Rensselaer is undergoing a transformation from a university whose primary focus has been on undergraduate education with a small graduate research portfolio, to a major research institution with a substantially greater external funding and a larger, improved graduate program. This transformation requires a change in policies that have formerly been geared to the Rensselaer of old.
The Rensselaer Plan involves the hiring of new faculty at an unprecedented rate. New research facilities are being built and the existing research infrastructure is being improved. These investments are paying off. Young faculty are winning awards at an astonishing rate and senior faculty continue to garner national and international recognition for their work. These changes also lower the student-to-faculty ratio and establish Rensselaer as a leader in several research arenas.
Guided by an independent consultant and after months of data collection, self-examination, and studies of policies at institutions with whom we compete, we suggested a number of graduate policy reforms. For months, the suggestions have been the subject of debate with student groups and faculty. After a good deal of modification, however, a comprehensive policy was released last week.
The new policy, available at http://www.rpi.edu/web/News/tuition_policy.html, facilitates the transformation of Rensselaer to an institute that will be more competitive with better-known private research universities.
Changes of this magnitude now occurring at Rensselaer are extremely exciting, but they may produce angst among both students and faculty. The new policies will strongly encourage faculty to focus more effort on research and the attainment of external funding. Graduate research will “pay its own bills.” Money will be generated for seed grants and fellowships. Graduate students will receive support that will allow them to pursue their dissertation research without worrying about excessive teaching or the need to work outside of the university.
Concomitant with these changes, more will be expected of graduate students in terms of intellectual contributions and research effort. I have been greatly encouraged by discussions in several departments regarding ways to raise admissions standards and increase expectations of Ph.D. graduate students. During a student panel at the recent Accepted Students Day, current graduate students were asked how they would have responded to the new graduate policy, had it been in place upon their arrival. The replies were revealing. Most students said they would have increased their efforts to establish their research earlier, and would have approached their projects with more vigor. Some also stated that they would have made more of an effort to work with faculty who have sufficient research funding.
Radical change is difficult, but it is absolutely necessary for excellence. All great transformations begin with bold new ideas and risk-taking. Nevertheless, we have a fair transition plan in place. For the next year, the president and the administration are committed to fully support all students who received significant support from the Institute last year. A large number of graduate students will find their situations greatly improved. All students will find that they are encouraged to focus primarily on their dissertations, and that more will be expected of them. Scary? Maybe. Exciting? Definitely. Why not change the world?
Tom Apple
Dean of Graduate Education &
Professor of Chemistry
