Dear Rice staff members,
As AI continues to reshape how we work across higher education, we believe it is important that every Rice staff member has the opportunity to build practical knowledge and hands-on experience.
At a recent Administrators’ Forum, we highlighted an important part of Rice’s evolving strategy for Responsible AI: helping our campus community build the skills and confidence to use AI responsibly, thoughtfully and effectively in our daily work. If you missed the Administrators’ Forum session or would like to revisit the materials, you can view a recording of the presentation and the slide deck on the Admin Forum webpage.
To support that goal, we are launching the Summer 2026 AI Training Challenge.
Summer 2026 AI Training Challenge
Over the next few months, we invite every Rice staff member to participate:
- The Goal: Complete at least four hours of AI professional development by Aug. 31.
- The Reward: Earn a gift certificate to Dandelion Cafe.
How to Participate
- Identify a Training Opportunity: The challenge is intentionally flexible so you can choose learning opportunities that best fit your role, interests and experience level. To help you get started, we have created a list of free training options developed by Rice or available through university partnerships.
- Get Approval: Discuss your chosen training opportunities with your supervisor to ensure they align with your role and goals. All hours must be approved by your supervisor to count toward the challenge.
- Learn: Complete your four hours of training by Aug. 31.
- Report: Once completed, self-report your hours directly to your supervisor.
- Celebrate: Enjoy a treat from Dandelion Cafe.
Our goal is to help every staff member become more comfortable exploring how AI can support collaboration, creativity, efficiency and informed decision-making in their work.
How to Get Started
If you’re new to AI or don’t know where to start, we invite you to participate in a new session called AI Skills That Fit Your Work: Developing Your AI Learning Path. This session will provide you with the time and space to evaluate your current strengths and growth areas, and help you develop a template for planning your AI learning journey.
Thank you for your partnership in learning, innovation and operational excellence. This next step helps us build a more consistent and supportive foundation for continued learning across the university.
We look forward to building these capabilities together as a campus community.
Sincerely,
Terrence M. Gee
Vice President of Technology Solutions & Services and Chief Information Officer
Shawn Miller
Associate Provost for Digital Learning & Strategy
Sandee Cheynet
Associate Vice President of Human Resources and Chief Human Resources Officer