The Culture of Care at Rice
The community at Rice is shaped by a culture of care, reflecting an emphasis on collaboration, mutual support, and empathy over competition. Here, students and staff look for ways to extend help to others, creating a mutually collaborative and trusting environment. This isn’t just about organized volunteering or service projects (though these exist); it’s about creating a campus community where people naturally look out for one another’s academic, social, and emotional needs and invest in shared success.
Straight from our Students
Want to hear about our Culture of Care from those who live it every day? Our students share what makes the Rice community so special on our blog, Inside the Hedges.
For many Rice students, education extends deep into the heart of Houston. Derek, Hanszen ‘29, reflects on how Civic Immersion week shaped his Rice journey before classes even began, ultimately transforming him from a first-year participant into a student Site Leader.
From unlucky dice rolls to a $400 startup grant, Jonathan, Will Rice ‘26, shares how a passion for board games transformed his journey at Will Rice College — proving that at Rice, quirky hobbies can lead to BIG impacts.
Once a self-described "stiff and awkward" dancer, Nikita, Baker '27, used the freedom of the Rice experience to trade her gym routine for the rhythms of Indian dance, Latin dance and step. See how exploring new campus traditions transformed Niki from a hesitant beginner into a confident performer!
ENGAGING WITH OUR COMMUNITY
We are more than curious thinkers - we are students that make a difference. Venturing into our community, applying our skills outside of the classroom, facilitating real change - that’s a key philosophy of the Rice experience.
View Rice Engagement
VOLUNTEER PROGRAM
A resource available to all undergraduate students at Rice, the Center for Civic Leadership (CCL) builds leadership knowledge through a combination of learning, acting, and creating change. Additionally, the center also hosts leadership courses and international fellowships to create opportunities for political engagement and so much more. Working alongside these high-impact community partners facilitates a community of scholars and practitioners amongst Rice's students, staff and faculty.
LEARN MORE ABOUT CCL PROGRAMSExplore More
Helpful Links
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