Campus Resources

It is natural for questions to arise as your student transitions to undergraduate life at Rice. The following list will help parents find answers to their questions concerning college life and events, information about academics, parking and transportation, links to vital resources such as campus health services, campus security, housing, and dining. If you don’t find what you need from the list of resources below, please contact us at success@rice.edu.

Academic Resources

Academic Calendar

Review a thorough listing of the Academic Calendar for important dates, reminders, and holidays.

Office of Academic Advising

The Office of Academic Advising (OAA) is located in Suite 132 of the Ley Student Center (RMC) and is the hub for all academic advising on campus. Meeting with an academic advisor can be useful if you need personal academic advice or help for any reason, including major exploration, academic support, and four-year planning. The OAA also offers specialized advising for those interested in the health professions (including pre-medicine and pre-dental), law school, graduate programs, as well as student athletes and transfer students. New students are encouraged to visit our freshmen page, which includes academic planning templates and advising booklets to assist new students with course selection and planning.

We welcome students to schedule appointments with an advisor in the Office of Academic Advising at https://bit.ly/RiceAdvising, via telephone at 713-348-4060, or by e-mailing aadv@rice.edu. Questions specific to health professions advising should be directed to hpa@rice.edu.

General Announcements

General Announcements (GA) is an online version of the official Rice catalog.This catalog represents the most accurate information available at the time of publication. The university reserves the right to correct or otherwise change any such information without notice at its sole discretion. With respect to course offerings, the departments have attempted to anticipate which courses will be offered, and by whom and when such courses will be taught. However, course offerings may be affected by changes in faculty, student demand, and funding. Although efforts have been made to indicate these uncertainties, course offerings are subject to change without notice. Review the GA by visiting ga.rice.edu

Student Success Initiatives

Student Success Initiatives office is dedicated to providing students with advising, support, and connections to campus resources. Our goal is to assist students in developing strategies to help them both inside and outside of the classroom. To learn more about our services please visit success.rice.edu.

Office of the Registrar

The Office of the Registrar is the custodian of students'; records. They register students, record grades, prepare student transcripts and verifications, evaluate academic records, oversee the preparation of the course catalog, graduation certification and the distribution of diplomas.

The Office of the Registrar has a site dedicated to helping parents and families find useful and important information to include: Academic Calendars, links to the Course Catalog, Course Schedule, General Announcements,
FERPA, Parents or Spouses FAQs, and more. To learn more, please visit their web site at https://registrar.rice.edu/.

Study Abroad

Rice Study Abroad strives to provide substantial, transformational experiences within each undergraduate’s personal curriculum through intellectually rigorous and culturally enriching international opportunities. Rice Study Abroad is committed to providing students with high quality academic programs in collaboration with prestigious international universities and select program providers. Rice-approved programs are distinguished by their academic focus contributing to the curricular needs of Rice University as well as integration with host communities through intensive language instruction, field studies, professional internships, and research opportunities.

Information for families can be found here, and further information is available on our main page at abroad.rice.edu.

UNIV 110 Course

First Year Programs has developed a course specifically designed to help new students become accustomed to life and academics at Rice while preparing for their future careers. UNIV 110 Foundations for Self-Discovery & Lifelong Learning will be offered each fall and spring semester and will be co-taught by professional staff members and current students.

Fondren Library

As a campus crossroads, Fondren Library brings together the Rice community with welcoming spaces, excellent collections, and strong services in support of teaching, research and creative expression. Our eBooks, online journals, databases, and other streaming/electronic materials are available via our website. The library’s physical spaces are open only to Rice ID card holders in Fall 2020. Covid-related service changes and updates are here. Access online tutorials about Fondren’s spaces, research resources, and learning opportunities here. Contact Us for quick research or reference questions or to consult with a subject librarian.

Health & Wellness Resources

Student Wellbeing Office

The Student Wellbeing Office serves as a primary prevention program to address the occurrence of wellbeing and mental health concerns for undergraduate and graduate students at Rice University. The Office provide services on Wellbeing Advising, Case Management, Program and Education Outreach. Wellbeing staff members are trained mental health professionals who can help students to address a wide range of wellbeing issues such as stress management, relationship concerns, identity issues, post-hospitalization management, medical withdrawal and readmission, and navigating other resources on campus.

Phone: 713-348-3311
Email: wellbeing@rice.edu
Website: http://wellbeing.rice.edu/

Location: The Barbara and David Gibbs Wellness Center, 1st Floor
Hours: Monday through Friday: 9:00 am – 5:00 pm

Rice Counseling Center

The Rice Counseling Center is designed to complement the University's academic mission by assisting students' personal and educational development through a variety of psychological and psychiatric services to help students develop effective problem-solving and decision-making capabilities. Services provided at the Rice University Counseling Center include consultation and counseling for students, consultation for concerned parents and others, and crisis response.

We are a diverse team of psychologists, social workers, counselors, and consulting psychiatrists committed to providing professional, compassionate, and individualized care.

