Dear Rice Parents and Families:

Greetings from Houston! I am happy to report that another year at Rice is off to a strong start for our students. Orientation Week was a success — our newest class of Owls showed great enthusiasm and energy throughout the week — and all our students have settled into campus life.

It should come as no surprise when I say that campus life is best when students are healthy and when they make healthy choices. It is the key ingredient for a successful academic and social experience at Rice. During the first week of classes, I sent out a health message to all students reminding them about the importance of good health habits (e.g., regular hand washing, prioritizing a regular and sufficient sleep schedule) and reminding them about Rice’s health resources. In my experience, students — especially those who have recently left home — often turn to their parents and family for guidance when they need health care. Because of this, I wanted to make you aware of the health supports that are available to all students.

First, if your student gets sick, please know that a variety of people are here to help. If your student is living on campus and eating in the college serveries, tell your Owl to contact the senior operations manager for their servery to make arrangements for their meals to be delivered to their room. This will help them rest and recover, and it prevents the spread of germs in public dining areas. They should let others know they are ill, including their college magister, RA or coordinator, all of whom can provide assistance in connecting your Owl with a range of supportive resources and offices, as needed.

A variety of health resources are also available on campus, including the Student Health Service, located in the Rich Health and Wellness Center next to the Brown College Magister’s House near Entrance 27B. The service is open Monday through Friday from 8 a.m. to 5 p.m. To make an appointment, your student should call 713-348-4966. Student Health offers a range of services, including free cold medicine packs at the front desk and flu shots for those who need them. If the office is closed, your student can find a list of nearby urgent-care and emergency centers at health.rice.edu. Also know that the Rice Emergency Medical Service (REMS) is available for on campus emergencies 24 hours a day. Their phone number is 713-348-6000.

Mental health services are also available on campus at the Rice Wellbeing and Counseling Center, located in the Gibbs Wellness Center next to the recreation center. Staffed by a diverse mix of clinical counselors and social workers, this center provides dedicated professionals who have vast experience working with Rice students with a wide variety of concerns. If your student would like to make use of these confidential services — to meet with someone to talk about stress, relationship issues, or any mental health concern — they can walk in anytime from 8 a.m. to 5 p.m. Monday through Friday. They can also make an appointment, or if they need to speak to someone after hours (24/7) they can call 713-348-3311.

At Rice, we embrace a culture of care — we look out for one another and offer assistance to those in need. One thing I always remind our students: Rice provides a range of supports designed to help them be healthy and thrive, and they should never hesitate to use them. These services are confidential, which means that even if they do not realize it, many of their peers are making use of these offices and working with our professional staff on a regular basis. If your student has any questions or concerns, or is unsure of where to go or who to call, their college core teams are always available to provide support and connect them with services across the campus. Remember that our residential college magisters and RAs are faculty and staff who live on campus year-round and are available on weekends, after hours and during holidays when classes are not in session. Please encourage your student to reach out to them anytime they need assistance.

If you have concerns or questions, please do not hesitate to contact any of the offices I have mentioned, and you can reach my office at 713-348-4996 or at ugdean@rice.edu. We are all eager to help.

Wishing you all good health and happiness,

Bridget Gorman, Dean of Undergraduates