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Rice MBA Response to Katrina

HOUSTON, September 9, 2005—As part of Rice University’s response to Tulane students displaced by Hurricane Katrina, the Jones School is hosting visiting Tulane MBAs in our program to assure that they continue to make academic progress in their programs. Seven Tulane first-year students have joined our fall core courses and four second-year students our fall second-year electives. Each of the first- year Tulane students will be assigned to one of our 26 student teams. The expectation is that the students will resume their education at Tulane in the spring semester. Nine of the eleven students are international, two are from the United States. Unlike some other business schools, Rice accepted Tulane MBA students without regard to nationality or state residency. Rice will remit tuition to Tulane, charging the Tulane students only our material costs. They will not be charged student fees.

Tulane students have received clothing, books, and housing assistance from the Jones School students, staff, and alumni. Our admissions staff is working with the Tulane students who do not have families here in Houston to find accommodations. JGS alumni have made numerous offers of housing.

Each Tulane MBA student will have a Rice MBA student “buddy” to ease their transition to the school. Because the Tulane MBAs are starting three weeks into the first module, faculty are working with them to ensure their successful integration.

Our Career Planning Center will offer some career assistance. Tulane MBAs are welcome to meet with the Jones School staff and attend career workshops as well as partios.

Rice MBA students have donated money, clothes, and food through the MBA Central Charity Challenge and worked at various centers in Houston for many, many hours. Rick Leach, MBA for Executives Class of 2006, has challenged his class and the MBA for Executives Class of 2007 to raise $50,000 per class for the Red Cross. Faculty, staff, and students have contributed money and clothes directly to the families of a Jones School student and a staff member, as well as to the Red Cross and other organizations. Faculty and staff, like students, have volunteered their time as well.

The Jones school response to the people displaced by Hurricane Katrina is part of a larger Rice University response. Details can be found at: http://www.media.rice.edu/media/ResponseKatrina.asp.

Bill Glick
Dean
H. Joe Nelson III Professor of Management
Jesse H. Jones Graduate School of Management
Rice University
(713) 348-5928
Bill.Glick@rice.edu

Debra J. Thomas
Director of Marketing and Public Relations
Jesse H. Jones Graduate School of Management
Rice University
P.O. Box 2932
Houston, Texas 77252-2932

v 713-348-6343
f 713-348-6228
e dthomas@rice.edu
w http://www.jonesgsm.rice.edu/