phd finance rice university

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Our mission.

CoFES is dedicated to the advancement of quantitative finance and economic systems and their ultimate impact on society. Using and developing modern computational, statistical and mathematical techniques for modeling complex problems, we strive to deliver world-class research, expand education and advance public knowledge.

Initiatives

Eubank conference, partnerships, top stories.

Wednesday, Mar. 20, 2024

CoFES honors life and contributions of distinguished alumna and longtime benefactor

Wednesday, Feb. 21, 2024

Quant Conference opens the floor to bridging ideas

Friday, Dec. 15, 2023

Quantitative research models co-movement between water and energy commodities

Professors Katherine Ensor and Michael Jackson on student education and training

For general inquiries and partnerships, or to sign up for our newsletter, email [email protected] .

Physical Address 6100 Main St. Maxfield Hall, Suite 113 Houston, TX, 77005 Mailing Address CoFES MS-138 P.O. Box 1892 Houston, TX, 77251-1892

Useful Links

Rice School of Engineering

University Calendar

Maps/Directions

Kevin Crotty

Associate professor of finance jones graduate school of business rice university.

Rice University 6100 Main Street, MS 531 Houston, TX 77005 (713) 348-6303 [email protected]

Academics | Finance

Graduate student payments and tax information, */ /*--> */ graduate student appointment definitions.

Graduate Fellowship Appointments: Graduate fellowships are appointments provided to full-time enrolled graduate students pursuing a doctoral or other terminal degree. These appointments offer financial support without any expectation of service in return. Fellowships are awarded based on academic achievement and may be funded internally or by various external organizations. Some fellowships may involve specific duties related to teaching or research, but the primary focus is on supporting the student's academic and professional development. This appointment type should not be used once a student is assigned to a faculty advisor (where there is an expectation of service) unless the funding source explicitly indicates the appointment must be classified as a fellowship.

Graduate Research Assistantship Appointments: Graduate research assistantships provide employment opportunities and income for graduate students engaged in academic studies, research, or scholarly activities. A faculty advisor hires research assistants to assist with research projects and may receive a salary and tuition support. These positions offer valuable hands-on experience and are classified as having an employee/employer relationship.

Graduate Teaching Assistantship Appointments: Graduate teaching assistantships involve teaching or instructional duties and provide employment opportunities and income for graduate students. Teaching assistants are hired to assist with teaching, grading, or other instructional tasks. They receive a salary and may receive tuition support. These positions offer teaching experience and professional development opportunities and are classified as having an employee/employer relationship.

Graduate Assistantship Appointments: Graduate assistantships may involve duties of a Research Assistant and/or a Teaching Assistant as described above. They receive a salary and may receive tuition support. These positions are classified as having an employee/employer relationship.

Graduate Student Instructors of Record: Graduate student instructors of record are employed to teach and manage instructional tasks for specific courses. They receive compensation and tuition support. These opportunities are competitive and offer teaching experience and professional development. They are classified as having an employee/employer relationship.

Information about managing your graduate student payments can be found below. A link to your payment history can be found here .

Webinars organized by the Controllers office are available here .

Payment and Tax Information for Graduate Assistants, Research Assistants, Teaching Assistants, and Instructors of Record

For U.S. citizens, U.S. Permanent Residents, and Resident Aliens for U.S. Tax Purposes, graduate assistants, research assistants, teaching assistants, and instructor of record salaries will have taxes withheld at the time of payment based on the Form W-4, and then the taxes and income are reported to the IRS by Rice. The salary will be included on Form W-2, which is provided in January each year to report the previous year’s income. For Nonresident Aliens, for U.S. Tax Purposes, the salary will have taxes withheld at the time of payment unless a treaty benefit is available and claimed by the student. The salary and tax withholding will be included on Form W-2 for students not claiming a tax treaty or income exceeding a treaty limit. Form 1042-S will report any income exempt from U.S. withholding under a tax treaty.

Federal Form I-9:

• The Federal Form I-9 requires documents to substantiate identity and U.S. employment eligibility.
• The following link directs you to the USCIS website, where you can view acceptable documents.
• You may present one original document from List A or a combination of one original document from List B and one original document from List C: I-9 List of Acceptable Documents (click on List A, B, and C documents to view).
• Some individuals who present a List A document, such as certain nonimmigrant students and exchange visitors, must present additional documentation in order to prove their work authorization in the U.S. as described here: https://www.uscis.gov/i-9-central/form-i-9-acceptable-documents/combination-documents
• You may not begin to work until Section 1 is completed.
• You have three (3) business days from your start date to complete Section 2.
• If E-Verify cannot confirm that an individual is authorized to work, Rice is required to give the employee written instructions and an opportunity to contact the Department of Homeland Security (DHS) or the Social Security Administration (SSA) so they can begin to resolve the issue before Rice can take any action against the employee, including terminating employment.

Please use this task to enroll in Direct Deposit.

• You will need valid banking information to complete this task.
• You will have the opportunity to set up multiple accounts and specify exact amounts or percentages for direct deposit per account.
• Elections are required before your first scheduled pay. Pay schedules are available at https://controller.rice.edu/payroll-schedules .
• If you do not enroll in direct deposit at least two days before your first payday , you understand that Payroll will enroll you in the payroll card program and have read the Payroll Card Disclosure . Additionally, you understand that Payroll will assign you a payroll card and mail it to your mailing address.
• Click the link here to open a new window to payment methods.
• Once you are in Payment Methods within iO, select " Worker" in the dropdown under " Payroll Relationship."

Please use this task to verify or update your Personal Details as indicated below. The link below will direct you to the self-service tool to update any required information.

Please verify the following are correct:

Link to Employee's Personal Details (when finished, close that window to return here)

Please use this task to complete your Tax Withholding. The link below will direct you to the self-service tool to update any required information.

If no W-4 form is completed, you will be taxed at the highest single rate for federal withholding.

Link to Tax Withholding Self-Service page (when finished, close that window to return here)

If you need assistance with completing your tax withholding, please refer to the job aid and / or video .

NOTE: Foreign nationals will receive an email from [email protected] with login credentials so individuals can provide immigration and travel history through the Foreign National Information System (FNIS). This information enables the Payroll Office to determine tax status and comply with U.S. withholding and reporting requirements.

If you are a Resident Alien for U.S. Tax Purposes, you can complete the tax withholding task. If you are a Nonresident Alien for U.S. Tax Purposes, you can complete the tax withholding task; however, you must complete the form based on the following IRS requirements:

• You cannot claim exemption from federal income tax. In the tax withholding task, the Exempt from Federal Income Tax drop-down must be No.
• You must request withholding as if you’re single, regardless of your actual marital or filing status. In the tax withholding task, the filing status must be Single or Married, filing separately.
• You cannot claim the child credit or credit for other dependents. In the tax withholding task, the Qualifying Dependents Amount, Other Dependents Amount, and Total Dependents Amounts must be the default ($0).

Please use this task to verify or add your Contact Information. The link below will direct you to the self-service tool to update any required information.

