News

RIT is hosting four Research Experience for Undergraduate (REU) program sites this summer, which are designed for students to develop a passion for research and receive guidance for pursuing graduate careers. The university has a longstanding history hosting REU sites, which are funded by grants from the National Science Foundation.

The National Science Foundation will award $15 million over the next two years to the Rochester/Finger Lakes region of New York to establish a national hub for laser science and development. RIT is a key partner in the initiative.

RIT has officially been reaffirmed for accreditation by the Middle States Commission on Higher Education, marking the successful conclusion of a multi-year self-study and evaluation process.

Rochester Beacon reports on a $24 million commitment from Jeff Harris and Joyce Pratt to advance artificial intelligence leadership, faculty excellence, and student success.

The $24 million gift supports several strategic priorities, including the creation of a Harris-Pratt Directorship for the university's new artificial intelligence institute expected to launch in early 2027, expanded scholarship support, and strengthened endowments for three distinguished professorships.

Like Indiana Jones, researchers at RIT’s Interaction, Media, and Learning Lab hope to save pieces of history before they disappear so that people can learn from the designs.

Tech Ecosystem Explorer highlights RIT's autonomous underwater robot, designed by students, to inspect and clean naval ship hulls using AI, sonar, lidar, and modular robotics systems.

RIT computer science professor Weijie Zhao has earned a National Science Foundation CAREER Award to defend machine learning from adversarial threats.

RIT is in the homestretch of its reaccreditation process, and all signs are very favorable after a spring site visit by the Middle States Commission on Higher Education evaluation team.

The first woman of color to go into space reminded the Class of 2026 at Academic Convocation to be fully present in the world—observing, wondering, and “looking up” rather than moving through life with the shades down in apathy or fear. 

Rochester Business Journal reports on RIT being selected by the U.S. Department of the Army to lead the Army STEM Education Consortium, with Donna Burnette, executive director of the K-12 University Center, and RIT President Bill Sanders discussing the initiative’s national impact on STEM education and workforce development. (This content will require a subscription to view.)