Jones College
Jones College was built as the first women’s dormitory at Rice University. The building was made possible because of a $1 million donation from Houston philanthropist Jesse H. Jones. The college was named in honor of his wife, Mary Gibbs Jones. Jones College, which consisted of two buildings – Jones North and Jones South – opened to the first female residents in September 1957.
In the early days, Jones College’s culture was quite conservative since the college was all-female. The women were always expected to maintain “ladylike” manners. At meals, each table had a hostess, and dinner was served family style. Strict rules were enforced by house mothers when men from the south colleges visited the female students. The students even had to abide by a strict curfew – 11 PM on weekdays and 2 AM on weekends.
In the 1970s, Jones began phasing out many of the strictest rules, but some women were still unsatisfied with the college. In 1972, some Jones women took the opportunity to transfer to Baker and Hanszen, the first two co-ed colleges. 1972 was also the year of the first Women’s Beer Bike Race. Jones lost Beer Bike to Brown that year, but it went on to win in 1975, 1978, 1979, and 1980.
Courses Offered
Associate Degrees
- Business Administration
- Computer Information Systems
- Legal Assistant
- Medical Assistant
Bachelor Degrees
- Allied Health Management
- Business Administration
- Computer Information Systems
- Interdisciplinary Studies
- Elementary Education
- Legal Assistant
Online Degrees
- Business Administration
- Computer Information Systems
- Interdisciplinary Studies
- Legal Assistant (FL Residents only)
Colleges
- College of Arts & Sciences
- College of Christian Ministries & Religion
- College of Education
- College of Business and Legal Studies
Contact Details
Jones College
1.800.631.4056
Official Website: http://www.jones.edu/
