The Student Life Performance Plan focuses primarily on “supporting the overarching goal of achieving greater prominence in the 21st century as a top-tier, world-class technological research university with global reach and impact,” Knowles said during the review.

The plans drafted are all based on goals set each year at the retreats of President Shirley Ann Jackson’s leadership teams. Those on the retreats evaluate what progress has been made, and what the next set of goals should be.

Knowles said that the goal of the student life plan remained unchanged: to continually improve the quality of life for students while at Rensselaer.

The highest-priority initiatives in the realm of student life that Knowles addressed during the review included biotechnology, media and the arts, sustainability, graduate education initiatives, the First-Year Experience, the class deans model, diversifying program offerings, the East Campus Athletic Village, Clustered Learning Advocacy and Support for Students, the international experience, programs within the Curtis R. Priem Experimental Media and Performing Arts Center, a revised budgeting process, and faculty and staff recruitment. Additional priorities included leadership education, campus culture, health and safety, and customer service.

With the growing interest in both biotechnology and media and the arts on campus, Knowles wants to ensure that students know about the broad range of opportunities available in these areas. The Performance Plan includes plans to increase employment contacts for undergrads in these areas and various fairs to show undergraduates what the field has to offer.

The Division of Student Life is also going to focus on the recent attempts to improve energy usage and the environment at RPI. Through working on facility upgrades and the Environmental Education Center—recently created in the Games Room of the Rensselaer Union—as well the EEC’s programs, Knowles hopes to see an improvement in this area.

Knowles also hopes to get graduate students more involved in student life at RPI, planning to do this through including them more in residence life in addition to other leadership training opportunities.

Through the new restructuring of student life at Rensselaer, Knowles is working on both improving the First-Year Experience and introducing an extension of the program through both a Sophomore-Year Experience as well as class deans for the sophomore, junior, and senior years.

The Performance Plan also calls for developing diversity initiatives targeted at underrepresented populations and continuing to provide high-quality programs and services that are inclusive of diverse student communities.

The construction being done on ECAV also will provide a new dimension to student life, as has EMPAC’s completion. Knowles hopes that ECAV will create opportunities for Rensselaer students to experience a full range of athletic activities, including varsity competition, intramurals, club sports, and general recreation. EMPAC is working cooperatively with students, to ensure that it will continue to offer diverse programs.

The CLASS model is working to include both greeks and those who live off-campus in Rensselaer’s support system. Knowles described the CLASS initiative as a “new opportunity to expand on the undergraduate plan with living and learning communities.” He also hopes to expand the number of those partaking in the international experience while at Rensselaer.

Following the presentation, Knowles opened the floor to questions from those students in attendance.

Senator Ben Hunt ’10 asked about how the budget cuts that have occurred across departments would affect the Performance Plan. Knowles stated that the plans will still be rolling forward, although the funds will still be tighter than normal.

Independent Council President Michael Wallace ’09 asked Knowles whether there will be an improvement in the way that the Registrar, Bursar, and Financial Aid offices interact. Knowles responded that there are measures being put in place to ensure that they work smoothly together.

Also addressed was the Troy City Council’s wish to impose a public safety fee on students for fire, ambulance, and police support provided to the campus. Knowles said he is very opposed to the idea, stating that the Institute and city have a difference of opinions in defining the way RPI contributes to Troy.

Finally, the topic of conversation got around to students studying abroad. Knowles said that there are many opportunities for students to have an international experience, not just “studying abroad.” He mentioned possibilities for co-ops, internships, and travelling for sports teams abroad as well.