A key innovation of the cluster model will be the integration of academic programs with the residential experience. This is a nod to the concept of living and learning communities, a focal point of The Undergraduate Plan spearheaded by Vice Provost and Dean of Undergraduate Education Prabhat Hajela to fulfill objectives of The Rensselaer Plan. The ultimate goal of such groups is to foster an atmosphere of intellectual stimulation within themed student residential organizations.
Current plans call for two senior faculty members to be given appointments within the cluster system, much like the masters of the Yale residential college model (another institution investigated by the CLASS benchmarking team). The clusters would be divided between these faculty members, who would report to the dean of Residence Life in addition to their normal academic departmental duties.
These senior faculty members would live in Institute-owned housing very close to RPI’s residential campus. This would allow them to host informal events for the students in their clusters, ranging from dinners and social gatherings to more intellectual endeavors such as guest speakers and study sessions.
The faculty “masters” would establish a core academic presence within the Rensselaer residential system. Assisting them in the current vision of the CLASS plan would be other faculty fellows—not necessarily senior faculty members—who would be tied to specific clusters, although they would not necessarily live in them. These fellows would establish a presence within their clusters—perhaps by giving casual presentations or by occasionally joining students in the dining halls—and would help to promote a scholarly atmosphere while improving ties between students and their professors.
