President’s News

In his latest “Ask Munson” series on WITR-FM (89.7), RIT President David Munson said the campus now is as lively as he’s ever seen it, with students enjoying activities, this weekend’s Brick City Homecoming and Family Weekend, and construction projects at full speed.

WITR-FM (89.7) will host RIT President David Munson at 3:30 p.m. Wednesday, Oct. 13, to kick off the “Ask Munson” series that will occur quarterly through the academic year.

RIT joined the William Warfield Scholarship Fund, The Eastman School of Music of the University of Rochester, and the City of Rochester in a collective celebration earlier this week honoring iconic performer and trailblazer William Warfield with a bronze sculpture.

Dr. Russell W. Bessette and his wife, Melissa, joined RIT officials and other dignitaries to announce a donation of two patents and the creation of the Dr. Russell and Melissa Bessette Award for Doctoral Student Excellence, a $3.05 million bequest from which funding will be awarded annually as part of recruitment or at any point during a doctoral student’s enrollment at RIT.

RIT has again been recognized as one of the best national universities by U.S. News & World Report, which also cited the university as among the most innovative, best valued, and with highly regarded cooperative education and internship programs.

Saunders College of Business celebrated the expansion and renovation of Max Lowenthal Hall with a ceremonial groundbreaking Aug. 31. RIT President David Munson and Saunders College Dean Jacqueline Mozrall were joined by donors E. Philip Saunders, Susan Riedman Holliday, Chance Wright, Brigitte Gueldenpfennig, and Dinah Gueldenpfennig Weisberg during the college’s annual welcome picnic.

RIT has appointed Perry Ground, an educator and storyteller from the Turtle Clan of the Onondaga Nation, as the newest Frederick H. Minett Professor. The Minett Professorship brings distinguished multicultural professionals to RIT to share their professional knowledge and experience with RIT’s students, faculty, and staff for one academic year.

NTID welcomed U.S. Sen. Kirsten Gillibrand to campus Aug. 23 to announce her recommendation for $89.7 million in funding for the college in Fiscal Year 2022, an $8.2 million increase from Fiscal Year 2021.

Students, faculty, and staff are starting a new year during a continuing global pandemic. But that’s not stopping the momentum of student success, research, fundraising, and building projects designed to make RIT even better. That was just part of the message RIT President David Munson told the university community this morning at his annual President’s Address.

A record number of first-year students Wednesday made their way to the Gordon Field House and Activities Center to cheers and welcomes from faculty, staff, and members of the RIT Pep Band during the annual Tiger Walk and New Student Convocation.

Thousands of students are expected back on campus next week, as a record number of freshmen move in, begin orientation, and attend New Student Convocation. Roughly 3,260 first-year students are expected – about 1,000 a day will move in starting Sunday through Tuesday. That’s up more than 250 students from last year, which also saw a record number of freshmen.

RIT unveiled an extensive new plan and series of initiatives aimed at making the university more diverse, equitable, and inclusive. The Action Plan for Race and Ethnicity will guide RIT’s efforts over the next several years as it rolls out new programs, services, and policies to help create equal access, opportunities, and respect for all students, faculty, and staff.