About

How we got to Rice LIVED.

Rice staff at the 2025 Staff Appreciation event.

Our journey begins with our roots. By looking back at Rice’s history and the traditions that grew from it, we aren’t merely engaging in nostalgia. Instead, we are uncovering evidence that this university has always known how to build something that endures — long before anyone thought to write it down.

We have now outlined our Guiding Principles, Values and the distinct Characteristics that define Rice’s personality. We map out the specific Behaviors that translate these ideals into action for everyone, managers and leaders. Together, these elements establish a shared vocabulary — giving us the language to celebrate what is working and the alignment to constructively hold each other accountable if we drift.

Empowered Campus Culture.

Rice University is made up of our entire community — our students, faculty, staff, and community members. As part of their work, our employees create and facilitate our organizational culture and mission. We will continue to enhance the overall employee experience by fostering an inclusive workplace where everyone feels a strong sense of belonging and understands their purpose and impact on Rice’s mission — to advance undergraduate and graduate education and research.

Read about Empowered Campus Culture (opens in a new tab)

Building the Rice LIVED Culture

A collaborative journey shaped by the Rice community

 
01

Listen

Gather insight

02

Evaluate

Understand culture

03

Align

Build consensus

04

Refine

Shape elements

05

Define

Activate behaviors

06

Engage

Expand participation

  1. Momentous Strategic Planning Research

    • 36 focus groups with more than 350 faculty, staff, students, alumni, and board members
    • 3,253 responses from 7 Rice community surveys
    • 7 individual interviews with leaders at peer institutions
    • 12 personal interviews of external stakeholders
    • 20 meetings with guiding committees
    • Benchmarking of 21 peer institutions
    • Independent review of the higher education landscape
    • 34 individual interviews with experts across campus

  2. Cultural Evaluation Survey

    • Vice Presidents
    • Deans
    • Vice Provosts
    • Staff Council
    • Alumni Board
    • SA
    • GSA
    • College presidents
    • Current trustees

  3. Cultural Alignment Working Sessions

    • Vice Presidents
    • Vice Provosts
    • Deans
    • Executive Leadership Team

  4. Cultural Elements Refinement Sessions

    • Executive Leadership Team

  5. Behaviors Working Sessions

    Participants invited to be the first to know details of the Rice LIVED cultural effort, as well as invited to define what each behavior level looks like for everyone, managers, and leaders at Rice every day.

    • Staff
    • Managers
    • Leaders

  6. Faculty Sessions

    Faculty invited to be the first to know details of the Rice LIVED cultural effort.

A Look Ahead.

Our culture is not something that is one and done. It will keep evolving forever. We have planned a culture calendar of learning, engagement, and recognition. After the launch, we will move into focusing on each value for two months. So, November/December is Lead with Care, January and February is Increase Our Impact, and so on. You’ll see resources for managers and teams, conversation tools, activities, feedback resources and recognition opportunities. Over time, we want this language to become part of how we recognize great work, have conversations, lead teams and make decisions across Rice.

Activate

Rice LIVED

Launch

Values Focus

  • Lead with
    Care
  • Increase
    Our Impact
  • Value
    Excellence
  • Embrace
    Difference
  • Dare to
    Question

  1. 2026 Third quarter

    Rice LIVED Every Day Rollout

    • RICE LIVED Presentation
    • Launch Communications
    • RICE LIVED FAQ
    • Manager Talking Points & Conversation Guide
    • Introductory PowerPoint Deck
    • HR Live Launch Session
    • Recognition Spotlight Launch Materials

  2. 2026 Fourth quarter

    Lead with Care Rollout

    • Manager Workbook Module
    • BARS Launch Materials
    • Conversation Cards Launch
    • Recognition Spotlight

    Increase Our Impact Rollout

    • Manager Workbook Module
    • Team-Building Exercise
    • Feedback Framework
    • Conversation Cards
    • Recognition Spotlight

  3. 2027 First quarter

    Value Excellence Rollout

    • Manager Workbook Module
    • Feedback Framework
    • Conversation Cards
    • 1:1 Meeting Guide
    • Recognition Spotlight
    • Team Activity

    Embrace Difference Rollout

    • Manager Workbook Module
    • Team-Building Exercise
    • Conversation Cards
    • Interview Guide Questions
    • Recognition Spotlight

  4. 2027 Second quarter

    Dare to Question Rollout

    • Manager Workbook Module
    • Feedback Framework
    • Team Exercise
    • Recognition Spotlight

  5. 2027 Third quarter

    Rice LIVED Every Day and Beyond

    • End-of-Year Rice Lived Recognition Celebration