Rice University

The Rice Institute opened on Sept. 23, 1912, with 77 students and a dozen faculties. An international academic festival celebrated the opening three weeks later, a spectacular event that brought Rice to the attention of the entire scholarly world. Four years later, at the initial commencement, 35 bachelor's degrees and one master’s degree were awarded, with the first doctorate conferred in 1918.

As a leading research university with a distinctive commitment to undergraduate education, Rice University aspires to path breaking research, unsurpassed teaching and contributions to the betterment of the world. It seeks to fulfill this mission by cultivating a diverse community of learning and discovery that produces leaders across the spectrum of human endeavor.

The Fondren Library was founded in 1913 with a beginning collection of fewer than 200 volumes. Rice's modern research library has almost 2.5 million volumes, more than 3 million microforms and 17,000 current serials and...

The Rice Institute opened on Sept. 23, 1912, with 77 students and a dozen faculties. An international academic festival celebrated the opening three weeks later, a spectacular event that brought Rice to the attention of the entire scholarly world. Four years later, at the initial commencement, 35 bachelor's degrees and one master’s degree were awarded, with the first doctorate conferred in 1918.

As a leading research university with a distinctive commitment to undergraduate education, Rice University aspires to path breaking research, unsurpassed teaching and contributions to the betterment of the world. It seeks to fulfill this mission by cultivating a diverse community of learning and discovery that produces leaders across the spectrum of human endeavor.

The Fondren Library was founded in 1913 with a beginning collection of fewer than 200 volumes. Rice's modern research library has almost 2.5 million volumes, more than 3 million microforms and 17,000 current serials and periodicals. The scope of Fondren Library's collection is broad, with excellent coverage in art, architecture, history, literature, music, philosophy, languages, economics, social sciences, natural sciences and engineering.

Fondren Library's Woodson Research Center is the repository for the archives of Rice University and for a collection of 34,000 rare books and more than 500 manuscript collections. The rare books include 18th-century British drama, science history, Texana, Confederate imprints and aeronautics history. The manuscript holdings are strong in Texas and Houston history, politics and entrepreneurship; Civil War history; science; and 20th-century literary authors with Rice connections.

The Digital Media Center (DMC), part of the Fondren Library, provides Rice students, faculty and staff with access to equipment, software and expertise for producing or using digital media. The Geographic Information Systems(GIS)/Data Center provides library patrons with access to GIS software and supporting hardware, data resources, and print and digital map resources. The various academic schools which are hosted by the University are:

• School of Architecture
• George R. Brown School of Engineering
• School Of Humanities
• Jesse H. Jones Graduate School of Management
• The Shepherd School of Music
• Wiess School of Natural Sciences
• School Of Social Sciences
• Susanne M. Glasscock School of Continuing Studies