Features – The University of Rhode Island

Commencement 2026

The University of Rhode Island 2026 Commencement ceremonies will be held May 15-17. Each of the College ceremonies will take place in the Ryan Center, and will include the presentation of both bachelor’s and advanced degrees.

URI Magazine Spring 2026

Discover a student-led effort that diverts food waste from the landfill and changes habits. Get a master class in making your yard “bee friendly” and go behind the scenes to get the scoop in URI’s Community News Lab. Read on. There's much more.

Take the Leap

At URI, we'll inspire you, challenge you, invite you to join us on a path of discovery—to learn what fascinates you, to question assumptions, to grow. Are you ready to take the leap?

Ride the Cyclone

The URI Theatre season ends with ‘Ride the Cyclone’ by Jacob Richmond and Brooke Maxwell, which entered the scene in 2009 and has emerged as the Gen Z musical theatre cult classic of today. The production's eight-show run begins on April 17.

Dream Internship, Dream Job

Gianna Fendrich ’25 spent the summer before her senior year as an intern at the NYC offices of Dow Jones. For the New Jersey communication studies major, it was a dream come true. But that's not the end of the story.

A Better Bunny Future

Over the last century, the elusive New England cottontail's numbers have declined precipitously. Now, thanks to URI scientists, the native bunny's prospects are definitely looking up.

URI Day at the State House

State leaders and hundreds of URI students, faculty, and staff celebrated the University’s success and impact during URI Day at the State House in Providence on March 26, 2026.

Meet Winnie

Winsome, a.k.a. “Winnie,” a 2-year-old Golden Retriever/Labrador cross from the Oregon-based non-profit Dogs for Better Lives, provides students with much-needed therapeutic, emotional, and physical support in her new role with the URI Counseling Center.

Going to the Dance

The URI women's basketball team is headed to the "Big Dance" for the opening round of the NCAA tournament. On Saturday, March 21, in Louisville, Kentucky, the No. 11 Rams will face No. 6 Alabama.

A-10 Champions

The top-seeded Rams won the Atlantic 10 Women's Basketball Championship on Mar. 8. Coming up: the 2026 NCAA Division I Women's Basketball Selection Show on ESPN on Sunday, March 15, at 8 p.m.

‘A Midsummer Night’s Dream’

The URI Theatre Department’s production of the beloved Shakespearean comedy, “A Midsummer Night’s Dream,” will begin an eight-show run on Feb. 27 at the Will Theatre.

It’s about Love, Actually

“I wanted to create a space that’s joyful, inclusive, and fun, a place where romance readers feel seen and celebrated,” says Erin Masse '09, who opened her bookstore in October 2025.

2026 Winter Olympics

Kinesiology graduate Amanda Tassoni, a former URI hockey player, was selected by the International Ice Hockey Federation to officiate women's hockey events at the Winter Olympics.

New Student Housing

On Jan. 28, the University will break ground on its newest student housing development, which will add more than 1,100 beds to URI's Kingston Campus. The first new residence hall is slated to open fall 2027.

Transform the Future

The University of Rhode Island offers more than 100 undergraduate majors. We invite you to explore our programs, discover the possibilities, and build your vision of the future. You can do that here.

Life at URI

Welcome to the URI community. Make yourself at home. This is the place where you will forge lifelong friendships, learn more about yourself and the world, and build the foundation for the rest of your life.

ABM 4+1 Programs

When you choose an accelerated bachelor’s to master’s (ABM) program, you can earn two degrees in just five years while focusing on research, internships, scholarship opportunities, and real-world experience.

An Exceptional Education

This fall, the University of Rhode Island was ranked the best public university in New England by The Wall Street Journal for the second year in a row. URI also was ranked No. 9 among public flagship universities nationwide.