photo ID, such as a passport, driver's license, or state-issued ID card. The name on your university ID card must match your legal name as shown on the government-issued ID. There is no charge for the first ID card issued to students. However, a charge of $15.00 is assessed for replacement cards that are lost, damaged, or rendered unusable through neglect.

Replacement cards

If your Rice University ID card is lost or defective, you must go to the University Police Department. If your ID card is damaged and no longer works in the card readers on campus, it will be fixed free of charge. If your ID card is lost or stolen, it can be replaced for a fee of $10. Lost or stolen cards should also be reported to Fondren Library.

Undergraduate students will need to email access control at AccessControl@rice.edu to request a replacement card. The ID card will then be printed and brought to a College contact twice a day, at 11 am and 3 pm.

Graduate students with visa status will need to visit the University Police Department for processing. All other graduate students will need to email access control at AccessControl@rice.edu with the request. The ID card will then be printed and brought to a Department-appointed contact as needed.

There is no charge for the first ID card issued to students. A charge of $15.00 is assessed to replace Rice ID cards that are lost, damaged, or otherwise rendered unserviceable through neglect. The exceptions to this charge are if the card is stolen and a police report is filed, if the card has become unserviceable in the performance of one's university duties, or if the damage is due to normal wear and tear. Payment for replacement cards can be made in the form of cash, check, or credit card.

ID uses

To obtain a Rice University ID card, you must be a new incoming student, and you will be requested to electronically submit a photo that meets specific requirements. The photo will be your permanent Rice ID card picture throughout your time at the university.

Now, onto the ID uses. Your student ID is not just a card you carry around in a lanyard through college. It is your key to a world of benefits and opportunities, both on and off-campus. Here are some of the uses of a student ID card:

On-Campus Uses

• Access to Campus Facilities: Your student ID grants access to a variety of campus facilities, including computer labs, study rooms, libraries, and recreational facilities. It can also be used as a form of payment for on-campus services like printing and laundry.
• Attendance Tracking: Your student ID is important for tracking attendance at lectures and seminars, helping you maintain regular attendance and develop a strong relationship with your professors.
• Socializing and Networking: Your student ID helps you connect with peers, attend events, and build a professional network by serving as your entry pass to career fairs and networking events.

Off-Campus Uses

• Discounts and Perks: Your student ID can open doors to various discounts, perks, and special benefits offered by companies and organizations exclusively for students. This includes discounts on clothing, food, entertainment, online shopping, local businesses, travel, and more.
• International Recognition: If you are an international student, your student ID can get you recognized worldwide and provide access to the international student community and global deals and discounts.
• Accommodation and Bank Transactions: Your student ID can help secure accommodation discounts and simplify bank interactions by serving as proof of identity and enrollment. It is also required to open a student bank account and access customized financial services.
• Health, Fitness, and Dining: Your student ID can be used to obtain discounts at gyms and fitness facilities, as well as redeem meal plans or make payments at dining halls and cafeterias.

Frequently asked questions