Expanded Alumni Offerings
Expanded Alumni Offerings
Eligibility: On-Campus MBA and Master of Accounting Class of 2021 & Class of 2020 plus all MBA@Rice Cohorts starting with July 2018 through January 2021. Please review F.A.Q.s for more detail on eligibility.
In addition to the standard alumni offerings and alumni events, eligible alumni will have:
- Exclusive and enhanced professional and social networking opportunities
- A complimentary membership to Rice Business Partners
- A complimentary membership to the Rice University Faculty Club
- A complimentary membership to the Petroleum Club of Houston
- Complimentary auditing of eligible on campus MBA courses
Frequently Asked Questions
General
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This program offers expanded alumni programming to MBA and MAcc Class of 2021 and Class of 2020. We also offer expanded alumni programming to MBA@Rice cohorts that started in July 2018 through January 2020.
This dedicated initiative is designed to narrow the MBA and Master of Accounting experience gap for the classes who were impacted by the pandemic and facilitate continued networking, learning and professional development.
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Over the course of the coming year, we will offer a minimum of six networking events focused on the MBA and MAcc classes of 2021 and 2020 as well as MBA@Rice cohorts that started in July 2018 through January 2020. These events will be located in Houston and will be a combination of morning, lunch and evening events. We expect these events, designed to help bridge COVID networking gaps, to be in-person gatherings.
In addition to these networking activities, you may also take advantage of our year-round programming for alumni in Houston and beyond. Our programs range from professional networking opportunities to social engagements that strive to enhance and support the Rice Business community. The External Relations Office hosts more than 80 alumni-specific events throughout the year that are open to all Rice Business alumni. To learn more about our Rice Business Alumni offerings, visit here.v
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Our External Relations team is dedicated to developing innovative new programming to match the unique needs of our alumni community. To this end, we are offering networking “fast chats” for you to connect to prominent alumni in a variety of industries. You can expect to be invited to at least six of these fast chats in the next fiscal year.
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Rice Business Partners is offering a special two-year complimentary membership to MBA and MAcc Class of 2021 as well as MBA@Rice cohorts that started in April 2019 to January 2020.
Rice Business Partners is also offering an extended complimentary one-year membership to MBA and MAcc Class of 2020 as well as MBA@Rice cohorts that started in July 2018 to January 2019.
The deadline to opt-in for the Rice Business Partners complimentary membership has passed. Contact Tommy Back, Assistant Director of Corporate and Foundations Relations, at Tommy.Back@rice.edu, if you have any questions.
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Rice Business has partnered with the Faculty Club at Rice University to offer you a complimentary one-year membership.
Located just off the main entrance of Rice University in the Cohen House, the Faculty Club serves lunch in their beautiful Mediterranean-style dining room overlooking a formal garden. The club also has rooms of various sizes that can be reserved, free of charge, for private luncheons and the club can be rented out for private events. The Faculty Club has been a mainstay for the Rice University community, including alumni, to dine, socialize, and hold meetings and events.
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All 2020 and 2021 graduates will automatically be signed up for a Faculty Club Membership. Membership cards will be mailed in July 2021. If you have recently moved please be sure to update us with your new address. Send all updated contact information to newalumniprogram@rice.edu.
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Rice Business has partnered with the Petroleum Club of Houston to offer you a complimentary one-year membership.
The Petroleum Club has been a hub for business meetings, networking, social and professional engagement since 1946 and now attracts Houston professionals across every industry. Networking opportunities through the Petroleum Club of Houston include their Distinguished Speaker Series, Emerging Leaders Programs, and wine dinners, holiday events, and special interest events such as hunting expertise, dining etiquette, skeet shoots and golf tournaments. Petroleum Club also offers reciprocity in approximately 100 exclusive clubs around the United States and 150 internationally with several locations in China, Canada, Indonesia, Germany, UK, Singapore, Australia, Hong Kong, South Africa and other international commercial hubs.
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The deadline to apply for this offer has passed. If you have any questions, please reach out to Cherie Fontenot, Petroleum Club of Houston Director of Membership, at member@pcoh.com or call Cherie at 713-659-1431.
Membership approvals can take up to two months, depending on the meeting schedule of the Board of Directors of the Petroleum Club of Houston. Once approved for membership, you will have complimentary membership for one full year (12 months) from the date of approval. You will be required to keep a valid credit card on file to cover personal expenses incurred at the club such as food and beverage charges.
Auditing Elective MBA Courses
Auditing Elective MBA Courses
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The most up-to-date information on the process for auditing courses at Rice Business for alumni is on the Rice Business Lifelong Learning webpage. University policy requires that all course audits are treated as official audits:
- Alumni must follow the process as outlined here.
- Audited courses will appear on students’ transcripts
- The per-course audit rate for 2021-2022 for Rice Business courses is $250, which will be covered as described below for the Class of 2021
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MBA and Master of Accounting Class of 2021 as well as MBA@Rice cohorts that started April 2019 to January 2020 may audit one free Rice Business course per semester (fall and spring) over the next five academic years (through May 2026). You will be able to audit up to 10 courses for free (1 course per semester, fall and spring, for five years).
On-campus MBA and MAcc Class of 2020 plus select MBA@Rice cohorts (July 2019 through January 2019) may audit one free Rice Business course per semester (fall and spring) through December 2023. You will be able to audit up to 5 courses for free (1 course per semester, fall and spring).
The differences in benefits within the new alumni programming reflect the level of disruption to the MBA and Master of Accounting programs that occurred in 2020 and 2021. The greater the disruption, the greater the benefits.
The audit fee for eligible courses will be covered by Rice Business, even if the university increases the fee in a future year.
You may elect to audit additional Rice Business courses each semester for the standard audit rate at the time of the course.
Additionally, students interested in auditing courses outside of Rice Business will be subject to the standard university audit rate and policies found at https://visitingstudents.rice.edu/visiting-auditors.
After the eligible time period, alumni are also welcome to continue to audit eligible courses and pay the standard fee charged by the university.
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Yes, the deadline for audit registrations are posted to https://business.rice.edu/alumni/lifelong-learning prior to each semester.
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Alumni must follow the process as outlined at https://business.rice.edu/alumni/lifelong-learning, including:
- Permission from the faculty member with their signature on the JGSB Alumni Auditor Registration form
- Submission of the Alumni Auditor Application (which will include uploading the completed JGSB Alumni Auditor form and a Financial Responsibility form).
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Alumni are responsible for purchasing their own hard-copy or e-reader books for audit courses. Electronic materials delivered within the Canvas course site are provided free of charge.
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No, only select courses are available for alumni auditing (or auditing at all) based on capacity and faculty input.
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Alumni who audit courses are expected to uphold the same standards of professionalism and engagement as those students enrolled in the course for credit. Specific participation and engagement requirements vary by course and instructor.