Please verify or add the following :

• For home addresses outside of the US, use address type "International Home Address."
• Benefits-eligible employees located outside of the US should contact [email protected] for additional guidance

Please Note: There are state / local tax withholding implications, so make sure your address(es) are correct to ensure appropriate taxes are deducted from your pay. More information is provided in iO, where you update addresses. Navigate in iO to Me > Quick Actions > Contact Info >+Add Address > scroll down to Primary check box and hover over the ? icon.

Link to employee contact page (when finished, close that window to return here)

Starting on the first day of employment, you need to report time using iO’s Web Clock and / or Time Card in accordance with Rice Policy 415 .

This is to ensure you are paid timely and accurately. For more information on how to enter time, please refer to the Entering Time Using Web Clock QRG , Time Card Entry and Edit for Employees Job Aid , and iO Time Reporting webpage for additional resources.

Please note: you will not have access to Web Clock and Time Card until your second day, so please keep track of your hours so you can report them on your Time Card.

Please follow the link below to add or update your Family and Emergency Contacts.

Note: For benefits-eligible employees, your Family and Emergency Contacts will also appear in your "Before You Enroll" self-service page within the Benefits module.

Link to Update Family and Emergency Contacts (close that window when finished to return here)

Pay Schedule

Check-in with your Student HCM Contact:

Architecture: Kristina Kennedy, [email protected]

Engineering: Asia Donald, [email protected]

Humanities: Heather Holley, [email protected]

Jones Graduate School: Ph.D. Students: Melinda Peña, [email protected] ; MBA Students: Rebeca Reyes, [email protected]

Social Sciences: Corina Gonzalez, [email protected]

Natural Sciences: Dominique Oumar, [email protected]

Shepherd’s School: Susie Schoepf, [email protected]

Institute of Biosciences and Bioengineering (IBB): Jing Jin, [email protected]

Applied Physics Graduate Program: Laura Livingston, [email protected]

Useful Links

Current Student Semester Start Checklist - https://graduate.rice.edu/student-semester-start-checklist

Graduate Student Overview & New Student Checklist - https://graduate.rice.edu/admissions/after-admission

Graduate Student Payment Checklist - https://rice.app.box.com/s/m7kc8xm21tthrbnep3fn5nda8yomwolp

Graduate Student Pay Report: https://emdz.fa.us2. oraclecloud.com/analytics/saw. dll?Portal&PortalPath=% 2Fshared%2FCustom% 2FimagineOne%20Data%20and% 20Analytics%2FHCM%2FPayroll% 2FGrad%20Student%20Pay% 20Report%20-%20Students% 2FGraduate%20Student%20Pay% 20Report

This acknowledgment form will serve as notification of the legal name and Social Security number as issued by the Social Security Administration

The Federal government requires Rice University to report employee information to the Social Security Administration (SSA) and Internal Revenue Service (IRS). Both governmental agencies use the Social Security number as the primary number for reporting purposes.

The employee's first name, middle name, last name, and Social Security number that appears on the employee’s Personal Details self-service page will be the official name used by Rice University and will appear on the paycheck stubs and W-2 forms. The employee's name and Social Security number are also verified through the Social Security Administration’s employer verification process. To complete this verification process, Human Resources will need the employee’s Social Security number and the legal name as it appears on the Social Security card. This acknowledgment form will serve as notification of the verification of the employee’s name and Social Security number through the Social Security Administration.

Employees who have never applied for a Social Security card and do not have a number assigned to them will need to complete an application form requesting a card and number from the Social Security Office within 30 days of employment. Information regarding Social Security applications and office locations may be obtained from the Social Security Administration’s website at www.ssa.gov .

Individuals from foreign countries should consult with the Office of International Student and Scholars (OISS) prior to applying for a Social Security number with the Social Security Administration. Please visit the OISS website for more information at https://oiss.rice.edu/ .

Upon receipt of the Social Security card, the employee will need to return to the Human Resources Office and provide the Social Security number and the legal name as it appears on the card.

Rice University has Workers’ Compensation Insurance coverage with Travelers Insurance to protect you in the event you are injured at work. You can obtain more information about your Workers’ Compensation rights from the Texas Department of Insurance, Division of Workers’ Compensation ( http://www.tdi.texas.gov/wc/index.html ) or by calling 1-800-252-7031.

La Universidad de Rice tiene cobertura de compensación para trabajadores que sufran lesiones o heridas en el trabajo con la compañía de seguros Traveler’s. Usted puede conseguir más información sobre su derecho a recibir compensación por lesiones o heridas en el trabajo en cualquier oficina de la Comisión de Compensación de Texas para los Trabajadores (Texas Department of Insurance, Division of Workers’ Compensation) en la página de internet http://www.tdi.texas.gov/wc/index.html o puede llamar al 1-800-252-7031.

Plase review the resources available here:

https://rice.box.com/s/fl1t6gqalw79i6xmscz178fsos15uk09

Please review the resources available here .

Payment and Tax Information for Graduate Fellows

For U.S. citizens, U.S. Permanent Residents, and Resident Aliens for U.S. Tax Purposes, fellowships do not have tax taken out at the time of payment and will not be reported on a W-2 form. Students are responsible for determining if any of the fellowship is taxable under IRS guidance. If any portion of the fellowship is taxable, students may need to make estimated tax payments, report this income on their individual tax returns, and keep supporting records. Please visit the IRS website for more information. For Nonresident Aliens for U.S. Tax Purposes, the fellowship is reported on Form 1042-S and will have 14% tax withheld for students in the U.S. on an F, J, M, or Q visa or 30% tax withheld for others unless a treaty benefit is available and claimed by the student. Form 1042-S will also report any income exempt from U.S. withholding under a tax treaty. These forms are provided in March each year to report the previous year’s income. Please visit the IRS website for more information.

This Journeys task is available in iO to add your Payment Information and W-9 (US Citizens) or W-8BEN (Foreign Nationals) forms. This task needs to be completed to ensure that your fellowship payment is paid in a timely fashion.

Getting Paid

Making Changes

• Generally, fellowship payments will not have taxes withheld. Payments will be reported at calendar year-end on a 1099 (US citizens) or 1042-S (foreign nationals, depending on status).
• Foreign nationals will receive an email from [email protected] with login credentials so individuals can provide immigration and travel history through the Foreign National Information System (FNIS). This information enables the Payroll Office to determine tax status and comply with U.S. withholding and reporting requirements. Payroll administers this system, but withholdings can apply to all payments made to a student, including from Procure to Pay (P2P). Withholdings are typically 14%.
• 1099 – Sent by mail by the end of January. Fellows can expect to receive it in early February. There is not an option to provide it electronically.
• 1042-S – Provided electronically via FNIS by March 15. Must opt in.

Jones Graduate School: PHD Students: Melinda Peña, [email protected] ; MBA Students: Rebeca Reyes, [email protected]

Where to go for help

Graduate Student Payment Checklist - https://rice.app.box.com/s/m7kc8xm21tthrbnep3fn5nda8yomwolp Graduate Student Pay Report: https://emdz.fa.us2. oraclecloud.com/analytics/saw. dll?Portal&PortalPath=% 2Fshared%2FCustom% 2FimagineOne%20Data%20and% 20Analytics%2FHCM%2FPayroll% 2FGrad%20Student%20Pay% 20Report%20-%20Students% 2FGraduate%20Student%20Pay% 20Report

Link to the employee contact page

Link to Update Family and Emergency Contacts

Please review the resources available here:

Please review the resources available here (note fellow information begins on page 3).

