Tools and Resources
Reminders about available services.
Software
A number of software products are available for free or at a discounted rate to current students. Check out the list of Software Available to Students. Free products that can be installed on a personal computer include Microsoft 365, Matlab, SAS, SPSS, Mathematica and more. Discounted prices are available for Adobe Creative Cloud, Maple, and others.
Houston: If you are living and studying in Houston, please either download the software to your own computer or use a computer on campus.
Outside Houston: If you are fully remote outside Houston and are unable to download the software to your computer and need to access software for your class, please have your professor email teaching@rice.edu. We have a limited pool of VDI (virtual desktop infrastructure) computers that will be available to students studying fully remote that can’t download software to their computer. (Note: The VMWare Horizon access to computer lab software from the spring has been deactivated.)
For your reference, view the online list of software availability locations.
Network Connections
Campus: Wireless connections are available in all buildings across campus and limited outdoor areas. The classroom tents and the open air tents have wireless service.
Colleges: During the summer, new access points were added to eight of the colleges. The remaining three colleges (Duncan, McMurtry, and Sid Rich) will have new access points installed over the winter break. If you want to take advantage of faster and more reliable network services by using the wired network in your room, you will need an ethernet cable and perhaps an adapter. Search online retailers for Ethernet Patch Cables (RJ45 Cat-6), which are sold in a variety of lengths. Read more.
Off campus: One of the challenges of learning remotely can be your home Internet service. If you are having issues, check out these helpful tips for
optimizing your network connection.
Printing
If you are on campus and want to print, you can print in Fondren Library and Mudd Lab for a small fee. (Printing costs 7 cents per page for black ink and 35 cents per page for color. Posters and architecture/engineering plots can be printed in color on plain paper for $3 per linear foot and on glossy paper for $7 per linear foot in Mudd Lab only). Printing charges are included in your bill from the Cashier’s Office.
Tools and Systems
As a member of the Rice community, you will use a variety of resources to complete tasks. To learn more about a resource, search in OIT’s KnowledgeBase (kb.rice.edu).
Canvas – academic course system
Esther – administrative system
Email – managed by Google
Storage – use Google Drive or Rice Box
Labs – computers, software, and printers
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