Dear Rice Students and Colleagues:

Hurricane/Tropical Storm Harvey turned out to be the storm of the century, dropping up to 50 inches of rain in the Houston area -- more than has been recorded for any storm since such records have been kept. Twenty-five to 30 percent of Harris County experienced flooding.

The ongoing assessment of our campus has revealed that a number of buildings sustained comparatively minor damage. With our facilities largely in good condition to resume operations, I am pleased to inform you that the campus will reopen on Tuesday with the resumption of most classes and other activities.

At the same time, we are painfully aware that many of our faculty members and staff have sustained incredible losses, including major damage and even the destruction of their homes and vehicles. Across the city and county, many low-lying communities were devastated. In reopening, we will be sensitive to these situations. Thus our reopening does not mean that every course will be taught or every service provided as before; we’ll need to make some adjustments for those who are unable to return at this time. More information will be forthcoming, but to all those who have been severely impacted, rest assured that your campus leaders will work with you to see how best to address your needs.

The outpouring of volunteer assistance to those in need has been inspiring, not only at Rice but across our city. I want to thank every student, staff and faculty member who has taken time to volunteer. This is indeed OUR city. We’re proud to be here, and your efforts are demonstrating a show of resilience and generosity that will astonish the world.

There are so many people to thank for Rice’s own ability to quickly recover, including many who planned well for such an event years in advance. I want to again thank our Crisis Management Team for its superb leadership. Our housing and dining team has kept people on campus fed and safely housed. Our facilities folks have conducted assessments and repairs that have protected the campus and the important work being done at our university. Our police have kept the campus safe and patrolled, and rescued some students off-campus. Our library staff and recreation center staff have managed to keep those facilities operating at a time they were greatly needed. Our wellness staff has made sure resources were available to students in a time of stress. There are so many others who braved the storm to keep our students and campus safe, Emergency Medical Services, Environmental Health and Safety and Transportation among them. Our faculty has voluntarily begun to engage students with lectures and other activities even before the university reopens. And our students have shown themselves remarkably generous to each other, to the Rice community and to those in need in the city of Houston. To all of these and many others, I express my thanks personally and on behalf of Rice University.

A crisis is a time when a community shows its true attributes. At Rice, we have seen extraordinary leadership, intelligence, compassion and competence. This crisis is not over, and I know our community will continue to assist those in need. In the days ahead, we will be exploring additional ways that Rice can help restore our great city and advance the important work of a great university.

With gratitude and esteem,
David