A message
from President Simone
Through stories on
campus growth and new academic programs, readers of The University
Magazine have seen the clear evidence of RIT’s continuing
evolution. I believe our path over the past decade has led RIT
from a good to very good university. The momentum we have achieved
will propel RIT to become a truly great university.
 |
| Albert
J. Simone |
There are at least
three reasons why we must pursue this goal. First, our continued
leadership as a university of quality and relevance demands that
we constantly stretch and innovate. Second, we owe it to our students,
alumni, partners, and other supporters to be everything we can
be. Third, we have an obligation as a leading institution of higher
education to prepare the highest caliber of knowledge workers
who will fuel the growth of our local, national and world economies.
In short, we simply
cannot sit back and rest on our laurels. Yes, RIT is a very good
university. But it is all too easy to become complacent, to lose
vitality and forgo the opportunity to be great. Worse yet, if
we fail to move forward, we run the risk of falling behind.
To ensure that RIT
continues to follow the course that has been so diligently established
over the past decade, we are creating a roadmap to carry the university
from 2005 through 2015 – and, we believe, from very good
to great. This requires more than a strategic plan: It requires
a commitment from all segments of the university community to
join in the journey toward RIT’s destiny. We do not intend
to stray from RIT’s historic mission of preparing students
for productive lives. Indeed, our highest hope is that RIT will
become the first choice of the top students who seek a career-focused,
technical education. Teaching will remain the fundamental purpose
of RIT’s existence as we move forward.
Developing our strategy
will be a major focus on campus through the current academic year
with the objective of presenting the plan to the Board of Trustees
for endorsement in July 2004. I trust you will be interested in
our efforts, and future issues of The University Magazine
will carry reports of our progress. In the meantime, I hope you
will visit my new Web site at www.rit.edu/president
where you will find the full text of recent papers I have written
on RIT’s mission and vision for the future.
As always, I welcome
your ideas and comments.
Cordially yours,
Albert J. Simone
President
