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>> DR. JEREMY HAEFNER: GOOD
MORNING, EVERYONE.
IT'S A THRILL TO SEE THE INGEL
AUDITORIUM SO FULL WITH LIVELY
CONVERSATION AND I HATE TO
INTERRUPT IT BUT WE HAVE A
WONDERFUL PROGRAM HERE FOR THE
"PRESIDENT'S ADDRESS TO THE
COMMUNITY".
IT'S A GLORIOUS MORNING HERE
FOLLOWING A WEEK OF EARTHQUAKES
AND HURRICANES AND WE'RE ALL
VERY GRATEFUL FOR THE CLEAR
BLUE SKIES.
IT'S MY
PLEASURE TO WELCOME YOU TO THE
INAUGURATION OF THE 2011-2012
ACADEMIC YEAR WITH OUR
TRADITIONAL "PRESIDENT'S
ADDRESS TO THE COMMUNITY."
I AM JEREMY HAEFNER, PROVOST
AND SENIOR VICE PRESIDENT FOR
ACADEMIC AFFAIRS.
AS WE BEGIN, PLEASE STAND AND
JOIN ME IN SINGING THE
NATIONAL ANTHEM, FOLLOWED BY
OUR ALMA MATER. ROHIT CRASTA,
A STUDENT IN THE GAME DESIGN
AND DEVELOPMENT PROGRAM IN THE
B. THOMAS GOLISANO COLLEGE OF
COMPUTING AND INFORMATION
SCIENCES AND A MEMBER OF ONE OF
OUR STUDENT A CAPPALLA GROUPS,
EIGHT BEAT MEASURE, WILL LEAD
US IN THE SINGING, ACCOMPANIED
BY EDWARD SCHELL, ASSOCIATE
PROFESSOR OF MUSIC, DEPARTMENT
OF FINE ARTS, FROM THE COLLEGE
OF LIBERAL ARTS.
.
[MUSIC]
>> OH! SAY, CAN YOU SEE, BY
THE DAWN'S EARLY LIGHT,
WHAT SO PROUDLY WE HAILED AT
THE TWILIGHT'S LAST GLEAMING?
WHOSE BROAD STRIPES AND BRIGHT
STARS, THROUGH THE PERILOUS
FIGHT,
O'ER THE RAMPARTS WE WATCHED
WERE SO GALLANTLY STREAMING?
AND THE ROCKET'S RED GLARE, THE
BOMBS BURSTING IN AIR,
GAVE PROOF THROUGH THE NIGHT
THAT OUR FLAG WAS STILL THERE.
OH! SAY, DOES THAT
STAR-SPANGLED BANNER YET WAVE
O'ER THE LAND OF THE FREE AND
THE HOME OF THE BRAVE?
[APPLAUSE].
[MUSIC]
>> HAIL, RIT! TOGETHER
STAND;
CREATING GOOD WITH MIND AND
HAND;
INSPIRED TO LEARN 'TILL LIFE IS
DONE,
AS TEACHERS, LEARNERS, ALL ARE
ONE!
WITH PRIDE IN OUR DIVERSITY,
A SPIRIT OF COMMUNITY,
WE ARE THE MEN, THE WOMEN
OF THE FUTURE HERE, AT RIT!
FROM RIT, OUR COURSE IS
SET;
WE CELEBRATE A PROMISE KEPT:
A LIFE, A LIVING YOU HAVE
TAUGHT;
LET NEW HORIZONS NOW BE SOUGHT!
[APPLAUSE].
>> DR. JEREMY HAEFNER: AS YOU
CAN SEE OUR
CEREMONY THIS MORNING IS
ENRICHED BY THE PRESENCE AND
EXPERTISE OF OUR PROFESSIONAL
SIGN LANGUAGE INTERPRETERS AND
REAL-TIME CAPTIONISTS. WE
THANK THEM FOR THEIR IMPORTANT
WORK IN FACILITATING ACCESS TO
COMMUNICATION.
PLEASE JOIN ME IN THANKING OUR
INTERPRETERS.
[APPLAUSE].
>> DR. JEREMY HAEFNER: I
WOULD ALSO LIKE TO ASK YOU TO
JOIN ME IN WELCOMING MEMBERS
OF OUR BOARD OF TRUSTEES WHO
HAVE JOINED US THIS MORNING.
PLEASE, WELCOME OUR TRUSTEES.
[APPLAUSE]
>> JEREMY HAEFNER: AHH,
SUMMER - IT IS THAT TIME OF
THE YEAR WHEN WE CRAM IN ALL
THE STUFF THAT WE WEREN'T ABLE
TO GET IN DURING THE OTHER NINE
MONTHS. AND THAT'S JUST THE
WORK PART! ONE OF MY SUMMER
GOALS, AS FUTILE AS IT MAY BE,
WAS TO CATCH UP ON ALL READING
I COULDN'T GET TO DURING THE
ACADEMIC YEAR.
I DID READ A COUPLE OF
CAPTIVATING BOOKS AND MY
FAVORITE WAS CALLED
"MOONWALKING WITH EINSTEIN" BY
JOSH FOER.
WHAT
MAKES THIS BOOK STAND OUT IS
THAT THE AUTHOR DIVES INTO THE
FASCINATING CULTURE OF MEMORY
COMPETITION, THE SCIENCE OF
MEMORY, THE PEOPLE WITH
INCREDIBLE MEMORY SKILLS, AND
OF COURSE, MOST IMPORTANTLY .
. . THE . . . THE . . . WELL,
CANARY READING DE CART READING
IN HIS UNDERWARE THE VISUAL
IMAGES THAT WE CAN RECALL SO WE
CAN CREATE AND ENHANCE OUR
INNOVATIVE POWERS.
IT'S A GREAT BOOK AND I HIGHLY
RECOMMEND IT.
AT LEAST THE PARTS I CAN
REMEMBER.
LATER THIS WEEK AT THE
CONVOCATION FOR NEW STUDENTS
AND FAMILIES, A SERIES OF
SPEAKERS INCLUDING DR. DESTLER,
DR. COOPER, MR. GREG ***,
AND I WILL PLEDGE TO PARENTS
THAT THEIR STUDENTS HAVE CHOSEN
THE RIGHT COLLEGE AND ARE IN
GOOD HANDS WITH US. WE WILL
PLEDGE TO OUR INCOMING
FIRST-YEAR STUDENTS THAT RIT IS
COMMITTED TO PROVIDING THEM AN
OUTSTANDING, RIGOROUS
EDUCATIONAL EXPERIENCE BOTH
INSIDE AND OUTSIDE THE
CLASSROOM. AND WE WILL PLEDGE
TO PREPARE THIS NEW GENERATION
THAT HAS GROWN UP ON WEBSITES
AND MARPS TO BECOME
SUCCESSFUL AND CONTRIBUTING
CITIZENS OF A NATION STRUGGLING
WITH FUNDAMENTAL ISSUES SUCH
AS THE LAGGING JOB MARKET, A
WIDELY SWINGING STOCK MARKET,
AND HEALTH CARE AS WELL AS A
GLOBAL SOCIETY IN FLUX THAT
THEY CANNOT AND MUST NOT
IGNORE. IT IS, WHEN YOU THINK
ABOUT IT, A HUGE RESPONSIBILITY
THAT NONE OF US TAKE LIGHTLY.
OUR FIRST STEP IN DELIVERING ON
THESE PLEDGES BEGINS WITH THIS
MORNING'S SPEAKERS. THE CHAIRS
OF THE ACADEMIC SENATE AND
STAFF COUNCIL, THE PRESIDENT OF
STUDENT GOVERNMENT, AND OUR
CHIEF DIVERSITY OFFICER WILL
EACH HAVE ABOUT FIVE MINUTES
TO WELCOME YOU AND BRIEFLY
OUTLINE THEIR VISION AND PLANS
FOR THE UPCOMING YEAR. WHEN
THEY ARE FINISHED, DR. DESTLER
WILL DELIVER HIS "PRESIDENT'S
ADDRESS."
