Rice's University Administration

The following is a list of the administrative offices at Rice. Don't hesitate to petition your GSA reps for help concerning administrative services before contacting an administrative office, however. The contact information below may change periodically.

Academic Advising

132 Ley Student Center, x4060, http://www.ruf.rice.edu/~acadadv/

Academic Advising provides information and resources for students to achieve their academic goals. Their services are aimed at undergraduates, but resources that may be of interest are the MCAT and LSAT application packets.

Association of Rice Alumni, Alumni Affairs and University Events

O’Connor House, 2nd Floor, x4057, http://alumni.rice.edu

The ARA provides a link between the university and its alumni. Former students who completed a year or more of study at Rice are members; no dues are required. Directed by an alumni board, the ARA sponsors intellectual programs, homecoming and campus events, alumni/student recognition, and career networking. The Alumni Affairs office is the professional staff that coordinates ARA functions and events. The Graduate Alumni Committee (GAC) is a sub-group of the ARA that focuses on graduate alumni. For information on ARA services, such as the Rice Career Network and student-alumni mentoring, please visit the ARA offices or website.

Career Services Center

O'Conner House, st Floor, x4055, http://careers.rice.edu

Career Services provides career information and keeps students apprised of upcoming workshops (some targeting graduate students) while offering testing services, recruiting events, and internship opportunities. Students may register at CSC to schedule interviews prior to a recruiting event at Rice and may post their resumes via RiceLink. The Center has a counselor devoted to graduate student career services. For a small fee, Career Services maintains a very useful credential file service which compiles dossiers (e.g., letters of recommendation, transcripts, curricula vitae, etc.) for academic positions.

Center for Civic Engagement

Rice Memorial Center, 2nd floor, x2223, http://cce.rice.edu

The CCE is the umbrella for the University's efforts to join in efforts with partners throughout Houston. It promotes a culture of civic engagement across the Rice academic community through research, service, and leadership. It connects Rice faculty and students with each other and Houston-based partners.

Four distinct programs create opportunities for Rice to engage Houston. The Center for Civic Research and Design cultivates and expands opportunities for Rice undergraduates to conduct research, under the guidance of Rice faculty and in collaboration with community partners, to address the array of challenges facing the Houston community. The Community Involvement Center promotes volunteer opportunities for the Rice community. Leadership Rice provides students leadership training and mentorship experiences.

Continuing Studies

Center for Continuing Studies (Entrance 8), x4803, http://www.gscs.rice.edu/scs/

The Glasscock School of Continuing Studies offers non-credit courses (primarily during the summer) in the Humanities & Sciences with classes that range from rhetoric and public speaking to photography and the arts. Language programs are available for ESL, Arabic, Chinese, Japanese, German, French, Italian, Spanish, and Russian. Discounts are often offered to Rice students and their spouses. This is also a good place to get teaching experience.

Finance

425 Allen Center, x5147, http://www.professor.rice.edu/professor/Finance.asp

The Finance Division includes the Budget Office, Controller's Office, Office of Institutional Effectiveness, and Office of Institutional Research

Administration

4th Floor Allen Center, x6040

This office helps to maintain the nuts and bolts of the university machine. They oversee the non-academic departments and offices within the University, such as parking, the registrar, etc.

Financial Aid

116 Allen Center, x4958, http://www.ruf.rice.edu/~fina

This office, also known as Student Financial Services offers financial aid to grad students in the form of Federal Stafford Loans, Perkins Loans, and private loans. Work-study opportunities are subject to the availability of funding. For these programs, a general application, FAFSA (the Free Application for Federal Student Aid), must be filed with the US Department of Education to determine eligibility of the applicant. Students interested in long-term aid should start on the paperwork the spring before the academic year for which they need assistance. Short-term, limited emergency loans are also available and must be repaid the same semester.

Graduate and Post-Doctoral Studies

3rd Floor Allen Center, x4002, http://rgs.rice.edu

GPS advocates and supports graduate and post-doctoral programs at Rice. This new office was split from the previous Office of Research and Graduate Studies in the Fall of 2007. Paula Sanders is the Dean of Graduate and Postdoctoral Studies and oversees this office. GPS monitors degree candidacy certification and approves leave of absence requests. It also maintains demographic information about the grad student body and administers many grad fellowships. GPS administers the Adams/Moseley Graduate Student Loan Fund, providing loans up to $2,000 to graduate students. Academic grievances that have not been settled through your department or academic school can be addressed ultimately by the Graduate Council through the GPS.

