New Student Checklist

Congratulations on being accepted into the Rice University Matriculating Class of 2022! We are busily preparing for your arrival on campus in August, but there are a number of things that you should be doing to prepare for becoming a new owl. Part of us preparing for your arrival is to have a complete list of tasks for you to complete and ease your transition to Rice. This page is updated regularly beginning in April and through the summer.

Below you will find information and links to a variety of forms to be completed and reminders of things to look into before you arrive on campus for O-Week. Please pay close attention to deadlines as missing some can prevent you from registering for classes, moving onto campus, or fully engaging in O-Week until they have been addressed. As a reminder, this document will be edited during the summer, so please check back frequently for updated versions as they become available beginning April 1st.

March 2022

Please note that some deadlines or checklist items fall on the same date.

March 30 - Health Data Form Becomes Available

ALL new undergraduate students are required to submit a properly completed Health Data Form (HDF) to Student Health. All students under the age of 22 years, regardless of classification, must provide documentation of vaccination against meningococcal disease. Complete tuberculosis screening requirements are also listed on the student Health Data Form. If you have completed your COVID-19 vaccine, please attach a copy with your Health Data Form.

The 2022 HDF form is now available and can be found here: https://health.rice.edu/new-students/health-data-form

Please MAIL your form to Rice Student Health as instructed on the form.
Emailed forms will not be accepted. International students may use the international student upload on the student health website. www.health.rice.edu

Please note: Your college assignment will not be given until your meningitis vaccine is complete and you will not be able to register for classes without completing this form! Additionally, you cannot move onto campus for O-Week without verification that you have received the meningococcal vaccination or with proof of a medical exemption. To complete the Health Data Form and Meningitis vaccine form (part of the health data form), visit https://health.rice.edu/new-students/health-data-form

May 2022

Please note that some deadlines or checklist items fall on the same date.

May 9 - NetID and Email Account Setup

The Office of Information Technology (OIT) offers computing services and support to students and the OIT Help Desk can answer your questions (see below).

Setting up Rice accounts

Your NetID is a combination of your initials and numbers and was emailed to you in a welcome message from OIT. Follow the steps below to set up your NetID and gain access to Rice systems including:

- Google for email, Calendar, Drive and more (https://kb.rice.edu/103604)

- Canvas course management system (https://www.rice.edu/canvas)

- ESTHER system that students use for registration, billing, and other information (https://esther.rice.edu)

- Logging into lab computers

Set up your NetID

Visit https://mynetid.rice.edu, and select Activate Your NetID. You will then be asked to enter your Student ID number to create a NetID password.

Set up Duo Security

You must enroll in Duo Security, an authentication tool, which provides additional security when accessing university data, personal data, and accounts. Duo offers several options for authenticating users: a mobile push notification, one-button verification of identity to a smartphone, as well as voice and SMS verification. Duo is required when logging in to several campus systems including Rice Google and Microsoft email, calendar and collaboration accounts, Esther, using VPN to access university resources from off-campus, and to access the Online Account Management System for your NetID. Learn more at: https://kb.rice.edu/82263

Checking your Rice email

After the acceptance process, all official Rice communications will only be sent to your new Rice email address so it is important to set it up and to check your email frequently. You may access your email by logging into Google with your basic Rice email address, netid@rice.edu, and your NetID password. (Learn more about setting up an email alias at https://kb.rice.edu/58397.)

Need help?

Contact the Office of Information Technology's Help Desk (see details below) if you need assistance or have questions. Be sure to check out the OIT KnowledgeBase (https://kb.rice.edu) for news and announcements or to search for more information about services.

Rice University

OIT Help Desk

Online Help: https://oit.rice.edu/request-help

Email: helpdesk@rice.edu

Phone: 713-348-4357

May 10 Due to Rice - Esther Log-in

Please log into Esther and click on the "Welcome to Rice" tab to begin completing your online enrollment forms. You will need your NetID and password.