SO, LET'S GET STARTED. I AM
PLEASED TO INTRODUCE OUR FIRST
SPEAKER THIS MORNING, PROFESSOR
PAUL TYMANN, CHAIR OF THE
ACADEMIC SENATE AND CHAIR OF
THE COMPUTER SCIENCE
DEPARTMENT IN THE B. THOMAS
GOLISANO COLLEGE OF
INFORMATION AND COMPUTING
SCIENCES. PAUL.
[APPLAUSE]
.
>> PAUL TYMANN: GOOD MORNING.
ON BEHALF OF
THE ACADEMIC SENATE IT IS MY
PLEASURE TO WELCOME YOU TO THE
2011-2012 ACADEMIC YEAR. I
HOPE THAT YOU HAD A
REJUVENATING SUMMER AND THAT
YOU ARE READY TO START ANOTHER
ACADEMIC YEAR. AS I STARTED
THINKING ABOUT WHAT I WANTED TO
SAY TODAY I COULD NOT HELP BUT
THINK BACK TO MY FIRST FEW DAYS
AS CHAIR OF THE COMPUTER
SCIENCE DEPARTMENT. I WAS
SURPRISED, ALMOST AMAZED,
SOMETIMES AMUSED, THAT WHEN I
MET WITH ADMINISTRATORS,
ALMOST EVERY SINGLE ONE OF THEM
WOULD ASK ME "WHAT KEEPS YOU
UP AT NIGHT?" I HAVE TO BE
HONEST AND TELL YOU THAT THIS
REALLY MADE ME WONDER WHAT I
HAD GOTTEN MYSELF INTO IN
AGREEING TO SERVE AS CHAIR OF
THE DEPARTMENT. I WAS
BEGINNING TO WONDER IF I WOULD
EVER GET ANOTHER GOOD NIGHT'S
SLEEP! MAYBE LACK OF SLEEP IS
THE REASON WHY SOME
ADMINISTRATORS SEEM SO SERIOUS
AND GRUMPY! OVER TIME THOUGH
I CAME TO THE UNDERSTANDING
THAT THE QUESTION "WHAT KEEPS
YOU UP AT NIGHT" WAS REALLY
JUST A WAY OF ASKING THE
QUESTION "WHAT ARE THE BIGGEST
ISSUES YOU ARE FACING?"
SO WHAT KEEPS ME UP AT NIGHT AS
CHAIR OF ACADEMIC SENATE?
SOME OF YOU MIGHT REMEMBER THAT
THIS TIME LAST YEAR, A
DIFFERENT PAUL COMMENTED IN HIS
OPENING REMARKS, THAT THE 2010
ACADEMIC YEAR ON THE CHINESE
CALENDAR WAS THE YEAR OF THE
CALENDAR CONVERSION. I WOULD
REALLY LIKE TO BE ABLE TO SAY
THAT 2011 WILL BE THE YEAR OF
SOMETHING ELSE BUT I THINK
THAT WE ALL KNOW THAT WE ARE
STILL IN THE "YEAR" OF THE
CALENDAR CONVERSION. OVER THE
PAST YEAR WE HAVE MADE
TREMENDOUS PROGRESS ON THE
CONVERSION EFFORT, MOST OF OUR
ACADEMIC PROGRAMS HAVE BEEN
SENT OFF TO THE STATE FOR
APPROVAL, BUT WE STILL HAVE A
LONG WAY TO GO. THIS YEAR
THERE IS A LOT OF CHALLENGING
WORK IN FRONT OF US. THERE
ARE A CONSIDERABLE NUMBER OF
POLICIES THAT NEED TO BE
REVIEWED AND UPDATED. SOME OF
THE POLICIES THAT WE WILL BE
WORKING ON INCLUDE B2 THAT
DEFINES THE SENATE CHARTER, D9
THAT DEFINES ACADEMIC ADVISING,
D12 THAT DEFINES GRADUATION
REQUIREMENTS, E18 THAT DEFINES
FACULTY PROFESSIONAL LEAVE AND
E24 THAT DEFINES THE GRIEVANCE
PROCESS. WE ALSO NEED TO WORK
ON DEFINING THE FIRST YEAR
SEMINAR FOR THE NEW GENERAL
EDUCATION FRAMEWORK. I
SUSPECT THAT THE BULK OF THE
SENATE AGENDA THIS YEAR WILL
FOCUS ON CALENDAR CONVERSION
ISSUES. OUTSIDE OF CALENDAR
CONVERSION PROBABLY THE TWO
BIGGEST ISSUES FACING THE
SENATE IS HOW DO WE ENSURE THAT
THE APPROPRIATE GROUPS HAVE A
VOICE IN THE SENATE, AND HOW DO
WE AWARD AND RECOGNIZE
OUTSTANDING FACULTY WORK.
NEEDLESS TO SAY IT WILL BE A
VERY BUSY YEAR.
ALTHOUGH I AM SPEAKING TO YOU
AS THE CHAIR OF ACADEMIC
SENATE, SHARED GOVERNANCE IS A
RESPONSIBILITY SHARED BY
EVERYONE AT RIT. WE ARE
FORTUNATE TO WORK AT A
UNIVERSITY WHERE EVERYONE FROM
THE HIGHEST LEVEL ON DOWN
RESPECT SHARED GOVERNANCE.
WHETHER YOU ARE FACULTY, STAFF,
OR A STUDENT IT IS IMPORTANT
THAT YOU PITCH IN AND HELP WITH
THIS VITAL WORK. I BELIEVE
THAT THE ONLY WAY THAT WE CAN
EFFECTIVELY DEAL WITH MANY OF
THE ISSUES WE WILL BE
ADDRESSING THIS YEAR IS TO
ENSURE THAT ALL THE GROUPS ON
CAMPUS PARTICIPATE IN THE
DIALOG. THIS IS A UNIQUE TIME
IN RIT HISTORY WHERE
COLLABORATIVE DIALOG CAN HAVE A
SIGNIFICANT AND LONG LASTING
IMPACT. SO PLEASE CONTACT
YOUR GOVERNANCE REPRESENTATIVES
AND OFFER YOUR HELP IN THIS
IMPORTANT WORK.
I HAVE ALWAYS BEEN A "HALF
GLASS FULL" PERSON. IN FACT
THOSE WHO REALLY KNOW ME, KNOW
THAT YOU WILL RARELY FIND ME
WITHOUT AT LEAST A HALF FULL
GLASS OF BEER AT THE PUB! SO
IT SHOULD NOT SURPRISE YOU THAT
THE "WHAT KEEPS YOU UP AT
NIGHT QUESTION" ALWAYS BOTHERED
ME. IT ALWAYS SEEMED TO ME
THAT INSTEAD OF FOCUSING ON
WHAT KEEPS US UP AT NIGHT WE
SHOULD INSTEAD FOCUS ON THE
QUESTION "WHAT GETS YOU OUT OF
BED IN THE MORNING?" ALTHOUGH
WE HAVE ALL TRAVELED DIFFERENT
PATHS COMING TO RIT, AND MANY
OF US WORK IN DIFFERENT
OFFICES ACROSS CAMPUS, I
SUSPECT THAT MOST OF US GET
OUT OF BED AND COME TO WORK FOR
THE SAME REASON. SO TO CLOSE
I WOULD LIKE TO SHARE WITH YOU
A SHORT SLIDE SHOW THAT WILL
HELP YOU TO UNDERSTAND WHY I
GET OUT OF BED IN THE MORNING
AND COME TO WORK. I SUSPECT
THAT MANY, IF NOT ALL, OF US
SHARE THE SAME MOTIVATION. I
THINK IF WE REMEMBER THE REAL
REASON WHY WE COME TO WORK IT
WILL BE EASIER TO ADDRESS THE
ISSUES WE WILL BE WORKING ON
THIS YEAR.
.
