The Board of Trustees approved a plan for new construction that totals $255 million during meetings this weekend. The plan approved the planned construction of a center for biotechnology and interdisciplinary studies, a center for electronic media and performing arts, a 500 car parking garage, a boiler plant, a chiller plant, and for related improvements to campus landscaping and infrastructure.

The construction of the EMPAC building is slated to begin for the fall 2002 semester,

Reception for all

President Jackson will host the annual Institute holiday reception on Wednesday December 5. The event will be held from 3-5 pm in the Russell Sage Dining Hall and is open to the entire Rensselaer community. Food and beverages will be served.

In a press release, President Jackson said that the reception will be an opportunity to “thank you all for your dedication to excellence and your commitment to the vital mission of this university.”

Ready to go home?

If you are going home for the holidays through the Albany International Airport, Amtrak train station in Rensselaer, or the Greyhound bus station in Albany, then you should know about a Public Safety-CDTA free transportation program.

On Tuesday, December 18, from 2–8 pm and Wednesday, December 19, from 8 am-noon the bus will provide free transportation to any of the three destinations every hour starting from the bus stop on Sage Avenue.

Trips to Albany International will take place on the odd-numbered hours, and the other two stops will be made on the even hours. The last trip at 8 pm, will stop at all three destinations.

On Sunday, January 13, the service will be available for students coming back to campus.

The bus will leave every hour on the hour-even-numbered hours from the Amtrak and Greyhound stations; odd hours from the Albany International Airport. The last trip, at 8 pm, will make all three stops.

Communiversity Event

The Walden Chamber Players, members of the world renowned Boston Symphony Orchestra will perform a concert presented by the Union and the Office of the First Year Experience.

The event will take place in the Troy Savings Bank Music Hall on Friday, December 7, at 8 pm.

The event also includes a pre-concert talk and a post-concert reception in the Troy City Hall. The Players will perform selections from Haydn, Scnittke, Mozart, and Dohany.

Tickets for both events can be obtained from the Union or at the Office of the First Year Experience.

However only a limited number of seat is available and they are given on first-come-first-serve basis.

IT Dean named

David Spooner acting chair and professor of computer science has been named associate dean for information Technology. This position will be one of many that he has held since 1981 in the computer science and IT department.

As associate dean, Spooner’s will evaluate and refine the B.S and M.S. in the IT curriculum. He also will promote IT research initiatives through the development of innovative research programs at in IT. In addition, Spooner will explore the creation of Ph.D. program in IT.

Spooner also plans to create an “IT Expo”highlighting new advances in the feild of information technology.

The IED tradition

In what seems to be developing into a Rensselaer tradition, Introduction to Engineering Design students will present their final projects to the campus community on Friday, December 7.

The presentations will take place in the Darrin Communications Center Great Hall from 4 to 7 pm.