Website: http://wellbeing.rice.edu/RCC/
Phone: 713-348-3311 (24 hours)
Location: The Barbara and David Gibbs Wellness Center, 1st floor
Hours: 9:00 AM – 5 PM, Monday through Friday

Student Health Services

Rice Student Health Services provides outpatient clinical care for the students of Rice. Student Health is located on campus and is dedicated to meeting the unique needs of undergraduate and graduate students, with an emphasis on prevention. Student Health is one of the support services covered by the Health and Wellness Fee, therefore any student, regardless of insurance type, can utilize the services. Physician visits are free and a small fee will apply for extra services (labs, vaccines, etc). It is important to note that this is not an emergency room.

Disability Resource Center

Disability Resource Center coordinates and provides accommodations and services such as alternative testing formats, books on tape, sign language interpreters, accessible transportation, detailed building accessibility, and parking maps.

Campus Housing & Dining Services

Housing Services: Housing Services at Rice University combines Campus Housing, Residential Dining, Graduate Apartments and Summer Conference services in one department. We strive to make your college experience completely inviting and supportive of your life as a student at Rice University.
Campus Dining: Dining Services serves the integral role of providing the student body with nutritious and appetizing food. To best fulfill this service, Dining Services combines our meal plans with the traditional ingredients of wholesome food, convenience and a friendly staff. Visit Rice Dining for more information.

Financial Services

Student Accounts and Cashier's Office: The Student Accounts & Cashier’s Office provides everything you need to know about costs, understanding your bill, payment options and refunds. Visit our
website at cashier.rice.edu for additional information about establishing Authorized User access, 529 Plan payments and 1098-T tax statements. Important dates are continuously updated on our website throughout the academic year.
Office of Financial: The Office of Financial Aid can guide your student through the financial aid process at Rice University.
Scholarships: For college-bound students looking for financial help, the search just got easier. Rice University's Multicultural Community Relations in the Office of Public Affairs has compiled a list of scholarships that are available to local students.
Payroll: The Payroll Office is a unit of the Controller’s Office that strives to provide timely and accurate payments to faculty, staff, and student employees.

Career Services

Center for Career Development: The Center for Career Development (CCD) offers programs, services and resources to guide your Rice Owl in pursuing their career goals. They equip your student with the skills and confidence needed to discover their interests
and navigate their career journey from college to graduation, and throughout their life. The CCD is here to help you support your student on their career journey by keeping you informed of the programs, services and resources available to Rice Owls.

Student Leadership & Involvement

Center for Civic Leadership

The Center for Civic Leadership (CCL) fosters community-university collaborations that analyze the complexity of social issues and take actions to promote equitable and inclusive communities. Through academic and co-curricular programs, students involved in the CCL will engage in community-based learning, understand ethical frameworks for civic engagement, and develop competencies in critical reflection and civic professionalism. The center supports students in identifying appropriate civic practices and leveraging their academic strengths to address societal issues both locally and globally.

Students can begin with an introductory Learn Level experience such as Alternative Spring Break or CCL Volunteers where they will develop foundational knowledge and skills needed to have a positive impact on their communities. They can then move on to an Act Level program such as an interdisciplinary research team, a summer internship with a civic-minded organization, or leadership of new students in their introduction to Houston through the lens of social justice. Finally, upper level students can complete a Certificate in Civic Leadership as a formal academically integrated opportunity through the CCL. The CCL makes accessibility a priority through funded experiences and provides financial aid for any fee-based programs.

Student Activities

The Office of Student Activities registers over 300 student clubs and organizations annually, and provides opportunities for experiential learning and leadership development through various programs and activities. A new student engagement platform, OwlNest, enables you
and your student to browse clubs, upcoming events, and more! For additional information on how to maximize OwlNest, please visit the OwlNest Trainings website.

Rice Program Council

Rice Program Council provides campus wide programming for all Rice students and is committed to organizing events and opportunities on and off campus that enhance the quality of life at Rice. Some major events include Willy Week & Beer Bike, Homecoming, Esperanza, Rondelet, and Screw Your Roommate.

Multicultural Affairs

The Office of Multicultural Affairs is dedicated to coordinating and implementing comprehensive educational, cultural, and social programs designed to emphasize inclusiveness, while promoting intercultural dialogue, awareness, and respect for diversity.

Student Media

The Office of Student Media facilitates student development, learning and innovation within student-run media organizations through training, advising and mentoring under the auspices of a designated public forum supporting the tenets of the First Amendment. OSM works with the student news outlet, The Rice Thresher; the radio station, KTRU and the undergraduate yearbook, The Campanile. All undergraduates are encouraged to engage with these media, but to also work for the groups. They can fill out an interest form here.

Liu Idea Lab for Innovation & Entrepreneurship

The Liu Idea Lab for Innovation and Entrepreneurship (Lilie) is the home of experiential learning and co-curricular activities in entrepreneurship and innovation. Their mission is to equip Rice students with both entrepreneurial skills and the entrepreneurial mindset to prepare them to be entrepreneurs and innovators in whatever industry they choose. Lilie is comprised of experiential courses and entrepreneurship minor, co-curricular opportunities, a state-of-the-art on-campus lab space, and an array of resources to support student learning. Visit entrepreneurship.rice.edu for more information

Student Center

Located in suite 202 (2nd Floor of RMC, above Grand Hall), the Student Center mission is to enrich the Rice experience & foster a vibrant community by providing developmental opportunities, delivering excellent service & promoting collaboration through facilities and events, student run businesses & student activities.