[MUSIC]
[VIDEO]
[APPLAUSE]
>> PAUL TYMANN: I AM PLEASED
NOW TO INTRODUCE MOLLY
JOHNSON, CHAIR OF STAFF
COUNCIL. MOLLY IS A FINANCIAL
REPORTING ANALYST IN THE OFFICE
OF BUDGET & FINANCIAL PLANNING
SERVICES. PLEASE JOIN ME IN
WELCOMING HER THIS MORNING.
[APPLAUSE]
>> MOLLY JOHNSON: THANK YOU
PAUL AND I REALLY LOOK FORWARD
TO WORKING WITH YOU IN THE
ACADEMIC SENATE THIS YEAR AS
WELL AS WITH GREG AND HIS TEAM
IN STUDENT GOVERNMENT.
GOOD MORNING, EVERYBODY.
I JUST WANTED TO TAKE THIS TIM
TIME, I FEEL
VERY HONORED TO BE STANDING
HERE AS YOUR STAFF COUNCIL
CHAIR DURING THIS MOMENTOUS
YEAR. DID YOU KNOW THAT THIS
YEAR MARKS THE 20TH YEAR OF
STAFF COUNCIL AT RIT? WHERE
WERE YOU 20 YEARS AGO? FOR
ME, EXCEPT FOR THE LAST 3 AND A
HALF YEARS HERE AT RIT, I WAS
WORKING IN THE CORPORATE WORLD
FOR 4 DIFFERENT FORTUNE 100
HUNDRED COMPANIES, AND LET ME
TELL YOU - THERE IS NO PLACE
LIKE RIT.
I JUST LOVE RIT. IT IS AN
AMAZING PLACE AND I AM SO HAPPY
TO BE HERE. RIT IS A PLACE
WHERE YOU FEEL LIKE YOU CAN
MAKE A DIFFERENCE. IT'S A
COMMUNITY FILLED WITH SO MANY
OPPORTUNITIES TO GROW AND TO
PARTICIPATE. I AM SURE THAT
IS WHY RIT WAS VOTED ONE OF THE
BEST PLACES TO WORK.
SPEAKING OF OPPORTUNITIES,
STAFF COUNCIL PROVIDES
LEADERSHIP, PARTNERSHIP AND
COMMUNITY OPPORTUNITIES FOR
STAFF AND RIT. AND NOW THAT I
AM THE CHAIR OF STAFF COUNCIL,
THEY SAY WITH LEADERSHIP COMES
POWER, SO I WOULD LIKE TO
CHALLENGE ALL THE SENIOR
LEADERS TO INSTILL IN EACH OF
YOUR DIVISIONS THE VALUE OF
STAFF COUNCIL. TO ENCOURAGE
YOUR STAFF TO PARTICIPATE IN
STAFF COUNCIL BY EITHER HAVING
THEM ATTEND MEETINGS FROM TIME
TO TIME, OR SUBMITTING AN
ARTICLE TO THE STAFF COUNCIL
BLOG HIGHLIGHTING ALL THE
GREAT THINGS STAFF ARE DOING IN
YOUR AREAS. AND THE NEXT TIME
THERE IS A CALL FOR NOMINATIONS
FOR STAFF COUNCIL THAT YOU AS
THE DIVISION OR DEPARTMENT
LEADERS TAKE THE TIME TO
NOMINATE STAFF FROM YOUR
DIVISIONS TO BECOME MEMBERS.
STAFF COUNCIL IS A WONDERFUL
EXPERIENCE AND IT IS ALSO A
GREAT DEVELOPMENT OPPORTUNITY
FOR EACH OF YOUR EMPLOYEES.
THIS YEAR, STAFF COUNCIL WILL
BE PARTNERING CLOSELY WITH
HUMAN RESOURCES ON AREAS THAT
ARE OF CONCERN TO STAFF -
INCLUDING SUCH TOPICS AS CAREER
LADDERS, STANDARDIZING THE
APPRAISAL PROCESS AND WORKING
TO ENSURE MANAGERS RECEIVE
CONSISTENT TRAINING ON THE
APPLICATION AND INTERPRETATION
OF RIT POLICIES. WE WILL ALSO
BE LOOKING AT A NUMBER OF RIT
POLICIES THAT MUST BE REVISED
DUE TO THE SEMESTER
CONVERSION. STAFF COUNCIL'S
OVERARCHING GOAL IS TO MAKE
RIT AN EVEN BETTER PLACE FOR
STAFF AND FOR ALL OUR
COMMUNITY MEMBERS.
RIT GIVES ME SUCH PRIDE AND I
KNOW I AM NOT THE ONLY ONE WHO
FEELS THAT WAY. I AM PROUD OF
WHERE RIT HAS BEEN, HOW FAR
RIT HAS COME AND WHERE RIT IS
GOING- AND THE FACT THAT WE
ARE ALWAYS CHANGING AND
BECOMING BETTER. THE LEADERSHIP
OF RIT IS SECOND TO NONE- WITH
DR. DESTLER, DR. HAEFNER, DR.
WATTERS, DR. COOPER, AND DR.
MILLER - WE REALLY HAVE A
DREAM TEAM HERE. NOT ONLY DO
THEY RUN THIS UNIVERSITY WITH
EVERY OUNCE OF THEIR BEING -
THEY REALLY ROCK AT IT.
I LOOK FORWARD TO BE ABLE TO
WORK CLOSELY WITH EACH OF THEM
THIS YEAR ON BEHALF OF THE
STAFF AND FOR OUR AMAZING
STUDENTS.
IT'S GOING TO BE ANOTHER GREAT
YEAR!
THANK YOU.
[APPLAUSE].
>> MOLLY JOHNSON: AND NOW I'D
LIKE TO INTRODUCE
GREG ***. ALL OF YOU
SHOULD KNOW GREG BY NOW AS THIS
IS THE START OF HIS SECOND
YEAR AS THE STUDENT GOVERNMENT
PRESIDENT.
GREG COMES FROM
PITTSBURG, PA, IS A 5TH YEAR
COMMUNICATION MAJOR IN THE
COLLEGE OF LIBERAL ARTS AND CAN
BE FOUND IN THE FRONT OF THE
CORNER CREW AT EVERY RIT HOCKEY
GAME. GREG IS AN AMAZING
PERSON AND HE HAS LED STUDENT
GOVERNMENT OUTSTANDINGLY OVER
THE PAST YEAR. HE MAKES IT A
POINT TO MAKE SURE EVERY
STUDENT FEELS INSPIRED TO
FULFILL THEIR DREAMS. PLEASE
JOIN ME IN WELCOMING STUDENT
GOVERNMENT PRESIDENT GREG
***.
[APPLAUSE]
>> GREG ***: GOOD MORNING
EVERYONE!
I AM REALLY HONORED TO BE BACK
HERE BEFORE YOU ALL AS
PRESIDENT OF STUDENT GOVERNMENT
FOR A SECOND TERM, AND I THANK
DR. DESTLER FOR THE INVITATION.
THIS YEAR STUDENT GOVERNMENT
HOPES TO TAKE GREATER STEPS
TOWARD A MORE COHESIVE AND
DYNAMIC UNIVERSITY. I WILL
SHARE OUR VISION WITH YOU,
BECAUSE WE HAVE HOPES THAT WE
ALL CAN ALLY TO ACHIEVE THE
MUTUAL GOAL OF SUPPORTING RIT
AS IT BECOMES A PLACE OF - WHAT
DR. DESTLER WOULD DEFINE AS -
"GREAT STUDENT EXPERIENCE."
THERE ARE SEVERAL POINTS THAT
SG WILL USE TO DEFINE IT'S
'11-12 VISION. I MENTION TWO
OF THESE TODAY, AS I FEEL THEY
ARE EXTREMELY IMPORTANT FOR ALL
OF US TO KEEP IN MIND.
FIRST, I ASK YOUR HELP IN
FOSTERING A SIMPLE THEME.
