RIT healthy and growing

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A. Sue Weisler

President Bill Destler announces that RIT and Rochester General Health System will open the Institute of Health Sciences and Technology this September.

We had no time to slow down this summer at RIT. We simply have too much exciting work on our plate as the university continues to advance at an amazing speed.

Construction projects are the obvious sign of growth. Crews and architects are currently working on several major ones:

The Golisano Institute for Sustainability: The facility will serve as a center for sustainability research, technology transfer, education and outreach and will provide a showcase for green construction and design. The building is planned to achieve the highest levels of sustainable design and operation, LEED Platinum. Completion is slated for fall 2012.

Institute Hall: The facility will include space for biomedical engineering, chemical engineering and laboratory space for funded research projects. Completion of this academic and research building is planned for a year from now.

The Ritter Arena locker room expansion: A new facility is being built for our athletic teams, with completion expected in the spring. We are also making solid progress in our efforts to raise money for a new ice hockey arena. Please go to www.rit.edu/ powerplay for more information.

Sebastian and Lenore Rosica Hall at the National Technical Institute for the Deaf: This newly named building will foster innovation, entrepreneurship and original research among deaf and hard-of-hearing students and faculty. Groundbreaking for the facility is tentatively planned for spring 2012.

But at RIT it’s more than just construction crews and brick and mortar. We have other important news. We will open the Institute of Health Sciences and Technology this September as part of our alliance with Rochester General Health System. The institute will position the alliance as a contributing player in the reform of the nation’s health care system by educating the next generation of health care professionals, cultivating innovative research and addressing community health needs. Three distinct prongs comprise the institute: the College of Health Sciences and Technology, the Health Sciences Research Center and the Health Sciences Outreach Center.

The College of Health Sciences and Technology will become RIT’s ninth college. Existing programs that will move to the new college include physician assistant (B.S./M.S.), diagnostic medical sonography (B.S. and certificate program), biomedical sciences (B.S.), clinical chemistry (M.S.), nutrition/management (B.S.), health systems administration (M.S.) and medical illustration (M.F.A.).

By all accounts, RIT is healthy and growing in every area. It is a wonderful time to be associated with this university. While there is much work to be done, I believe we are having fun along the way.

And speaking of fun, please join us for Brick City Homecoming & Family Weekend Oct. 14-16. We will feature entertainer Michael J. Fox as our Student Government Horton Speaker. Come dance at the Presidents’ Alumni Ball. And the men’s hockey team will continue with the tradition of playing at Blue Cross Arena in downtown Rochester, where the Tigers will face off against St. Lawrence University. For more details on the weekend, go to www.rit.edu/brickcity.

The academic year promises to be tremendous at RIT.

Go Tigers!

Bill Destler
President