Updated August 2023

Master of Business Administration (MBA) Degree, Full-Time Program, and a Major Concentration in Finance

Program learning outcomes for the mba degree.

Upon completing the MBA degree, students will be able to:

• Demonstrate an understanding and application of the foundational frameworks and tools of all business disciplines, including accounting, finance, marketing, operations management, organizational behavior, and strategic management.
• Develop, evaluate, and implement complex business strategies and operational solutions holistically, integrating management principles across the functional areas.
• Function effectively in a team setting both as a leader and a contributor.

Requirements for the MBA Degree, Full-Time Program

The MBA degree is a non-thesis master's degree. For general university requirements, please see  Non-Thesis Master's Degrees . For additional requirements, regulations, and procedures for all graduate programs, please see All Graduate Students . Students pursuing the full-time MBA degree program must complete:

• A minimum of 60 credit hours to satisfy degree requirements.
• A mini mum of 30 credit hours of graduate-level study ( graduate semester credit hours,  coursework at the 500-level or above).
• A minimum of 24 graduate semester credit hours must be taken at Rice University.
• A minimum of 24 graduate semester credit hours must be taken in standard or traditional courses (with a course type of lecture, seminar, laboratory, lecture/laboratory). 
• A  minimum residency enrollment of one fall or spring semester of full-time graduate study at Rice University.
• A maximum of 2 courses (6 graduate semester credit hours) from transfer credit. For additional departmental guidelines regarding transfer credit, see the  Policies  tab.  Additional Information regarding Exchange Program transfer credit can be found in the Student Handbook under Campus Groups.
• A Required Work Experience ( MGMT 500 ) during summer between the first and second year of enrollment in the degree program.
• A Global Field Experience ( MGMT 789 ) during the first year of enrollment in the degree program.
• A minimum overall GPA of 3.00  or higher in all Rice coursework . 
• A minimum program GPA of 3.00 or higher in all Rice coursework that satisfies requirements for the non-thesis master’s degree with a minimum grade of C (2.00 grade points) in each course.

Students who register for a standard course load of 9-18 credit hours per semester are considered full-time students. All registration and elective selection via add/drop is completed online through  ESTHER . It is the responsibility of students to monitor and maintain their schedule and academic record.

The courses listed below satisfy the requirements for this degree program. In certain instances, courses not on this official list may be substituted upon approval of the program's academic advisor, or where applicable, the department or program's Director of Graduate Studies. Course substitutions must be formally applied and entered into Degree Works by the department or program's Official Certifier . Additionally, these must be approved by the Office of Graduate and Postdoctoral Studies. Students and their academic advisors should identify and clearly document the courses to be taken.

Degree Requirements

Footnotes and additional information , major concentration: finance.

The major concentration in Finance provides students with a broad foundation in financial management principles and an opportunity for further specialization. Students are required to complete the primary finance electives in the MBA program and Financial Statement Analysis. Students supplement these foundational courses with at least two specialized courses from a list of approved offerings. 

Students pursuing the major concentration in Finance must complete:

• A minimum of 12-14 credit hours as listed below to satisfy major concentration requirements*

Policies for the MBA Degree Programs

Mba admission requirements.

Admission to the MBA degree program is open to students regardless of their undergraduate major, but the program is highly selective and access is limited to those who have performed with distinction across all areas of the application. A bachelor's degree (or equivalent) from an accredited undergraduate institution is required. Applicants participate in an interview by invitation as part of their admission requirements.  

All applicants to the MBA degree program must submit the following:

• an online application and application fee
• scores from the Graduate Management Admission Test (GMAT),* the Graduate Record Examination (GRE),* or the Executive Assessment (EA)
• transcripts (or marksheets) from all degree-granting institutions**
• professional resume with complete work history or Curriculum Vitae (CV)
• two professional letters of recommendation***

*A GMAT/GRE test waiver request may be submitted to determine eligibility to apply without test scores. Resumes and transcripts are necessary to submit this form.

**If an applicant completed schooling outside the US, a copy of the diploma certificate showing degree earned is also required.

***For applicants to the MBA Degree, Full-Time Program or applicants to the MBA degree, Professional Program (Evening, Evening Extended, or Weekend), only one letter of recommendation is needed if the letter is from a current or previous direct supervisor.

MBA Degree, Full-Time Program, Deferred Enrollment Program Admission Requirements

Admission to the MBA Deferred Enrollment program allows college seniors to secure a spot two to five years after graduation in the Full-Time MBA Program at Jones Graduate School of Business. International students and students pursuing all majors are welcome to apply during their final year of university studies. Eligible students must be employed during the interim years to hold onto their space. A bachelor's degree (or equivalent) from an accredited undergraduate institution is required. All applicants must conduct an interview as part of their admission requirements. The program is highly selective and access is limited to those who have performed with distinction across all areas of the application. 

Academic and Professional Standards

Students must meet both academic and professional standards to continue academic work and to graduate. In accepting admission to the MBA program, all students agree to be governed by the standards and procedures for dismissal or disciplinary action stated below.

Academic Standards

A minimum overall grade point average of 3.00 (B) is required for graduation. All courses taken for the MBA degree (including approved courses taken at the university, but outside the JGSB) are counted in the overall grade point average calculation.

Students with an overall grade point average lower than 3.00 at the end of any semester will be notified of academic standing. Students not meeting the 3.00 requirement will be provided specific instruction and guidance on the next steps specific to their academic situation. In some cases, students may submit an appeal to the JGSB Academic Standards Committee, requesting to be placed on academic probation. The committee reviews all academic cases, and may consult the dean's office for counsel and/or suggestions on proposed handling of the case. The committee will decide, based on the circumstances of the appeal, whether the student may resume studies on academic probation; is to be academically suspended for one semester or an academic year; or is to be dismissed from the MBA program.

A student may be placed on conditional academic probation with conditions determined by the dean’s office and approved by the chair of the Academic Standards Committee. Students on conditional academic probation must receive special approval to 1) seek association or club officer roles, 2) serve as a teaching assistant, 3) apply for learning experiences off-campus, including global and experiential learning, 4) hold a fall or spring internship, 5) apply for co-curricular opportunities including Leader as Coach or Rice Alliance treks. 

Students are removed from academic probation only upon achieving an overall grade point average of at least 3.00.

Students on leave who are not in good academic standing who wish to return must submit an appeal to the Academic Standards Committee and be approved to resume studies. If permitted to return, the student will pay the current rate of tuition based upon the class of student they are joining.

Students proposing to return after a period of academic suspension must apply to the Academic Standards Committee and receive permission to be readmitted. If permitted to return, the student pays the current rate of tuition, based upon the cohort s/he is joining.

Only courses in which a grade of C or above is earned are counted for credit toward graduation. If students receive a grade below C in a course required for graduation, they must repeat the course. If students receive a grade lower than C in an elective course, they need not repeat the specific course, but they must make up the credit hours. If the required course is not offered again prior to graduation, the student will be permitted to take the course the following academic year, but will be charged the current pro-rated tuition for the program in which the additional coursework is completed. Students may not take any course for which the failed course is a prerequisite until they pass the prerequisite course. Students who fail a course twice will be notified of dismissal.