"DREAM BIG." LAST YEAR, WE HAD
AN INCREDIBLE WAVE OF EVENTS
THAT IGNITED NEW SPARKS ON OUR
CAMPUS. THE WORLD'S LARGEST
DODGEBALL GAME, AN UNDEFEATED
WOMEN'S HOCKEY TEAM'S RISE TO
THE NATIONAL CHAMPIONSHIPS, AND
BRINGING IN AL PACINO AS OUR
HORTON SPEAKER. ALL WERE THE
RESULTS OF STUDENTS WHO DARED
TO DREAM - AND DREAM BIG!
WE HAVE A GREATER WINDOW OF
OPPORTUNITY NOW, AND IT IS
IMPORTANT WE TAKE FULL
ADVANTAGE OF IT BY CONTINUING
TO ENCOURAGE OUR STUDENTS TO
DREAM BIGGER! IT'S AN EVERYDAY
GOAL AND EVERYONE'S
RESPONSIBILITY. WITH THE
COLLECTIVE EFFORTS OF FACULTY,
STAFF AND STUDENTS . . . THE
IDEAS WE FOSTER WITHIN OUR
STUDENTS WILL BRING INNOVATIVE
AND GREAT THINGS TO OUR
CAMPUS! AND I ASK YOUR SUPPORT.
LAST YEAR, PRESIDENT DESTLER,
DR. HAEFNER, AND SEVERAL OTHER
FACULTY AND ADMINISTRATORS
SPENT THREE DAYS IN STUDENT
APARTMENTS, ATE CAMPUS FOOD,
AND FACED SEVERAL STUDENT
OBSTACLES IN ORDER TO
UNDERSTAND THEM. WE ALL NEED
TO ASK OURSELVES - WHAT WILL
OUR CONTRIBUTION BE THIS YEAR?
HOW WILL WE SHOW OUR COMMUNITY
THAT WE HAVE A MILLION REASONS
TO CELEBRATE? STUDENT
GOVERNMENT WILL REMAIN
COMMITTED BY HIGHLIGHTING THESE
DAILY REASONS, AND ASK YOU TO
IDENTIFY WAYS YOU WILL
CELEBRATE THEM WITH US.
OUR TEAM SEEKS ALSO TO SUPPORT
THIS COMMUNITY IN BUILDING
BRIDGES FOR TOMORROW'S RIT.
WITH THAT GOAL IN MIND, SG
PROMISES TO VALUE EVERYONE'S
PERSPECTIVE, AND TO STAND AS A
CENTRAL FIGURE IN GATHERING AND
RELAYING INFORMATION BETWEEN
STUDENTS, FACULTY, AND STAFF.
BY TAKING ON A MORE RECEPTIVE
ROLE WE ARE SEEKING TO BUILD
ON MANY ALREADY POSITIVE
RELATIONSHIPS WITH ALL OF YOU,
AND, IN DOING SO, ALSO
REMAINING RESPONSIVE AND
RESPONSIBLE TO THE DAILY NEEDS
OF OUR CONSTITUENTS: THE
STUDENTS, THE CLUBS, THE
ORGANIZATIONS - OUR ENTIRE
COMMUNITY.
I LOOK FORWARD TO WORKING WITH
YOU THIS YEAR AS WE STRIVE TO
INSPIRE OUR STUDENTS TO ACHIEVE
MORE, CREATE MORE, AND BELIEVE
MORE THAN THEY MIGHT HAVE
DREAMT POSSIBLE!
OUR HOPE IS THAT WHETHER WE ARE
WORKING WITH YOU AT INSTITUTE
COUNCIL, OR SUPPORTING YOUR
ADVISING OF A CLUB, OR EVEN
HAVING DINNER WITH A FEW
STUDENTS, WE ALL PAUSE AND
CELEBRATE THE CAMPUS SPIRIT,
AND KEEP COMMUNICATING AND
OFFERING DIVERSE PERSPECTIVES
ABOUT A CAMPUS WE ALL VALUE.
THANK YOU AGAIN, AND I LOOK
FORWARD TO A TREMENDOUS YEAR!
[APPLAUSE].
>> GREG ***:
IT IS NOW MY PLEASURE TO
INTRODUCE KEVIN MCDONALD, CHIEF
DIVERSITY OFFICER FOR RIT.
[APPLAUSE]
>> KEVIN MCDONALD: THANK YOU,
GREG AND GOOD MORNING, EVERYONE
TO A NEW AND EXCITING ACADEMIC
YEAR.
YOU KNOW, IT'S BEEN
SAID THAT DIFFERENCES, IN AND
OF THEMSELVES, FUEL CREATIVE
ENERGY AND INSIGHT; THAT THEY
ARE THE POINTS OF TENSION THAT
SPARK ALTERNATIVE VIEWPOINTS
AND IDEAS AND IGNITE THE
KINDLING FORCES BEHIND
CREATIVITY AND INNOVATION.
THEY ALLOW FOR A BANTERING
ABOUT OF INTELLECTUAL INSIGHT,
IF YOU WILL.
WELL, IF YOU SUBSCRIBE TO THE
AFOREMENTIONED NOTION, THEN
YOU CAN CERTAINLY APPRECIATE
THE EFFORT OUR COMMUNITY PUT
FORTH LAST YEAR TO MAKE
EXCELLENCE INCLUSIVE AT RIT.
FROM THE COLLABORATIVE
CREATION AND DEVELOPMENT OF OUR
NEW INSTITUTIONAL DIVERSITY
FRAMEWORK, DESIGNED TO GUIDE
AND ASSESS OUR ORGANIZATIONAL
DIVERSITY EFFORTS, TO THE
MEANINGFUL EXPLORATION OF
DIVERSITY IN THE CURRICULUM
THROUGH THE ONGOING EFFORTS OF
THE GENERAL EDUCATION AND
GLOBAL EDUCATION COMMITTEES, IT
IS CLEAR THAT WE ARE
DEDICATING OURSELVES TO
PREPARING OUR STUDENTS TO
OPERATE AS EFFECTIVE CITIZENS
IN A GLOBAL MARKETPLACE.
FROM THE INSTITUTIONAL
FORMATION OF A PRESIDENTIAL
TASK FORCE TO EXPLORE ISSUES
AFFECTING OUR LESBIAN, GAY,
BISEXUAL, AND TRANSGENDER
POPULATIONS; TO THE HISTORIC
DECISION OF NEW YORK STATE'S
LAWMAKERS TO LEGALIZE SAME-SEX
MARRIAGE; AND FROM THE MONETARY
OUTPOURING OF COMMUNITY
SUPPORT FOR OUR ROCHESTER CITY
SCHOLARSHIP PROGRAM TO THE
RENEWED AND COMPREHENSIVE
ENGAGEMENT OF OUR
MULTICULTURAL ALUMNI,
TREMENDOUS STRIDES HAVE BEEN
MADE TO ADVANCE THE FRONTIERS
OF KNOWLEDGE AND INNOVATION,
SUPPORT KEY CONSTITUENCY
MEMBERS, AND ENGAGE OUR
CROSS-FUNCTIONAL COMMUNITY
PARTNERS.
AS WE LOOK FORWARD TO THIS
ACADEMIC YEAR, OUR
INSTITUTIONAL-LEVEL DIVERSITY
EFFORTS WILL FOCUS ON
CAPTURING ASSESSMENT DATA
RELATED TO OUR NEW DIVERSITY
FRAMEWORK, SHARING THAT DATA
TRANSPARENTLY WITH OUR ENTIRE
CAMPUS COMMUNITY, AND USING IT
TO CELEBRATE OUR SUCCESSES
WHILE ALSO IDENTIFYING AND
IMPLEMENTING STRATEGIES FOR
AREAS IN NEED OF IMPROVEMENT.
