When Kathleen Ortiz arrived at Rice, she wasn’t sure if journalism would remain part of her life. A senior majoring in social policy analysis and sport management, Ortiz said she originally wanted to carve out an academic identity apart from her journalist parents — her mother, a high school journalism teacher and former reporter, and her father, the founder of a media company and longtime Houston Chronicle sports reporter.
Rice’s Vice President for Global Strategy guided the discussion through themes that define the current higher education landscape and panelists highlighted how access and equity remain central concerns, particularly in light of shifting student loan policies, affirmative action rulings and changing immigration dynamics.
Rice’s Grand Hall was filled with students, music and festivities Sept. 15 as the university began its many celebrations as part of Hispanic Heritage Month. Themed Together We Shine/Juntos Brillamos, the festivities include programming across campus through Oct. 15 that spotlights the pride, passion and progress of Hispanic communities in the U.S. while also acknowledging the ongoing work toward greater recognition, representation and empowerment.
Rice will honor Hispanic Heritage Month, which runs Sept. 15 through Oct. 15, with a host of events dedicated to recognizing the rich contributions and achievements of Hispanic and Latino Americans throughout the country’s history.
Rice University’s Naval ROTC program hosted an inaugural stair climb at Rice Stadium Thursday morning to honor the victims of the Sept. 11 attacks, which occurred on this day 24 years ago.
Members of the Jewish student community at Rice gathered recently at the Chabad Jewish Student Center for sushi and socializing to kick off the fall semester. Hosted by Rabbi Shmuli Slonim and Nechama Slonim, the group welcomed more than 100 students for the popular annual gathering.
August is designated as National Emergency Management Awareness Month. To recognize the impact Rice’s four-member emergency management team makes on campus, Rice News spoke with the group to discuss its role in preparing for, responding to and recovering from emergencies and disasters.
Rice marked a historic milestone this month as it welcomed the largest incoming class in its history — 1,336 new Owls, including 63 transfer students. With traditions both new and old, O-Week gave first-year students and their families a warm introduction to the campus community.
Rice has once again earned national recognition in The Princeton Review’s annual Best Colleges rankings, placing in the top 10 in four categories for 2026.
Rice hosted five high school students for a forward-thinking summer pilot program named the ETC Lab, designed to equip high school juniors and seniors with the tools to become empowered, civically engaged citizens and future leaders.
June serves as LGBTQ+ Pride Month, and to celebrate, Rice and many campus affiliates will host events to spread awareness about the LGBTQ+ community and educate on sexual and gender diversity.
Rice will break ground on the Moody Center Complex for Student Life at 3 p.m. May 8, marking a transformative moment for the university’s commitment to student engagement, development and success.
