Rice University - Susanne M. Glasscock School of Continuing Studies

What Rice University - Susanne M. Glasscock School of Continuing Studies does

The Susanne M. Glasscock School of Continuing Studies is a continuing and professional education division of Rice University, established in 1968 to provide career-changers, professionals, educators, K-12 students, lifelong learners, and language learners with university-caliber educational programming. It operates from the 53,000-square-foot LEED Gold certified Anderson-Clarke Center on the Rice campus in Houston, Texas, with course management and online registration supported by continue.rice.edu. The school's portfolio spans graduate degree programs (Master of Arts in Teaching, Master of Interdisciplinary Studies, and Diploma in Liberal Studies), PreK-12 educator professional development (AP Summer Institutes, IB workshops, dual credit teacher credentialing, college access counseling certificate, early literacy leadership academy), corporate and cohort-based professional training, foreign language and ESL instruction, K-12 pre-college programs, and short non-credit courses for adult lifelong learners, delivered through centers including the Center for College Readiness, School Literacy and Culture, Center for Community Learning and Engagement, and Center for Philanthropy and Nonprofit Leadership.

The school's business model combines tuition-bearing graduate degrees (estimated $36,000-$45,000 per completer for MIS and DLS), per-course non-credit fees with Rice alumni and employee discounts, customized corporate training contracts, foreign language program registration across four annual sessions, and grant-funded programming (e.g., Houston Endowment, U.S. Department of Education, NSF, Chan Zuckerberg Initiative). It monetizes through a hybrid channel mix: direct online registration, in-person and phone enrollment, on-site corporate delivery, and school district partnerships across 13 Houston-area districts and nationally. Revenue is not publicly disclosed, with the school functioning as a self-supporting division subsidized by Rice University and external philanthropy rather than as a freestanding commercial entity.

The school's go-to-market is community- and partnership-led: long-tenured relationships with Houston-area school districts (Houston, Aldine, Alief, Fort Bend, Spring Branch ISDs), endorsements from the College Board and International Baccalaureate, and Rice University's brand and alumni network feed enrollment pipelines. Distinctive programmatic assets include the OWL (Oral and Written Language) Lab replication model, now operating 9 labs serving 3,500+ students, the Lifelong University initiative for retirees, and the Dual Credit Teacher Credentialing program with 600+ alumni. Cumulative impact metrics (75,000+ educators/students across 50 states and 53 countries via the Center for College Readiness, and 10,000+ IB teachers trained since 2005) suggest substantial reach despite a relatively small core staff (~50) anchored at the Anderson-Clarke Center.

Name

Rice University - Susanne M. Glasscock School of Continuing Studies

Legal name

Susanne M. Glasscock School of Continuing Studies at Rice University

Website

https://continue.rice.edu

Company type

Private

Founded year

1968

Operating status

Operating

Headcount range

51–100 employees

Short description

The Susanne M. Glasscock School of Continuing Studies is the continuing and professional education division of Rice University, offering graduate degrees, PreK-12 educator training, corporate programs, foreign language and ESL instruction, and lifelong learning courses to degree seekers, professionals, educators, K-12 students, and community learners.

Ownership category

akta.pro rank

Product category

Continuing Education

NAICS

Colleges, Universities, and Professional Schools (6113), Educational Services (61)

SIC

Services-Educational Services (8200)

akta.pro primary industry

Workforce Development & Continuing Education Divisions (Noncredit) (EDAHADAG)

akta.pro secondary industries

Secondary & Subject-Area Teacher Preparation Programs (STEM, Humanities, etc.) (EDAHAFAH), Language & Communication Continuing Education (EDAAAEAF), Early Childhood & Elementary Teacher Preparation Programs (EDAHAFAG), University-Led Summer/Winter Schools (Credit/Non-Credit) (EDAIAIAA), Subject-Specific Short Courses & Academies (e.g., STEM, Business, Arts) (EDAIAIAC)

Keywords

• Continuing education
• Professional development
• Graduate degree programs
• Teacher certification
• Corporate training