ADDITIONALLY, WITH THE SAME
COLLABORATIVE SPIRIT THAT WAS
UTILIZED BY ACADEMIC AND
ADMINISTRATIVE UNITS TO BRING
REBECCA SKLOOT TO CAMPUS LAST
YEAR TO DISCUSS HER BOOK, "THE
IMMORTAL LIFE OF HENRIETTA
LACKS," THE OFFICE FOR
DIVERSITY AND INCLUSION, THE
MULTICULTURAL CENTER FOR
ACADEMIC SUCCESS, THE NATIONAL
TECHNICAL INSTITUTE FOR THE
DEAF, THE DIVISION OF STUDENT
AFFAIRS, THE AALANA COLLEGIATE
ASSOCIATION, AND THE
DEPARTMENTS OF PHILOSOPHY,
ENGLISH, COMMUNICATIONS, AND
SOCIOLOGY/ANTHROPOLOGY WILL BE
WORKING COLLABORATIVELY TO
BRING DR. CORNEL WEST TO
CAMPUS AS OUR EXPRESSION OF
KING'S LEGACY SPEAKER THIS
ACADEMIC YEAR.
[APPLAUSE].
>> KEVIN MCDONALD: EXCITING
TIMES.
THESE ACADEMIC
DEPARTMENTS WILL ALSO PREPARE
FOR DR. WEST'S VISIT BY
EXPLORING HIS SCHOLARSHIP IN A
SPECIAL TOPICS COURSE OFFERED
TO STUDENTS THIS FALL, SO I'D
LIKE TO THANK ALL OF THE
FACULTY, STAFF, AND STUDENTS
WHO HAVE COME TOGETHER TO
SUPPORT THIS FUTURE EVENT.
AS YOU CAN SEE BY THE
COLLABORATIVE SPIRIT OF THESE
ACADEMIC AND ADMINISTRATIVE
UNITS, WHETHER YOU'VE BEEN
HERE FOR DECADES OR HAVE JUST
ARRIVED, YOU CAN MAKE A
DIFFERENCE THROUGH YOUR
CONTRIBUTIONS. SO, AS WE
CONTINUE TO STRIVE TO EDUCATE
OUR REMARKABLE STUDENTS AND
CULTIVATE THE FINEST TALENT
AMONG OUR FACULTY AND STAFF,
LET'S CONTINUE WORKING
COLLABORATIVELY TO MAKE RIT A
PLACE WHERE CREATIVITY AND
INNOVATION CAN INTERACT TO
CREATE AN ENHANCED RESULT.
CREATING A CULTURE OF
INCLUSION IS NOT AN OPTIONAL
EXERCISE, BUT RATHER IT IS AN
INDISPENSABLE PRECONDITION
THAT ENABLES US TO CAPITALIZE
ON OUR DIVERSE SKILLS,
PERSPECTIVES AND EXPERIENCES SO
THAT WE CAN BETTER ADVANCE THE
FUNDAMENTAL RESEARCH AND
EDUCATIONAL MISSION OF RIT. TO
MAINTAIN THE INSTITUTE'S
UNRELENTING STANDARDS OF
EXCELLENCE, ALL MEMBERS OF OUR
COMMUNITY MUST CONTRIBUTE AT
THE APEX OF THEIR ABILITIES. A
PRODUCTIVELY DIVERSE COMMUNITY
AT RIT WILL MAKE US BETTER AT
WHAT WE DO: BROADER AND DEEPER
AS THINKERS, MORE EFFECTIVE AS
COLLABORATORS, MORE CREATIVE AS
FACULTY AND STAFF, AND MORE
UNDERSTANDING AS COLLEAGUES AND
FRIENDS.
TO THAT END, I'D LIKE TO
WELCOME YOU TO A NEW ACADEMIC
YEAR OF EXPLORATION,
INNOVATION, ADVANCEMENT, AND OF
INVENTING THE FUTURE. I LOOK
THE FUTURE, OUR FUTURE.
I LOOK FORWARD TO WORKING
COLLABORATIVELY -- AS YOU CAN
SEE I LIKE THAT WORD.
I LOOK FORWARD TO WORKING
COLLABORATIVELY WITH YOU AS WE
CONTINUE MAKING EXCELLENCE
INCLUSIVE AT RIT, IN THE LOCAL
ROCHESTER COMMUNITY, AND ALL
OVER THE WORLD.
THANK YOU.
[APPLAUSE]
>> JEREMY HAEFNER: THANK YOU,
KEVIN, AND THANKS TO ALL OF
OUR SPEAKERS THIS MORNING -
YOUR THOUGHTS ADD TO THE
EXCITEMENT, ANTICIPATION AND
PROMISE OF THE NEW ACADEMIC
YEAR AHEAD OF US.
>> JEREMEY HAEFNER: BEFORE
TURNING THE PODIUM OVER TO DR.
DESTLER, WE HAVE A SHORT VIDEO
TO SHARE WITH YOU. IT IS THE
FIFTH VIDEO IN A SERIES I
STARTED A COUPLE OF YEARS AGO
AND THEY ALL FOCUS ON HOW
FACULTY INFLUENCE OUR STUDENTS
- THROUGH MENTORING THEM,
PROVIDING THEM OPPORTUNITIES
TO DIG DEEPER INTO THEIR
INTERESTS, AND BY SHARING
THEIR KNOWLEDGE, TIME AND
TALENTS. THE VIDEO THIS
MORNING FEATURES MAJA MATKOVIC,
A STUDENT AT THE AMERICAN
COLLEGE OF MANAGEMENT AND
TECHNOLOGY IN DUBAI IN CROATIA
ONE OF
RIT'S GLOBAL CAMPUSES.
LET'S WATCH THE VIDEO.
>> HI MY NAME IS MAJA AND I'M
FROM CROATIA I LOVE MEETING ALL
TYPES OF PEOPLE AN MAKING NEW
FRIENDS MY FRIENDS MEAN A LOT
TO ME AND IT'S IMPORTANT TO ME
TO KEEP MY RELATIONSHIPS STRONG
I WOULD DEFINITELY SAY THAT I'M
A PEOPLE PERSON.
SINCE I LOVE HELPING AND
INTERACTING WITH PEOPLE I
BECAME AN INTERNATIONAL
HOSPITALITY AND SERVICE
MANAGEMENT MAJOR AT RIT.
IN HOSPITALITY AND SERVICE
MANAGEMENT WE COVER CREATIVE
NEW WAYS TO HELP MANAGE AND
MARKET SMALL BUSINESSES,
RESTAURANTS, HOTELS, BIG
COMPANIES AND INTERNATIONAL
CORPORATION.
AT & T IS AN INTERNATIONAL
UNIVERSITY THAT'S PART OF RIT A
UNIVERSITY IN AMERICA IT'S
REALLY COOL THAT I'LL BE
GRADUATING WITH BOTH CROATIA
AND AMERICAN DEGREES WHICH
MAKES ME COMPETITIVE IN ANY JOB
MARKET WE HAVE A CLOSE
RELATIONSHIP WITH ITS STUDENTS
THEY PUSH YOU TO BE SELF
CONFIDENT AND THINK CREATIVELY
KEVIN WALKER WAS MY PROFESSOR
IN BUSINESS DEVELOPMENT HE WAS
SUCH A FUN AND INSPIRING
PROFESSOR AND ALWAYS WILLING TO
HELP US DAY OR NIGHT.
IN HIS CLASS WE DEVELOPED A NEW
BUSINESS AND CREATED A
MARKETING PLAN FOR IT.
MY TEAM'S IDEA WAS TO OPEN A
CHOCOLATE SWEET SHOP IN OLD
CITY DUBAI THAT WOULD OFFER SO
MUCH MORE THAN JUST CHOCOLATE
WE RESEARCHED ALL OF THE
LOGISTICS FROM WHO OUR CUSTOMER
COULD BE TO PROMOTING OUR SHOP
WE TOOK ALL OF THESE PIECES AND
FIT THEM TOGETHER MAKING IT A
SUCCESS MY TEAMMATES AND I
REALLY WORKED WELL TOGETHER BUT
IF WE NEEDED ANY HELP WE COULD
GO TO ANYONE IN OUR COMMUNITY
ESPECIALLY THE PROFESSORS.