JGSB students may not take courses pass/fail to count toward their degree requirements. JGSB students may audit courses with departmental and professor approval. The courses do not count toward the MBA, but will appear on the transcript.

Students who have completed the required number of hours for the MBA degree, the coordinated MBA/Professional Science Master’s (PSM) degree program, or the MBA/MD dual degree program, but who have an overall grade point average below 3.00, are dismissed without graduation. If, in an appeal to the Academic Standards Committee, a student can substantiate a claim of extenuating circumstances, i.e., those beyond the student’s control, the student can take additional coursework at the university within the next year to raise his or her grade point average to 3.00. Coursework completed outside of a semester when full tuition is paid is billed at the current pro-rated rate for the program in which the additional coursework is completed.

Professional Standards

MBA students are held to the highest standards of professional conduct expected of managers—standards substantially exceeding those expected of them simply as students. Students may be dismissed or suspended for failure to meet professional standards, as defined in the University Code of Conduct . The dean may place a student on disciplinary probation for unacceptable conduct, giving oral and written notice that future misconduct will lead to filing specific charges. This probationary notice, however, is not required as a precondition for filing specific charges. 

Scholarship continuation or reinstatement is not guaranteed for students who do not maintain continuous active status - and good academic and professional standing - at the Jones Graduate School of Business and Rice University. In cases where a student does not maintain active status, and/or does not maintain continuous good standing, students may need to request reinstatement of their scholarship. Scholarships may be discontinued for students who are on academic probation or receive university conduct sanctions (including suspension).

Class Attendance Policy

Students are expected to be in class on the first day of each term. The instructor reserves the right to exclude from their course a student who is absent on the first day. Students should refer to the specific attendance policy for each program. This information can be found in the Jones Graduate School of Business Student Handbook, which is referenced below. For special circumstances, students should see the Director of Advising in the Office of Academic Programs and Student Experience and the instructor.

Leave of Absence (LOA) Policy

Continuous enrollment between admission and the completion of degree work is the norm. In some cases, however, circumstances may compel a student to interrupt their studies temporarily. The Jones Graduate School of Business may grant students in the MBA Degree, Executive Program, Hybrid Program, Professional Program (Evening, Evening Extended, or Weekend), Full-Time Program a leave of absence for up to one year; or for students in the MBA Degree, Online Program (MBA@Rice), for up to four quadmesters (one year). Leaves of absence may only be requested twice during the program. A leave of absence does not suspend or alter the 5-year time limit during which a student must earn the MBA.

Students should request to be approved for leave of absence (LOA) prior to the first day of class for the semester (or prior to the first day of class for the quadmester, for students in the MBA Degree, Online Program (MBA@Rice)). Requests are reviewed by the MBA program and the student is notified of approval or non-approval. Students who are not in good academic standing (i.e., students whose GPA is below 3.00) are considered to be on “provisional LOA” and must petition the Academic Standards Committee to return to the program, prior to resuming their enrollment. Students who do not return from LOA within one year must petition the Academic Standards Committee to return.

A leave of absence requested after the first day of class (“late LOA”) is only considered in verified extreme or exceptional personal circumstances. Late LOAs result in W on the transcript and are subject to the tuition refund schedule on the Academic Calendar as of the request date. A student requesting a late LOA should expect to be on leave the following semester as well (or for students in the MBA Degree, Online Program (MBA@Rice) the following quadmester). Students requiring a leave of absence for medical reasons should review the  Medical Leave of Absence  policy for all graduate students.

A student who does not qualify for a late LOA may withdraw from the university at any point (subject to the tuition refund schedule on the Academic Calendar ).  

Returning from a Leave of Absence (LOA)

MBA Degree, Executive Program, Hybrid Program, Professional Program (Evening, Evening Extended, or Weekend), Full-Time Program

Students must pay any unpaid balance prior to requesting to return from a leave of absence. Students who are requesting to return from a leave of absence must submit return requests no later than: 

• July 1  for Fall semester reinstatement
• November 1  for Spring semester reinstatement
• March 1  for Summer semester reinstatement

Students in the MBA Degree, Executive Program, Hybrid Program, Professional Program (Evening, Evening Extended, or Weekend), and Full-Time Program should contact [email protected] to be advised of steps to return (including petition to return from provisional LOA or a leave of absence longer than one year).  

MBA Degree, Online Program (MBA@Rice)

• May 15  for Summer Q uadmester reinstatement
• August 15 for Fall Q uadmester reinstatement
• November 15 for Winter Q uadmester reinstatement
• February 15 for Spring Q uadmester reinstatement

Students in the MBA Degree, Online Program (MBA@Rice) should contact [email protected] to be advised of steps to return (including petition to return from provisional LOA or l eave of absence longer than one year).   

Please note :  International students should request to return from a leave of absence earlier than the dates listed above to ensure enough time to secure a new visa.

Guidelines for Appealing Academic Dismissal

The process.

A student who wishes to appeal a dismissal should address the following issues in a letter to the Academic Standards Committee. The student must address the letter to the chair of the Academic Standards Committee and submit it to [email protected] . The following questions should be answered in the appeal letter.  Students may also include any additional information that they deem relevant in the appeal letter.

• What circumstances led to your academic performance last semester and to what degree were those circumstances beyond your control?
• If your performance in a particular course(s) last semester was below par, describe any circumstances specific to that course that explain your performance.
• Do you expect the circumstances that created the problems for you last semester to change next semester? If so, how? If not, why?

The student must inform [email protected] immediately of the intention to appeal. The appeal letter to the committee must be filed no later than the date stated in the dismissal letter (typically within one week of notification). If a student plans to appeal, he/she should attend classes while the appeal is pending. It is important to keep up with courses during the appeal process.

Appeals beyond the Academic Standards Committee must go to the dean of the Jones Graduate School of Business, who may seek guidance from other constituents of the school. All decisions rendered by the dean are final.

Confidentiality

The Family Educational Rights and Privacy Act of 1974 and amendments govern the records of actions related to appeals.

Grade Appeal Process

Once a course grade has been assigned by an instructor, it is generally considered final and is rarely changed for any reason. Student appeals shall be limited to calculation errors or an alleged failure of the instructor to follow the grading norms set forth in the course syllabus. The procedure below outlines the process by which a student may appeal a course grade. Appeals to the Academic Standards Committee cannot be made until a course grade is assigned; grading questions concerning a particular assessment within the term should be addressed following whatever formal or informal process the instructor has outlined for the course (see step 1).