Headquarters

HQ city

Houston

HQ country

United States

HQ region

North America

Offices2 records

Markets served

GTM type

B2B and B2C

Offering type

Services

Cost components

Personnel, Infrastructure, Operations, Marketing or Sales, Others

Revenue model

1. Non-credit course fees: Short, non-credit courses in arts, humanities, sciences, social sciences, creative writing, photography, and studio art for adults. Taught by Rice faculty and community experts in day and evening formats, in person and online.
2. Graduate degree programs (MIS and DLS): Master of Interdisciplinary Studies (MIS) degree (~estimated $45,000 tuition and fees for 4-year completion) and Diploma in Liberal Studies (DLS) degree (~estimated $36,000 tuition and fees for 4-year completion), both taught in person on the Rice campus.
3. Professional and corporate development programs: Customized corporate training and cohort-based professional development programs for organizations, including courses in communications, marketing, computer science, data science, financial services, healthcare, human resources, leadership, legal studies, management, and philanthropy.
4. Foreign Language Program: Language instruction in eight foreign languages (Spanish, French, Italian, Portuguese, Arabic, Russian, Japanese, Mandarin Chinese) offered year-round in four sessions per year, with registration fees and application process.
5. Charles Butt Scholarship ( Raise Your Hand Texas Foundation): $8,000 annual funding for up to four years awarded through the Raise Your Hand Texas Foundation for aspiring teachers enrolled in Rice's Master of Arts in Teaching or Teacher Certification programs.

Pricing tiers

Go-to-market motion2 records

Distribution channels6 records

Marketing channels8 records

Core offering

The Glasscock School provides continuing education at Rice University, delivering graduate degrees (Master of Arts in Teaching, Master of Interdisciplinary Studies, Diploma in Liberal Studies), customized and cohort-based corporate training, PreK-12 educator certification and AP/IB professional development, foreign language and ESL instruction in eight languages, K-12 youth enrichment programs, and non-credit lifelong learning courses for adults. Programs are delivered on-campus at the Anderson-Clarke Center in Houston, online, and on-site at employer and school district locations.

Product overview

The Susanne M. Glasscock School of Continuing Studies at Rice University operates as a comprehensive continuing education institution offering a multi-faceted portfolio of educational products and services. The school provides three graduate degree programs (Master of Arts in Teaching, Master of Interdisciplinary Studies, and Diploma in Liberal Studies) alongside numerous professional development tracks including corporate training, teacher certification, and educational workshops. Key programmatic centers include the Center for Community Learning and Engagement (non-credit lifelong learning), Center for College Readiness (AP/IB training), and School Literacy & Culture (early childhood education). Language instruction is delivered through dedicated ESL and Foreign Language programs. Youth programming encompasses pre-college experiences and summer camps. The institution also administers scholarship programs like the Charles Butt Scholarship and maintains specialized facilities including the LEED Gold-certified Anderson-Clarke Center.

Differentiator

Problem solved

Functional benefit

Products and services

• Master of Arts in Teaching (MAT)
• Master of Interdisciplinary Studies (MIS)
• Diploma in Liberal Studies (DLS)
• Corporate Programs (Custom and Cohort-Based)
• Center for Community Learning and Engagement (Non-Credit Lifelong Learning Courses)
• Center for College Readiness (CCR)
• School Literacy & Culture (SLC)
• English as a Second Language (ESL) Programs
• Foreign Language Program
• K-12 Student Programs (Aerospace Academy, Creative Writing Camp, NYLF Medicine & Health Care, Precollege Online)
• Alternative Teacher Certification
• Principal Certification
• Center for Philanthropy & Nonprofit Leadership (CPNL)
• Dual Credit Teacher Credentialing
• Charles Butt Scholarship for Aspiring Teachers
• College Access Counseling Certificate
• Advanced Placement (AP) Programs
• International Baccalaureate (IB) Programs
• Lifelong University

Quantifiable outcome

• Trained more than 75,000 educators and students from all 50 states and 53 countries
• +3 more outcomes

Named customers8 records

Segments7 records

Ideal customer profiles5 records

Technology focussed No

API detail

Has API

No

API docs

API detail

Core technology

AI maturity

App detail

Feature2 records

Partnerships

Eight partnerships are on record, tiered core, major and minor.

