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Rochester Institute of Technology
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The Rochester Institute of Technology (RIT) is a private university, located in Henrietta, New York, United States, emphasizing undergraduate instruction and career preparation.
Institute as it is known today came to be as a result of a 1891 merger between the Rochester Athenaeum, a literary society founded in 1829 by Colonel Nathaniel Rochester and associates, and the Mechanics Institute, a Rochester institute of practical technical training for local residents founded in 1885 by a consortium of local businessmen including Captain Henry Lomb.
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Encyclopedia
The Rochester Institute of Technology (RIT) is a private university, located in Henrietta, New York, United States, emphasizing undergraduate instruction and career preparation.
History
The Institute as it is known today came to be as a result of a 1891 merger between the Rochester Athenaeum, a literary society founded in 1829 by Colonel Nathaniel Rochester and associates, and the Mechanics Institute, a Rochester institute of practical technical training for local residents founded in 1885 by a consortium of local businessmen including Captain Henry Lomb. In 1944, the university changed its name to Rochester Institute of Technology.
The Institute originally resided within the city of Rochester, New York proper, in an urban campus in the city's central business district just west of the Genesee River. However, by the middle of the twentieth century, RIT began to outgrow its facilities, and surrounding land was extremely scarce and expensive; additionally, in 1959, the New York Department of Public Works announced a new freeway, the Inner Loop, was to be built through the city along a path that bisected the Institute's campus and required demolition of key Institute buildings. In 1961, an unanticipated donation of $3.27 million from local Grace Watson, for whom RIT's dining hall was later named in her honor, allowed the Institute to purchase land for a new campus several miles south along the east bank of the Genesee in suburban Henrietta. Upon completion of the new campus in 1968, the Institute moved to the new suburban campus, where it resides today.
In 1979, RIT acquired Eisenhower College, a liberal arts college located in Seneca, New York. However, RIT could not make Eisenhower economically viable and graduated its last class in 1983.
In 1990, RIT started its first Ph.D. program in Imaging Science, which is also the first Ph.D. program of its kind in the U.S. RIT subsequently established Ph.D programs in two other fields as well.
Today RIT enrolls over 16,494 full-time, part-time, and distance-learning students. Associate's, bachelor's, master's, and doctoral degrees are awarded. The institute includes a federally funded National Technical Institute for the Deaf (NTID). The current president is William W. Destler, formerly a senior vice president for academic affairs and provost at the University of Maryland, College Park. Destler, the Institute's ninth president, took office on July 1, 2007, replacing Albert J. Simone, who retired after 15 years at RIT.
The university's annual budget for 2008-2009 is $571 million , up from $450 million in the previous year. RIT's endowment fund is worth $544 million.
Academics
The university is well-known for its information technology, imaging, business, engineering, art, and photography programs. It also has one of the oldest cooperative education programs in the United States in which students hold a full-time job for a period (while not taking classes) as part of their graduation requirements. The school year is divided according to the quarter system.
Colleges
In addition to these colleges, RIT operates three schools in Europe:
On December 5, 2007, RIT announced that a campus will be opening in Dubai, UAE in Fall of 2008. This campus will be called RIT Dubai.
Notable academic programs
The Imaging science department was the first at the Institute to offer a doctoral program, in 1989, and remains the only formal program in Imaging Science in the nation (as a multidisciplinary field--separate consituent fields of physics, optics, and computer science are common in higher education). Associations exist between the department and Rochester-area imagery and optics companies such as Xerox, Kodak, and the ITT Corporation. Such connections have reinforced the research portfolio, expertise, and graduate reputation of the imaging researchers and staff of the department. As of 2008, imaging-related research has the largest budget at the Institute from grants and independent research.
The Microelectronic Engineering program, created in 1982, was the nation's first Bachelor of Science program specializing in the
fabrication of semiconductor devices and integrated circuits.
The information technology program was the first nationally recognized IT degree, created in 1993.
In 1996, Rochester Institute of Technology established the first software engineering Bachelor's degree program in the United States but did not obtain ABET until 2003, the same time as Clarkson University, Milwaukee School of Engineering and Mississippi State University.
