Build Thriving Urban Communities

Take Flight branches out

Rice's Take Flight Scholars program welcomed community college honors students to two immersive Take Flight On Campus at Rice days offering an in-depth look at the pathways between two-year colleges and four-year universities. Previously focused on STEM honors students at San Jacinto College and Lone Star College, this year Take Flight has expanded to include students in the humanities, business and social sciences and has rebranded from the Take Flight STEM Pathway to the Take Flight Scholars Program.

Driven by community impact, Rice sophomore joins national cohort tackling country’s toughest issues

Rice sophomore Saami Baig one of just 60 students selected nationwide to attend the Allstate Foundation National Youth Service Summit in Chicago.

Rice students help feed Houston: Social policy analysis capstone connects research and community

Students volunteer and observe a Second Servings pop-up through the capstone project for Rice’s social policy analysis major.

2 in 5 Houston households struggle to eat well, raising concerns about their health

Rice’s Kinder Institute for Urban Research warns that Houston’s hunger crisis — and its health consequences — could grow worse.

Houston workers are redefining what matters most at work

The latest survey from Rice’s Kinder Institute for Urban Research shows flexibility — not salary — is now the top priority for Houston-area workers, many of whom are eyeing new career paths.

Rice Civic Forum explores the evolving heart of Houston at ‘In Motion: Downtown Streets, Stories and People’

The Rice University School of Architecture brought together civic leaders, designers and community members for the 2025 Rice Civic Forum, “In Motion: Downtown Streets, Stories and People,” at Architecture Center Houston.

Real-time caregiving data could reshape dementia support, Rice study suggests

A Rice study — known as Project REACH — is among the first in the nation to collect real-time data on how stress affects the health and well-being of dementia caregivers.

Rice researcher develops interactive tool to track FEMA buyouts

A new interactive tool created at Rice shows that the vast majority of people aren’t relying on FEMA buyout program, which has major implications for resilience.

As Texas schools ramp up college and career preparatory programs, Kinder Institute finds persistent gaps

A new Kinder Institute for Urban Research report found that despite some impressive gains for some students, it has failed to close the achievement gap for economically disadvantaged students.

‘Bringing together passionate educators and leaders’: Houston-area early childhood experts unite for research-driven summit

Rice's Susanne M. Glasscock School of Continuing Studies hosted its inaugural Early Childhood Leadership Summit Oct. 3, welcoming 87 education leaders from across the greater Houston area to explore the latest research and best practices in early learning.

One year in, Momentous strategic plan accelerates Rice’s path toward bold future

One year after launching its ambitious 10-year strategic plan, Momentous: Personalized Scale for Global Impact, Rice is already seeing the transformative results of its bold vision.

One year after Hurricane Beryl, 1 in 10 Houston-area residents still need help

The Kinder Institute ’s Houston Population Research Center finds roughly 10% of area residents are still struggling to recover from Hurricane Beryl.

Sholl named executive vice president for research at Rice 

Rice has named David Sholl, an internationally recognized expert in research strategy, clean energy and scientific leadership, as its new executive vice president for research.

‘A life-changing impact’: Rice launches annual United Way campaign

The 2025-26 Rice United Way Campaign has officially launched and provides an opportunity to make a real difference in the area. Contributions not only support individuals and families in need, but they also help to build a stronger, more resilient Houston for everyone.

Rice students step beyond classroom through Community Bridges to make ‘a real difference’

A new class of Community Bridges Fellows is stepping beyond the classroom and into the community through the program run by Rice’s Kinder Institute for Urban Research.