• The student should first pursue any grading question with the instructor following whatever formal or informal process the instructor has outlined for the course.
• If the matter is not resolved in step 1 above, the student must file (via email) a written appeal to the instructor, copying the senior associate dean of degree programs. This written appeal must be filed no later than 30 days after the last day of finals for the term (mini-term) in which the course was offered. If the instructor feels further discussion is warranted based on the written appeal, the instructor may discuss the appeal with the student directly. Within two weeks of receiving the written appeal, the instructor should notify (via email) both the student and the senior associate dean of their opinion regarding the appeal.
• If the issue is not resolved to the satisfaction of both the student and the instructor within two weeks of the student’s written appeal in step 2, the student may appeal to the Academic Standards Committee by emailing a written notice to [email protected] describing the grounds for the appeal, copying the instructor and the senior associate dean. This appeal must be sent within four weeks of the student’s initial written appeal in step 2.
• The Academic Standards Committee will consider the appeal based on information provided by the instructor and the student. At its discretion, the Committee may hold a hearing to further consider the matter. The decision of the Academic Standards Committee will be rendered within four weeks of receiving a written notice of appeal (step 3).
• The decision rendered by the Academic Standards Committee is generally final, except for extraordinary cases in which there was a procedural error or major information omission in the steps above. Appeals beyond the Academic Standards Committee must go to the dean of the JGSB, who may seek guidance from other constituents of the school. All decisions rendered by the dean are final.
• In the event that the protested grade is necessary for the student to graduate, an accelerated schedule will be followed.

More information can be found in the in the  Dispute Resolution  section for graduate students, including guidelines set forth by the Office of Graduate and Postdoctoral Studies (GPS). The Committee on Examinations and Standing (EX&S) has established faculty guidelines on grading. Additional information can be found in the  Faculty Grading Guidelines  section. 

The Family Educational Rights and Privacy Act of 1974 and amendments govern records of these actions.

MBA Elective Course Add/Drop Policy and Procedures

Due to the unique term schedule followed by the Jones Graduate School of Business MBA programs, MBA students have special procedures they must follow to make schedule changes. The Jones Graduate School of Business Registrar Department administers an add/drop policy which allows students to add or drop elective courses at various times throughout the semester. For all elective courses, student may not add or drop a course after the deadline for the appropriate term.

Withdrawal Policy

A Jones Graduate School of Business student, participating in any offered program, may voluntarily withdraw from school at any time. Upon withdrawal, Rice University applies a sliding scale to tuition, which is noted in the university's Academic Calendar .

Jones Graduate School of Business Student Handbook

Generally, the Jones Graduate School of Business adheres to the academic regulations of Rice University. However, the Jones Graduate School of Business MBA program has unique policies and procedures that vary from the Office of Graduate and Postdoctoral Studies regarding, but not limited to, leave of absence, withdrawals and readmission, add/drop, and academic dismissal. A copy of the handbook is available on Campus Groups (for all programs  except  the MBA Degree, Online Program, MBA@Rice).

Financial Aid

Jones Graduate School of Business scholarships are awarded at the point of admission and are based on the merit of the application. Financial assistance is generally awarded for one academic year at a time. Continuation of assistance depends on maintaining Satisfactory Academic Progress (SAP) in accordance with Academic and Professional Standards of performance, professional behavior, and is subject to the availability of funds. Academic or disciplinary probation, suspension, or general failure to maintain academic pace may result in the removal of all forms of financial assistance (i.e. scholarships, Federal/State student loans, etc.). Students have the right to appeal the suspension of financial aid, and all appeals will be reviewed by a committee.

Transfer Credit 

For Rice University’s policy regarding transfer credit, see  Transfer Credit . Some departments and programs have additional restrictions on transfer credit. Students are encouraged to meet with their academic program’s advisor when considering transfer credit possibilities.

Program Transfer Credit Guidelines

Students pursuing the MBA degree should be aware of the following program-specific transfer credit guidelines:

• No more than 2 courses (6 credit hours) of transfer credit from U.S. or international universities of similar standing as Rice may apply towards the degree.
• Requests for transfer credit will be considered by the program director on an individual case-by-case basis. 

Additional Information 

For additional information, please see the Jones Graduate School of Business website:  https://business.rice.edu/  

Opportunities for the MBA Degree Programs

Independent study, minimum hours requirement.

Each credit of independent study should contain approximately as much time content as a one-credit course at Jones Graduate School of Business, which is 12 hours of class time, plus an average of at least 24–36 outside-class hours, for a minimum total of 36–48 hours of work. Independent study projects can be accommodated in increments of 1.5 or 3.0 credit hours; 3.0 credit independent study projects are rarely approved. Occasionally, a group independent study project may arise, though most independent studies are undertaken by individual students.

The number of credits for an independent study must be determined at the beginning of a project. Increases to the number of project credit hours after the project overview has been filed with the Jones Graduate School of Business associate registrar must be approved by the Academic Standards Committee. The committee will rely on input from sponsoring faculty in making its decision about ex post credit increases. Requests to increase the number of project credit hours must be made before the end of the second week of classes in the term in which the project begins.

Restrictions

No student may take more than three credit hours of independent study during the course of the MBA program without the approval of the Academic Standards Committee. If an independent study is proposed that would cause a student to exceed the 3.0 credit limit, the Academic Standards Committee will select two faculty members, other than the faculty member who will supervise the project, within the area most closely related to the study’s academic content to review and approve the study. Independent study exceeding 3.0 credits in total should consider current policies restricting use of independent study as well as the incremental value of additional independent study in light of past independent studies. If the study does not align with any of the Jones Graduate School of Business academic groups, the Academic Standards Committee will perform the review and make the final approval decision.

Independent study projects are for academic credit, not for hire. Students may not earn credit for paid work.

Faculty Sponsorship

Independent study projects normally are sponsored only by full-time Jones Graduate School of Business faculty; faculty typically sponsor projects only in their area of expertise. Students wanting sponsorship by a part-time faculty member must submit a project overview to the Academic Standards Committee and obtain the committee’s approval before the term in which the project is to begin.

Common Requirements

The goal of independent study projects is to advance or deepen a student’s knowledge or competency in a business discipline or activity.

To facilitate these goals, independent study projects generally fall into two broad categories:

• directed reading and study resulting in a research paper, or
• an experiential or hands-on project resulting in an outcome such as an empirical analysis with an executive summary of the “deliverable.”

While the content of individual independent study projects are at the discretion of a student and the sponsoring faculty member, to ensure relatively equal workloads per unit of independent study credit and some common requirements across independent study projects, students and/or sponsoring faculty should:

• Prepare and submit to the Jones Graduate School of Business associate registrar an overview of the independent study project with number of project credits, anticipated final results, and a broad timeline of anticipated project milestones.
• Meet to discuss the project, after the initial agreement on the project scope, at least once every two to three weeks.
• Prepare a final paper (in the case of directed reading and research projects) or complete a concrete deliverable (for example, computer program, survey results, empirical analyses, etc.) together with an executive summary of the project (in the case of experiential projects).
• File a copy of each student’s final paper, or executive summary, with the Jones Graduate School of Business associate registrar.

Applications

Independent study applications are available for interested students on Campus Groups. Completed independent study applications must be approved by the senior associate dean of academic affairs. Completed and approved applications are due to the Jones Graduate School of Business associate registrar by the first week of the term in which the project will be completed. The student will be registered for MGMT 700  independent study for the appropriate credit amount, only when the appropriate permissions have been obtained.

For additional information, please see the Jones Graduate School of Business website:  https://business.rice.edu/

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Rice, université paris sciences & lettres launch strategic global partnership for research and innovation.

