Dear colleagues,
Hello and Happy Spring! As spring break approaches, I hope that you all have the opportunity to take some time to enjoy all that Rice and Houston have to offer - watch our Owls play baseball or basketball, a trip to the Houston Livestock Show and Rodeo, a beach day in Galveston, the Houston Zoo, or one of our many museums.
Just a few weeks ago, the iO EvolutiOn team hosted a Design Committee kickoff meeting with 125 people from around the university. It was wonderful to see so many folks in-person, set goals and expectations with the committee, and share the new governance structure. Also happening this week the annual budget process is in process. Budget discussions began this week and will continue through March. We will have more information in April about the FY 24 budget. Thank you to everyone who has submitted their budgets and for the careful planning put into them.
Two things to remember as we move through March:
- The next Administrators' Forum is scheduled for Tuesday, March 28, at 3:30 pm via Zoom. The agenda for this session will be shared soon.
- Annual Enrollment begins Friday, March 31 through Sunday, April 16. Generally, the cost of medical plans increased over 10 percent this past year, also impacting Rice plans. The university will absorb the majority of the plan increase, and faculty and staff will only see a three percent increase for 2023 – 2024. On average, employees will see less than a $20 increase per paycheck for employee and family coverage. Human Resources will be sharing more information about the process soon.
The Lunch and Listen sessions continue to help me better understand your priorities, concerns and opportunities. I am so grateful for the opportunity to hear from you all and see your commitment to your work and colleagues. Last week, we had a very productive session discussing equipment, parking, employee shortages, and health insurance. These are the types of conversations that help move us forward and demonstrate the commitment we have to build a culture of trust and operational excellence.
Again, I am grateful for each of you and the work you all do that supports Rice's ambitions of building our future together.
All my best,
Kelly Fox, Vice President for Finance and Administration