With the appropriate authorizations, benefits-eligible employees and retirees of Rice University may take one course per semester, either for credit or audit. Their status while doing so will be that of a visiting student. Please see University Policy 409 for complete details about benefits eligibility. Employees must meet a six-month probationary period before using this benefit. The directions on how to apply are available here.

Spouses and domestic partners of the benefits-eligible employees and retirees are also able to audit one course per semester. See directions on how to complete the application process for spouses/domestic partners here.

Faculty/Staff Member Application Process

STEP 1
Find a course you want to take for credit on courses.rice.edu (make sure to select the correct term before you search).

STEP 2
To obtain the necessary signatures, log in to Adobe Sign using your NetID email address (netid@rice.edu) and select the Workflow titled, OTR - Employee Tuition Waiver and Registration. Click "Start". (On the home page, click "Start from Library". In the pop-up window, select "Workflows" in the menu on the left, then use the Search feature to find the OTR - Employee Tuition Waiver and Registration Workflow)

Please Note: Faculty members do not typically have an Adobe Sign account. If you are a faculty member, and you do not have an Adobe Sign account, please email registrar@rice.edu to request that we initiate the Workflow on your behalf.

Employee Tuition Waiver Application Forms that are completed by hand with all appropriate signatures can be turned in to the Office of the Registrar (Allen Center, Room 116), or emailed to registrar@rice.edu.

STEP 3
Once the workflow is opened, enter your supervisor's Rice email address in "Supervisor Email Address", then enter the Rice email address of the instructor of the course that you would like to register for in "Instructor of Course."

Click "Send" and complete the document that appears.

Once you complete the document and sign it, it will be routed to the email addresses that you provided. Once completed, OTR will be in contact with you regarding your registration. Should you have questions, please call 713-348-4999 or email registrar@rice.edu.

STEP 4
Once the Adobe Sign document is completed, OTR will review your application and ensure that it complies with Rice's policy. If approved, the OTR will notify you of the results and register you for the course.

Should you have questions, please call 713-348-4999 or email registrar@rice.edu.

STEP 5
Attend the course!

Frequently Asked Questions for Faculty/Staff

When do I need to apply?

Eligible faculty/staff will need to follow the deadlines as outlined on the Academic Calendar. The deadline to turn in the completed form would be the "last day to add a course" date on the Academic Calendar.

I am a benefits-eligible employee, but I have not yet completed my six-month probationary period. Am I eligible to take a for-credit course at Rice?

Generally, staff must have successfully completed their six-month probationary period in order to be eligible for the tuition waiver. Supervisors can permit staff who have not completed their probationary period to apply in instances in which both the staff member and department will directly benefit from the staff member's enrollment in and completion of the course. A statement to that effect should be included from the supervisor with the special registration request.

I am an employee, but I am not benefits-eligible. Am I still able to take a for-credit course at Rice?

Employees who are not benefits-eligible and wish to take a course at Rice for credit may do so as a Visiting Post-Baccalaureate student. Employees who are not benefits-eligible and wish to take a course at Rice for audit may do so as a Visiting Auditor. In both cases, the employee would be responsible for meeting admission requirements, including payment of the application fee, and all associated tuition costs.

Are there any courses excluded from the tuition waiver?

All courses in the Jones School of Business, all courses offering individual instruction in the School of Architecture, all undergraduate and graduate courses offering individual instruction, including musical performance or composition, in the Shepherd School of Music, all courses in the Glasscock School of Continuing Studies, and all Rice Summer Sessions courses are excluded from this program.

Does this cover Summer Sessions courses?

The tuition waiver or audit benefit is not available to Rice benefits-eligible employees during the Summer Sessions; however, with the appropriate authorizations, benefits-eligible employees of Rice University may register and pay for courses offered during Rice Summer Sessions and apply for tuition reimbursement. Please see University Policy 432.

How can I drop a course that I am registered for?

To drop a course, faculty and staff must send a request to drop their course to registrar@rice.edu to have their withdrawal processed by the Office of the Registrar. Employees are not able to perform registration actions themselves. When taking for-credit courses, as with all students, faculty and staff must adhere to the registration deadlines that are outlined in the Academic Calendar.

Spouse/Domestic Partner Application Process

STEP 1
Find a course you want to take for audit on courses.rice.edu (make sure to select the correct term before you search).

STEP 2
To obtain the necessary signatures, the Rice employee will log in to Adobe Sign using their NetID email address and select the Workflow titled, OTR - Employee Spouse/Domestic Partner Tuition Waiver and Registration. Click "Start". (On the home page, click "Start from Library". In the pop-up window, select "Workflows" in the menu on the left, then use the Search feature to find the OTR - Employee Spouse/Domestic Partner Tuition Waiver and Registration Workflow)

Please Note: The Rice employee must start this process. Faculty members do not typically have an Adobe Sign account. If you are a faculty member, and you do not have an Adobe Sign account, please email registrar@rice.edu to request that we initiate the Workflow on your behalf.

Rice Spouse/Domestic Partner Tuition Waiver Application Forms that are completed by hand with all appropriate signatures can be turned in to the Office of the Registrar (Allen Center, Room 116), or emailed to registrar@rice.edu.

STEP 3
Once the workflow is opened, the Rice employee will enter their spouse/domestic partner's email address, the employee's supervisor's Rice email address in "Supervisor Email Address", and the Rice email address for the instructor of the course that the spouse/domestic partner would like to register for in "Instructor of Course."

Click "Send" and complete the document that appears.

STEP 4
After the employee signs the form, it will be sent directly to the spouse/domestic partner's email address. The spouse/domestic partner will open up the document and complete their portion of the form and sign.

After the spouse/domestic partner completes the document and signs it, it will be routed to the email addresses that were provided for the employee's supervisor and the instructor of the course.

STEP 5
Once the Adobe Sign document is completed by all parties, OTR will review the tuition waiver and ensure that it complies with Rice's policy. If approved, the OTR will notify the spouse/domestic partner of the results and register them for the course.

Should you have questions, please call 713-348-4999 or email registrar@rice.edu.

When do I need to apply?

Visiting spouses/domestic partners will need to follow the deadlines as outlined on the Academic Calendar. The deadline to turn in the completed form would be the “last day to add a course” date on the Academic Calendar.