Our Mission
The vision of the OASUS is to ensure that every Rice undergraduate is able to pursue, progress through, and achieve their preferred academic path. In order to achieve this vision, we work closely with faculty and existing student support units to bring evidence-based learning support practices to all Rice undergraduates and cultivate a culture of help-seeking and collaborative learning across campus.
Our work is guided by the core principles of equity, excellence, and community:
- Equity – In alignment with priorities at the highest level of Rice leadership, OASUS’s mission centers equitable access, experience, and outcomes.
- Excellence – OASUS programming and resources give all students the tools they need to meet the highest educational standards.
- Community – Our practices are grounded in inclusive communities of learners, peer educators, and partners in undergraduate education and support.
Our Story
In Spring 2024, establishment of the Office of Academic Support for Undergraduate Students (OASUS) realized one of the key recommendations of the University Task Force on Student Success. Charged by then Provost DesRoches to develop a strategy to increase belonging, persistence, and academic success among students at risk for attrition or delayed graduation, the Task Force found that Rice was the only AAU institution without a centralized, professional office for academic support. By providing tutoring and academic coaching, such offices are essential for improving academic efficacy, academic performance and persistence among all students, and particularly for students from under-resourced backgrounds. In fall 2023, the Academic Resource Center Working Group developed a comprehensive model for providing centralized academic support at Rice. Endorsed by the Provost and the Dean of Undergraduates, the Working Group report laid a blueprint for the Office of Strategic and Educational Initiatives (OSEI) to open the OASUS in Spring 2024.
Our Values
The OASUS embraces the value of diverse experiences and backgrounds in communities of learning and scholarship. Our work is founded in inclusive learning assistance practices, and we are committed to supporting academic integrity within an inclusive and welcoming culture of care. We promise to continue to learn about the experiences and needs of the communities we serve. To that end, we invite feedback from our community about how how these values are reflected in our work.