Looking to our strengths to move the world forward

RIT isn’t like any other university. And we don’t want it to be.

As you’ll see in this—my first annual President’s Report—RIT wants to be distinctive, to do things in our own way. That mentality of uniqueness is baked into our university, from the students to the faculty and staff, to our leadership’s 2018-2025 Strategic Plan, which outlines our course ahead.

Our university, founded in the 19th century with the marriage of a cultural association and a largely vocational school, is today one of the top research universities in the nation working at the intersection of technology, the arts, and design. We leveraged these strengths to build unique programs such as color science, imaging science, new media design, and digital humanities.

We’re supplementing our classroom and online teaching with interdisciplinary and experiential learning and expanding our influence with global partnerships and overseas learning opportunities at our campuses in China, Croatia, Dubai, and Kosovo.

We pride ourselves in preparing our graduates to be citizens of the world. That means preparing them for jobs and careers, and also for life. Today’s world needs people who know how to create and innovate, analyze and implement, collaborate and lead.

We put a high value on bringing goodness to the world, and RIT’s diverse and gifted students are distinctly suited to become constructive agents of positive change. Our students come from all 50 states and 100 countries. Our alumni base is 126,000 RIT Tigers strong—graduates who are working at the top of their fields, shaping the future, improving the world, and giving back to their communities and to their
alma mater.

We at RIT have a great story to tell, and this report is only the beginning. We trust that by the time you finish reading, you’ll want to know more. And we’ll be happy to share.

Sincerely,

David C. Munson, Jr., President

Download the 2019 President's Report