Housing and Dining

411 Allen Center, x5441, http://salt.rice.edu/

H & D oversees student residences and most campus food preparation. For example, this is the place to call if the management at Sammy’s or the RGA doesn’t seem to be listening to you. H & D also maintains the university’s limited selection of off-campus rental properties.

International Programs

Ley Student Center, 1st floor, x5836, http://abroad.rice.edu

This office assists students and faculty in achieving Rice's international goals, particularly those involving study abroad and exchange programs.

International Students and Scholars

Lovett Hall, Entrance A , Second Floor, x6095, http://www.ruf.rice.edu/~ois/

OISS helps students and visiting scholars at Rice maintain their legal status in the US. This department functions as university representative to the Department of Homeland Security, US Immigration, USCIS, and the Department of State. International students who make changes in dependent status or degree program should immediately consult OISS about its effect on immigration status. The department is also involved in cross-cultural programs and activities such as the host family program.

Multicultural Affairs

RMC Cloisters, x5124, http://www.rice.edu/oma

OMA serves the entire Rice community, although the primary constituents are ethnic minority students. Through cross-cultural programs, OMA strives to educate the university community on racial and ethnic issues while celebrating campus diversity. Services include a reference/resource center, a referral network, and a myriad of academic, social, and recreational activities.

Provost's Office

Allen Center Suite 430, x4026, http://www.professor.rice.edu/professor/Office_of_the_Provost.asp

The Provost is the chief academic officer of the University. The mission of the Provost’s Office is to promote and support excellence in all dimensions of the University's academic, research, scholarly and creative programs and activities. The Provost works with the University’s deans, as well as a team of Vice and Associate Provosts in fulfilling the academic leadership and administrative roles of the University and Provost’s Office. The Provost is a member of the University’s major planning and academic committees, including the Strategic Planning and Budget Priorities Committee, and serves ex officio as a member of the Faculty Senate.

Office of Research

3rd Floor Allen Center, x4002, http://rgs.rice.edu

This new office was split from the previous Office of Research and Graduate Studies in the Fall of 2007. Vice Provost of Research Jim Coleman leads this office in coordinating research university-wide. In this role, the Vice Provost oversees the offices of Sponsored Research and Technology Transfer.

Student Activities

RMC Cloisters, x4097, http://www.ruf.rice.edu/~stact/

The Student Activities staff advises student organizations such as the GSA, maintains a register of all student clubs and coordinates the use of facilities on campus. Anyone planning an on-campus event should make this office their first stop. Student Activities also handles inquiries about class rings, legal aid, and also sponsors an annual leadership retreat.

Student Health Services

Morton L. Rich Health and Wellness Center, x4966, http://www.rice.edu/health

See also http://gsa.rice.edu/guide/SHS

Health Services provides confidential, on-campus health care for illness and injury, physical examinations, contraceptive counseling, pap smears, allergy shots, etc. Health Services also maintains students' health records as well as performing related services. Be sure to bring your Rice ID to your appointment and keep in mind that students often have to pay for test results.

The Wellness Center is part of Health Services and works with students to encourage behaviors which serve to promote better overall personal health standards. Programs are consistent with the American College Health Association and address alcohol/drug abuse, stress management, sexual health, fitness, and nutrition. There is also a reference room containing health related literature. Affordable massage therapy and acupuncture sessions as well as nutrition sessions (often free) are available by appointment.

http://www.ruf.rice.edu/~wellness/, x5194

The Rice Counseling Center is part of Student Health Services, but is located separately in Lovett Hall. The Counseling Center is designed to complement the university’s academic mission by assisting students’ personal and educational development through a variety of psychological and psychiatric services. The goal of these efforts is to help students develop effective problem-solving and decision-making capabilities in order to make satisfying life choices, and maximize their capacity for continued emotional growth.

http://rcc.rice.edu, x4867

Student Judicial Programs

Ley Student Center, 1st floor, x4786, http://sjp.rice.edu

Student Judicial Programs is generally responsible for maintaining student discipline, which includes enforcement of the Honor Code and the Code of Student Conduct, while the department also provides mediation services for students.