If you don't remember your password password or need to reset it, please contact the OIT Help Desk at helpdesk@help.rice.edu or call 713-348 4357.

June 2022

Please note that some deadlines or checklist items fall on the same date.

June 1 - June 30 - Online Language Placement Tests Available

Rice's Center for Languages & Intercultural Communication (CLIC) offers courses in 10 languages: Arabic, Mandarin Chinese, French, German, Italian, Japanese, Korean, Portuguese, Russian, and Spanish. Before registering for a CLIC language course, you must take a placement test, even if you have no prior experience with that language. The placement test is not required for 300 and 400 level courses in French and German nor for Spanish courses with the SPPO course code.

To access the test, please visit the Center for Languages and Intercultural Communication's (CLIC) test site (http://clic.rice.edu/placement-test). Click on the link to access a brief survey about your prior knowledge of the languages we teach. Before starting the survey, make sure that you know your student ID number and your net ID. If you mark that you have no prior knowledge of a specific language, you will be able to register for the first semester course in that language.

If you indicate that you have prior knowledge of any of the languages, you will receive an email with a link to the full placement test in Canvas for those languages. Complete the placement tests in Canvas for the languages you are interested in studying by June 30. The tests are not timed, but do take approximately 30 minutes.

We encourage you to take the placement tests during the summer test period in order to receive your placement results before arriving on campus for O-Week. You will be unable to register for CLIC's language classes without the placement test result. Your placement result will be valid for four years, so take the test now and you will not need to think about it again.

Please contact Heather Lazare with the Center for Languages & Intercultural Communication at CLICPlacement@rice.edu if you have any questions about the placement tests.

June 1 Due to Rice - Health Data Form

ALL new undergraduate students are required to submit a properly completed Health Data Form (HDF) to Student Health. All students under the age of 22 years, regardless of classification, must provide documentation of vaccination against meningococcal disease. Complete tuberculosis screening requirements are also listed on the student Health Data Form. If you have completed your COVID-19 vaccine, please attach a copy with your Health Data Form.

The 2022 HDF form is now available and can be found here.

June 1 Due to Rice - College Information Form

New students will receive an email from oweek@rice.edu subject line “Complete the New Student Forms Now Available in Esther” when their forms and questionnaires are ready. Once you have access to those, please start completing them. You must complete all forms and questionnaires, even if you have selected a roommate who is on the housing waiting list or plans to live off-campus.

Questions concerning your forms should be directed to First Year Programs at oweek@rice.edu.

June 1 Due to Rice - Academic Advising Questionnaire

The information gathered in this questionnaire will provide academic advisors with critical information about your academic interests, academic preparedness, and educational goals. Please be thorough as it will enhance our ability to provide the best advice regarding curricular and extracurricular opportunities.

Please log onto Esther to complete this form.

Send questions to the Office of Academic Advising at aadv@rice.edu or call 713-348-4060.

June 1 Due to Rice - New Student Information Form

Questions concerning your forms should be directed to First Year Programs at oweek@rice.edu.

June 1 Due to Rice - Personal Roommate Matching Form

Questions concerning your forms should be directed to First Year Programs at oweek@rice.edu.

June 1 Due to Rice - Parent/Guardian Information Form

Send questions to Dr. Shelah Crear in Student Success Initiatives at screar@rice.edu or call 713-348-4495.

June 1 Due to Rice - First Look Questionnaire

Questions concerning your forms should be directed to First Year Programs at oweek@rice.edu.

June 1 Due to Rice - Disability Housing Accommodation Requests

All requests for housing accommodations, including those requesting rooms without carpet due to allergies, private restrooms due to health issues, etc., must be preapproved by Disability Resource Center. The Preliminary Notification of Disability-Related Needs should be completed online. (Please see the Disability Resource Center website at https://drc.rice.edu for more information about housing and other accommodation requests.)