ONE OF MY PROFESSORS REALLY
HELPED ME WITH MY SENIOR
PROJECT ABOUT BANKS FINANCING
SMALL BUSINESSES HE CONNECTED
ME WITH BANKERS AND SMALL
BUSINESS OWNERS FROM BOTH
AMERICA AND CROATIA TO HELP ME
WITH MY RESEARCH THROUGH THIS
PROJECT I LEARNED THAT CROATIA
AND AMERICAN BUSINESSES HAVE SO
MUCH TO LEARN FROM EACH OTHER
I'M CONFIDENT I CAN APPLY THIS
KNOWLEDGE AND EDUCATION TO HELP
BUSINESSES GLOBALLY.
[APPLAUSE].
>> DR. JEREMY HAEFNER: WE
HAVE SEVERAL OTHER VIDEOS AND
IF YOU'RE
INTERESTED IN SEEING THE OTHER
VIDEOS IN THE SERIES, YOU CAN
FIND THEM ON THE ACADEMIC
AFFAIRS WEBSITE - JUST CLICK
"HEAR FROM OUR STUDENTS."
I HAVE SPECIAL THANKS TO JOE
BELLAVIA THE ETC
PRODUCTION SERVICES IN THE
WALLACE CENTER FOR CREATING AND
PRODUCING THESE VIDEOS.
.
>> DR. JEREMY HAEFNER: NOW IT
GIVES ME
GREATEST PLEASURE TO INTRODUCE
THE
OUR PRESIDENT, DR. BILL
DESTLER. DR. DESTLER IS
BEGINNING HIS FIFTH YEAR AT
RIT. IN THAT SHORT TIME, HE
HAS CERTAINLY CHANGED THIS
UNIVERSITY AND HE CERTAINLY
KEEPS ALL OF US VERY BUSY!
FOR THOSE OF YOU WHO SEE ME IN
THE FITNESS CENTER IT'S BECAUSE
I'M TRYING TO KEEP UP WITH HIM.
FOR THOSE OF YOU WHO DON'T KNOW
HIM YET, A BIT ABOUT DR.
DESTLER. HIS CAREER IN HIGHER
EDUCATION SPANS MORE THAN 30
YEARS AND HE IS AN
INTERNATIONAL AUTHORITY ON
HIGH-POWER MICROWAVE SOURCES
AND ADVANCED ACCELERATOR
CONCEPTS. DR. DESTLER EARNED
HIS BACHELOR'S DEGREE FROM
STEVENS INSTITUTE OF TECHNOLOGY
AND PH.D. FROM CORNELL
UNIVERSITY.
THERE ARE OTHER INTERESTING
SIDES TO BILL AS WELL - HE IS
ONE OF THE WORLD'S FOREMOST
COLLECTORS OF ANTIQUE BANJOS.
HE COMES FROM A FAMILY OF
"HUMANISTS" - INCLUDING HIS
WIFE, REBECCA L. JOHNSON, WHO
HOLDS A PH.D. IN PSYCHOLOGY.
SHE TOO IS VERY ACTIVE IN THE
RIT COMMUNITY, MOST NOTABLY
THROUGH HER WORK IN
SUSTAINABILITY. YOU MAY SEE
THEM BIKING TOGETHER AS THEY
ARE BOTH AVID CYCLISTS AND ARE
GREAT PROPONENTS OF
ALTERNATIVE-POWERED VEHICLES
AND SCOOTERS.
PLEASE JOIN ME IN WELCOMING RIT
PRESIDENT, DR. BILL DESTLER.
[APPLAUSE]
>>DR. WILLIAM DESTLER: THANK
YOU, JEREMY AND FIRST AND
FOREMOST, WELCOME BACK! I
HOPE THAT FOR ALL OF YOU THE
SUMMER BROUGHT AT LEAST SOME
TIME OFF FROM WORK AND THE
RENEWED ENERGY AND ENTHUSIASM
THAT COMES FROM A WELL-DESERVED
VACATION. ALTHOUGH I KNOW
THAT SOME OF YOU, ESPECIALLY
THE HUMANISTS AMONG YOU, WILL
BE DISAPPOINTED, I HAVE DECIDED
TO FORGO THE USUAL
MIND-NUMBING SET OF CHARTS AND
FIGURES DETAILING OUR PROGRESS
TOWARD OUR STRATEGIC GOALS OVER
THE LAST YEAR.
I EXPECTED APPLAUSE THERE.
[APPLAUSE].
>>DR. WILLIAM DESTLER: THIS
IS NOT TO
INDICATE THAT PROGRESS WAS NOT
MADE OR THAT WE HAVE TAKEN OUR
EYES OFF OF THESE GOALS, IN
FACT LAST YEAR WAS A GREAT
YEAR -- AND SOMEBODY TOOK THE
PAGE.
FRANKLY,
VERY LITTLE OF THIS PROGRESS IS
DUE TO ME. ALMOST EVERYTHING
THAT HAS BEEN ACCOMPLISHED IS
DUE TO YOU AND COUNTLESS
OTHERS AROUND THE CAMPUS. IT
IS BETTER TO BE LUCKY THAN
GOOD, AND I AM CLEARLY A VERY
LUCKY GUY.
THIS PAST YEAR UNDERGRADUATE
AND GRADUATE APPLICATIONS WERE
WAY UP, THE INCOMING FRESHMAN
CLASS IS STRONGER THAN EVER,
AND PRIVATE FUNDRAISING
REBOUNDED TO ALMOST $29M LAST
YEAR. RIT WAS RECENTLY NAMED
ONE OF THE TOP 13 CAMPUSES
NATIONWIDE FOR THE QUALITY OF
ITS CAREER-DEVELOPMENT
SERVICES, 13 OUT OF MAYBE 5,00
5,000.
[APPLAUSE].
>>DR. WILLIAM DESTLER: THANK
YOU, MANNY AND COMPANY.
AND 91% OF LAST
YEAR'S FRESHMEN ARE STILL
ENROLLED, CONTINUING THE GREAT
PROGRESS THAT WAS MADE IN THIS
AREA THE PREVIOUS YEAR. OUR
REPUTATION FOR THE QUALITY OF
OUR PROGRAMS CONTINUES TO
RISE, WITH 8 OF OUR DEGREE
WITH 8 -- AND MAYBE 10 OF OUR
DEGREE
PROGRAMS NOW RANKED IN THE TOP
TEN NATIONALLY.
[APPLAUSE].
>>DR. WILLIAM DESTLER: THE
LATEST
BEING OUR UNDERGRADUATE AND
GRADUATE GAME DESIGN AND
DEVELOPMENT PROGRAMS.
WAY TO GO, ANDY AND COMPANY.
OUR MBA
PROGRAM WAS RECENTLY RANKED FOR
FOR THE FIRST TIME SOMEWHAT TO
OUR SURPRISE BECAUSE WE DON'T
USUALLY QUALIFY FOR RANKING AND
IN THIS AREA WE RANKED AHEAD OF
SYRACUSE, CASE WESTERN, AND
DREXEL, AMONG OTHERS.
CONGRATULATIONS.
[APPLAUSE].
>>DR. WILLIAM DESTLER: ON THE
ACADEMIC SIDE WE ARE ON
ON TRACK IN OUR PLANS TO MOVE
FROM QUARTERS TO SEMESTERS IN
THE FALL OF 2013. IN FACT,
76% OF OUR DEGREE PROGRAMS HAVE
BEEN REDESIGNED, MOVED THROUGH
THE CAMPUS APPROVAL PROCESS,
AND SUBMITTED TO THE STATE FOR
APPROVAL. WE WILL WELCOME OUR
FIRST GRADUATE STUDENTS IN
ARCHITECTURE THIS FALL, AND THE
NEW INSTITUTE FOR HEALTH
SCIENCE AND TECHNOLOGY,
CONTAINING RIT'S 9TH COLLEGE,
THE COLLEGE OF HEALTH SCIENCE
AND TECHNOLOGY, WILL ENROLL
ALMOST 800 STUDENTS IN
SEPTEMBER.
[APPLAUSE].
