The Student Life Performance Plan focuses primarily on “supporting the overarching goal: to achieve greater prominence in the 21st century as a top-tier world-class technological research university with global reach and global impact,” as stated in Section I of the document.

According to Knowles, the goals of this particular Performance Plan center on five of the six Institute goals: resident undergraduate education, research and graduate education, scientific and technological entrepreneurship, Rensselaer’s communities, and enabling change.

“We are really about educating technological leaders of tomorrow,” said Knowles. “Our overall goal, of course, is to improve the quality of student life while they are at Rensselaer.”

The highest priority initiatives in the realm of student life that Knowles addressed during the review included graduate and undergraduate goals, the Experimental Media and Performing Arts Center, a revised budgeting process, and faculty and staff recruitment and development. Additional high priorities that he highlighted were campus culture, health and safety, student development, and customer service.

Under the topic of undergraduate initiatives, there were numerous subcategories that were addressed during the meeting. Knowles said he hopes to maintain and improve the First-Year Experience program through theme-housing and the learning-and-living communities like the one initiated this year. He also cited a plan to work closely with Vice President for Enrollment Jim Nondorf in attracting students to RPI from a broad base. Knowles commented that “We saw substantial increase in quality of athletes as well as their academic profiles,” in reference to the student athletes admitted into the Class of 2011. Last of note under the undergraduate initiatives was the East Campus Athletic Village, which will serve as a venue for events in addition to supporting recruitment for RPI athletics.

Knowles also addressed the nearly-complete EMPAC construction, and the ribbon-cutting that they hope to hold later in 2008. He mentioned that there has been talk about Ground Zero making a partnership with EMPAC, along with what role WRPI could play with the recording studios that EMPAC will provide.

Among the other high priority items in the Student Life Performance Plan was the campus culture, which would involve continuing to elevate the quality of campus cultural life and student connection to Rensselaer’s history and traditions, as well as addressing health and safety, customer service, and student development by providing students with high quality career development opportunities.

The draft of the performance plan states that “The major challenges are being addressed and we are committed to continuing to collaborate with others regarding: 1.) the paradigm shift in terms of how and where students live and learn; 2.) the changing campus climate regarding student interests and sense of community; 3.) the imperative to be risk averse in matters related to student health and safety; 4.) the quality of life in residence halls and athletic facilities.”

“We want to help students achieve both personal and academic success,” said Knowles.

Following the presentation, Knowles opened the floor to discussion about the performance plan. Topics addressed ranged from Advising and Learning Assistance Center to the study abroad programs. Also discussed was the possibility of selling punch-cards at the women’s hockey games for general admission to create revenue, as well as a possible Parkfest at the RPI Technology Park.