Send questions to Disability Resource Center at adarice@rice.edu or call 713-348-5841.

June 1 - 6 - Composition Exam (Round One)

The Composition Exam will be used to determine a new student's placement for the required Freshman Writing Intensive Seminar (FWIS) course. After the exam is evaluated, students will be either be instructed to enroll directly in a FWIS course to meet the graduation requirement in writing and communication; or they will be required to take FWIS 100: Introduction to Academic Writing in the fall semester, and an additional FWIS course in the Spring of 2023.

All new students (including freshmen, transfers, and international students) must take the Composition Exam during one of the two times it is offered. The Composition Exam closes at 1:00 p.m. CDT (UTC-6) on the last day of each round. To take the Composition Exam, visit compexam.rice.edu. For questions, please contact compexam@rice.edu.

June 3 - Civic Immersion Registration Deadline

We invite you to join the Center for Civic Leadership’s “Civic Immersion” program! Civic Immersion is a service-learning opportunity that aims to introduce incoming students to the city of Houston and other members of the Rice community, including upperclassmen, faculty/staff, and each other! This program is offered in a hybrid model, providing in-person and virtual tracks for students from a diverse range of backgrounds and geographical locations to meet and build community. Students participating in person will live and learn as cohorts together in Houston for the week, meanwhile students participating virtually will be immersed in similar programs and activities intentionally designed for the virtual cohort, and engage in hybrid-facilitated workshops.

Civic Immersion is led by current Rice students eager to help new students learn from community organizations, collaborate on projects to assist them, and engage in group and individual reflections. Students will be able to connect with incoming peers, begin to build community in their soon-to-be home, and learn about opportunities that will be available to them through the CCL and beyond! More information and sign ups will be available mid-May on the Center for Civic Leadership’s Civic Immersion website https://ccl.rice.edu/ci.

Program Dates

Session 1: Sunday, July 10 - Friday, July 15

Session 2: Sunday, July 24 - Friday, July 29

Questions may be directed to Chasmine Anderson (cda7@rice.edu) and Pame Cortés Ortiz (pic2@rice.edu)

June 22 - 27 - Composition Exam (Round Two)

June 30 - Request to Withhold or Release Directory Information (Optional)

Students who would like Rice to withhold their directory information may do so by logging in to ESTHER, clicking Personal Information, clicking Release or Withhold Directory Information, and indicating that the information should be withheld.

Send questions to the Office of the Registrar at registrar@rice.edu or call 713-348-4999.

If you don't remember your Esther password or need to reset it, please contact the OIT Help Desk at helpdesk@rice.edu or call 713-348-4357.

July 2022

Please note that some deadlines or checklist items fall on the same date.

July 1 - eBills and Account Setup Available Online

Tuition and fees can be found in Esther, under Student Services – Payment Suite. From here, you can review monthly billing statements, set up Electronic Refunds, and established authorized users with Payment Suite access. Additional details can be found here.

July 1 - Lilie Change Maker Summit Application Deadline

Join the Liu Idea Lab for Innovation & Entrepreneurship (Lilie) for the re-imagined Change Maker Summit this July. Meet your impact-minded family: make new friends who share your excitement for solving problems and meet faculty and partners who want to support you throughout your Rice journey. Dive into the excitement of entrepreneurship, innovation, and human-centered design. These virtual jam sessions packed with learning, team activities, and design challenges, and will connect you to new friends well before you start on campus this fall.

Website & Application URL: https://entrepreneurship.rice.edu/change-maker-summit

July 1 - Prepare for Possible On-Campus Employment

Students must complete the Employment Eligibility Verification Form (or Form I-9) with the Rice Payroll Office prior to the start of work or training. (This is a requirement of the U.S. Citizenship and Immigration Services and not of Rice University). Form I-9 is the form required by all U.S. employers to verify the identity and employment authorization of newly hired individuals. Students must bring original, unexpired document(s) to establish identity and employment authorization. Click here for a list of acceptable documents as defined by the U.S. Citizenship and Immigration Services. For more information regarding student employment opportunities, click here. And, for more information regarding student payroll, click here.

