Fast Five April 2026

Dear colleagues,

Welcome to the Fast Five with OF&S! This campus-wide monthly publication highlights the latest updates on our key initiatives. Here are the five things you need to know about OF&S this Friday:

Hands holding small plants SMART goals on journal

From Savings to Solutions: Scaling Sustainability at Rice
by Richard Johnson

What starts as a simple fix can grow into a model for impact across campus—and beyond.

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Set Smarter Goals This Performance Cycle
by Joop Oranje and Pam Minigan

Starting the performance cycle with clear, SMART goals helps you stay focused and make the most of your work throughout the year.

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Duncan Hall Building Various employees joining hands

Upgrading Access, Improving Safety
by Tam Dao

Rice is upgrading how buildings are accessed across campus—making spaces safer, smarter and easier to manage without interrupting campus life.

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Facilities Reimagined: What's Changed and What's Next
by Mario Carrera and Justin Feldman

As Facilities Reimagined expands, so does its impact—strengthening service, streamlining work and supporting the people behind it.

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Katharine Shilcutt Fast Five icon

Rice Journeys: Katharine Shilcutt
by Isabelle Dom

Discover how Katharine Shilcutt built her career at Rice and what advice she has for those looking to grow.

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Missed a Fast Five?

Revisit all Fast Five articles on the OF&S website.

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All my best,

Kelly Fox, Executive Vice President for Operations, Finance, & Support