Student Associations
Rice Student Association (for Undergraduates)
The Rice Student Association (SA) is Rice's overarching undergraduate student government. The organization began 1919, and is reaching its 100th anniversary this year. The membership of the organization is composed of all undergraduates at Rice University. The organization has approximately 115 student leaders, who collectively represent Rice's 4,001 undergraduate students.
Rice Graduate Student Association
Rice University’s Graduate Student Association (GSA) seeks to enrich the graduate student experience and to represent, support, and promote graduate student interests and values. An integral and essential part of the Rice community, the GSA provides programs and services aiding in recruitment and retention of graduate students, represents graduate student interests to the university administration, and builds a strong sense of community both on and off campus.
Bioengineering Graduate Student Association
The Bioengineering Graduate Student Association (BIOE GSA) was founded in 2001 to represent the interests of bioengineering graduate students at Rice. The primary goals of the BIOE GSA are to promote professional and personal relationships among graduate students and faculty, to provide an outlet for voicing concerns, and to contribute to professional growth. Follow BIOE GSA on Facebook and Twitter.
Clubs & Organizations
The Biomedical Engineering Society (BMES)
The Biomedical Engineering Society (BMES) chapter at Rice University serves to promote the increase of biomedical knowledge and its utilization. The society seeks to introduce students to the profession of biomedical engineering and the roles and obligations of the professional biomedical engineer, while providing an environment for social interaction and exchange of ideas between all levels of undergraduate students, graduate students, and faculty. The BMES chapter at Rice is dedicated to unifying the broad interests of bioengineers, to channel their energies into looking to the future of biomedical engineering.
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Society of Women Engineers (SWE)
The Society of Women Engineers (SWE) is a national, non-profit educational service organization dedicated to making known the need for women engineers and encouraging young women to consider an engineering education. The SWE at Rice hosts several events throughout the year and offers information about jobs, scholarships, mentor programs, and involvement in the community. The Bioengineering Department offers funding to attend the SWE annual conference to junior and senior students interested in pursuing a career in industry. Applications are released during the summer via the BIOE listserv.
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National Society of Black Engineers (NSBE)
As a collegiate (or college-based) chapter, the Rice University NSBE Chapter is dedicated to fulfilling all principles of the NSBE mission statement, with the goal of increasing the enrollment, retention, and overall success of Black and minority engineering students at Rice University. At Rice NSBE, we focus on providing our members with the academic, professional, and personal resources needed to ensure their success as emerging professional engineers. Our chapter’s membership includes undergraduate and graduate engineering students alike. We are also committed to engaging Rice NSBE alumni, local NSBE professionals, Black and minority engineering faculty, and K-12 (pre-collegiate) students in the local area. Read on to discover how Rice NSBE accomplishes each of the pillars of the NSBE mission statement.
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Society of Hispanic Professional Engineers (SHPE)
The Rice University student chapter of The Mexican American Engineers and Scientists (MAES) was founded in 1989; and in 1997, the organization decided to join the Society of Hispanic Professional Engineers (SHPE). The organization seeks to increase the number of Hispanic science and engineering students, develop and participate in programs with industry and the university, and provide a forum for the exchange of information pertinent to Hispanic engineering or science students at Rice. As a result of their efforts, the organization was named Chapter of the Year for Region V (2007-2008). Region V includes the 20 chapters of Texas, New Mexico, and Oklahoma.
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Engineers Without Borders (EWB)
The Rice University Chapter of Engineers Without Borders is a student-run organization dedicated to collaboration with communities in the developing world aimed at providing sustainable and culturally appropriate engineering solutions that improve quality of life without harming society or the environment while forming strong intercultural relationships and understanding. Through these projects, Rice-EWB encourages the development of socially and environmentally conscious engineers with outstanding leadership skills and practical, hands-on, international engineering experience.
About Rice University
Set in the heart of Houston, Texas
Boasting a 300-acre tree-lined campus in Houston, Rice University is ranked among the nation’s top 20 universities by U.S. News & World Report. Rice has a 6-to-1 undergraduate student-to-faculty ratio, and a residential college system, which supports students intellectually, emotionally and culturally through social events, intramural sports, student plays, lectures series, courses and student government. Developing close-knit, diverse college communities is a strong campus tradition, which is why Rice is highly ranked for best quality of life and best value among private universities.
Virtual Campus Tour
Can’t make it to campus for a tour? Explore Rice from home! We’re proud of our unique campus and traditions and are excited to share them with you: