Frequently Asked Questions: 

RICE Way Training 2026

Why does Rice University have the RICE Way Training 2026?

As a community, it is important that we all share a common understanding regarding expectations to conduct our mission with integrity and in accordance with our legal, regulatory and ethical responsibilities.  The updated RICE Way Training is tailored to Rice and reflects our community, as well as our values.  It is designed to give every employee a basic understanding of Rice policies and expectations. 

The goal of the RICE Way Training is to provide these required trainings in a coordinated manner, carefully managing the time burdens. The training should take around one hour.

Who should complete the RICE Way Training, and when?

RICE Way Training is designed to be completed by existing faculty and staff, and all new hires who become part of our community. 

For current staff and faculty (including tenured, tenure-track, and non-tenure track) the RICE Way Training Program 2026 will open on Monday, March 2, 2026. It is expected that employees will complete the training by Friday, April 17, 2026. The training will be assigned to staff and faculty in the iO Learning Module.  Instructions on how to access the training are available here.   Employees who are on leave, including FMLA or Military leave, should complete the training within 30 days of returning to Rice.

New hires should complete the training within 30 calendar days of starting work at Rice. 

How long is the training and what does it cover?

The RICE Way Training Program consists of five video modules and one resource module that will take approximately 1 hour to complete. You must open and review the resource module to achieve a completion. The modules are: 

Module 1 – Policies and Procedures (Values and Standards of Ethical Conduct) 
Module 2 – Privacy and Data Security
Module 3 – Information Security 
Module 4 – Anti-Bribery and Corruption
Module 5 – Workplace Discrimination and Civility
Module 6 – Program Resource Binder (non-video)

 

What about part-time employees (including part-time faculty)?

All part-time employees should complete the RICE Way Training.   In the case of faculty, if they are active during the training timeframe, then they should also complete the training.  Active means they are teaching a course, engaging in Rice-sponsored research, or regularly interacting with Rice employees or students.

If they are not active during this timeframe, they should complete the training as soon as they return to campus responsibilities (within 30 days). 

Example: A professor teaches one course each fall semester, but does not teach, research, or do any other activities for Rice during the spring or summer. The professor should complete the training program at the start of the fall semester. 

 

What about unpaid Adjuncts or Emeritus Faculty?

Unpaid adjuncts and emeritus faculty will not be included in the program and will not be assigned the training. 

What about New Hires?

All new hires should complete the training within 30 calendar days of starting work at Rice.  The training requirement will be communicated by Human Resources during the Owl Launch onboarding program.  

How do I access and complete my training?

The RICE Way Training modules are assigned to each employee in the iO Learning Module. Instructions to access and navigate the training can be found here. 

Does training need to be completed all at once? Can I start and stop?

The training modules can be completed in any order. Once you complete a module you do not need to retake it. If you stop and close the training in the middle of a module, you may lose your place and have to restart that module from the beginning.

What if I (or employees who report to me) do not have regular access to a computer?

Supervisors of employees without regular access to a computer should contact The Office of Ethics, Compliance, and Enterprise Risk (rice.compliance@rice.edu) or Equal Opportunity Services (eos@rice.edu), and alternative arrangements will be made.

What if I (or employees who report to me) do not speak English?  (¿Y si alguien no habla inglés?)

Spanish language versions will be available. (Habrá versiones en español.) Please contact The Office of Ethics, Compliance and Enterprise Risk (rice.compliance@rice.edu) or the Office of Equal Opportunity Services (eos@rice.edu) should you need a Spanish language version.

Is the RICE Way Training accessible to persons with disabilities? 

All training modules have open captions and are compatible with most commercial screen readers.  Persons with accessibility concerns should contact facstaffada@rice.edu; please contact access@rice.edu for any digital accessibility issues.

Who do I contact for questions about the Rice Way Training Program?

If you need technical assistance accessing iO, contact the IT Helpdesk at helpdesk@rice.edu or 713-348-4357.

The Office of Ethics, Compliance and Enterprise Risk (rice.compliance@rice.edu or 713-348-2287) or the Office of Equal Opportunity Services (eos@rice.edu or 713-348-6405) are also available to answer questions or to direct you to the right department about inquiries related to the content of the training program.