Rice Crisis Management

Dear Rice Faculty and Staff,

Every day brings new information about the spread of COVID-19 and changing guidance from government public health officials.  Yesterday, the national government and especially some state and city governments undertook much more drastic measures to stop the spread of this virus. We must react quickly to these changing circumstances and I write to you with updated policies that will dramatically reduce campus activity until the end of the semester, and perhaps beyond.  I know it can be difficult to receive a fairly constant stream of communications from different sources at the university, but this crisis necessitates that we update you frequently, and also that those with direct responsibility for various matters communicate with you directly about details. This communication is also somewhat lengthy because I want to summarize most of the important university decisions now in place for faculty and staff.