Letter from President David W. Leebron

Dear Alumni, Parents and Friends,

Just two years ago we formally announced The Rice Investment, a new policy that significantly expands our financial aid for low- and middle-income families. The positive response both from our community and from prospective students and families was extraordinary, and we saw a 30 percent increase in applications. At the same time, we launched the most substantial scholarship fundraising effort in Rice’s history to permanently support this effort. Thanks to the remarkable generosity and dedication of our donors, we are now more than a third of the way to our goal of raising $150 million in new endowed scholarships by 2025.

Endowment gifts play a critical role in achieving our announced strategic objective to enhance access and opportunity for all of the outstanding students we would like to bring to Rice. As you will read in this report, such gifts have a transformative impact on generations of Owls. By removing financial obstacles for these talented undergraduates and their families, we will ensure that our students can pursue their goals and passions in a supportive Rice environment. We must now secure the endowed funding required to permanently sustain The Rice Investment.

We are in our second year of awarding scholarships under this policy. The incredible impact it is having on our students’ experience underscores the importance of your investment. Ultimately, it is the generosity of the Rice community that will ensure our promise — that all of the exceptional students who are admitted to Rice will be able to seize fully that opportunity, regardless of their family’s financial resources.

I am grateful that so many of our dedicated supporters have already contributed to this bold vision. As we move forward to guarantee this initiative into the future, I hope that you will consider creating your own legacy through endowment support of The Rice Investment.

Thank you so much for your unwavering devotion to our mission.

With warm regards,

David W. Leebron President