HOUSTON , May 14, 2024 /PRNewswire/ -- Rice University  and  Université Paris Sciences & Lettres (PSL), two of the world's leading urban research and higher education institutions, have signed a strategic partnership for research and innovation on major global challenges and opportunities. The announcement was made May 13 in Paris .

With this ambitious collaboration, the two universities aim to advance research in the fields of energy and climate; quantum computing and artificial intelligence; global health and medicine; and urban futures.

Rice and Université PSL share a multidisciplinary approach in the field of the humanities, arts and sciences; the excellence of their undergraduate education; and, with the Rice Global Paris Center, proximity to the center of Paris and other international hubs.

It is their common research priorities that led to the coming together of these two institutions and their researchers, the universities' presidents said. The partnership will spur conferences on the four research priorities, the first of which will take place May 14 at the Rice Global Paris Center.

Subsequently, a biannual call for projects will select joint research projects that will be financially supported by the two institutions. The engagement between these two major universities will allow new research and education topics to emerge to meet the needs of the future.

"We are honored and excited to partner with Paris Sciences and Lettres University and join forces to advance bold innovation and find solutions to the biggest global challenges of our time," Rice President  Reginald DesRoches  said. "The unique strengths and ambitions of our faculty, students, scholarship and research are what brings us together, and our passion and hope to build a better future for all is what will drive our partnership agenda. Representing two distinct geographic, economic and cultural regions known for ingenuity and excellence, Rice and PSL's efforts will know no bounds."

"This is a global and cross-disciplinary partnership that will benefit from both a bottom-up, research-driven dynamic and a top-down commitment at the highest level," PSL President  Alain Fuchs  said. "The quality and complementarity of the researchers from PSL and Rice who mobilized for this event give us reason to believe that this partnership will get off to a rapid and productive start. It will offer a strong framework to all the PSL schools for developing collaborations within their areas of strength and their natural partners at Rice ."

Université PSL, which combines 11 of the most elite research institutes and universities in France into a single entity, brings a unique community of 2,900 world-class researchers and 140 research laboratories to the partnership, while Rice matches the same academic breadth and excellence and adds to the mix distinct research opportunities because of its location in Houston , leaders said. The coastal city, considered the most diverse metropolis in the United States , is known as the energy transition capital of the world, the home to the Texas Medical Center, the globe's leading health care complex, and for its pioneering history and leadership in space exploration and industry.

Video of the May 13 event can be viewed here .

About Rice University Located on a 300-acre forested campus in Houston , Rice University is consistently ranked among the nation's top 20 universities by U.S. News & World Report. Rice has highly respected schools of architecture, business, continuing studies, engineering, humanities, music, natural sciences and social sciences and is home to the Baker Institute for Public Policy. With 4,574 undergraduates and 3,982 graduate students, Rice's undergraduate student-to-faculty ratio is just under 6-to-1. Its residential college system builds close-knit communities and lifelong friendships, just one reason why Rice is ranked No. 1 for lots of race/class interaction, No. 2 for best-run colleges and No. 12 for quality of life by the Princeton Review. Rice is also rated as a best value among private universities by Kiplinger's Personal Finance. In 2022, Rice opened a research campus in Paris's Le Marais district, the Rice Global Paris Center, where it hosts more than 50 research conferences per year in the fields of the arts, humanities, sciences and engineering.

View original content to download multimedia: https://www.prnewswire.com/news-releases/rice-universite-paris-sciences--lettres-launch-strategic-global-partnership-for-research-and-innovation-302145228.html

SOURCE Rice University

May. 14, 2024

7 selected for rice alumni board; president-elect and alumni trustee announced.

Seven alumni have been selected to serve on Rice University’s Association of Rice Alumni (ARA) Board of Directors: Sacha Abinader, Paula Desel, Tawfik Jarjour, Wayne Hale, June Marshall, Wanda Pan and John Sneider. They begin their three-year terms July 1, when David Leal becomes president-elect of the ARA and Cathryn Rodd Selman becomes an alumni trustee.

David Leal ’03 is a co-founder and the CEO-in-residence at Gulmohar Capital Partners, a private equity firm focused on investing in tech and tech-enabled service companies. Previously, Leal was a banker at Bank of America Securities’ Global Corporate and Investment Bank, where he advised clients in the technology, media and telecom industries. Prior to his career in finance, Leal worked in the semiconductor and software industries in various leadership roles. At Rice, Leal has served on reunion committees, including as co-chair of his 15- and 20-year reunions. He also is a volunteer with the Rice Alumni Volunteers for Admission and is a member of the Society of Latino Alumni at Rice. A native of South Texas, Leal holds a bachelor’s degree in electrical engineering from Rice and an MBA from the Tuck School of Business at Dartmouth College.

Cathryn Rodd Selman ’78 earned her bachelor’s degree from Rice in economics and history and an MBA from Harvard Graduate School of Business. She was appointed to the Rice Board of Trustees earlier this month. Rodd Selman’s professional career included 16 years in domestic and international finance assignments with Exxon Corporation, including five years in Belgium and Hong Kong. She later assumed the position of treasurer and then controller of Houston-based Exxon Exploration Company. Her last Exxon role was as treasurer of Exxon Ventures CIS, Inc., before assuming the position of executive director at Russell Reynolds Associates. She served on the Friends of Fondren Library Board and the advisory boards of the Chao Center for Asian Studies and Rice Center for the Study of Women, Gender and Sexuality. Currently, Rodd Selman is a member of the advisory board of the School of Social Sciences and of the Center for Career Development at Rice. She is a previous recipient of the Meritorious Service Award.

Sacha Abinader ’05 graduated with a bachelor’s degree from Rice in electrical and computer engineering and is a managing director in Accenture’s North America Energy practice based in Houston. He has 19 years of experience serving clients in exploration and production across several upstream independents. Abinader currently serves as the account leader for a super major’s upstream sector and leads Accenture’s efforts for methane management. He also serves as the engagement lead for Accenture’s Houston office of more than 2,500 people and aids in the recruitment of Rice students for Accenture.

Paula Desel ’81 is a retired lawyer living in Richmond, Virginia. She earned a bachelor’s degree in political science and economics from Rice and a Juris Doctor from the University of Texas School of Law. Prior to her retirement, Paula practiced law at Baker Botts in Houston and Arnold & Porter in New York and was an in-house attorney at Altria in New York and Richmond. Paula has served on the Laureates Committee, on the Class of 1981 Annual Giving committee, including as co-chair for her 40th reunion, and as a Rice Alumni Volunteers for Admission interviewer in New York and Richmond.

Tawfik Jarjour ’12 earned dual bachelor’s degrees in ecology and evolutionary biology and cognitive sciences from Rice. He leads Accenture’s Consumer Technology Group across North America, bringing over 12 years of experience in strategy consulting. As a student, he helped lead the Rice Centennial House project and was active in student government and student organizations like Cru and Navigators. He was the recipient of the Rice Sallyport Award, which recognizes a standout senior for their deep commitment to the university. This commitment continued in his post-graduation roles, including as a board member with the Center for Career Development, an alumni member of the Faculty Senate Committee on Teaching and a key adviser on special projects to the university president, earning the prestigious Rice Builders Award for his efforts. His work includes impactful pro-bono consulting for Rice.

