Issue No. 42—Winter 2023
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A Message From Dean Gorman

Dear Rice Parents and Families,

It was a pleasure to see so many of you on campus for Families Weekend at the end of September. I hope you enjoyed connecting with other Rice families and getting a taste of what the Rice experience is all about. If you could not attend, I look forward to seeing you next year — Families Weekend is a wonderful way to learn about your student’s experiences and the many resources that support them throughout their undergraduate journey.

During Families Weekend, I spoke to many of you about my office’s commitment to creating a transformational experience for every Rice student. As part of this commitment, we have been expanding the resources and support systems essential to their academic and personal success. Mental health remains one of our top priorities, and I am thrilled to provide you with an update on the steps we are taking to enhance the Student Wellbeing Office and the Rice Counseling Center.

Since the beginning of the COVID-19 pandemic, we have increased our staff in both offices by 55%, with five new hires this year, including a trauma therapist, an intake and assessment therapist, a wellbeing advisor and a learning differences case manager. In addition to growing our staff to accommodate more students, the Ann McLeod Moody Fund for Student Wellbeing will now assist with the costs of diagnostic testing for students who cannot afford to pay on their own. Lastly, I am pleased to announce that the online scheduling system for the Rice Counseling Center has officially launched, and our new virtual therapy program will go live next semester! The new interface makes it even easier for students to get in contact with the counseling center and access Rice’s mental health services.

This time of the year presents new challenges and stressors as students prepare for their final exams, so please encourage your Owls to seek out campus resources if necessary. My office and I are continually working to improve the student experience at Rice, and we are always here to help your students find the tools and resources they need to excel. I hope that you all have a restful winter break and enjoy the holiday season!

Sending my best wishes,

Bridget Gorman, Dean of Undergraduates