SENATE RESOLUTION NO. 13
	WHEREAS, October 12, 2023, marks the 111th anniversary of
	Rice University's formal opening ceremonies, an event that is
	commemorated annually as Rice Day; and
	WHEREAS, On October 12, 1912, students, faculty, and
	trustees of the Rice Institute gathered alongside local and state
	officials and dignitaries from governments and universities
	around the world to celebrate the establishment of a new
	institution of higher learning; in his address, President Edgar
	Odell Lovett announced that Rice would "aspire to university
	standing of the highest grade," while proposing "to assign no
	upper limit to its educational endeavor"; and
	WHEREAS, Since that historic day, Rice has grown
	tremendously in enrollment and academic stature; in recognition
	of the changing and broadening scope of its educational mission,
	its name was changed to William Marsh Rice University on July 1,
	1960; today, it is a globally oriented, private institution that
	boasts an impressive 6-to-1 undergraduate student-to-faculty
	ratio, and it consistently ranks highly among private
	universities for best quality of life and best value; it is
	further recognized as one of the most diverse private
	universities, with more than a quarter of students classified as
	minorities and more than 60 countries represented in its
	undergraduate and graduate student bodies; and
	WHEREAS, Rice holds membership in the Association of
	American Universities, an organization consisting of North
	America's 71 leading research universities; its faculty and
	alumni have made significant contributions in numerous fields,
	and alumni have notably gone on to win the Pulitzer Prize, the
	Nobel Prize, and Olympic gold medals, to set records for human
	spaceflight, to win Oscar, Emmy, and Grammy Awards, and to serve
	in offices as prominent as lieutenant governor of Texas; they
	have helped found such Lone Star institutions as Austin City
	Limits and the Texas Film Commission and have made their mark in
	countless other areas of endeavor that have enriched our state
	and nation; and
	WHEREAS, The achievements of Rice University and its
	alumni have helped to keep Texas at the forefront of research,
	scholarship, and innovation, and the observance of Rice Day
	provides a fitting opportunity to reflect on the long and
	distinguished history of one of our state's most venerated
	educational institutions; now, therefore, be it
	RESOLVED, That the Senate of the State of Texas, 88th
	Legislature, 3rd Called Session, hereby recognize October 12,
	2023, as Rice Day and extend sincere best wishes to the
	university's students, faculty, staff, and alumni as they
	celebrate the 111th anniversary of Rice's historic opening
	ceremonies; and, be it further
	RESOLVED, That an official copy of this Resolution be
	prepared for the university as an expression of high regard from
	the Texas Senate.
	Miles
		________________________________
		President of the Senate
		I hereby certify that the
		above Resolution was adopted by
		the Senate on October 12, 2023.
		________________________________
		Secretary of the Senate
		________________________________
		Member, Texas Senate