RIT is among the top colleges and universities in the nation for programs in the fine arts, placing in the top 10 for many of the college's programs, including Photography (3rd), Glass art (2nd), Industrial design (8th) and others.
The 2008 America's Best Colleges ranked by Forbes.com placed RIT at #567.
Campus
The current campus is housed on a 1,300 acre (5 km²) property. This property is largely covered with woodland and fresh-water swamp making it a very diverse wetland which is home to a number of somewhat rare plant species. The campus comprises 237 buildings and 5.1 million square feet (474,000 m²) of building space. The nearly universal use of bricks in the campus's construction — estimated at 14,673,565 bricks in late 2006 — prompted students to give it the pseudo-affectionate nickname "Brick City," reflected in the name of events such as the annual "Brick City Homecoming."
The residence halls and the academic side of campus are connected with a walkway called the "Quarter Mile." Along the Quarter Mile, between the academic and residence hall side are various administration and support buildings. The Quarter Mile is actually 1/3rd of a mile when measured out. Many myths try to explain the misnomer. On the academic side of the walkway is a courtyard, known as the Infinity Quad due to a sculpture of a Möbius strip (commonly referred to as the infinity loop because if the sun hits the strip at a certain angle it will cast a shadow in the shape of an infinity symbol on the ground) in the middle of it; on the residence hall side is a sundial and a clock. These symbols represent time to infinity. Standing near the Administration Building and the Student Alumni Union is The Sentinel, a steel structure created by the acclaimed metal sculptor, Albert Paley. Reaching 70 feet (21 m) high and weighing 110 tons, the sculpture is the largest on any American university campus. There are five RIT-owned apartment complexes; Colony Manor, Perkins Green, Racquet Club, Riverknoll and University Commons.
Along the Quarter Mile is the Gordon Field House, a , two-story athletic center. Opened in 2004 and named in honor of Lucius "Bob" Gordon and his wife Marie, the Field House hosts numerous campus and community activities, including concerts, career fairs, athletic competitions, graduations, and other functions. Other facilities between the residence halls and academic buildings include the Hale-Andrews Student Life Center, Student Alumni Union, Ingle Auditorium, Clark Gymnasium, Frank Ritter Memorial Ice Arena, and the Schmitt Interfaith Center.
Park Point at RIT
Park Point at RIT (originally referred to as "College Town") recently opened on the northeast corner of the campus. Park Point is a commercial enterprise operated by Wilmorite Properties. The Shops at Park Point are anchored by a Barnes & Noble academic superstore, which also doubles as the campus' new bookstore. The shops also include Restaurants, a salon, and a convenience store. Park Point houses 940 tenants in 300 apartments. Park Point is accessible to the rest of campus through numerous paths and roads connecting Park Point to the Main Loop.
The centerpiece of Park Point is Simone Square, named in honor of eighth President of RIT Dr. Albert J. Simone, an enthusiastic backer of the project during his time in office. Said Simone at the groundbreaking ceremonies, "We're doing this to increase a sense of community on RIT's campus. That way, students can have a place to release their energies after a hard day on campus and still be together with their classmates and see faculty and staff in a social setting."
Research
While RIT is traditionally a teaching university, its research programs are rapidly expanding. The total value of research grants to RIT faculty for FY 2007-2008 totaled $48.5 million dollars , an increase of more than 22% over the grants from the previous year. RIT offers six Ph.D. programs in Imaging Science (1989), Microsystems Engineering (2002), Computing and Information Science (2006), Color Science (2007), (2008), and Sustainability (2008).
In 1986, RIT founded the Chester F. Carlson , and started its first doctoral program in Imaging Science in 1989. The Imaging Science department also offers the only Bachelors (BS) and Masters (MS) degree programs in imaging science in the country. The Carlson Center features a diverse research portfolio; its major research areas include Digital Image Restoration, Remote Sensing, Magnetic Resonance Imaging, Printing Systems Research, Color Science, Nanoimaging, Imaging Detectors, Astronomical Imaging, Visual Perception, and Ultrasonic Imaging.
