Dear colleagues,
I hope this message finds you well and staying cool during what is always a busy season for OF&S. While summer may look quieter from the outside, I know it’s one of the most active times of year for many—with critical work underway to support campus operations, host summer programs, and prepare for the fall semester.
Facilities Reimagined: Stronger Together
As we continue to plan for the future of Rice, I want to share an important update about Facilities Reimagined—our initiative to build a stronger, more unified facilities organization that better supports the university’s growing needs. At its core, Facilities Reimagined is about coming together as one team with one goal: delivering excellent service through collaboration, respect, and shared purpose.
A key decision has now been made to centralize custodial and maintenance operations under Real Estate & Facilities (RE&F). This transition will bring together maintenance and custodial teams from across OF&S, including colleagues from Housing & Dining.
This change allows us to better coordinate resources, standardize service, and create more opportunities for learning, growth, and advancement. While work will continue as usual in the coming months, this is an exciting step toward our long-term vision—a unified model that supports every member of our team and strengthens the entire Rice community.
Take Time to Recharge
As we move into one of the busiest seasons for many in OF&S, please make it a priority to use your paid time off. (President DesRoches is even traveling to Southern California to spend time with friends and family.)
Whether it’s a few days away or an extended break, time to recharge is not just encouraged—it’s essential. We all do better work when we take care of ourselves. Your well-being matters.
Supervisors, I encourage you to support your teams in planning ahead and using PTO. Flexible work arrangements, where operationally feasible, are another way we can promote balance. If you're interested in exploring summer flexibility, please connect with your manager to discuss what may be possible.
Summer Meal Plans
Housing & Dining is excited to share a new benefit—summer meal plans for employees! It’s a great way to grab a convenient, quality meal on campus and experience Seibel Servery firsthand. You can purchase a summer meal plan here. For questions, contact hdmealplan@rice.edu.
Summer Celebration - Save the Date!
Lastly, please save the date for our OF&S Summer Celebration on August 12pm from 1-3pm in the North Servery. We will share more details soon—but it promises to be a great opportunity to unwind, connect, and celebrate all that we’ve accomplished together.
Special Note
I also want to recognize Nubia Quintanilla, who was honored at April’s Staff Appreciation event for receiving the Rising Star Award. Please join me in congratulating her. She was unintentionally left off the list of OF&S honorees in last month’s message.
Enjoy your weekend—and stay cool out there!
Warmly,
Kelly Fox,
Executive Vice President, Operations, Finance & Support