Meals, holidays, feelings, burdens, birthdays. So many circumstances are made better when shared. Community is hardwired into us. Humans have always been social beings, and that truth echoes throughout history. It is seen in our architecture, our literature, our songs and art, our ceremonies and traditions. From every corner of the globe and across the timeline of existence, where you find people, you find them together. It is no wonder, then, that even as our current condition calls for us to be apart, we are finding ways to make community happen.

The past several months have challenged our ability to share life with one another, but adversity has a way of inspiring resourcefulness. Turn on the news or scroll through your social media and you will find countless stories of people from across the world finding ways to be together and share experiences even as we maintain distance to protect each other. It is in that spirit that we would like to extend an invitation for you, your family and your friends to join us online this fall.

Our Community Learning & Engagement fall line-up includes short, non-credit courses designed for adult learners. Explore arts, humanities, sciences, social sciences, creative writing, photography, studio art, mind-body practices and many other subjects all online from the safety of your home. And because our fall courses are online, this is the perfect opportunity to share an experience with friends and family members wherever they may live, or even connect with new people with whom you share interests.

There are so many opportunities to find community and personal growth together.

• Take a painting or drawing class with friends.
• Explore the 2020 elections with your siblings.
• Plan a date night with your partner to discover the nature and geology of U.S. national parks.
• Learn about World War I with a grandparent.
• Meet dad for a photography class.
• Explore our country’s green future with your neighbors.
• Or, practice meditation and reconnect with yourself and the world.

Unite your people and your passion online this fall. Whatever your interest, be it meditation, financial planning, creative writing, history and religion, music and theatre, science and technology, health, or even a little bit of everything in one class, Rice is the place to find it … together.

We hope that you will take some time this fall to learn something new, find a lifelong passion, connect with others, and replenish and restore yourself. And to help make that happen, we are offering a 20 percent discount on all of our fall Community Learning & Engagement classes. Just enter the code “FALL20” when you check out. This offer is good throughout the fall and on as many courses as you would like to take.

We can’t wait to see you online this fall.