Starting a doctoral program means adjusting to new academic expectations, navigating a new campus and finding a community. Rice University’s Thrive and Thrive Beyond programs are designed to help doctoral students meet those challenges together.
Thrive supports first-year doctoral students as they establish themselves at Rice, while the new Thrive Beyond program extends that support to students in the later stages of their doctoral studies.
“Thrive and Thrive Beyond are GPS-sponsored events designed to provide additional tools for our doctoral students to excel,” said Vanessa Espinoza ’22 (Ph.D.) of Rice’s Office of Graduate and Postdoctoral Studies. “We hope that both programs acknowledge grad school is hard and not something you have to do alone.”
Thrive welcomed 170 doctoral students to its first event of the academic year. Students from programs across the university gathered to share a meal, meet classmates and begin building relationships outside their departments.
Seiichi Matsuda, dean of Graduate and Postdoctoral Studies, encouraged students to use the program to expand their circles at Rice.
“The level of participation we’ve seen in GPS spaces has been wonderful,” Matsuda said. “It’s great to see so many doctoral students together in one place. Graduate students need spaces where they can step away from their work, socialize and relax, and we’re pleased to help create those opportunities.”
Matsuda also encouraged students to use the program to expand their circles at Rice.
“Bond with the people you know, but meet someone new over the course of this year,” Matsuda said. “I think it’s really valuable to build connections outside of your department, outside of your degree program.”
For mathematics doctoral student Carlos Taveras, a sense of community is an important foundation for succeeding in a Ph.D. program.
“I think having a university take an active part in this process is necessary, and I’m glad that they’ve done it,” Taveras said. “I do think Rice cares a lot about its students.”
Students also spoke about the practical and personal adjustments that come with beginning a doctoral program. Laurel Bourg, a doctoral student in Earth, Environmental and Planetary Sciences, said she is learning to pace herself while looking forward to meeting people from across Rice.
“I’m really excited to meet people outside of my department,” Bourg said. “There are a lot of great people on campus, and I love making new friends.”
Thrive will offer programming throughout the academic year, including community events, small-group gatherings and conversations about topics such as working with advisers and navigating difficult moments in graduate school.
Thrive Beyond was created to maintain that sense of academic community after the first year. Its inaugural event invited continuing doctoral students to reflect on their priorities and set goals for the year ahead.
“Thrive Beyond is for doctoral students beyond their first year,” Espinoza said. “It was established because we recognize the value of maintaining academic community throughout doctoral studies.”
Together, the two programs provide a connected system of support throughout the doctoral experience — from the transition into graduate school through the years of research, professional development and progress toward a degree.
“It’s OK to lean on your community and take advantage of the resources so that you can succeed,” Espinoza said.