Accompanying Jackson to the Senate meeting were Provost Robert E. Palazzo, Vice President for Undergraduate Admissions Jim Nondorf, Vice President for Strategic Communications and External Relations William Walker, Vice President and Chief Financial Officer Virginia Gregg, Vice President for Information Services and Technology and Chief Information Officer John Kolb ’79, and Secretary of the Institute and General Counsel Charles Carletta.

Jackson discussed several important areas of her goals for RPI with the Senate, including the undergraduate plan, security, transformations planned for the campus, and recent discoveries made by RPI researchers.

“When I came here, one of my goals was to transform Rensselaer,” started Jackson.

Jackson outlined a handful of points of her undergraduate plan, such as plans to continually increase undergraduate research to 80 percent and improve opportunities for abroad studies. She also mentioned plans to hire 44 new professors within the year, which she explained would lower the student-to-faculty ratio and strengthen academics at the Institute.

In terms of security, Jackson discussed two main issues: emergency preparedness and mental health. She stated that communication is continually being improved, and that Public Safety has been working closely with the Troy Police Department to mitigate recent incidents.

Jackson detailed current construction projects as well as future plans for the campus. In addition to mentioning the work currently underway for the East Campus Athletic Village and the Experimental Media and Performing Arts Center—for which construction is expected to be completed by May or June—Jackson also detailed plans to improve Russell Sage Dining Hall by adding more space and better lighting. There will also be the addition of a terrace, where special events may be held. Work on the dining hall will begin before the year is out, according to Jackson.

She also brought to light plans to create an addition to the Jonsson-Rowland Science Center, which will provide wet and dry labs, and will help free up space throughout other parts of the campus. More planning for the Science Center will take place this academic year, but the expansion is expected to add 100,000–120,000 square feet. The Hirsch Observatory will also be renovated as part of the plan to update the Center.

Jackson also brought up discoveries at RPI, such as paper batteries, a method of carbon nanotube repair, and mosquito repellant. “We are the hottest place, and we’re doing some of the hottest things,” Jackson ended, opening the floor for questions.

A number of questions were posed by the senators, ranging in topics from whether RPI is considering arming public safety officers to if there are any plans to renovate residence halls—to which the response was that Sharp Hall is next in line to be modified, followed by the other upperclassmen halls.

Good news from the admissions office was brought into light as well: there is a reportedly 100 percent increase in the number of early applicants this year over last year, which was already a 100 percent increase over the number of applicants the previous year.