Information for Undergraduate Students - Rice University

44 In f o r m a t i o n f o r Un d e r g r a d u a t e St u d e n t s
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.
College Assignment—Each undergraduate, upon acceptance by the university, is
designated a member of one of the colleges. Two students entering Rice for the
first time may request assignment to the same college, but they may not designate
which college. New students also may request membership in the same college
as a close relative. Except for these cases, students have no individual choice
of college.
Room and Board—College buildings include a dining hall and public rooms,
which are available to both resident and nonresident members, and living
quarters for resident students from all classes and all academic disciplines.
At present, Rice has room in its on-campus residential colleges for about 83
percent of its undergraduate students. Although most of the students who
want to live in the colleges can be accommodated, demand usually exceeds
the available number of rooms. The university guarentees housing for all
incoming freshmen and will make every effort to provide housing in the
colleges for transfer students who wish to live on campus, but space cannot
be guaranteed. Continuing students draw for rooms according to the priority
system established in each college. No student is required to live on campus;
however, those members of the colleges who live off campus are encouraged
to eat in their colleges and to participate in college activities.
The College Food Service provides all-you-care-to-eat meals with the purchase
of the meal plan. All students living on campus must purchase a meal plan.
It is recommended that students living off-campus also purchase a meal plan.
Its other services include:
• Assistance with special diets prescribed by a physician
• Sack lunches for students who must miss a meal due to a job conflict
• Sick trays for students when requested by the Student Health Service
• Alternate menu entrées, whenever possible, to accommodate students’
religious practices
For more information on room and board, see pages 37–39.
College Courses—One of the colleges’ important activities is their sponsorship of
courses and workshops open to all students. By expanding course offerings outside
the traditional departments, college courses promote the academic involvement
of the colleges while introducing students to interdisciplinary topics of
particular interest.
Students propose college courses during the semester before they are offered.
Once approved by the masters and faculty associates of the college and by the
dean of undergraduates, these college courses, many of which are taught by
students, are offered for academic credit on the same basis as departmental
courses. The Office of the Registrar provides a list of college courses each
semester during preliminary registration.
Student Government
All undergraduates are members of the Rice Student Association, which is
governed through the Student Senate. The senate includes the president, two vice
presidents, the secretary, the treasurer, the eleven college presidents, and eleven
college senators.
Alleged violations of university or college rules are handled in accordance
with the Code of Student Conduct. In most cases, original jurisdiction belongs