The Office of Information Technology (OIT) is excited that you have joined the Rice community, and we are ready to help you with your technology needs. We provide campus computing resources and services including labs, printers, software, and specialized systems such as Canvas, the learning management system you will use for your classes. OIT can assist you with connecting to the campus networks, guide you to resources, offer advice on computing problems, and more. When you have computing questions, contact the OIT Help Desk.
What to bring
Your choice of computer
Rice does not require you to use a specific type of computer. We recommend that you choose a computer and operating system that is comfortable and familiar. Your computer does not have to be new, but ensure that it can adequately handle your course work by checking the recommended list of minimum requirements. Also, your operating system should be current with the latest updates and have antivirus software installed.
You don’t have to bring a printer.The majority of your course work will be turned in online. You can print in campus labs for a small fee. For convenience, some students prefer to bring a printer or share with roommates. Don't forget extra paper and ink.
Software
Certain 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 Office 365, Matlab, Mathematica and more. Discounted prices are available for Adobe Creative Cloud, Maple, and others. Your instructors will let you know if you need specialized software. Also, a wide variety of software products are available for use on campus lab workstations.
Computer labs
Computer labs are located across campus, including Fondren Library and in each residential college. Most labs are available 24 hours a day with a Rice ID and proper authorization. A wide variety of software is installed on lab workstations. Most labs have printers available for student usage at a minimal fee. Some specialized printers (for color printouts, posters, resumes) are also available in a centralized location on a fee basis. Read more: computer labs and printer locations and rates.
Useful resources
Campus systems
While at Rice, you will access a variety of systems. Check out the Student Technology Resources course to help you with the available technology. You can also search for information in our KnowledgeBase at kb.rice.edu.
Rice offers a variety of tools to facilitate communication and collaboration. Study groups or teams collaborating on projects might find that virtual meetings and sharing online resources are an effective way to interact.
Zoom (video conference tool for courses sessions, meetings or study sessions) Microsoft Teams (collaboration platform including video conferences) Google Workspace for Education (email, calendar, drive, sheets and more) Microsoft OneDrive (cloud file storage and collaboration) Box (cloud file storage and collaboration)
Campus network
Wireless connections are available in buildings across campus and many outdoor areas. When in your college room, plug in to the wired network port for better performance. Wired connections are recommended for high bandwidth traffic like gaming or streaming video and require an ethernet cable and adapter to take advantage of the speed and reliability of the wired network.
Multi-factor authentication, using a tool called Duo, is required to access many campus systems. Duo adds an extra layer of security by requiring your password and an additional verification method. Learn more about Duo.
Protect your information and university resources
Guarding your password is an important way to protect your information and university resources. Never share your passwords. Select unique passwords for Rice systems (or use a password manager).
Watch out for email scams
Be wary of messages that appear to be from the university, but require you to verify your account (Rice will never ask). These phishing messages are scams to gain access to Rice resources. And beware of the job scam trap! The message may look like it is from someone at Rice but remember, legitimate job offers won't ask for upfront fees or personal information via email. Stay vigilant and research before responding. Read more about how to recognize scams or contact the OIT Help Desk if you are unsure if a message is legitimate.
Questions or issues
We are happy to help, even before you arrive. The OIT Help Desk is the centralized contact for information technology support services including account management, connectivity to Rice network, password reset, general troubleshooting, mobile device support, VPN configuration, and email setup. If you are having problems setting up your Rice accounts or have tech questions, contact the OIT Help Desk.
OIT Help Desk
8:00 am - 5:00 pm, Monday - Friday (except holidays)
