Dear Rice colleagues,
Rice is not new to digital learning innovation – we’ve been doing this for decades. However, the world continues to change, and the challenges of the past, though many still with us, have evolved as well. Rapid advancements in genAI present immense opportunities and potential threats to how we approach teaching and learning. Despite our institutions’ long track records and legacies, there are new questions about the validity and value of higher education. At Rice, we know that a personalized education is a transformative education, and indeed, our mission aspires to provide an "unsurpassed education for the betterment of our world."
Rice has a long history of innovation in digital education. Over 25 years ago, Rice’s premier educational initiative, OpenStax, started providing free, open educational resources to the world and disrupting our existing notions of a "textbook" forever. Dating back even further, Rice faculty member David Lane provided an entire stats curriculum online via HyperStat. Years later, Rice was an early pioneer in massive open online learning, joining both EdX and Coursera to offer high-quality online education to now over 4 million global learners. Nearly 6 years ago, Rice began expanding opportunities to working professionals in high-demand fields like Computer Science and Data Science through new online programs that continue to grow in reputation and reach.
As Rice announces a new, ambitious strategy, digital learning can support an even broader goal of enhancing undergraduate education through faculty development, hybrid and online innovations, and global learning opportunities that provide students with more flexible pathways to success. At the graduate level, we expand Rice’s reach and impact by supporting hybrid and online master’s programs, stackable certificates, and professional learning experiences that meet students where they are. As AI continues to shape the future of education, we collaborate with faculty to integrate responsible AI into coursework and training, equipping students with the skills and ethical awareness needed in an evolving world.
Therefore, we are renaming and re-envisioning the organization formerly known as Rice Online Learning as Rice Digital Learning and Strategy. Online learning for Rice will continue to be a core focus. However, to meet the goals of Rice’s new strategic plan, we need to re-envision our organization and purpose in a more widescreen, high-fidelity context. We see digital learning as an integral part of every Rice learning experience. Through digital learning, we aim to:
- Improve access, equity, and impact: Applying tools and strategies to extend access and make learning more inclusive, equitable, and impactful.
- Enable dynamic teaching: Empower faculty to focus on teaching essentials and enhance the learning experience.
- Connect learners: Build community and foster meaningful relationships.
- Extend abilities: Leverage AI and innovative tools to help learners achieve beyond their expectations.
- Increase Rice's reach and impact: Expand our influence in Houston and worldwide.
How will we do this? As a connector and collaborator, bringing resources, services, and ingenuity to complement faculty expertise. As a catalyst: providing opportunities for the Rice community to engage with new ideas, experiment with latest tools and technologies, and design new strategies for learning. Finally, as storytellers, we will continue to document and share the innovations, lessons learned and life-changing stories of Rice faculty and students to remind our community why we’re here, why we do what we do, and, most importantly, what we can do for you.
Sincerely,
Shawn Miller
Associate Provost for Digital Learning and Strategy
Rice University