Facilities & Events provides excellent customer service to students & the Rice Community. We foster social & cultural development through community spaces, event management, & collaborative relationships, while creating a lasting positive impression.

The Student Center supports and advises three student-run and managed businesses on campus—Rice Bikes, Rice Coffeehouse & The Hoot. Full time undergraduate students are responsible for all aspects of their businesses including but not limited to finance, personnel, inventory, marketing and training. Working in a student run business provides a unique experiential learning opportunity to gain hands-on skills useful for any career path. Each business hires new employees every semester.

Student Activities is dedicated to helping students develop as leaders and supporting them in their efforts to make a positive impact at Rice University. There are many ways for students to get involved on campus and we hope to serve as a connection point for students in finding the opportunity that is right for them.

Athletic and Campus Recreation

Athletics: All Rice students are admitted free to all home sporting events by presenting their valid Rice ID. Download the Rice Owls Mobile App, Enroll to the new Athletics Canvas page, and visit the Rice Owls website for sports schedules, notification updates, and more information!
Gibbs Recreation and Wellness Center: The mission of the Gibbs Recreation and Wellness Center is to encourage a lifetime of health and wellness for the students, faculty, and staff of Rice university by promoting the physical, social, and emotional benefits of physical activity. The Recreation and Wellness Center offers informal recreation opportunities as well as formal programs in aquatics, dance, fitness, intramural and club sports, and outdoor recreation.

Student Handbook & Conduct

Rice Honor System: The Honor System is one of the longest standing traditions at Rice University. Conceived and created together by Rice faculty and students, our Honor System has played a key role in helping us build and maintain an ethical academic culture. It features strong student engagement in communicating our values and the principles surrounding the Honor Code, and more broadly emphasizes academic honesty and integrity as core values of our community. The Honor Council is a student-governed organization that addresses accusations of academic misconduct under the Honor System. For more information about the Honor System and the Honor Council, please see www.honor.rice.edu.
Student Judicial Programs: Student Judicial Programs articulates and enforces the expectations of the Rice University community. These expectations are written in our Code of Student Conduct, Alcohol Policy, Sexual Misconduct Policy, in other Rice documents. The expectations for behavior at Rice arise from our shared values as a community; the written rules in these documents memorialize those shared community values. For more information about Student Judicial Programs, including the policies listed above, please visit www.sjp.rice.edu.
University Court: University Court is the student-governed disciplinary arm at Rice. The Court’s responsibility is to hold our peers accountable when they engage in behavior that does not meet Rice’s community values or expectations for students. The Court has the authority to address student misconduct from a student perspective, and allows students to engage in the disciplinary process with their peers. For more information about University Court please visit www.sjp.rice.edu/universitycourt.

Parking and Transportation

Rice Parking: The Parking Office is responsible for overseeing and maintaining vehicle registration as well as the parking gates, garages, and lots.
Transportation Department: The Rice Transportation Department is committed to providing safe and convenient transportation services and commuting information to the Rice community. For service details visit https://transportation.rice.edu/

Campus Safety

Rice University Police Department (RUPD): The Rice University Police Department takes the lead in providing a safe environment for the university community.
Rice EMS: Rice University Emergency Medical Services (REMS) is a First Responder Organization comprised of undergraduate volunteers who are certified EMTs and AEMTs. We are dedicated to promoting campus safety by providing high quality emergency medical care and community education. REMS also provides coverage for large special events, teaches American Heart Association CPR and First Aid courses, and offers the EMT-Basic and Advanced EMT courses to undergraduates for both academic credit and
national certification. We are available to respond to emergency calls on and around Rice campus 24/7 throughout the year and can be reached at the same number as RUPD: (713)-348-6000. For more information, please visit http://rems.rice.edu/

Campus Bookstore

Rice University Official Bookstore: Located on the first and basement levels of the Rice Memorial Center, the Rice Bookstore is a convenient stop for textbooks, memorabilia, and clothing and accessories to support Rice or your College.

Information Technology

Office of Information Technology

The Office of Information Technology (OIT) is Rice’s computing service organization providing a range of services from course tools, email, computing labs and printers, network connectivity, technical troubleshooting, and offering advice for purchasing computers and obtaining software.

Students can request assistance via the OIT Help Desk about account management, connectivity to Rice network, password resets, general troubleshooting, mobile device support, VPN configuration, email setup, and more. Students can also search the OIT KnowledgeBase of instructional documentation.

Navigating Campus

To help navigate your way across campus we have attached copies of our Campus Map and Student Center Map for you to review.

Rice University Campus Map

Rice University Student Center Map – The student center is comprised of Farnsworth Pavilion, Ley Student Center, Miner Lounge, Rice Memorial Center, RMC Grand Hall, and RMC Chapel.