Beyond Access

The Sallyport Fellows Program Ushers in a New Era of Support

By Sarah Brenner Jones

Admission is a milestone. Success is a journey.

A transformative $25 million gift from Rice trustee Jim Whitehurst ’89 and his wife, Lauren Whitehurst, will help ensure more students have the support they need for that journey through the Sallyport Fellows Program.

Beginning in fall 2027, every incoming Rice student who is first-generation and/or from a limited-income background will join the Sallyport Fellows Program. Named for the university’s historic entrance, the program recognizes that talent alone does not guarantee success — preparation, mentorship, opportunity and belonging matter too.

Through a comprehensive network of programs and resources, Sallyport Fellows will receive support before arriving on campus and throughout their time at Rice. The story behind the initiative is equally compelling: a philanthropic vision shaped by personal experience, university leaders committed to student success and an ambitious research agenda designed to understand what works and why.

“She had all the potential in the world,” Lauren says. “Like many talented students, she was learning to navigate unfamiliar systems and opportunities. We were able to offer guidance and encouragement along the way, and that experience showed us how meaningful the right support can be at the right time.”

The student thrived, going on to graduate from Harvard and reinforcing the Whitehursts’ belief that personalized guidance can change a student’s trajectory. For the Whitehursts, the experience raised a larger question: Could that kind of support be made available to more students?

As they explored the idea, Lauren became convinced that Rice was uniquely positioned to lead the effort. With its commitment to access and affordability, strong culture of mentorship and relatively small, residential community, she saw an institution and community capable of delivering the kind of personalized support that had made such a difference in their mentee’s life. “We felt Rice was the right place to do something ambitious,” Lauren says. “The university already invests deeply in students and cares about their success. This program builds on that foundation.”

With that vision in mind, the Whitehursts partnered with Rice to create the Sallyport Fellows Program, a comprehensive effort designed not only to expand support for first-generation and limited-income students, but also to study which interventions have the greatest impact.

For Jim, the program’s research component is what makes it especially powerful. “The data and the opportunity to share what we learn are essential,” he says. “Rice is already deeply invested in these students. By understanding what works best, we can strengthen that investment and help more students fully benefit from the opportunities available to them.”

The initiative also reflects Jim’s own experience as a Rice student. “I owe a lot to Rice,” he says. “Not just the education, but the opportunity to have the full Rice experience. This is about making sure other students have those opportunities too.”

Not Your Traditional Advising Model

At the heart of the Sallyport Fellows Program is a personalized advising model designed to help students navigate both the immediate challenges of college life and the longer journey toward academic and personal success.

During their first two years at Rice, fellows will meet weekly with a dedicated advisor. Through these consistent, one-on-one relationships, advisors will help students acclimate to university life, connect with resources and build the confidence to navigate unfamiliar situations. In their junior and senior years, students will transition to a cohort-based model that fosters community among peers with similar academic interests and career aspirations while also connecting them with alumni who share similar backgrounds and experiences.

The approach builds on Rice’s Student Success Initiatives advising model, which has supported student retention for more than a decade. Unlike traditional advising models that focus primarily on solving problems as they arise, Sallyport advisors will maintain regular, ongoing engagement with students. That continuity allows advisors to address both immediate concerns and longer-term challenges, from navigating campus systems and academic setbacks to managing feelings of isolation or financial strain.

Advisors will be trained to understand the full student experience, recognizing that academic, social and personal challenges are often deeply interconnected. Just as importantly, they will help students access Rice’s extensive network of campus resources, serving as guides who connect students with the support they need.

The ultimate goal is not to create dependency, but empowerment. “We’re not the doers,” says Shelah Crear, the newly-named director of the Sallyport Fellows Program and associate dean of undergraduates. “We’re facilitating students taking action on their own behalf.”

By helping students develop help-seeking behaviors, problem-solving skills and confidence in their own decision-making, the Sallyport Fellows Program aims to equip participants not only to thrive at Rice, but also to become lifelong agents of their own success.

Owl Access cohort 2026. The Sallyport Fellows program will support Owl Access, a 3-day pre-matriculation program exclusively for FGLI students and their families.

Understanding the Science of Student Success

The Sallyport Fellows Program is designed not only to support students, but also to better understand what kinds of support make the greatest difference. Leading that effort is Flavio Cunha, the Ervin Kenneth Zingler Professor of Economics, who will help Rice evaluate outcomes and generate insights that can inform student success initiatives nationwide.

Flavio’s work will identify what helps students flourish during college and beyond. While academic intervention plays an important role, researchers increasingly recognize that factors such as mentorship, belonging, access to information and financial well-being can also shape a student's trajectory. "Social capital can influence everything from academic achievement to career opportunities," Flavio says. "The challenge is understanding which interventions matter most and when they matter." Flavio and his research team will analyze data throughout students' college experiences, examining outcomes such as academic performance, engagement, retention and degree completion. The research will also explore longer-term indicators of success, helping Rice better understand how support during college influences opportunities after graduation.

Rather than treating assessment as a final measure of success or failure, the research is designed to drive continuous learning. By identifying which approaches produce the strongest outcomes, Rice can refine its strategies over time and respond to the evolving needs of students.

Ultimately, the goal extends beyond a single program. The findings will contribute to a growing body of research on student success, offering evidence that can help colleges and universities strengthen support for first-generation and limited-income students nationwide.

"Rice has an opportunity to lead in this space, "Flavio says. "If we learn what helps students flourish, those lessons can benefit students far beyond Rice."

The Sallyport Fellows Program will expand opportunities for first-generation and limited-income students, but its impact is only part of a larger effort. While the Whitehursts’ generous gift provides a strong foundation, creating a Rice experience where every student can thrive will require support from across the Rice community. We invite you to join this effort. The programs below provide critical resources that help students fully engage in academic, professional and cocurricular opportunities.

• Rice Laptop Access Program: Reliable technology is essential to student success. This program provides laptops to students with financial need, ensuring they have the tools required to participate fully in their coursework.
• Global Experiences: Study abroad, research and other international opportunities can be transformative, but cost is often a barrier. This fund helps students cover travel, lodging and other expenses so they can pursue learning experiences around the world.
• Access and Opportunity Portal: Unexpected expenses can disrupt a student's education. The Access and Opportunity Portal provides year-round assistance for undergraduates facing financial hardship, helping cover needs such as textbooks, groceries, transportation, laptop repairs and professional development opportunities.
• Internship/Externship Support: Many students cannot afford to forgo income in order to pursue career-building experiences. This fund helps cover living expenses, travel, lodging and lost wages, making internships and externships more accessible regardless of a student's financial circumstances.

To support these funds or other opportunities for student support, contact Andrea Sankey, director of development, undergraduate and graduate programs, at 713-348-4408 or andrea.sankey@rice.edu.