Good morning,
I hope this message finds you well and that you are enjoying the beautiful spring weather. As we step into this vibrant season, I want to take a moment to highlight some important upcoming events and initiatives that are designed to support your health and well-being.
Employee Health and Well-being Programs
Rice’s Employee Health and Well-Being Team and Human Resources department have partnered to provide holistic support to our employees, fostering a workplace where everyone feels valued, supported, and equipped to thrive. Aligned with the Empowered Campus Culture pillar of the Momentous initiative, these programs provide holistic support—physical, social, emotional, and behavioral. I encourage you to explore and take advantage of these valuable offerings:
Private Personal or Small Group Training
Dual-Energy X-ray Absorptiometry (DEXA) Body Composition Scans
Stretching, Mobility, and Recovery Services
Pilates Reformer Private Sessions
Mindfulness Classes and Workshops
Meal Planning and Nutrition Counseling
Discounted Recreation Center Memberships
Rice is committed to providing the tools and resources you need to prioritize your long-term health. From preventative and behavioral health services—including screenings, immunizations, yoga therapy, and nutrition counseling—to reduced-cost gym access and fitness programs, the university offers multiple ways to support your behavioral and physical health.
Contact the Employee Health and Well-Being team to learn more about these programs or begin your wellness journey.
RiceFest & Open Enrollment
Next month, we will kick off open enrollment with RiceFest on April 3 from 11 am to 2 pm in the Grand Hall of the Rice Memorial Center. This event is a one-stop shop to connect with the benefits team, meet with your benefits vendors, and explore programs designed to support your employee experience.
Open enrollment will run from April 4-18. This is your annual opportunity to review and update your benefits outside of a qualifying life event. Changes will take effect on July 1. Take time to ensure your selections align with your needs.
Total Rewards Initiative
Through the Total Rewards Initiative, Rice made a $20M commitment over four years to enhance benefits and compensation, with FY25 marking year one of this investment. This year’s enhancements included:
- $1.3M in staff salary adjustments
- Increased tuition benefits for employees and dependents
- Expanded paid parental leave (now 8 weeks)
- Other program enhancements
As we approach year two of this commitment, more enhancements have been planned, and I look forward to sharing those details in this month’s Fast Five.
OF&S Awards
As we are currently in the midst of completing performance evaluations and reflecting upon achievements over the past year, I encourage everyone to consider nominating any stand-out individual for an OF&S award. These awards are a great opportunity to celebrate our community members and highlight the dedication and hard work that OF&S employees bring to the university daily.
And speaking of celebrations—don’t miss the Staff Appreciation Event on April 23 at 9 am at Tudor Field House. I look forward to recognizing your hard work alongside President DesRoches again this year.
Welcome to Our New CHRO
Finally, I want to remind everyone that Sandee Cheynet, our new Associate Vice President of Human Resources and Chief Human Resources Officer, will begin on March 24. We are so excited for her to join OF&S, and I am really looking forward to working with her as we continue towards our goals of operational excellence, customer experience, and community of care.
I will introduce her at our next Admin Forum on March 25 at 3:30pm and hope you will join me in extending her a warm welcome.
Thank you for your continued dedication and hard work. Let's make the most of this spring season and the opportunities it brings.
Warm regards,
Kelly Fox,
Executive Vice President, Operations, Finance & Support