July 1 - Open Enrollment Begins for Student Health Insurance

Every degree-seeking student is required to have health insurance coverage while enrolled at Rice University. Therefore, all students must take action during the open enrollment period to elect to enroll in the Aetna Student Health Insurance Plan, OR complete a waiver by demonstrating comparable insurance coverage that meets Rice’s requirements. If no action is taken, you will be auto-enrolled at the end of Open Enrollment and active coverage will be delayed.

Please visit http://studenthealthinsurance.rice.edu/home to Enroll or Waive Coverage. All students must take action by August 26th. Please email studentinsurance@rice.edu with any questions.

July 8 - College Assignment Notification

Your College Magisters will provide official notification of your College assignment. These notifications are sent via e-mail and cannot be provided over the phone. We ask that you please be patient as it may take some time for your assignment to reach you especially if you live out of state or internationally. Note: If you do not complete your Health Data Form (including the Meningococcal Meningitis vaccination) by June 1st, you WILL NOT receive your College assignment. You can check the status of your VA-Vaccination Hold on Esther.

Questions concerning the Health Data Form should be directed to Health Services at hlsv@rice.edu or 713-348-4966. To complete the Health Data Form, visit health.rice.edu/new-students/health-data-form

Any other questions concerning college assignments should be directed to the Office of the Dean of Undergraduates at ugdean@rice.edu or call 713-348-4997. Again, please do not call or email to find out your assignment.

July 15 - Due To Rice - Notification of Mental Health Concerns

The Wellbeing and Counseling Center is an excellent resource on campus for all Rice students. If you have mental health concerns such as anxiety, depression, an eating disorder, or any other condition for which you've been diagnosed or treated, you may fill out the Mental Health Notification Form and contact us at (713) 348-3311 to discuss options for continued care and connecting to resources on campus or in the Houston area. There are also many resources available for you, so we encourage you to visit the Resource Page on our website for more information.

If you have questions or concerns, please do not hesitate to contact the Wellbeing and Counseling Center at (713) 348-3311.

July 15 - O-Week Information & Roommate Assignments Mailed

O-Week Information & Roommate Assignments Mailed You will receive formal notification of your roommate(s) assignment and more information about O-Week at Rice and at your college. These items are distributed via U.S. Mail, and we ask that you please be patient as it may take some time for yours to reach you especially if you live out of state or internationally.

To complete the Health Data Form, visit health.rice.edu/new-students/health-data-form Note: If you do not submit proof that you have received the Meningococcal Meningitis vaccination or provide documentation of an exemption, you WILL NOT receive your College O-Week book or roommate(s) assignment. You can check the status of your VA-Vaccination Hold on Esther.

Questions concerning the Health Data Form should be directed to Health Services at hlsv@rice.edu or 713-348-4966. Send questions to your College's O-Week Coordinators or O-Week Staff at oweek@rice.edu.

July 29 - Deadline to Register for Residence Hall Linens

First Year Programs has partnered with Residence Hall Linens to provide students with affordable and accessible essentials for their room. Since other groups are on campus during the summer, you are not able to have your items shipped to Rice. First Year Programs may be able to make special accommodations for shipping if you are living abroad. Please contact Residence Hall Linens at 1-800-957-4338 for questions about your order.

Contact First Year Programs at oweek@rice.edu to discuss international shipping accommodations.

July 30 - Due to Rice - Housing Agreement

Please log onto Esther to submit this form. Note: If you do not complete your Health Data Form (including the Meningococcal Meningitis vaccination), you WILL NOT receive your College assignment. You can check the status of your VA-Vaccination Hold on Esther.

Questions concerning the Health Data Form should be directed to Health Services at hlsv@rice.edu or 713-348-4966. Send questions to Housing and Dining at dm7@rice.edu or call 713-348-8048.