>>DR. WILLIAM DESTLER: WE
APPROVED A NEW
GENERAL EDUCATION PROGRAM AND A
WRITING ACROSS THE CURRICULUM
PROGRAM, AND OUR FACULTY AND
STUDENTS CONTINUED TO WIN
NUMEROUS NATIONAL AND
INTERNATIONAL AWARDS FOR THEIR
CREATIVE AND INNOVATIVE WORK.
OPPORTUNITIES FOR A HOLISTIC
STUDENT LIFE EXPERIENCE
OUTSIDE OF THE CLASSROOM
CONTINUE TO GROW, WITH STRONG
INPUT FROM AN INCREASINGLY
ENGAGED STUDENT BODY LED BY
RIT'S STUDENT GOVERNMENT UNDER
THE LEADERSHIP OF THE
UNFLAPPABLE AND UNSTOPPABLE
GREG ***.
[APPLAUSE].
>>DR. WILLIAM DESTLER: OUR
INTERCOLLEGIATE ATHLETIC TEAMS
HAD ONE OF THE BEST YEARS IN
RECENT MEMORY, INCLUDING
CHAMPIONSHIP SEASONS FROM
MEN'S AND WOMEN'S HOCKEY AND
MEN'S LACROSSE, AND THIS FALL
WE WILL COMPETE IN THE LIBERTY
LEAGUE FOR THE FIRST TIME
AGAINST SOME OF THE FINEST
PRIVATE COLLEGES AND
UNIVERSITIES IN THE NATION,
INCLUDING -- WELL I GUESS WE
HAVE TO INCLUDE RPI, UNION, ST.
LAWRENCE, HOBART/WILLIAM SMITH,
SKIDMORE, VASSAR, CLARKSON,
BARD, AND THE UNIVERSITY OF
ROCHESTER.
[APPLAUSE].
>>DR. WILLIAM DESTLER: GOOD
GROUP.
AND IT'S WHERE WE BELONG, BY
THE WAY.
THE PROLONGED BUDGETARY
BATTLES IN BOTH THE NY STATE
AND FEDERAL LEGISLATURES HAVE
MADE EXTERNAL EDUCATION AND
RESEARCH FUNDING EVEN MORE
DIFFICULT TO OBTAIN, BUT
DESPITE THAT FACT RIT NOW RANKS
IN THE TOP 50 PRIVATE
UNIVERSITIES IN RESEARCH
EXPENDITURES, A POSITION NOT
EVEN DREAMED OF A DECADE AGO.
[APPLAUSE].
>>DR. WILLIAM DESTLER:
AND IN THE WORST FEDERAL
BUDGETARY CLIMATE I CAN
REMEMBER, NTID RECEIVED A $2.4M
INCREASE IN ITS FEDERAL FUNDING
ALLOCATION IN RECOGNITION --
[CHEERS AND APPLAUSE.]
>>DR. WILLIAM DESTLER: IN
RECOGNITION OF
THE SIMPLY OUTSTANDING WORK OF
THE ENTIRE NTID COMMUNITY.
IN SERVING A VERY SPECIAL
POPULATION.
THE FINANCIAL HEALTH OF RIT
CONTINUES TO BE STRONG, WITH
MOODY'S RATING OUR DEBT AS
GRADE A, CITING OUR FINANCIAL
MANAGEMENT STAFF AS A "KEY
STRENGTH" OF THE UNIVERSITY.
THIS FINANCIAL HEALTH AND
AGGRESSIVE FUNDRAISING HAS
ALLOWED RIT TO CONTINUE TO GROW
AND ADD NEW PROGRAMS AND
FACILITIES AT A TIME WHEN MANY
COLLEGES AND UNIVERSITIES ARE
RETRENCHING. FOR EXAMPLE, A
NEW FACILITY HAS BEEN
CONSTRUCTED FOR OUR RIT-DUBAI
CAMPUS AT NO COST TO RIT AND I
WILL SOON TRAVEL ABROAD TO
DEDICATE THAT FACILITY.
THE
NEW FACILITY FOR THE GOLISANO
INSTITUTE FOR SUSTAINABILITY,
NOW UNDER CONSTRUCTION, HAS
BEEN FUNDED ALMOST ENTIRELY
FROM EXTERNAL SOURCES, AND
INCREASED TUITION REVENUE FROM
OUR NEW CHEMICAL AND
BIOMEDICAL ENGINEERING PROGRAMS
WILL AMORTIZE INSTITUTE HALL,
ALSO CURRENTLY UNDER
CONSTRUCTION.
LOOK PRETTY NIFTY, HUH?
NEW LOCKER ROOMS
TO BE USED BY HOCKEY, SOCCER,
LACROSSE, AND OTHER FIELD
SPORTS ARE CURRENTLY BEING
COMPLETED ADJACENT TO RITTER
ARENA, AND CONSTRUCTION ON
SEBASTIAN AND LENORE ROSICA
HALL, AN INNOVATION CENTER FOR
NTID, WILL COMMENCE SHORTLY
WITH FUNDING ENTIRELY FROM
EXTERNAL SOURCES. FINALLY,
PLANS FOR OUR NEW HOCKEY ARENA
-- THAT LOOKS PRETTY GOOD,
DOESN'T IT?
[CHEERS AND APPLAUSE.]
>>DR. WILLIAM DESTLER:
ANYBODY WANTS TO MAKE A
CONTRIBUTION, SEE ME AFTER THE
SHOW.
[LAUGHTER.]
>>DR. WILLIAM DESTLER:
ARE UNDERWAY, AND FUNDRAISING
EFFORTS FOR THE ARENA ARE
CONTINUING TOWARD OUR GOAL OF
$15 MILLION.
AND I'M HOPING TO HAVE A
SIGNIFICANT ANNOUNCEMENT
RELATED TO THIS EFFORT IN THE
NEXT MONTH OR TWO.
AND THIS YEAR WE WELCOME A
SIGNIFICANT NUMBER OF NEW
FACES TO THE RIT ADMINISTRATIVE
TEAM, INCLUDING GERRY BUCKLEY
AS PRESIDENT/DEAN OF NTID,
ALL RIGHT, GERRY.
[APPLAUSE].
>>DR. WILLIAM DESTLER:
LORRAINE JUSTICE AS DEAN OF
CIAS.
LORRAINE.
[APPLAUSE].
>>DR. WILLIAM DESTLER: JAMIE
WINEBRAKE AS DEAN OF COLA.
[APPLAUSE].
>>DR. WILLIAM DESTLER: ANDREW
SEARS AS DEAN OF THE GOLISANO
COLLEGE COMPUTING OF
INFORMATION SCIENCES,
[APPLAUSE].
>>DR. WILLIAM DESTLER: HECTOR
FLORES AS DEAN OF GRADUATE
STUDIES.
[APPLAUSE].
>>DR. WILLIAM DESTLER: RYNE
RAFFAELLE AS VICE PRESIDENT FOR
RESEARCH.
[APPLAUSE].
>>DR. WILLIAM DESTLER: AND
ENID CARDINAL AS SENIOR
SUSTAINABILITY ADVISOR TO THE
PRESIDENT.
[APPLAUSE].
>>DR. WILLIAM DESTLER: I HOPE
THAT
ALL OF YOU WILL GIVE THEM YOUR
SUPPORT AS WE ALL WORK TO
SUSTAIN RIT'S AMAZING POSITIVE
TRAJECTORY.
THERE WAS SAD NEWS, AS WELL,
INCLUDING THE DEATH OF SEVERAL
OF OUR STUDENTS AND THE LOSS OF
JOAN STONE, FORMER DEAN OF
CIAS AND AN INCREDIBLE
CONTRIBUTOR TO RIT IN SO MANY
AREAS AND A PERSONAL FRIEND OF
MINE AS WELL AS SEVERAL
BELOVED FACULTY MEMBERS
INCLUDING CHEMISTRY PROFESSOR
ANDREAS LANGNER. I KNOW THAT
ALL OF YOU JOIN ME IN OFFERING
OUR HEARTFELT CONDOLENCES TO
THE FAMILIES OF THESE VALUED
MEMBERS OF THE RIT COMMUNITY.
