Dear Rice staff members,
In June, we launched the 2026 Summer AI Training Challenge to empower every staff member with the practical skills and confidence needed to navigate a shifting AI landscape.
Since then, staff members have demonstrated tremendous interest in AI training, with sessions filling to capacity within the first week. (Don’t forget to report your training hours to your supervisor. Those who complete at least four hours of training by Aug. 31 will earn a gift card to Dandelion Cafe.)
In response to this turnout, we have added new sessions and expanded capacity for July and August. Please visit 2026 Summer AI Training Challenge to register for newly added or existing sessions with increased capacity. We have also added new on-demand courses available via Rice’s Google and Asana partnerships as well as new offerings in iO. Space for the live sessions remains limited, so we encourage staff to register ASAP. The AI Training Challenge ends Aug. 31, 2026.
Save the Date: AI Week is coming October 19–23
Rice AI Week 2026 is coming this fall, kicking off the week of Oct. 19! Designed for faculty, staff and students across all experience levels, this event will feature five days of keynotes, panels and workshops exploring practical AI skill-building and its ethical implications. We want the campus community to help shape the conversation, so if you have an innovative idea, a lesson learned or a critical question to share, please submit a presentation proposal.
Questions? Contact us at digital.rice.edu.
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