August 2022

Please note that some deadlines or checklist items fall on the same date.

August 1 - Due to Rice - Honor Code Confirmation Module

The Rice University Honor System provides the foundation for Rice’s academic expectations of students. It embodies the relationship of trust and commitment between students and faculty. In order to ensure that all students understand the Honor System, the Honor Council will provide online learning modules, as well as a mandatory online exam. These can be accessed through the Honor Council Info page on the Matriculating Class of 2022 Rice Canvas page, starting in early July.

August 1 - Download Navigate

Download Navigate: Navigate is Rice’s platform for students to set up appointments and stay in contact with student services offices (including the Office of Academic Advising) and faculty advisors. You can download the Navigate app on your mobile device or access on your web browser. Be sure to log in and get a feel for Navigate early!

From your mobile device, open your app store and search for “Navigate Student” – or if you're already on your mobile device, select a shortcut below.

Apple App Store

Google Play Store

Once installed, open the app, search for “Rice University” and select. Sign in using your university username and password.

No app? No worries!

You can also use Navigate on the web. STUDENTS ONLY: click here to sign in with your university username and password.

Send questions to the Office of Academic Advising at aadv@rice.edu or call 713-348-4060.

August 10 - Due to Rice - Athletics Interest Survey

You will receive an email to your Rice email in July with information about completing this survey. If you have any questions related to our athletic programs please contact Stacy Mosely at mosely@rice.edu. All other questions can be sent to oweek@rice.edu.

August 10 - Deadline to Register for Rice Bands

To join The MOB (Marching Owl Band) as a musician, show assistant, or script writer, please go to bands.rice.edu and fill out the form there. A current (student) member of the team or musical section will be in contact. There will be opportunities to join during O-Week, as well.

Please do not worry about having to audition. If you have a desire to entertain, or have an interest in writing for the field shows (comedy/satire), please submit the form and give it whirl. If you are interested in Rice Symphonic Band or Rice Jazz Band, please email Chuck Throckmorton, Director of Bands, at cthrock@rice.edu.

Contact the Rice Bands Program at 713-348-2346 if you have questions. http://bands.rice.edu/

August 12 - Due to Rice - Alcohol Education Module

In mid July, the Student Wellbeing Office at Rice will email you log in information for an Alcohol Education Module that provides awareness training, alcohol abuse prevention, and safe drinking tips for college students. We encourage you to think about what it means to make healthy choices, including those related to alcohol consumption. It is important that you complete this module honestly and completely for conversations during O-Week and throughout your time at Rice.

If you have any questions or concerns about your survey results, please contact the Student Wellbeing Office at wellbeing@rice.edu. We look forward to your arrival in August!

August 14 - Due to Rice - Complete Your OwlNest Profile

OwlNest (OwlNest.rice.edu) is Rice’s student engagement platform, where you can discover organizations and events that match your interests, and track your activities outside of the classroom through a personalized involvement resume. With over 300 clubs across eleven different genres, is it easier than ever to find community on campus by exploring student clubs, departments and events through OwlNest!

How Can I Get Connected as a New Student?

Log into OwlNest with your NetID and password
Upload a profile picture and review your privacy settings before getting started
Watch our teaser video to learn how to access your event pass, look-up events on OwlNest and use the CORQ app to keep track of events
Navigate to the Organization page and explore student clubs you may want to join
You can send a message to the club or request to become a member directly through the club’s OwlNest page!
Navigate to the OwlNest Events page and RSVP to events you would like to attend
Follow @RiceOwlNest on Instagram to learn more about our amazing clubs!

If you are not sure where to begin, fill out an OwlNest Consultation Request Form to meet with one of our OwlNest Student Engagement Consultants or email owlnest@rice.edu. We also have a variety of training videos available to help you maximize your OwlNest experience.

