Summer Programs
In the summer, RESP offers multiple avenues of support and development through three different opportunities: the Summer Bridge Program, "Second Summer" Support, and Fellowship Opportunities. Please review the information below about each of these opportunities.
Summer Bridge Program
Each year, a select cohort of first-year students newly admitted to the School of Engineering or School of Natural Sciences are invited to participate in RESP. Participation is limited to invited students. Students who accept the invitation to join RESP are expected to complete all components of the program, including meetings with staff and student mentors in the fall semester. In exchange, Emerging Scholars attend the program at no cost and receive a stipend for their participation. The summer program requires a full-time commitment and usually extends from mid June to early August.
RESP Summer 2026 will take place June 20, 2026 through August 1, 2026.
Participants in the Rice Emerging Scholars Program are mentored by professional staff members and a team of student Fellows who excel in Math, Physics, Chemistry, and/or Computer Science. Fellows are responsible for facilitating the academic and social transitions of the emerging scholars for the duration of the six week program. Additionally, scholars receive advising support from professional staff on the Student Success Initiatives team.
O-RESP
On Saturday, June 20, move-in will take place from 9:00 AM - 2:00 PM. All scholars are expected to be on campus, at Will Rice College, by 2:30 PM. RESP Directors, Faculty and Staff will host programming to welcome families and scholars to the RESP community.
| O-RESP Day 1 Schedule | ||
| Time | Session | Details |
| 9:00AM - 2:00PM | Move-In | Scholars will indicate their expected arrival time to RESP Professional Staff prior as part of their onboarding. While moving in, snacks and refreshments will be available in the Will Rice Commons until 2:00 PM. All scholars and families will meet in the commons at 2:15 PM for the O-RESP sessions. |
| 2:30PM - 3:30PM | Welcome Session |
|
| 3:30PM- 3:45PM | Break | Families and scholars have time to say goodbye (families will depart after their session and before scholars return) |
| 3:45 PM- 4:30PM | Family Session |
|
| 3:45 PM- 5:00 PM | Scholar Session (with Faculty) |
|
| 5:00 PM- 5:30 PM | Break | Scholars can spend time setting up their rooms or gathering in the commons |
| 5:30 PM- 6:30 PM | Scholar & Fellow Dinner | Scholars will meet their small groups and spend time together at dinner. |
| 6:30PM- 7:00PM | Break | Scholars can spend time setting up their rooms or gathering in the commons |
| 7:00PM - 8:00PM | Nightly Meeting | Scholars, fellows, and professional staff will engage in the first Nightly Meeting |
Curriculum and Tracks
The RESP Summer Bridge Curriculum is individualized to student interests and intended majors. Successful completion of the program grants students 2 credit hours.
| Engineering | Natural Science | Coding | |
| Courses | typically Calculus, Physics, and Engineering in Practice | typically Calculus, Chemistry, and Natural Science in Practice | typically Calculus, Discrete Math, and Coding in Practice |
| Track | Engineering Design Protocol | Wet Lab Skills | Coding Project |
Meet the 2026 Fellows
Coming soon!
Meet the Faculty
Coming soon!
Summer Bridge FAQs
1. Where will I be staying during the bridge program? Will that be my assigned college once I matriculate?
Scholars will stay in Will Rice College this summer. However, that does not mean that's your assigned college! You'll still go through the typical college assignment process. This also means that after RESP (and before O-Week), you'll completely move out of your summer room. We will have storage pods available for you to store items in between RESP and O-Week (or Owl Access).
2. Will my meals be covered?
Yes, RESP includes room and board during the summer (in addition to the stipend provided upon completion).
3. What should I pack?
You'll receive a packing list in your welcome packet from RESP upon your acceptance of your offer to join RESP.
4. Do I have to remain on campus during the entirety of RESP?
RESP is an immersive program, which means staying on campus (even if you are Houston-based) is a requisite element of the program. However, there are many opportunities to explore Houston in free time (especially on weekends).