• Raise Your Hand Texas FoundationcoreStrategic or Co-development PartnerThe Charles Butt Scholarship for Aspiring Teachers is administered by the Raise Your Hand Texas Foundation, providing $8,000 annual funding for up to four years, ongoing training, mentorship, and participation in a statewide aspiring teachers network. Approximately 100 scholarships awarded annually through 10 partner universities.
• Association of Graduate Liberal Studies Programs (AGLSP)coreStrategic or Co-development PartnerRice University hosts the national office and is a member institution of AGLSP. Rebecca Sharp serves as Treasurer on the AGLSP Executive Board. AGLSP provides a forum for exchange of information among graduate interdisciplinary liberal arts programs.
• Houston-Area School Districts (Alief, Alvin, Channelview, Deer Park, Dickinson, Fort Bend, Goose Creek, Houston, Humble, Klein, La Porte, Pasadena, Spring)coreStrategic or Co-development Partner13 Houston-area school districts participate in the Houston Endowment-funded College Readiness Initiative to improve college readiness for students in consortium schools.
• College BoardcoreStrategic or Co-development PartnerThe Glasscock School is endorsed by the College Board to offer Advanced Placement Summer Institutes for AP and Pre-AP teachers, operating since 1995.
• International Baccalaureate (IB)coreStrategic or Co-development PartnerThe Glasscock School has been endorsed by IB since 2005 to offer IB DP Workshop training for teachers and administrators, having trained close to 10,000 IB teachers from across the globe.
• AVID CentermajorStrategic or Co-development PartnerCollaborative partner in the Houston area College Readiness Initiative funded by Houston Endowment.
• Houston ISDcoreStrategic or Co-development PartnerHouston ISD hosts OWL Replication Labs at Fonwood Early Childhood Center and Ninfa Laurenzo Early Childhood Center, and is partner in Project Equip and the College Readiness Initiative.
• Baker Ripley Community SchoolsminorStrategic or Co-development PartnerBaker Ripley Community Schools hosts OWL Replication Labs at Gulfton Campus and Ripley House Campus, serving diverse communities.

Scale indicators10 records

Recent moves7 records

Expansion highlights6 records

Direct peers

• Harvard Extension School: Harvard's continuing and professional education division offering graduate degrees, certificates, and non-credit courses for adult learners; closely comparable in mission, university affiliation, and program mix to Glasscock at Rice.
• Columbia University School of Professional Studies: Columbia's school offering graduate degrees, certificates, and professional programs for working adults; closely comparable in mission (graduate interdisciplinary/professional study for adult learners) to Glasscock's MIS and corporate programs.
• UCLA Extension: UCLA's continuing education arm offering certificates, professional development, and degree-related programs; comparable in scale, university affiliation, and breadth of professional programs to Glasscock.
• Northwestern School of Professional Studies: Northwestern's school offering graduate degrees and professional certificates for working professionals; aligns with Glasscock's MIS/DLS and Center for Philanthropy & Nonprofit Leadership programs in audience and mission.
• MIT Professional Education: MIT's professional and continuing education division delivering short courses, certificates, and custom corporate programs; comparable to Glasscock's corporate and professional development portfolio, anchored by elite university brand.
• Duke Continuing Studies: Duke's continuing education program offering non-credit courses, certificates, and youth programs; mirrors Glasscock's portfolio of lifelong learning, professional development, and pre-college offerings within a top-tier research university.
• Stanford Continuing Studies: Stanford's lifelong learning program providing non-credit liberal arts and sciences courses for adults; mirrors Glasscock's Center for Community Learning & Engagement and Lifelong University offerings.

Emerging players

• Coursera: Online learning platform partnering with universities for non-credit certificates, courses, and degree programs; competes with Glasscock's online non-credit and corporate training programs on price and reach.

Regional players

• SMU CAPE (Continuing and Professional Education): Southern Methodist University's continuing education division based in Dallas, offering certificates and corporate programs; comparable in mission but operating in the DFW metro rather than Houston.
• University of Houston Continuing Education: Houston's primary public-university continuing education provider, serving overlapping Houston audiences with similar non-credit, language, and professional programs; the closest geographic direct competitor in the local market.

Market position

Strengths5 records

Weaknesses5 records

Competitive moat5 records

Key risks6 records

Key highlights7 records

Customer concentration

• LinkedInlinkedin.com/school/ricecontinuingstudies

Compliance1 record

Revenue estimate

Valuation estimate

Number of profiles

Profiles10 records

Subsidiaries7 records

Funding overview

Funding rounds

Investors

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M&A

Investments

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Frequently asked questions about Rice University - Susanne M. Glasscock School of Continuing Studies