Software Available for Students
Adobe Creative Cloud
How to Obtain: Submit Request
Notes: Students with a faculty or staff sponsor may be approved for a Rice Adobe license; to get started, submit a ticket to the TS&S Service Desk.
- Students without a faculty or staff sponsor may purchase a personal license for Adobe Creative Cloud directly from Adobe.
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- For personal purchases, please use a personal email address, not your Rice email address.
Ansys (Free version)
How to Obtain: Download
Notes:
- No purchase is required.
- Credentials are required to access free tutorials and training.
- This software has limited features.
ArcGIS Pro (ESRI)
How to Obtain: Download
Notes: No purchase is required. The download link provides installation instructions.
AspenOne
How to Obtain: Download
Notes: No purchase is required. The download link above provides installation instructions.
AutoCAD
How to Obtain: Download
Notes: No purchase is required. This is free software for students from the Autodesk Education Community.
Azure Dev Tools for Teaching
How to Obtain: Download/access the cloud platform via Microsoft
Notes: No purchase is required.
- Log in with your NetID@rice.edu and password.
- One-stop access to additional training and learning materials via Microsoft Learn.
ChemDraw Professional
How to Obtain: Registration
Notes: No purchase is required. Installation is available for personal computers. Site licenses for version 19.1 and later are administered through Flexnet Operations.
VPN
EndNote
Gurobi
How to Obtain: Download
Notes: No purchase is required.
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Register with your NetID@rice.edu email for free access.
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For more information: Quick Start Guides.
JMP
How to Obtain: Download
Notes: No purchase is required for installation on personal computers. The download link includes installation instructions.
LabVIEW
How to Obtain: Submit Request
Notes: No purchase required for installation on personal computers. To install this tool, please use the link above to submit a request to the TS&S Service Desk.
Maple
How to Obtain: Purchase
Notes: Purchase required for installation on personal computers.
- For personal purchases, please use a personal email address, not your Rice email.
Mathematica / WolframAlpha Pro
How to Obtain: Desktop Download or Web App available
Notes: No purchase is required. Use Mathematica interactive notebooks to work directly in your web browser—with no installation or configuration required—and share resources in the cloud. Installation is available for personal computers.
MATLAB
How to Obtain: Rice University - MATLAB Access for Everyone - MATLAB & Simulink
Notes: No purchase is required.
- The MATLAB Total Academic Headcount (TAH) agreement with MathWorks provides current students, faculty, and staff with campus-wide access to MATLAB.
- Included: MATLAB Online, MATLAB Mobile, MATLAB Self-paced courses.
- For existing MATLAB accounts from a previous institution: Back up all MATLAB files associated with your previous institution's account.
Microsoft | Office 365
How to Obtain: Log in to Microsoft to download desktop apps/access web apps
Notes: Current Rice students have been assigned licenses (use NetID email and password to log in and authenticate products).
Overleaf (LaTeX)
How to Obtain: See Fondren Library's page
Palisade DecisionTools
How to Obtain: Submit Request
Notes: Installation is available for personal computers by request only.
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Jones Graduate School of Business students must submit a request to jgshelp@rice.edu to obtain software.
Parallels
R Studio Desktop
Rhino
How to Obtain: Download
Notes: No purchase is required for 90-day evaluation versions. Saving and plug-ins will not work after 90 days unless you purchase.
V-ray Plug-in for Rhino
How to Obtain: Download and learn more here
SAS
How to Obtain: Download
Notes: No purchase is required.
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Register with your NetID@rice.edu account to access the software.
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Visit the SAS Academic Hub for information on free e-learning and teaching materials.
ssh (Putty); Xming X for Windows
How to obtain and install SSH (Putty) for Windows
How to obtain and install XmingX for Windows
SolidWorks 2024
How to Obtain: Submit a request for license info, then download.
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Do not download without license and version information.
Notes: No purchase required. Not intended for research purposes.
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Rice students and educators are eligible for the SolidWorks Student License Program.
Stata
How to Obtain: Purchase
Notes: For more information, please see Stata Campus GradPlan pricing.
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Please purchase with a personal email address, not your Rice email.
Zoom Licensed (Pro) Accounts
Contents
Notes:
- When logging into Zoom via single sign-on (SSO), campus users will be auto-provisioned a standard Zoom Licensed (Pro) account
- Please keep your Zoom software updated for the latest security fixes.
- Faculty, staff, graduate students, and undergraduate students have Zoom License accounts.
- Learn more about Zoom Cloud Recording and Zoom Cloud Recording Retention Policy.
- Issues? Check the status of Zoom at Zoom Service Status.
- Google Meet is the recommended backup tool for virtual meetings accessible through the Google Workspace for Education platform.
Login through Application
Step 1: Download Zoom.
Step 2: Launch the application and select Sign in.

