Rice community honors 9/11 with stadium stair climb
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.
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.
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.
Rice earns nation-leading rankings from Niche, Forbes
Rice has been recognized among the nation’s best colleges this week — coinciding with the beginning of its fall semester — ranking No. 10 on Niche’s 2026 Best Colleges in America list and No. 12 on Forbes’ annual America’s Top Colleges list.
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.
Message from the president: Welcome back, Owls!
It is with great excitement that I welcome you back to Rice for the start of another academic year. Our campus has come alive once again with energy, anticipation and purpose. Last week, we officially welcomed 1,300 new undergraduates during O-Week along with a preliminary count of more than 1,400 new graduate students. Today, classes begin for us all.
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.
‘We need this excitement’: Rice Rally ignites O-Week spirit for new Owls
New flocks of Owls filled Tudor Fieldhouse with chants, signs and competitive spirit as they represented their residential colleges and cheered on Rice University’s sports teams during the annual Rice Rally Aug. 19.
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.
Chao family gift supports, names Rice University’s 12th residential college
Amid unprecedented enrollment growth, Rice will open its 12th residential college, the Ting Tsung and Wei Fong Chao College — referred to as Chao College — made possible by a generous gift from the Chao family foundation.
Where tradition meets history: Rice welcomes its largest class with the walk through Sallyport
Rice's newest Owls took their first steps through the Sallyport, a rite of passage that marks not just the start of college but the beginning of a life-changing journey.
One shirt, many stories: O-Week T-shirt design unifies Rice’s residential colleges
In a colorful show of creativity and campus spirit, Rice's 11 residential colleges have come together to create a unified O-Week T-shirt design — a collaboration that reflects both school pride and the strength of Rice’s student communities.
‘It’s just magical’: Rice kicks off O-Week with joy, tradition and big dreams
The sidewalks of Rice’s campus filled with cheers, chants and signs Sunday morning as the newest Owls arrived for move-in day.
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.