The was founded by RIT in 1986. The institute was the first university to offer a Bachelor's degree in Microelectronic Engineering. The Center's facilities include 50,000 square feet (4,600 m²) of building space with 10,000 square feet (930 m²) of clean room space; the building will undergo an expansion later this year. Its research programs include nano-imaging, nano-lithography, nano-power, micro-optical devices, photonics subsystems integration, high-fidelity modeling and heterogeneous simulation, microelectronic manufacturing, microsystems integration, and micro-optical networks for computational applications.
The (CASCI) is a multidisciplinary center housed in the College of Computing and Information Sciences. The Departments of Computer Science, Software Engineering, Information Technology, Computer Engineering, Imaging Science, and Bioinformatics collaborate in a variety of research programs at this center. RIT was the first university to launch a Bachelor's program in Information technology in 1991, the first university to launch a Bachelor's program in Software Engineering in 1996, and was also among the first universities to launch a Computer science Bachelor's program in 1972. RIT helped standardize the Forth programming language, and developed the CLAWS software package.
The Center for Computational Relativity and Gravitation was founded in 2007. The CCRG comprises faculty and postdoctoral research associates working in the areas of general relativity, gravitational waves, and galactic dynamics. Computing facilities in the CCRG include gravitySimulator, a novel 32-node supercomputer that uses special-purpose hardware to achieve speeds of 4TFlops in gravitational N-body calculations, and newHorizons, a state-of-the art 85-node Linux cluster for numerical relativity simulations.
Recently, the Center for Biotechnology Education and Training (CBET) has been established. The facility was created to train future employees in the field of biotechnology as well as to promote research in the vast field of biosciences, including bioinformatics, molecular biology, genetics, immunology, and biochemistry.
Athletics
RIT has 24 men's and women's varsity teams. All of RIT's teams are in the NCAA's Division III, with the exception of the men's hockey program, which joined the Division I Atlantic Hockey Association in 2006. Additionally, RIT has a wide variety of club, intramural, and pick-up sports and teams to provide a less-competitive recreational option to students. The Rochester Institute of Technology Department of Athletics currently sponsors Men's Intercollegiate Baseball, Basketball, Crew, Cross Country, Ice Hockey, Lacrosse, Soccer, Swimming, Tennis, Track & Field and Wrestling along with Women's Intercollegiate Basketball, Softball, Cheerleading, Tennis, Swimming, Track & Field, Ice Hockey, Volleyball, Soccer, Cross Country, and Crew.
Tom Coughlin, coach of the NFL's 2008 Super Bowl champion New York Giants, taught physical education and coached the RIT Men's Club Football team in the 1970s.
Mascot
RIT's athletics nickname is the "Tigers", a name given following an undefeated basketball season in the 1950s. Prior to that, RIT's athletic teams were called the "Techmen" and had blue and silver as the sports colors. In 1963, RIT purchased a rescued Bengal tiger which became the Institute's mascot, named SPIRIT. He was taken to sports events until 1964, when he was put down. The original tiger's pelt now resides in the school's archives at the on-campus library. RIT helped the Seneca Park Zoo purchase a new tiger shortly after SPIRIT's death, but it was not used as a school mascot. A metal sculpture in the center of the Henrietta campus now provides an everlasting version of the mascot.
RIT's team mascot is a version of this Bengal Tiger named RITchie. After it was announced that the RIT Men's Hockey Team was moving from Division III to Division I in 2005, RITchie was redesigned and made his debut in the fall of 2006.
Co-op program
RIT's co-op program, which began in 1912, is the fourth oldest in the world. It is also the fifth largest in the nation, with approximately 3,500 students completing a co-op each year at over 2,000 businesses. The program requires (or allows, depending on major) students to work in the workplace for up to three quarters alternating with quarters of class. The amount of co-op varies by major, usually between 3 and 5 three-month "blocks" or academic quarters. Many employers prefer students to co-op for two consecutive blocks, referred to as a "double-block co-op". During a co-op, the student is not required to pay tuition to the school and is still considered a "full time" student.
Because many majors require at least a year of co-op experience, the majority of undergraduate degree programs at RIT require five years to complete.