AND OF COURSE THERE IS MUCH
MORE NEWS, ALMOST ALL OF IT
GOOD, BUT I WANT TO SPEND THE
REST OF MY TIME TALKING ABOUT
A FEW AREAS WHERE WE NEED TO
RE-ENGAGE OUR CAMPUS COMMUNITY
OVER THE NEXT YEAR. THE FIRST
OF THESE IS IN THE GENERAL
AREA OF DIVERSITY. KEVIN
MCDONALD AS YOU'VE JUST SEEN
HAS BEEN A TREMENDOUS
ADDITION TO RIT AS OUR CHIEF
DIVERSITY OFFICER, AND I HAVE
ELEVATED HIS POSITION TO THAT
OF VICE PRESIDENT FOR
DIVERSITY AND INCLUSION
EFFECTIVE IMMEDIATELY.
CONGRATULATIONS.
[APPLAUSE].
>>DR. WILLIAM DESTLER:
NEVERTHELESS, DESPITE STRONG
EFFORTS BY MANY OF YOU,
PROGRESS IN BUILDING THE
DIVERSITY OF OUR STUDENT,
FACULTY, AND STAFF POPULATIONS
HAS BEEN SPOTTY, AND WE NEED
TO REDEDICATE OURSELVES TO THIS
IMPORTANT WORK OVER THE YEAR
AHEAD. FOR EXAMPLE, ALTHOUGH
OUR FEMALE UNDERGRADUATE
ENROLLMENT IN ENGINEERING AND
OTHER STEM FIELDS HAS BEEN
INCREASING, OVERALL FEMALE
ENROLLMENT HAS STAGNATED AT
ABOUT 34% OF OUR UNDERGRADUATE
POPULATION DUE TO DECLINING
FEMALE ENROLLMENTS IN OTHER
COLLEGES AND PROGRAMS.
AS A RESULT THIS YEAR I HAVE
ASKED THE PRESIDENT'S
COMMISSION ON WOMEN LED BY
CO-CHAIRS MARGARET BAILEY AND
MARY-BETH COOPER TO EXAMINE
THIS ISSUE AT THE COLLEGE
DEPARTMENT AND PROGRAM LEVEL TO
DETERMINE WHERE WE NEED TO
FOCUS OUR ATTENTION TO ACHIEVE
OUR STATED GOAL OF HAVING 40%
OF ALL OF OUR UNDERGRADUATES BE
FEMALE.
VICE PRESIDENT MCDONALD WILL
ALSO BE CHARGED WITH EXAMINING
ALL OF OUR FACULTY, STAFF AND
STUDENT RECRUITMENT EFFORTS TO
ENSURE THAT OUR RECENT PROGRESS
IN INCREASING AFRICAN-AMERICAN
LATINO AMERICAN AND NATIVE
AMERICAN POPULATIONS ACROSS THE
CAMPUS CAN BE MAINTAINED AND
ACCELERATED, IF POSSIBLE.
ALTHOUGH WE HAVE MADE ENORMOUS
PROGRESS IN IMPROVING RIT'S
REPUTATION AS A NATIONAL LEADER
IN THE AREA OF SUSTAINABILITY
IN OUR OPERATIONS AND ACADEMIC
PROGRAMS AND A BIG THANK YOU TO
REBECCA SKLOOT FOR HER BEHIN
BEHIND-THE-SCENES WORK AND
ADVOCACY IN THIS AREA.
THAT'S HER RIGHT THERE.
[APPLAUSE].
>>DR. WILLIAM DESTLER: THE
ARRIVAL OF ENID CARDINAL TO
LEAD THESE EFFORTS SHOULD
ENCOURAGE RENEWED ENERGY AND
INNOVATION IN THIS AREA ALL
OVER THE CAMPUS.
AND I CAN TELL YOU THAT I HAVE
VERY HIGH EXPECTATIONS IN THIS
AREA.
SOME OF THEM YOU MAY NOT LIKE.
FOR EXAMPLE, I REALLY THINK WE
SHOULD GET RID OF BOTTLED WATER
ON THIS CAMPUS.
SO WE'RE GOING TO WORK ON THAT.
[APPLAUSE].
>>DR. WILLIAM DESTLER: AND
WHILE RIT IS STRONG FINANCIA
FINANCIALLY, IT IS CLEAR TO
ALMOST EVERYONE THAT TUITION
CANNOT CONTINUE TO INCREASE AT
A RATE FASTER THAN INFLATION IF
WE ARE TO MAINTAIN ANYTHING
LIKE BROAD ACCESS TO HIGHER
EDUCATION IN THIS COUNTRY TO AN
INCREASINGLY DIVERSE STUDENT
POPULATION.
I'VE ASKED PROVOST HAEFNER AND
SENIOR VICE PRESIDENT WATTERS
TO LOOK AT WHICH IN WHICH WE
CAN IMPROVE OPERATIONAL AND
EDUCATIONAL EFFICIENCIES WITH
THE GOAL OF HOLDING FUTURE
TUITION INCREASES CLOSER TO THE
RATE OF INFLATION FOR THE
BENEFIT OF OUR STUDENTS AND
THEIR FAMILIES.
WE HAVE ALSO BEEN ASKED BY THE
BOARD OF TRUSTEES TO TAKE A NEW
LOOK AT POSSIBLE NEW MODELS FOR
HIGHER EDUCATION THAT WOULD
UTILIZE IMPROVED INTERNET
BANDWIDTH AND MULTIMEDIA
CAPABILITIES AND THE VARIOUS
FAST-GROWING SOCIAL MEDIA
OUTLETS.
AND THIS FALL WE WILL ASK A
SELECT GROUP OF FACULTY, STAFF,
AND ADMINISTRATORS TO ASSESS
THE CHALLENGES AND
OPPORTUNITIES THAT THIS
CHANGING LANDSCAPE PRESENT TO
RIT, AND MAKE RECOMMENDATIONS
FOR WAYS IN WHICH RIT CAN
CONTINUE TO BE AN EDUCATIONAL
LEADER IN A RAPIDLY CHANGING
WORLD.
FINALLY, WE IN ACADEMIA HAVE AN
OPPORTUNITY TO SERVE AS
EXAMPLES OF HOW TO ENGAGE IN
CIVIL DISCOURSE IN AN
INCREASINGLY POLARIZED NATION.
MANY OF US ARE DISMAYED AT THE
EXTENT TO WHICH INTELLIGENT
DISCUSSIONS ON COMPLEX ISSUES
CAN SEEMINGLY NO LONGER BE HELD
WITHOUT THE KIND OF HYSTERICAL
ACRIMONY THAT ONLY SERVES TO
HARDEN POSITIONS AND MAKE
COMPROMISE IMPOSSIBLE.
LET US ALL REMEMBER THAT
COLLEGES AND UNIVERSITIES OF
ALL ORGANIZATIONS MUST REMAIN
FORUMS FOR OPEN AND RESPECTED
DISCUSSION OF CONTROVERSIAL
ISSUES.
WE ARE ALL PART OF A LEARNING
COMMUNITY.
AND MUCH OF OUR LEARNING COMES
FROM EACH OTHER.
RESPECT FOR THE OPINIONS OF
OTHERS EVEN WHEN WE STRONGLY
DISAGREE WITH THEM MUST BE A
CORNERSTONE OF OUR CAMPUS
COMMUNITY.
IF WE PRACTICE THIS IN OUR
DAILY WORK, SURELY OUR STUDENTS
WILL ALSO GET THE MESSAGE TO
THE BENEFIT OF OUR COMMUNITY
AND OUR COUNTRY.
I'M NOW ENTERING MY FIFTH YEAR
AS PRESIDENT.
AND I CANNOT THANK YOU ENOUGH
FOR YOUR SUPPORT AND FOR YOUR
WORK TO ADVANCE THIS AMAZING
UNIVERSITY.
AND I LOOK FORWARD TO WORKING
WITH ALL OF YOU DURING THE
COMING YEAR.
THANK YOU VERY MUCH.
[APPLAUSE]