The start of a new recruiting season is here, and the Rice Business Employer Engagement team is excited to partner with employers as they prepare for fall recruiting. From information sessions and networking events to coffee chats and interviews, now is the ideal time to begin mapping out your recruiting plans for the 2026-27 academic year ahead.
As organizations continue adapting their hiring strategies in a rapidly changing market, thoughtful campus engagement matters more than ever. Rice Business students are eager to connect with companies that invest in meaningful conversations, clear opportunities, and long-term relationships.
Our Employer Engagement team is ready to help you build a recruiting approach that supports your hiring goals while creating impactful experiences for students along the way.
Fall Recruiting Requests Are Now Open
Planning early creates more flexibility and visibility throughout the semester. Whether your organization is returning to campus or exploring Rice Business for the first time, we encourage you to begin submitting recruiting requests and engagement ideas now.
Your Relationship Manager (RM) can help identify opportunities that align with your hiring priorities, introduce new ways to connect with students, and guide you through the scheduling process in 12twenty.
Preparing for a Successful Recruiting Season
1. Explore Available Recruiting Resources
Before finalizing your strategy, take time to review the latest recruiting information and planning tools available through Rice Business.
Key resources include:
- The Recruiting Calendar, featuring important academic dates, recruiting timelines, holidays, and offer response deadlines
- Recruiting Policies designed to support a consistent and positive experience for both employers and students
- Rice MBA Program information to help organizations better understand our MBA student populations, program formats, and talent pipelines
Reviewing these resources early can help your team plan engagements more strategically throughout the semester.
2. Create Opportunities for Connection
Students are looking for more than job descriptions and want to understand the people, purpose, and possibilities behind an organization.
The most effective recruiting strategies often create space for authentic interaction and honest conversation. Think about how your organization can help students envision themselves on your team and what types of engagement will resonate most with your target audience.
Some employers may benefit from structured presentations and formal networking events, while others may find success through smaller conversations, office hours, or casual touchpoints across campus.
For organizations looking to increase visibility within the Rice Business community, sponsoring a Partio (party on the patio) offers a unique opportunity to connect with students in a relaxed and highly attended campus setting. These gatherings have become a signature part of the Rice Business tradition and create space for community, conversation, and relationship building.
3. Submit Detailed Requests in 12twenty
Clear and complete event submissions in 12twenty help our team support your recruiting efforts more effectively and ensure students receive the information they need to engage.
As you prepare your requests, keep the following in mind:
- Use event titles that quickly communicate the purpose of the session
- Clearly identify your intended audience, including program type, graduation year, or areas of interest
- Write descriptions that explain what students will gain from attending
- Include multiple scheduling options whenever possible to improve coordination across campus events and recruiting activity
Once requests are submitted, our team will follow up with next steps and scheduling updates within two to three business days.
Looking Ahead
At Rice Business, recruiting is strengthened through partnership, collaboration, and community. Employers play an important role in helping students explore career paths, expand their networks, and prepare to lead in evolving industries and organizations.
We’re excited to work alongside you throughout the 2026-27 recruiting season and look forward to helping you connect with exceptional Rice Business talent.
Are you interested in recruiting Rice University undergraduate or non-MBA graduate students? Contact Agustina Fernandez-Moya and our colleagues at the Center for Career Development.
