OASUS is one key outcome of a broader examination of student success at Rice, initiated by the Provost’s office and spearheaded by the Office of Strategic Educational Initiatives (OSEI). Our goals are to provide equity in academic access, experience, and outcomes for all undergraduates, particularly those with more limited educational opportunities; and to serve as a trusted source of support by students and faculty alike within a larger culture of help-seeking at Rice. In response, the office will focus on collaborating with faculty to integrate evidence-based academic support practices designed to increase retention and persistence into the existing support ecosystem at Rice.
Support for your Students
OASUS offers course-specific support for undergraduates through our two key programs: Drop-in Study, Peer-Assisted Learning groups. In the spring of 2025, we will open a Testing Center for accommodated testing needs. Future offerings will include workshops, online modules, and academic coaching with professional learning specialists.
Drop-in Study and Peer-Assisted Learning
The OASUS will offer peer support in the form of Drop-In Study, a welcoming and supportive environment in O’Connor 130 and 132 for just-in-time group tutoring on evenings and weekends, and Peer Assisted Learning (PAL), where a peer meets weekly with a small group to facilitate relevant course learning. These programs, widely practiced among our peer universities, exploit students’ natural tendency to seek guidance from peers while enhancing the quality of their support through peer educator training. Peer academic support programs have been proven to yield concrete improvements in students’ course grades and retention and to contribute to a greater sense of belonging among marginalized groups. Drawing on student and faculty input, the OASUS identifies courses that would benefit from peer academic support and collaborates with relevant faculty to provide resources aligned to course objectives. To ensure effective support, the OASUS will train a cohort of peer educators in tutoring best practices, inclusive pedagogy, and metacognitive strategies.
Faculty Commitment
OASUS works in close collaboration with faculty to provide quality academic support to their students. Faculty whose courses to we support in the Drop-In Study and PAL programs make the following commitments:
- Meet with OASUS staff by the midterm of the semester preceding their course offering in order to learn more about the OASUS programs, identify the appropriate form of academic support, and set mutually beneficial expectations;
- Support recruitment of Peer Educators by providing recommendations and advertising the position to potential candidates;
- Provide Peer Educators with access to relevant course materials (Canvas site, homework keys, practice problems, etc.);
- Meet with their Peer Educator team within the first two weeks of class and communicate with them biweekly throughout the semester; and
- Provide feedback for the OASUS assessment efforts.
Testing Center
The Testing Center in Fondren 522A will provide testing accommodations to enable undergraduate students with disabilities to demonstrate their knowledge and skills and to reduce the burden on faculty, who currently coordinate these arrangements. The Center will pilot resources in Fall 2024 and open for full campus use in Spring 2025.
Syllabus Language
If you're seeking help with a course or academic challenge, or if you're looking for a supportive learning community, check out the Office of Academic Support for Undergraduate Students (OASUS). They offer Drop-In Study / Peer-Assisted Learning groups for this course and others and beginning in Spring 2025, accommodation testing services for all undergraduates.
You can find the schedule of support for this course on the Fall 2024 Drop-in Study Calendar / PAL Calendar. Join our GroupMe for updates, and reach out to dropin@rice.edu with any questions!
Student Referral Process
While normally we expect students to seek resources on their own, we recognize that there are circumstances that may require outreach from the OASUS staff. If you would like to refer a student who would benefit from the OASUS resources, please contact Elizabeth Cummins Munoz at ecmunoz@rice.edu.
Recommending a Peer Educator
Each semester, OASUS takes applications for Peer Educators who facilitate Drop-In Study and Peer Assisted Learning. We are seeking students with strong interpersonal skills who are not only knowledgeable about subject matter but committed to supporting their peers in an inclusive environment.