Wayne Hale ’76 earned a bachelor’s degree from Rice in mechanical engineering and a master’s degree from Purdue University in mechanical engineering. He recently retired from his post as director of human spaceflight at Special Aerospace Services, LLP, of Boulder, Colorado. Prior to that, he accepted a civil service position with NASA Johnson Space Center, where he spent 32 years that covered every aspect of U.S. human spaceflight.

June Marshall ’00 received a bachelor’s degree in economics and policy studies and also successfully completed the Rice Teacher Education Certification Program. She also earned a Juris Doctor from George Washington University School of Law. Marshall is a real estate attorney in Holland & Knight LLP’s Washington, D.C., office. She has volunteered with the Rice Alumni Volunteers for Admission, the D.C. Rice Alumni Planning Committee and is a member of the Association of Rice University Black Alumni.

Wanda Pan ’77 ’09 graduated from Rice with a bachelor’s degree in geology and psychology. When the Glasscock School of Continuing Studies launched the Master of Liberal Studies program in 2005, she was accepted into the founding class. After working as a geophysicist at various oil companies, she retired to raise three daughters. She was on the founding board of the Graduate Liberal Studies Alumni Association, served as president and is now an emeritus member. She currently serves on the external advisory board of the Wiess School of Natural Sciences, the advisory board of the Glasscock School as well as the Friends of Fondren Library Board. In 2017, she and her father Poh-Hsi Pan, who earned a Ph.D. in geophysics at Rice in 1969, established the Pan Family Fellowship for graduate or postdoctoral students in the Department of Earth, Environmental and Planetary Sciences.

John Sneider ’94 received his bachelor’s and master’s degrees from Texas A&M University and a doctoral degree in geology and geophysics from Rice. He is president of Sneider Exploration, Inc., a global energy consulting service. Sneider Exploration specializes in the optimization of complex development projects for a range of clients from small independents to international and national energy companies. In addition, Sneider provides professional training and mentoring and serves as a lecturer in the Department of Earth, Environmental and Planetary Sciences.

The ARA Board of Directors consists of 28 members who represent the alumni body to the university, advise the Office of Alumni Relations operations and programs and represent the ARA to its constituents—Rice alumni. For more information about the board, visit alumni.rice.edu/board .

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Join us for a free virtual Information Session on Wednesday, June 5, 2024 at 12 PM CST to learn about our programming.

During the information session, you will have the opportunity to meet with the team. We will review tuition, formats, schedules and answer all your questions live! 

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Department of Agricultural and Applied Economics

• Degree Programs

6.0. Doctor of Philosophy Degree Program

The doctoral program in Agricultural and Applied Economics is designed to develop a broad based competence in economic theory and in techniques of quantitative analysis. Dissertation research of students in our department usually addresses applied problems using contemporary economic theory and analytical methods. Students completing our program have demonstrated a high degree of success in academics, business, and government.

Two options are offered for the Doctor of Philosophy in the Agricultural and Applied Economics program. The first option does not require a minor. The second option includes a minor in Family Financial Planning—a joint Ph.D. program between the Department of Agricultural and Applied Economics and the College of Human Sciences. Completion of the Doctoral program in Agricultural and Applied Economics with a minor in Family Financial Planning qualifies graduates to take an exam administered by the Certified Financial Planning Board of Standards to become Certified Financial Planners.

6.1. Prerequisites

Most students will have completed the requirements for an M.S. degree or its equivalent before admission to the doctoral program. If the Master's degree does not meet the prerequisite requirements for entering our Master of Science program (see Section 5.1) then those requirements must be met in order to enter the Ph.D. program. Some exceptional students will be offered the opportunity to pursue a Ph.D. directly from a Bachelor's program. In this case, see the Graduate Coordinator for course and program requirements.

Background in algebra, partial and total differentiation, integration and basic matrix or linear algebra operations are very useful to perform well in coursework and research work.

6.2. Credit Hour Requirements

The doctoral program requires a minimum of 60 credit hours of course work beyond the baccalaureate degree and at least 12 credit hours of dissertation research (AAEC 8000).

6.3. Transfer of Credit

Transfer of graduate credit from other academic institutions may be allowed. The request for transfer must be initiated by the student and supported by the student's committee chair. Transfer decisions are made by the department Graduate Coordinator and must be approved by the Graduate School . Information required in support of transfer requests includes academic transcripts and course catalogue descriptions of each course proposed for transfer. Course syllabi may also be requested to support transfer decisions.

6.4. Substitution for Core Courses

Substitutions for core courses are allowed only under unusual circumstances. Requests for substitutions for core courses must be initiated by the student and his or her committee chair, to the department Graduate Coordinator and must be approved by the Graduate School . Final decisions on substitutions for core courses taught outside our department are made by the department Graduate Coordinator . Decisions on core courses taught in the department are made by the current instructor of the core course being replaced.

6.5. Ph.D. Comprehensive Examination

The purpose of the Ph.D. comprehensive examination is to test the student's ability to integrate knowledge from various subject matter areas and apply appropriate concepts and tools to issues and problems relevant to the discipline. The comprehensive exam is administered by a departmental committee twice each year (usually in May and August) and is normally taken at the end of the first full year of coursework. The exam has two parts which are taken separately. Part 1 of the exam focuses econometric methods and Part 2 covers microeconomic theory. Students have two opportunities to pass both parts of the exam. If both parts of the exam are passed on the first attempt then the student has successfully completed this degree requirement. If one or both parts of the exam are failed on the first attempt (usually in May), the student must retake the failed part(s) at the next offering (in the following August). A second failure of either part of the comprehensive exam will result in dismissal from the student's Ph.D. program.

6.6. Qualifying Examination and Admission to Candidacy

Graduate school rules require that all doctoral students successfully complete a Qualifying Examination for admission to candidacy for the doctor's degree. In the Department of Agricultural and Applied Economics the Dissertation Proposal Defense serves as the Qualifying Exam. Students are allowed two attempts to satisfactorily complete this examination. Failure to satisfactorily complete the examination on a second attempt will result in dismissal from the Ph.D. program. Further information on the Dissertation Proposal and Proposal Defense is provided in Section 9.0 of this Handbook.

6.7. Final Examination

All doctoral candidates are required to pass a public final oral examination which is usually over the general field of the dissertation. Candidates should consult the Graduate School for details regarding scheduling of the final examination. After the final examination, the professor conducting comprehensive exams will send a written notification of the results to the Graduate Secretary for the student's graduate file.

Doctoral candidates, with their major advisor, are required to find their own Dean's Representative for the Graduate School for their defense, preferably someone outside of the department.

Public announcement of exams will be done through the department Graduate Secretary. Exams must be announced at least four weeks prior to the exam date, without exception.

6.9. Degree Program Course Requirements

Listed below are the course requirements for the Ph.D. program options. Courses listed specifically by number are core courses. Note that the option II course requirements have been revised in consultation with the Department of Personal Financial Planning.

Ph.D in Agricultural and Applied Economics - No Minor Required (option1) 1

Course number / course title / credit hours.