If you don’t find a club that matches your interests, you can also create a new club by following the steps to complete club registration through the Student Activities Office. If you have questions about this process, please email clubregistration@rice.edu.

August 14 - 20 - O-Week 2022

All new students (freshmen, transfers, and international) must attend all of O-Week. Visit our O-Week Schedule section for a listing of events from previous O-Weeks. The schedule will be updated over the summer with information for O-Week 2022.

Note: If you do not complete your Health Data Form (including the Meningococcal Meningitis vaccination), you WILL NOT be able to live on campus for O-Week or during the 10-day waiting period after the vaccination. You can check the status of your VA-Vaccination Hold on Esther. Questions concerning the Health Data Form should be directed to Health Services at hlsv@rice.edu or 713-348-4966. To complete the Health Data Form, visit health.rice.edu/new-students/health-data-form

Send questions to your O-Week Coordinators or to O-Week Staff at oweek@rice.edu.

August 20 - Deadline to Register for Parking

All students who want to have a permit to park on campus must register with the Parking Office. Please log onto Esther to submit this registration as early as July 1^st each year. Remember to print out the Temporary Permit and display it on the vehicle’s dashboard until receiving the sticker permit. Permits will be mailed to the students’ Colleges starting on Thursday, August 11th. Until then the Parking Office will hold on to permits purchased and they can be picked up in the Parking Registration Office (Central Garage, Level B1, M-F, 7 a.m.- 3 p.m.). Permits are non-refundable and non-transferrable. Parking spaces are limited, so it’s encouraged to register on July 1^st or soon after.

Send questions to the Parking Office at parking@rice.edu or call 713-348-7275.

August 22 - Classes Begin

You will register for classes on the Friday of O-Week. Be sure to spend some time over the weekend before classes to find where the buildings and classrooms are located so you know where to go on the first day. Some students also use the first few days of classes to work out what their final schedule might be based on workload and more. Be sure to familiarize yourself with the necessary deadlines for adding and dropping classes which can be found on the Academic Calendars online.

August 26 - Open Enrollment Deadline - Student Health Insurance

Student Health Insurance All students must enroll or waive the Aetna Student Health Insurance Plan by August 26th. Any student that does not take action to enroll in coverage or submit a waiver by the deadline, will be auto-enrolled in annual coverage and will be responsible for paying the full premium. Once you are enrolled, the plan cannot be cancelled for any reason.

Please note the automatic enrollment process does require additional processing time. You may have to pay out of pocket for medical services until your enrollment has been processed. Once processed, you will be able to file a claim for reimbursement. To avoid this inconvenience, please submit your enrollment application as early as possible. The coverage will not be prorated and the effective date will be retroactive to 08/01/22. Please visit https://studenthealthinsurance.rice.edu to take action or for more information regarding the student insurance plan.

September 2022

Please note that some deadlines or checklist items fall on the same date.

September 1 - Save the Date for Owl Together 2022 - Families Weekend

Owl Together 2022 will be a celebration combining Families Weekend and Homecoming & Reunion.

This event highlights the breadth, depth, and creativity of our global Rice community, and will be held during the fall semester, October 28-29th, 2022. Please visit https://owltogether.rice.edu/ for additional details leading up to the weekend.

For questions regarding family programming during Owl Together, please contact owltogether@rice.edu or 713-348-6094.

September 10 - Due to Rice - Fall 2022 Tuition and Fees Payment

Monthly billing statements are emailed to the student’s Rice email address and any authorized users that have been given access to the Payment Suite. To view your billing statement online:

Log into ESTHER. Select "Student Services & Account Information".

If you have any questions, please email the Cashier's Office at cashier@rice.edu.

Click on the "Payment Suite" button located under Account Summary - Pay My Bill - Bill Payment Suite.
Navigate to “My Account”, then select “Statements”.

New Student Checklist

March 2022

May 2022

June 2022

July 2022

August 2022

September 2022

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