The residential college system is a unique and vital aspect of undergraduate life at Rice University. The college system at Rice derives from the English college system, but over the years has become a uniquely Rice institution. Rice presently has eight coeducational colleges, and plans for a ninth college are in the works. The colleges provide community, camaraderie, academic advising until a student declares his or her major, tutoring in nearly all disciplines, experimental courses, opportunities for social growth and leadership development, and opportunities for faculty and students to interact outside of the classroom.

 

Each college is a self-governing group of students whose elected officers and representatives are responsible to the Master and to the college membership for directing a variety of cultural, social, and athletic activities, for the appropriate and responsible expenditure of college funds, and for maintaining good order in the college. While uniformity among the colleges has never been sought and each college has developed its own particular interests and character, all seek to foster fellowship among their members and a mature sense of honor, responsibility, and sound judgment.

 

Every undergraduate student is randomly assigned to a college upon admission to Rice. Thus, each college represents a cross section of the entire student body. Each college has a College Master, two Resident Associates, and a number of Faculty, University, and Community Associates.

 

The College Master is a full-time member of the Rice Faculty who lives with his or her family in a residence adjacent to the college. If the faculty Master is married, his or her spouse also serves as Master. The Masters, whose authority derives from the President of the university, have overall responsibility for all aspects of student life in the college. They are especially responsible for encouraging broad cultural and intellectual interests and for promoting self-discipline and effective self-government within the college. The Masters function as advisors, provide consultation to students, host college functions, represent the college administratively at the University level, and in general are in a position to address both the academic and social needs of the college community. Masters also serve as the primary liaison to the Faculty Associates, a group of Rice faculty who are directly involved in the affairs of the college.

 

Faculty Associates are members of the faculty who are invited to become either Resident or Nonresident Associates of the college. Faculty Associates act as advisers to the college members and participate in the activities of the college. The presence of faculty in the colleges serves as a reminder that the relationship between faculty and students is not adversarial. The interaction of faculty and students outside of the classroom is one of the significant benefits of the college system at Rice, which enriches the academic experience of students and faculty alike. Faculty are an essential source of academic and career advice. College courses offered by faculty within the colleges serve as test vehicles for new courses and teaching methods. The normal term of service for a Faculty Associate is seven years, although many Faculty Associates choose to serve without term.

 

Colleges also have non-faculty University Associates (staff members who wish to become associated with the colleges), and Community Associates from the Houston area, drawn from various professions.

 

New faculty members are assigned to one of the eight colleges for an interim term of one year. These faculty members enjoy the privileges of association with the college, but are not asked to serve as academic advisors. At the end of this interim year, faculty members may elect to become Faculty Associates at the college where they were initially assigned, or enter the "Associates Draft" during the spring semester. Those who elect to enter the draft will visit several colleges, and enter a pool of associates from which Faculty Associates will be selected based upon the needs of the colleges in different academic areas.

 

For specific (and highly biased) information about any of the eight colleges, click on the desired college.

 

 

· Baker College

· Brown College

· Hanszen College

· Jones College

· Lovett College

· Martel College

· Sid Richardson College

· Wiess College

· Will Rice College

 

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