• AAEC 5303 / Advanced Production Economics / 3
• AAEC 5307 / Applied Econometrics I / 3
• AAEC 6316 / Advanced International Trade and Policy / 3
• AAEC 5321 / Research Methodology in Economics/ 3
• AAEC 6302 / Food, Ag., and Nat. Resource Policy Analysis / 3
• AAEC 6305 / Economic Optimization / 3
• AAEC 6308 / Advanced Natural Resource Economics / 3
• AAEC 6310 / Demand and Price Analysis / 3
• AAEC 6311 / Applied Econometrics II / 3
• AAEC 6301 / Microeconomic Theory II / 3
• AAEC 6315 / Applied Microeconomics I / 3
• ECO 5311 / Macroeconomic Theory and Policy / 3
• Committee Approved Field Courses / / 24
• AAEC 8000 / Doctor's Dissertation / 12

Total Credit Hours 72

Ph.D. in Agricultural and Applied Economics - Minor in Family Financial Planning (option 2) 1,2

• AAEC 8000 / Doctor's Dissertation / 21
• PFP 5371 / Fundamentals of Personal Financial Planning / 3
• PFP 5372 / Asset Management II / 3
• PFP 5373 / Personal Financial Planning Cpstn. / 3
• PFP 5394 / Retirement Planning / 3
• PFP 5497 / Risk Management and Insurance Planning / 4
• PFP 5398 / Estate Planning / 3
• PFP 5362 / Asset Management I / 3
• PFP 5377 / Client Communication and Counseling / 3
• ACCT 5311 / Individual Study in Accounting / 3

total credit hours 85

1 Numbered courses are core courses. 2 Draft revisions pending review and approval of AAEC faculty.

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Celebrating Our Community at the RSPH Annual Awards Ceremony

By Shelby Crosier

Students, faculty, staff, and guests gathered in the Margaret H. Rollins room on April 29 to recognize outstanding members of the Rollins community at the RSPH Annual Awards Ceremony. Now in its second year, the ceremony celebrates outstanding work, achievements, and impact as the academic year draws to a close.

In her opening remarks, Dean M. Daniele Fallin, PhD, spoke to the excellence of not only those being recognized with awards, but all students, faculty, and staff at Rollins. She also acknowledged the resilience of the Rollins community as it navigates a challenging time, voicing support for students’ right to open expression.

Some members of our Rollins community, and their guests, participated in peaceful and non-disruptive acts of dissent including a protest. Their free expression was welcomed by Dean Fallin and supported at the event.

All 2024 RSPH Award winners are listed below.

Faculty Awards

Thomas Sellers Jr. Award  

Early career research excellence award.

Shivani Patel

Anke Hüls

Senior Research Excellence Award 

Faculty practice award.

Linelle Blais

Sarah Blake

Departmental Teaching Awards

Department of biostatistics and bioinformatics.

Jeff Switchenko

Department of Behavioral, Social, and Health Education Sciences

Whitney Rice

Department of Epidemiology

Kristin Wall

Department of Health Policy and Management

Michal Horný

Gangarosa Department of Environmental Health

Noah Scovronick

Hubert Department of Global Health

Bob Bednarczyk

Executive MPH Program

Vijaya Kancherla

Rollins Student Government Association Faculty of the Year

Azhar Nizam

Staff Awards

P. Dean Surbey Staff Award of Distinction

Flavia Traven

Pia Valeriano

Award for Excellence in Research or Practice

Metrecia Terrell

Staff Excellence Award in Leadership

Lucja T. Bundy

Rising Star Award

Innovation award.

Brian Graaf

Rollins Student Government Association Staff of the Year

Jennifer Ducksworth

Student Awards

Eugene J. Gangarosa, M.D. Student Award for Excellence in International Health 

Mahnoor Fatima

James W. Alley, M.D. Student Award for Outstanding Community Service

Cameron Goetgeluck

Isabella Martin

Emory Woman’s Club Scholarship

Oummu Barrie

Katelyn Kelsey

Livingston Awards

Thomas Hsiao

Caroline Barry

Susan (Buckenmaier) Hoffman

Elyse Xinyue Zhang

Natalie Olsen

Nutrition and Health Sciences

Global elimination of maternal mortality from abortion award.

Faculty DEI Leadership Award

Benjamin Risk

Staff DEI Leadership Award

Tiffaney Renfro

Student DEI Leadership Award

Erika Canda

Associated Topics:

• Awards and Distinctions
• Rollins Community
• Rollins News
• In the Media
• Rollins Experts

USC holds inaugural staff appreciation day

The University of South Carolina’s first Staff Appreciation and Awards Day attracted staff members from throughout the Columbia campus to the Russell House University Union for food and fun on Tuesday, May 14.

About 1,400 staff members came to the free event, which was established by a Staff Senate resolution and approved by the Board of Trustees and executive leadership. Attendees had lunch, played games for prizes, met special guests and danced the afternoon away to the sounds of DJ Zay Pola (Isaiah Fields).

“I think this event meant a great deal to our staff,” said current Staff Senate president Tyson Lusk. “These folks put in the work day in and in day out, supporting our students, faculty, and others. The work we do creates impact throughout our community, region, country and world.”

After the lunch and festivities, an awards ceremony was held in the Russell House Theater. A total of 98 staff members were nominated by their peers for this year’s awards, and three winners were chosen. 

Jan Smoak, assistant dean for awards and enrollment management in the Office of Fellowships and Scholar Programs, won the top award: a $1,000 cash prize. Two runners-up — Lindsay Arave, business manager for the Department of African American Studies, and Claire Miller-Sword, project director for the Department of Psychology — each received $500 prizes.

We are the backbone of the university, always striving to ensure that USC operates at the highest of levels to attract the best and brightest.”

President Michael Amiridis and Provost Donna K. Arnett joined Lusk to present the awards. “This is a day to honor our university staff, who work hard every day to support USC, and to celebrate their spirit of collaboration and dedication, which makes us stronger," Amiridis said.

While Staff Senate established and coordinated the event, with the support of university leadership and the title sponsor, Founders Federal Credit Union, it got a lot of help from volunteers and sponsors.

Along with Founders, the sponsor list included USC’s Student Affairs and Academic Support, Staples, Forms and Supply Inc., the Controller’s Office, USC’s Office of the Controller, the USC Bookstore, women’s basketball head coach Dawn Staley, men’s basketball head coach Lamont Paris and Barefoot Campus Outfitter. Giveaway items were donated by sponsors as well as by Staff Senate members.

And the day did not go unnoticed outside the USC community. Several local media outlets, including WLTX, WIS and Cola Daily, featured the event, and the S.C. State Legislature even passed a formal resolution recognizing May 14 as Staff Appreciation Day.

Staff Senate plans to make the day an annual event. “We want this event to grow and find new and creative ways to honor our staff,” Lusk says. “We are the backbone of the university, always striving to ensure that USC operates at the highest of levels to attract the best and brightest.”

About Staff Senate

The University of South Carolina Staff Senate serves as an open forum to facilitate communication and collaboration among university staff members. It also serves as an advisory committee to the university president, adding an essential voice to strategic conversations and decisions that support the goals of the institution. Find your staff senator here.