Financial Accessibility and Resources
At Brown and at Rice, we value financial accessibility, so we’ve compiled this list of financial resources available to Brownies. if you are facing a financial burden during your time at Rice, please check out the resources below to see if any can meet your needs.
Brown College
Brown Accessibility Fund
If you are experiencing difficulty accessing elements of the Rice undergraduate experience for financial reasons, the Brown College Accessibility Fund is available to help. The fund ensures that students experiencing financial difficulties can access items including:
Brown College merchandise
Rice merchandise from the bookstore
Tickets or transportation to Brown events
Tickets or transportation to Rice events (e.g. Esperanza, Rondelet)
Off-campus meals or events with peers
Peer-led trips
To request funding from the Brown Accessibility Fund, click below to fill out the form (be sure you are logged into your Rice Gmail account to access the form):
The purpose of the Brown College Accessibility Fund (BCAF) is to enhance a student’s involvement in the social and cultural activities of the college. As such, the funds will primarily be used to support college-related activities: examples, include buying merch, attending student or college dinners or events, etc.
Requests for school-related activities, such as buying textbooks, graduate exam preparation materials, graduate applications, or travel, should go to Rice University’s Access and Opportunity Portal website. BCAF will not consider covering such expenses unless you have already put that request through AOP.
Generally, BCAF’s funding amounts are relatively small: about $20. Only in rare cases will you receive more than $100. You must provide a justification for requests that are over $20. Also, because BCAF’s available funds are limited, not every request will be funded or fully funded.
BCAF is open to all Brown students: you do not need to meet any specific income or related requirements, and you do not need to disclose details of your financial situation. The process also is confidential: only the magisters (who decide about the funding request) and the coordinator (who administers the fund) see the request forms.
If you have questions, visit Doug and Emmanuelle at the Brown House, or send them an email at brownmagister@rice.edu.
Student Success Initiatives
The Pantry
The Pantry is a free and anonymous food pantry for Rice students, faculty, staff, and community members; visitors’ personal information is not collected. The Pantry stocks nonperishable food items (from snacks to meals) and hygiene products such as toothpaste, deodorant, and tampons/pads. Its formal hours are Monday through Friday from 9:00 AM to 5:00 PM. The Pantry is located at the Office of Student Success Initiatives in the Rice Memorial Center cloisters. Find more information here: https://success.rice.edu/accessibility-resources/pantry
Other FGLI (first-generation low-income) resources can be found here: https://success.rice.edu/first-generation-and-low-income
Center for Career Development
Owl Edge Summer Experience Fund
The Rice Center for Career Development allows rising sophomores, juniors, and seniors to apply for funding to support unpaid or underpaid summer internships. Find more information here: https://ccd.rice.edu/students/jobs-internships/fund
Dean of Undergraduates
Emergency Assistance
Degree-seeking undergraduate students facing short-term financial emergencies, including needs for unexpected medical expenses, laptop repair or replacement, or emergency transportation, should contact the Office of the Dean of Undergraduates at ugdean@rice.edu. Funding is provided at the discretion of Dean Gorman.
Student Health Services
Free Appointments
Health Center appointments are free for all students, as they are covered by your health fee. You do not need to have the Rice insurance plan to have free appointments.
Insurance Scholarships
Low-income students may qualify for insurance scholarships. Pell Grant recipients have the entire insurance fee covered, while other students receiving financial aid receive 50% off the insurance fee. Contact the Student Insurance Office at studentinsurance@rice.edu or 713-348-5479 for more information or to apply for an insurance scholarship.
Free Medical Supplies
Cold packs (ibuprofen, cough drops, etc.) are available at the front desk free of charge. Condoms are available for free in the waiting room and the front door of the Rice Women’s Resource Center (RWRC). Free samples of tampons and pads are available in the waiting room or by asking at the front desk. They are also available at the RWRC. Samples of allergy medication are free with an appointment.
Office of Financial Aid
Free Financial Advising
Rice students are eligible for free financial advice through two sources. The first is through resources published by the Office of Financial Aid. More information can be located at their website, under the resources tab. The second is through financial coaching offered by a partnership between the Wellbeing and Counseling Office and Family Houston; more information can be found at familyhouston.org.
Office of International Students and Scholars
Funding and Advising
OISS provides funding and one-on-one advising to international students. If international students have financial concerns, they can contact the office as a whole at OISS@rice.edu and 713-348-6095.
Rice Mutual Aid
Rice Mutual Aid is a student-led mutual aid network that compiles resources for undergraduate students, graduate students, and staff. You can use the funding request form to request financial aid for whatever reason. There is also a spreadsheet to request and offer aid related to food, housing, study material, transportation, housing, etc. This is a link to all of their resources. https://linktr.ee/ricemutualaid