Presidents and provosts
| Institute provosts | Name | Tenure |
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| Todd H. Bullard | August 1, 1970 – 1980 | | Robert G. Quinn | 1980 – January, 1983 | | Thomas R. Plough | January, 1983 – 1995 | | Stanley D. McKenzie | 1995 – June 30, 2008 | | Jeremy A. Haefner | July 1, 2008 – present |
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Campus life
In addition to its academic and athletic endeavors, RIT has over 150 student clubs, 10 major student organizations, a diverse Interfaith center and 29 different Greek organizations.
RIT has its own ambulance corps, , , Radio Station (WITR FM 89.7), , , , , , , Formula SAE Racing Team, and SAE AeroDesign team, just to name a few organizations. RIT also has its own student-run theatre company, the that does two shows a year as well as numerous student-run productions throughout the year. During the winter hockey season, many RIT students, staff, and alumni unite to follow the RIT Tigers as a tenacious and eccentric fan base known as the . RIT's Gordon Field House is not only home to competitive and recreational athletics and aquatics, but also houses a fitness center and hosts frequent concerts and other entertainment. The Field House, also known as Building 24, kicked off its inaugural year of performances with concerts by artists including Kanye West and Bob Dylan in Fall of 2004. It is the 2nd largest venue in Rochester, next to Blue Cross Arena.
Deaf and hard-of-hearing students
One of RIT's unique features is the large presence of deaf and hard of hearing students, which make up more than 10% of the student body. The National Technical Institute for the Deaf, one of RIT's eight colleges, provides interpreting and captioning services to students for classes and events. Many courses' lectures at RIT are interpreted into American Sign Language or transliterated into Signed English for the benefit of hard-of-hearing and deaf students. There are several deaf and hard-of-hearing professors and lecturers, too; an interpreter can vocalize their lectures for hearing students. This significant portion of the RIT population provides another dynamic to the school's diversity, and it has contributed to Rochester's high number of deaf residents per-capita. In 2006, Lizzie Sorkin made RIT history when she became the first deaf RIT Student Government President.
Fraternities and sororities
hosts 29 chapters (17 Fraternities and 13 Sororities), which make up a small but significant percentage of the total RIT population, usually ranging between 6% and 8%. RIT built six large buildings for Greek students on the academic side of campus next to the Riverknoll apartments. In addition to these six houses, there is also limited space within the residence halls for another six chapters.
Special Interest Houses
RIT is home to seven , which are part of the housing system. A special-interest house provides an environment to live immersed in a specific interest, such as photography, engineering, or computing. Members of a special-interest house share their interests with each other and the rest of campus through academic focus and special activities. Special Interest Houses are self-governing and accept members based on their own criteria. The Special Interest Houses are: , Computer Science House, , , , , and .
ROTC programs
RIT is the host of the Air Force ROTC Detachment 538 and the Army ROTC . RIT students may also enroll in the NROTC program which is based at the University of Rochester.
Honors program
Starting in 2000, RIT began admitting students in the top of their application pools into the . Each college participates voluntarily in the program and defines their own program details. As an example, the College of Engineering focuses on engineering in a global economy, and uses much of the honors budget to pay for domestic and international trips for engineering students. In contrast, the College of Science is focused on expanding research, and provides most of its budget to student research endeavors. Students admitted to the program are given a small scholarship and have the opportunity to live in the honors residence hall.
Imagine RIT: Innovation and Creativity Festival
The Imagine RIT: Innovation and Creativity Festival kicks off Rochester's festival season. The festival, which takes place each spring, is designed to demonstrate what can be accomplished when, as RIT President William Destler likes to say, "the right brain and left brain collide."
Imagine RIT allows the RIT community to showcase its innovative and creative spirit to the world. Visitors learn about new ideas for products and services, admire fine art, explore faculty and student research and examine engineering design projects. Theatrical and musical performances take place on stages throughout the RIT campus. Hundreds of interactive exhibits stimulate the imagination of people of all ages. Carnival rides and other attractions provide entertainment for kids. It's all free and open to the public. More than 17,000 people attended the inaugural festival on May 3, 2008. This year's festival will be on May 2, 2009.
Alumni
RIT boasts over 100,000 alumni from all 50 U.S. states and over 100 countries.
External links
- RIT Colleges:
- [https://www2.rit.edu/175/campuslife.html RIT History]
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