5. Will my RESP grades be on my transcript?
No, your RESP grades will not be published to your transcript. RESP is designed to be a low stakes environment in which students can learn and apply new methods and skills in core subjects. Your two hour credit (upon successful completion of the program) will be marked as "Satisfactory" on your transcript. Successful completion requires meeting the scholar expectations that will be explained in detail on Day 1 of O-RESP, including (but not limited to) class attendance, nightly meeting attendance, event attendance, work completion, exam completion, office hour attendance, and track contribution.
6. Can I take a core class outside of my track?
Yes, this is possible! All students are required to take Calculus (either Differential Equations or Sequences & Series), but students can take their second core course outside of the typical track list. For example, someone who plans to major in Chemical Engineering who already has a strong background in Physics may choose to take Chemistry during the summer instead of Physics. Advisors will meet with you on Day 2 of O-RESP to support you in making this decision.
7. What if I have financial or scheduling concerns that could impact my participation?
Please email resp@rice.edu to share your concerns in detail.
Second Summer
Second Summer is a summer funding opportunity for current RESP scholars who have completed at least one academic year at Rice. SS funds help cover the cost of scholars' tuition for major-required courses and/or living on campus during the summer for various activities (internships, research positions, on-campus classes).
Second Summer may cover up to 50% of summer tuition for up to two courses (6-8 credits) per scholar. Applicants for SS funding should consult the General Announcements and/or meet with a Financial Aid counselor regarding eligibility for institutional and/or Pell aid for summer costs. Awarding of SS aid by RESP is contingent on annual budget constraints, and each application and request for SS aid is individually considered on a case-by-case basis.
Tuition Support: Priority is given to STEM-specific courses, first-year students, and students who require summer credits to stay on track to graduate in four years.
- Second Summer applies to a maximum of two courses and no more than 8 credit hours per scholar.
- Courses must align with a significant core component of the scholar’s selected degree program.
Housing Support: Priority is given to scholars who do not live in the greater Houston area and who have on-campus obligations (courses, research, local internships) that are required by or otherwise contribute to the applicant-scholar’s major(s) or professional aspirations
- The location of summer housing is determined by Rice Housing & Dining (H&D).
- RESP cannot provide financial support for off-campus housing.
Fellowship Opportunities
RESP Fellowship
Fellow Applications are open and due on February 12! Please access the application here.
Rice Emerging Scholars Program (RESP) Fellows are a select group of students who profoundly shape the experience of prospective engineering, computer science, and natural sciences first-year students (RESP Scholars).
RESP Fellows support Scholars in mastering academic content in introductory STEM courses. By teaching developmental academic and college transition skills, Fellows coach Scholars on how to thrive academically at Rice. Fellows are also responsible for developing a safe and supportive living environment and must be engaged with building community amongst the scholars. Fellows are essential in fostering meaningful connections with their peers, mentees, and RESP Faculty/Staff.
Fellows provide crucial support to the RESP Leadership Team with day-to-day summer programmatic elements. Fellows also have the flexibility to design and shape many aspects of the summer experience for Scholars by hosting socials, workshops, and learning experiences. In addition to providing meaningful mentorship to participants, RESP Fellows are each mentored by a RESP team member during the program. Mentorship for Fellows is a personalized, one-on-one experience to hone career readiness and leadership development capabilities.
The RESP Fellowship is a six-week commitment beginning in early June 2026 and ending in early August 2026. There is also a mandatory virtual training component that must be completed in May 2026. Fellows will be required to live on campus during the program. Fellows should not commit to additional responsibilities over the summer (e.g. summer courses, research projects, internships).
M.D. Anderson Cancer Center
Interdisciplinary Translational Education and Research Training (ITERT)
Through a very exciting partnership between Rice and the M.D. Anderson Cancer Center (MDACC), MDACC has agreed to reserve 5 spots for RESP Scholars in this summer’s Interdisciplinary Translational Education and Research Training (ITERT) program. The ITERT program, which runs from June 1 to August 7, 2026, provides participating students a research internship with an MDACC faculty member in a lab setting, career development and career skills workshops, and an opportunity to audit a graduate level course at the University of Texas Graduate School of Biomedical Sciences.
