Global warming chosen for common reading, discussion
· When students from the class of 2011 receive their information packets
Business minor to be offered in fall
· The Faculty Senate approved a proposal for an undergraduate business minor at its last meeting of the year May 2.
Parking fees up, seniors pay surcharge
· Parking and shuttle transportation will change during the summer and over the next few years for both students and employees, including a five percent increase in almost all parking fees, changes in parking facilities, specific changes in parking policy and new shuttle schedules.
Rice student allegedly assaulted in village area
· A Rice student was allegedly physically and possibly sexually assaulted in the Rice Village in the early morning May 9.
Evaluation responses up by over 50 percent
· After the response rate for online course evaluations fell to 37 percent at the end of last semester, the Registrar’s Office decided to pull out their secret weapon — a Playstation 3. The console was given away in a drawing to one student as a reward for filling out their course evaluations.
A closer look: the history of the future of Hispanic studies
· It has been a tumultuous year for faculty, staff, students and community members with an interest in Hispanic studies programs and the recent Latin American initiative at Rice. Four current and emeritus faculty members in the Hispanic studies department have headed a movement to publicize their position, a mandate calling for a doctoral program in Hispanic studies and the direction of increased university attention and resources toward expanding that department. University administration does not support the foundation of a doctoral program in the Hispanic studies department and is undertaking an alternative project, the Latin American initiative, as a means of improving Rice’s focus on Latino culture in Texas, Mexico, South America and Spain.
Major construction projects begin over summer
· When students return to campus in the fall, they may be surprised by a number of changes and renovations that take place over the summer. More than 20 different projects are scheduled to begin this summer, ranging from renovations to the residential colleges to the construction of a new utility plant.
News in Brief
· Work-study funding completely distributed
Enrollment for fall '07 to increase for fifth straight year
· Under the supervision of a new Vice President for enrollment, freshmen admissions numbers continued to climb for the fi fth year in a row, with a record 8,777 students applying for a spot in the 2008 freshman class.
Not your usual grunt
· At the April 9 Student Association meeting, Hanszen College senior Phillip Wharton jazzed — or salsa’d — things up a bit by replacing the usual parliamentary motions with an 8-step beat and hip swings, demonstrating with his dance partner just why the SA should give the Rice Salseros official club status. Those dancing shoes are just a quick jump away from Wharton’s skateboard, where he replaces flair with air as he makes up moves in the made-up skate park outside South Servery.