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NEWS 1/10/17 11:01pm

Rice hosts automation summit

By Drew Keller

While most Rice students were studying for finals in early December, a collection of entrepreneurs, academics and researchers gathered at the BioSciences Research Collaborative for three days to discuss the future impact of automation and artificial intelligence on human work in the De Lange Conference X, entitled “Humans, Machines and the Future of Work.” “To me, it’s the university at its best,” Rice President David Leebron said.

NEWS 1/10/17 9:25pm

Phishing attacks on Rice community increasingly sophisticated, IT office warns

By Elizabeth Rasich

Sophisticated schemes to steal usernames and passwords are another part of the Rice University experience. Students, faculty and staff alike are falling victim to attacks that direct users to sites that almost exactly resemble legitimate, Rice-sponsored sites. Phishing scams are now more frequent and more technologically advanced, prompting the Office of Information Technology recently to direct its IT representatives to warn their residential colleges about this increasing sophistication.

NEWS 11/30/16 1:25am

Critical Thinking in Sexuality class moves forward with pilot launch

By Anna Ta

A pilot Critical Thinking in Sexuality course will be offered this spring semester and plans are in place to implement a mandatory fall semester program for freshmen starting next year, Student Association President Griffin Thomas announced at the SA Senate meeting Monday night. Thomas said college governments and Students Transforming Rice into a Violence-Free Environment liaisons will disseminate more information in coming days, but said Dean of Undergraduates John Hutchinson and other high-level members of the administration support the move forward with the pilot and planned mandatory program.

NEWS 11/15/16 11:22pm

MECH continues push for change at town hall

By Emily Abdow

Mechanical engineering faculty and students discussed departmental weaknesses and ways to improve the undergraduate experience during the MECH Department Town Hall Meeting organized by the Rice MECH Advisory Board on Friday.

NEWS 11/9/16 5:03pm

Rice’s energy efficiency changes prove to be cost effective

By Emily Abdow

With energy efficiency playing a central role in both environmental and economic discussions, Rice University has been taking steps to limit both its carbon footprint and the economic toll of inefficient energy usage. Director of Sustainability Richard Johnson said Rice takes part in voluntary programs that reduce electricity output during key times, which have totaled $399,405 in revenue and savings. One of these programs, the Emergency Response Service-30, calls Rice from the Electric Reliability Council of Texas during high amounts of energy use and allows 30 minutes for Rice to reduce usage by typically three megawatts.

NEWS 11/9/16 4:23pm

College masters recommend change to title, SA seeks student input

By Amber Tong

Following the announcement of the Committee of the Masters’ recommendation to change the title of “college masters,” the Student Association is soliciting student opinion on the proposal, according to SA President Griffin Thomas. The collection of student feedback came at the request of Rice University President David Leebron, Provost Marie Lynn Miranda and Dean of Undergraduates John Hutchinson, with whom the decision ultimately rests.

NEWS 11/9/16 4:09pm

Rice history closely tied to energy industry

By Alice Liu

Just as Stanford University is affiliated with Silicon Valley’s booming tech industry and New York University’s Stern School of Business with Wall Street’s banking and finance, Rice is impacted by its location within Houston’s energy and oil driven economy.

NEWS 11/2/16 10:42am

Rice Engineering Alumni donates $50k to improve MECH lab classes

By Drew Keller

Rice Engineering Alumni has committed $50,000 to improving laboratory classes in the mechanical engineering department. The funding comes in response to student concerns raised over the past six months regarding outdated curriculum and facilities, including at a highly attended town hall meeting last semester.

NEWS 11/2/16 10:30am

REMS creates endowment in celebration of 20th anniversary

By Anna Ta

In celebration of their 20th anniversary, Rice Emergency Medical Services announced the establishment of the Rice University EMS endowment, which will benefit one outstanding graduating REMS senior pursuing further medical education, according to REMS Director Lisa Basgall.

NEWS 11/2/16 9:50am

RUPD continues to bolster active shooter protocol

By Ana Paula Pinto-Diaz

In light of recent violent events in the nearby Houston area, including an armed robbery on campus in October and a mass shooter in the area in late September, members of Rice University Police Department responded to questions about Rice’s protocol for gunmen near campus with assurances that response plans have been well prepared.

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