Rice adopts Google’s generative AI solution to enhance student learning and faculty support
Rice has partnered with Google for Education to adopt Google’s generative AI solution, Gemini for Education, to provide students, faculty and staff with powerful, responsible AI tools designed to personalize learning, enhance creativity and better prepare students for a technology-driven future.
Rice to celebrate Hispanic Heritage Month with 30 events
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.
On a roll: Chabad at Rice hosts annual sushi social
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.
Shepherd School season to open under Harth-Bedoya’s direction
The Shepherd School will open its 2025-26 season with two concerts led by its new distinguished resident director of orchestras, Emmy Award-winning and Grammy-nominated conductor Miguel Harth-Bedoya.
Rice’s Bajani wins Italy’s top literary prize for ‘The Anniversary’
“The Anniversary” has held the No. 1 spot on Italy’s charts for months; sales have passed 100,000 copies; and the book has become a cultural lightning rod.
Behind-the-scenes heroes of safety: Rice’s emergency management team vigilantly watches over campus
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.
Global impact: 7 Rice scholars awarded Fulbright scholarships for study, teaching abroad
Seven Rice graduates were named recipients of the Fulbright scholarship through the Fulbright U.S. Student Program this year, receiving funds to study, research and teach English abroad.
A growing university: Rice welcomes 97 new faculty to bolster teaching, research
Just like incoming freshmen are getting to know the Rice campus during O-Week, newly hired faculty spent two days in an orientation of their own before classes start.
Rice Class of 2029 consumes sage advice by day, barbecue by night
On the second morning of O-Week, Rice’s Class of 2029 assembled in Tudor Fieldhouse to hear advice from professors who shared their academic experiences as well as secrets for success — both at Rice and beyond. The faculty delivered short, TED Talk-style lectures encouraging new students to explore the possibilities the university offers.
Weeks of Welcome to connect Owls with campus community, resources
As a continuation of Rice’s Office of Student Success Initiatives’ O-Week, the Student Center will host Weeks of Welcome Aug. 23-Sept. 6 at various locations on campus. The program will combine academic, educational, developmental and social programming for both undergraduate and graduate students to provide a solid foundation for new and returning students as they transition or return to Rice.
Owl Access sets up incoming Rice students for success
Rice’s Office of Student Success Initiatives hosted a prematriculation program for incoming Rice freshman and their families Aug. 14-16 as a leadup to O-Week. Named Owl Access, the initiative is led and supported by current students to welcome freshmen who move in early to Rice, providing a comfortable adjustment period and easing them into college life.
Rice, city relocate crosswalk signal to boost safety near graduate apartments
Rice demonstrated its commitment to campus and community safety with the recent relocation of a crosswalk signal. Rice worked with the surrounding neighbors and the city of Houston to transfer a high-intensity activated crosswalk signal previously located on Sunset Boulevard in front of Congregation Emanu El to Rice Boulevard at Gate 23 near First Christian Church — an area that experiences substantially more foot traffic.
Rice Emerging Scholars Program prepares first-year students for STEM success
Rice’s campus was buzzing this summer as students in the Rice Emerging Scholars Program wrapped up six weeks of challenging courses, hands-on projects and community-building. The end-of-program events and presentations marked the culmination of a summer designed to prepare incoming first-year students — particularly those from under-resourced high schools — for the pace, depth and rigor of STEM majors at Rice.
‘Forever grateful’ Rice alumnus steps in line for top chair with Houston Livestock Show and Rodeo
Rice alumnus Wesley Sinor ’97, who graduated with a master’s degree from the Jones School of Business, has been flagged as Houston Livestock Show and Rodeo's chairman-elect.
Moody Civic Immersion program introduces incoming Owls to service-learning, Houston area
Rice’s academic year is about to launch, but dozens of incoming Owls started early by engaging with the city and its social justice issues, addressing them through the Ross Rankin Moody Civic Immersion program, one of the flagships of the university’s Center for Civic Leadership.
