Dear Rice Community,
I hope this message finds you well. As we embark upon a new academic year, I am delighted to share some significant updates regarding the investments Rice University has made in our employees. These enhancements reflect our unwavering commitment to creating a supportive and rewarding work environment where every member of our community can thrive.
Rice’s Investment in Its Employees
Rice University has committed to investing an additional $20 million over the next four years to enhance employee pay and benefits. This investment will allocate $5 million annually, supplementing the regular incremental adjustments to compensation and benefits. This substantial investment reflects our commitment to employee health and wellbeing and our immense gratitude for staff contributing their time and talents to the mission and future of our university.
Of the $5 million earmarked for FY25, $3.2 million was allocated to increase employee pay and $1.8 million was used to enrich employee benefits.
Employee Pay
A total of $12.7 million was invested to increase employee pay between February 1 and July 1, 2024. This included:
- $9.5 million to fund regular annual employee pay increase budget for FY25
- $3.2 million of Rice's $5 million annual investment, as mentioned above. This funded additional pay increases for promotions and improved the competitiveness of employee pay.
Employee Benefits
Rice dedicated $1.8 million to enrich employee benefits in FY25. This included:
Health Benefits: Rice University is now covering a larger portion of medical and dental premiums, providing significant savings for employees. Specifically, Rice now pays an average of 78% of medical insurance premiums, up from 76%, saving employees an average of $222 annually. Additionally, the university will cover 25% of dental insurance premiums for those earning $40,000 or more annually and maintain 50% coverage for those earning less than $40,000.
Tuition Benefits: Rice increased the employee tuition reimbursement benefit from $2,500 per year to the IRS maximum of $5,250 per year. Moreover, employees and their dependents can now choose between 100% tuition coverage at Rice, Trinity University, or Austin College, or up to 10% of Rice’s tuition to be used at any accredited college or university in the U.S.
Staff Paid Parental Leave: As of July 1, 2024, we expanded paid parental leave from six to eight weeks per year for babies born or adopted on this date or later. This enhancement places Rice ahead of our peers and allows new parents more time to bond with their child.
Staff Careers: Staff career opportunities were enhanced in January 2024 when Human Resources added new job families and career levels.
Employee Wellbeing: Rice has expanded access to resources for mental health and wellbeing, including:
- Rice's Employee Health and Wellbeing, offers programming to the Rice community, such as:
- Wellness Wednesdays, community events held monthly during the academic year where participants are treated to activities like Tai Chi and water aerobics.
- Wellbeing Outreach Services, offering employees complimentary wellness experiences like meditation, yoga, and health talks.
- Mind Companion, a digital tool to match members with appropriate mental health care.
- Enhanced Maternity Program, which offers additional support throughout pregnancy, including for at-risk pregnancies, genetic counseling, and postpartum depression.
- SupportLinc, which provides a modern Employee Assistance Program experience, offers confidential referrals and up to ten face-to-face counseling sessions for a variety of concerns.
These initiatives are part of our broader effort to cultivate an environment where every staff member feels valued, supported, and inspired to achieve their full potential. By investing in our people, we are investing in the future of Rice University, ensuring that we continue to lead with excellence, innovation, and care.
Thank you for your continued dedication and hard work. Together, we are building a stronger, more vibrant Rice community.
Sincerely,
Kelly Fox, Executive Vice President for Operations, Finance, & Support