Step 3: Select option: Under the options of "or sign in with," choose SSO.

Step 4: Authenticate your identity by entering your NetID username and password.
Step 5: Follow the instructions on the browser, enter (if needed) riceuniversity.zoom.us and select Open zoom.us.

For more information regarding the features of the Zoom application, go to the Zoom website.
Through Application:


Login to Zoom using a web browser
- To Join, Host, or Sign in to Zoom, open the browser to: https://riceuniversity.zoom.us/
- Sign in with your Rice NetID and password
Best Practices for Video Conferencing
The suggestions below will promote successful online video conferencing experiences.
Technical Recommendations
- Run a system check prior to your first meeting each week to ensure you have an up-to-date browser and conference software. Update Zoom software frequently.
- Reboot your computer regularly to ensure your computer is up-to-date and to minimize technical issues.
- Minimize the number of programs running during a meeting, especially those that use internet connectivity or notifications.
- Disconnect other devices (such as printers) from the internet while you are on a video conference.
- Use a computer, instead of a smartphone, so you have a larger screen to see your peers, instructors, and shared materials.
Setting Up
- Allow yourself enough time before the start of class or meeting to connect to the live session, both by audio and video.
- Test your microphone and speakers/headset prior to joining a meeting.
- If possible, use a headset or earbuds since computer speakers can cause static or an echo for other people in the conference.
- Position yourself so that the main source of light (window, ceiling light, lamp) is in front or above you. If you are not in shadow, other participants can see you better, which will facilitate better group interactions.
- To avoid excessive feedback noises in online meetings, mute your microphone when you join a meeting and unmute it only when you want to speak.
Etiquette During the Conference
- Speak as if you are face-to-face with the participants and look at the camera to create eye contact.
- Eliminate distractions (social media, texting) during live meetings so you can be fully present and focused with the other participants.
- Please dress appropriately.
- Manage your physical surroundings before video conferencing. Notify people in your immediate surroundings that you are participating in a video conference so they can avoid disrupting you.
- Often conferences are recorded so take steps to prevent violating the privacy of people in your area by warning them. Remove private information from the view of the camera.
Technical Difficulties During the Conference
- If your video is not working, make sure other programs that utilize the camera are not using the camera and are closed, then restart your computer.
- If your audio has problems, turn off the camera to improve connectivity.
- If you are using Zoom and have not updated your software recently, you may need to install the latest version. See also Zoom Meeting Privacy and Security.
- For assistance, contact the TS&S Service Desk.
- Zoom Mobile Application: Tips and Instructions about using Zoom on a phone or tablet
- Zoom Meeting Privacy & Security: Suggested settings for creating private and secure Zoom sessions
- Getting Started: Desktop, Mobile, Training, FAQ, Installation
- Zoom Video Tutorials: Register for upcoming live training or access recent Zoom Videos (Zoom Meetings, Webinars).
- Support: Zoom Help Center
- Training: Weekly Zoom Training webinars; Zoom Video Tutorials
- Zoom In-Meeting Chat:Send private and public messages during a Zoom call