About O-Week
Rice’s Orientation Week (O-Week) is a student-led program dedicated to giving New Students the information and resources necessary for their transition into Rice. It provides a shared experience for every Rice student and helps create the community that makes friendships at Rice, and Will Rice, so powerful. Get ready for an incredible week!
One of the most important aspects of O-Week is academic advising. Don't worry if you don't know what to major in or what classes you want to take yet! During the week, you’ll have academic planning sessions dedicated to introducing you to academics at Rice. In addition, you'll get to meet with student and faculty advisors who specialize in your area(s) of interest and can help you choose classes for the semester. There are also department fairs hosted during O-Week where you can meet professors and student leaders in order to learn about opportunities you might be interested in like study abroad or entrepreneurship.
While academics may be one of the main aspects of Rice, college life is more than just classes. The other half of the week is devoted to student life within Will Rice and Rice as a whole. We’ll discuss student leadership, safety, mental health, diversity, the Alcohol Policy, the Honor Code, and more. In addition, we'll have events that provide a snapshot of Will Rice's unique culture and traditions.
You will meet many members of the Will Rice community, from other New Students, to upperclassmen Advisors, to our A-Team. We chose our theme of willo-week: planting new roots because we hope this O-Week helps you feel rooted here at Will Rice as an important member of our community and serves as a strong foundation for growth during your college journey.
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We know this may sound like a lot, and it really is, but we guarantee that you will make some great memories! After all, this is your introduction to your new home!
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During O-Week you will interact with people in 3 different roles: the Coordinators (Coords), the Advisors, and the Peer Academic Advisors (PAAs).
What is a Coordinator ?
Every residential college has a team of three Coordinators, students responsible for the logistics and planning behind O-Week. For the past seven months, we've been eagerly planning your welcome and your first week on campus as a New Student. From choosing the theme and selecting the Advising Team to finding your roommates and creating groups, we've spent a lot of time with the hope that O-Week can provide a solid foundation for your time here at Rice.
What is an Advisor ?
Your O-Week group will consist of you, around 7 other New Students, and four or five Advisors - three from Will Rice, a Co-Advisor from another residential college, and possibly a Diversity Facilitator. They are your friends, mentors, and the people you go to when you are having a bad day. They are here to ensure that your O-Week experience is the best it can possibly be, and will continue to be a constant source of support during your first year at Rice.
What is a PAA ?
Selected by the Office for Academic Advising, ​the O-Week PAAs (Peer Academic Advisors) are here to make sure you receive the academic support necessary to navigate through your first semester at Rice. They are responsible for planning numerous academic advising sessions throughout O-Week, collaborating with Rice faculty that serve as additional academic advisors, and guiding all incoming Will Ricers through course registration.
Here's a little sneak peek of what you may expect during O-Week!