Rice University President Reggie DesRoches delved into the institution’s transformative advancements, identifying research and community collaboration as top priorities of focus at the Partnership’s annual State of Education.  Supporting nearly 9,000 students, Rice is a critical part of the region’s higher education ecosystem and serves as a catalyst for building Houston’s future workforce. To better serve Houston’s community and key industries, Rice has strategically increased its efforts to advance impactful research within the institution. These efforts include a significant 20% augmentation of undergraduate and graduate students, the addition of 200 faculty members and the inauguration of a state-of-the-art facility dedicated to energy transition research – The Ralph S. O’Connor Building for Engineering and Science.  “The focus of our research is not just to have research but to have an impact in the region and the greater community,” said DesRoches. DesRoches highlighted that Rice is also working to increase the presence of graduate students focusing on PhD programs, which will further expand the institution’s research initiatives. To drive more impactful research and to cement the university’s position as a leading innovation hub, DesRoches pointed to collaboration. Through the support and partnerships of local entities and organizations like The Ion Houston and Greentown Labs, Rice has established many groundbreaking programs such as the Entrepreneurship Exchange for Energy. These efforts underline the university's dedication to cultivating research and innovation within Houston and beyond. As a true testament of research and collaboration, Rice recently partnered with Houston Methodist to open the Center for Human Performance; a 6,000-square-foot research facility located in Rice’s Tudor Fieldhouse. The new facility aims to propel research focusing on injury prevention and recovery, improving overall health across the region.  However, Rice sees more potential to be unlocked by leveraging the Texas Medical Center as a resource to deepen its engagement in health sciences, aiming for elevated contributions to the field. "The research and development stemming from [Rice University] are key drivers of technological advancement, which helps us attract businesses seeking to leverage the latest innovations to Houston," said Partnership President and CEO Bob Harvey.  Learn more about Houston’s Higher Education Institutions.

In honor of its upcoming centennial in 2027, the University of Houston has unveiled plans for a $35 million transformative campus revamp that includes the creation of Centennial Plaza, a multi-purpose gathering space at the heart of the campus. Leading the celebratory project, Houston-based firm OJB has already begun the design work with the goal of enhancing the student experience and ultimately creating a strong first impression of the university.  “The University of Houston is a crucial part of the fourth largest city in the country, and having a welcoming campus that everyone can be proud of is paramount. This reimagination will create a sense of place, community and learning, while also promoting health and well-being not only for our students, but for all Houstonians,” University of Houston President Renu Khator says in a press release. The university’s main entrance on University Drive is also getting a makeover with the addition of a new gateway monument at Spur 5, a shaded central pathway lined with beautiful colossal trees from the gateway to Cullen Performance Hall and outdoor spaces filled with public art and dining options, creating a more welcoming experience to everyone entering the campus.  “So much of the student and campus experience is found in the spaces in between buildings: its landscape and open spaces,” said Chip Trageser, partner in charge for OJB in the same press release. “Creating inclusive spaces for people to come together is at the core of innovation. The Centennial Plan strengthens these experiences, not only from a physical point of view, but also as an expression of the University of Houston’s values and mission.” Additionally, Lynn Eusan Park, Cougar Woods, Butler Plaza and the campus woodland from the Science and Research 1 building to the Gerald D. Hines College of Architecture and Design will also see landscaping improvements that will beautify the campus. Construction for the Centennial project will begin next summer and is set to be completed by the end of 2026, ahead of its 100th birthday celebrations.  UH also announced a new 70,000-square-foot, high-tech Innovation Hub earlier this year that will serve as a center for academic and industry innovators to convene and advance research, commercialization, and education. The $52 million hub will also house the Wolff Center for Entrepreneurship, the Energy Transition Institute, Presidential Frontier Faculty labs and offices, and a makerspace. In tandem with its campus transformation, the University of Houston is poised to ascend to national recognition thanks to Governor Greg Abbott's signing of the Texas University Fund—a nearly $4 billion endowment to undergo public approval this November. This investment not only reaffirms the state's dedication to advancing higher education but also ushers in a promising era for both UH and the broader Texas educational landscape, offering an exceptional opportunity to enhance its mission of academic excellence, pioneering research, and community engagement. Discover more about Houston’s Higher Education systems.