The Campus Services and Sustainability (CS&S) unit has diligently worked to enrich the campus lifestyle through new programs and services to meet the community's needs. Enhanced offerings include sustainable and expanded transportation options, diverse dining choices, and passport services.
Transportation
Looking for sustainable and convenient ways to get around campus and Houston? CS&S offers several options:
- Houston BCycle is back on campus! This bike-share program features stations across campus and neighboring areas, providing an eco-friendly, affordable transformation mode. Community members who sign up for a monthly membership using their Rice email can access unlimited rides for only $14 a month - an $11 discount from their regular monthly rate!
- Rice Transportation has expanded shuttle routes for those who want to explore more areas off-campus:
- H-E-B Shopping Shuttle operates every Saturday from 10 am to 3 pm, departing every 30 minutes from Rice Graduate Apartments (RGA), Rice Village Apartments (RVA), and H-E-B on Buffalo Speedway. This route is extended on the fourth Saturday of each month to include H-Mart on Bellaire Blvd, offering riders access to many shops and restaurants near Sterling Plaza.
- South Main Shopping Shuttle runs on Saturdays from 10 am to 3 pm, departing every 30 minutes from stops along the Rice Inner Loop. It takes shoppers from campus to Target on Main St. and Fiesta Mart on Kirby Dr. This shuttle is only offered during the academic year.
- The BRC Express operates weekdays from 8 am to 8 pm, providing convenient stops from the BRC to Kroger, Randalls, and Total Wine on Holcombe Blvd.
- The Night Owl Shuttle offers on-demand rides to Rice apartments, the BRC, and the campus. The shuttle operates Sunday through Thursday from 10 pm to 6 am and Friday through Saturday from 10 pm to 3 am.
Dining
This semester, CS&S enhanced its community dining options by serving up fresh, healthy, and convenient culinary options:
- The Dandelion Cafe in the O'Connor Building delivers fresh, locally sourced, healthy food in a cafe-style setting. Enjoy a made-to-order smoothie, grab-and-go meal, all-day breakfast taco, or one of their vegan or vegetarian options. The cafe accepts Tetra points, offers a customer loyalty card, and provides catering for on-campus events.
- The Farmer's Fridge is a new vending option that makes it easy to have a fresh, healthy meal any time of day. Great for late-night work, these innovative machines are conveniently located in the BioSciences Research Centers, Brockman Hall for Physics, and the West Servery. Download the app and find out what’s for dinner.
- Sammy's triumphant return brings campus favorites to the Rice Student Center, including 4.Tac0, the Whoo Deli, In the Loop, and the Chef’s Table. Grabbing a scratch-made meal is convenient, and payment can be made with cash, credit card, or Tetra points.
Passport Services
The Rice Post Office now offers a passport renewal service. This service is available to Rice community members 16 years old and older and includes assistance with passport renewal, passport photos, and expedited processing and shipping options.
These efforts highlight CS&S’s commitment to providing unparalleled customer experiences for Rice’s students, faculty, staff, and visitors. To share feedback and suggestions about current or desired services, contact the team at csands@rice.edu.