| Spotlight: Rochester Institute of Techonolgy
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| Dr. Albert Simone has committed himself to raising the bar at Rochester Institute of Technology (RIT), where he has been president since 1992. Enrollment is constantly
rising, new programs and facilities have been added at a rapid rate, and RIT has taken concrete steps towards its goal of being a “Category-of-One” university- dominating
the field of career-focused universities much like MIT dominates research universities and Harvard dominates traditional universities. However, Simone has done more
than just make RIT more competitive; he has spearheaded efforts to vastly
increase the amount of diversity on campus, recognizing that greater diversity at
RIT both adds to the quality of life and experience on campus, and bolsters the
number of minorities in the technology, computers, and engineering fields, where they are traditionally underrepresented. In 1997, Simone and RIT reached a landmark in their goal to increase the number of African American, Latino American, and Native American (AALANA) students, faculty, and staff by creating the Diversity Action Plan which focused on both increasing the number and the success of AALANA students in all RIT colleges and divisions. In 1999 Simone and RIT created the Assistant Provost for Diversity to help RIT become more competitive by ensuring that students were being exposed to issues of diversity through curricula and programs, through the faculty, and through each other. Additionally, in 2001 the university created the North Star Center for Academic Success and Cultural Affairs, which assists in overcoming difficulties and supports and recognizes excellence in academic work, ethical/character development, and community service. In 2002, the RIT Board of Trustees and top administrators including Simone held the first ever Diversity Day to map out strategies for the future. This program gained national recognition, and two magazines, Hispanic Outlook and Black Issues in Higher Education, carried feature articles on the University. RIT also has been working with both local and national high schools to help expand academic excellence in minorities to increase the applicant pool. As a result of these efforts and many others, over two-thirds of the growth in enrollment in the last six years is attributed to international, African American, Hispanic American, Native American, Asian American or deaf/hard-of-hearing students. Prior to Simone’s success at RIT, he served as faculty at seven major higher education institutions and as president of the University of Hawaii System. He is very active in the Rochester community, having acted as Chair of the Greater Rochester Metro Chamber of Commerce, and participating in such programs as City of Rochester Mayor's Biracial Partnership for Community Progress Program. His dedication to diversity and excellence in learning has transformed and continues to transform one of the major educational institutions in America. |
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