Access & Opportunity Portal

Requests for financial support can be made to your residential college or the Access and Opportunity Portal, depending on the nature and scope of the request.

The Residential College Accessibility Funds support the following:

  • Residential College merchandise
  • Rice bookstore paraphernalia (excluding textbooks)
  • Tickets to campus-wide events such as Rondelet, Esperanza, Senior Gala
  • Transportation to college-related events
  • Off-campus dinners or events
  • Peer-led trips
  • Other items not listed here at the Residential College Accessibility Fund's discretion

The Access & Opportunity Portal supports the following:

  • Academic and course-related fees not covered by financial aid
  • Textbooks and course pack purchases
  • Assistance with laptop repairs
  • Securing a longtime loaner laptop from Rice OIT
  • Participation in student conferences, which could include travel costs
  • Expenses associated with commencement (e.g., graduation fees, regalia, etc.)
  • Transportation costs associated with employment during the semester
  • MSAR/LSAT book guides
  • MCAT/GMAT/LSAT/GRE prep course and study materials or courses
  • Medical/Dental/Health-Professions School application fees
  • Secondary application fees
  • Interview travel and accommodations
  • Professional attire for employment or graduate school interviews not covered by outside organizations like Dress for Success or Career Gear
  • Travel and parking costs for a variety of experiences, including off-campus interviews, externships, professional conferences
  • Career assessments such as the MBTI and the Strong Interest Inventory (offered through the Center for Career Development)
  • Fee for the Business Etiquette Lunch hosted by the Center for Career Development
  • Padfolios

The Access & Opportunity Portal does NOT support the following:

  • Tuition
  • Laptop/iPad/Tablets
  • Subscription Services
  • Reimbursements to the students for any of the items listed above in the form of CashApp, Giftcards, PayPal, Venmo, Zelle, or any other mobile payment services

The Access and Opportunity Portal will consider those requests from students experiencing financial challenges and are seeking support to allow them to participate in opportunities related to their academic, professional, social or interpersonal development. Requests for assistance are accepted on a rolling basis.

All currently enrolled undergraduate students, domestic and international, who exhibit need are eligible to submit an AOP funding request. Before submitting a request, review this funding list to ensure you request the correct type of support. Review the Frequently Asked Questions for additional helpful information.

Emergency Funding Requests

Emergency Funding Requests should be made to the Dean of Undergraduates office for those financial needs that require urgent, immediate attention. The undergraduate student requesting support is actively in crisis. Because these requests will be reviewed immediately upon receipt, only those requests requiring same-day resolution will be considered. Although not an exhaustive list, requests that could be considered to be an emergency and eligible for funding include:

• Request for rent needed immediately due to impending eviction
• Funding for co-pays or upfront costs associated with emergency surgery

Please review the Access and Opportunity Portal and the Residential College Accessibility Fund information PRIOR to making a request for Emergency Funding to ensure that you are requesting the correct type of support. The type of requests considered to be Emergency Funding is very narrow in scope as the EFR is designed to address only the most urgent and severe financial concerns for undergraduate students.

*These lists are not exhaustive but are meant to serve as a guide when determining where to seek support.

Contact Information & Hours

Monday – Friday | 9:00 AM – 5:00 PM | aop@rice.edu