Dr. John Minasian was appointed as the new Vice President and Dean of the Rensselaer at Hartford campus in early February. During a recent interview, Minasian explained several goals and initiatives he had in mind for Hartford’s campus, which he felt has “turned the corner and is on its way to big success.”
Minasian feels that a primary goal of the Hartford campus is to “Keep the shared vision of Dr. Jackson; to have a place where we can take the finest leaders of industry and they can dream…and work together.” He would also like to keep Hartford as an “incubator for knowledge,” where leaders and world-class professors come together to think and explore. “Through that collaboration [they] produce something that changes people,” Minasian stated.
Another goal he has for the campus is to get rid of “commodity-based” business where only “streamline people” are created. “We want to shape future leaders of the world,” Minasian continued, “and integrate them as a part of Rensselaer so they are getting a degree from Rensselaer.”
In 2003, it was announced that the focus of the Hartford program would be changing. Minasian described the change as “starting with Dr. Jackson and the beginnings of a cohort-based education and is now transitioning into very sophisticated incubators of learning. They’re signature programs that build on our strengths and our core competences.” This includes focuses on advanced degrees, professionalism, and research-based initiatives. Initial attempts at change have been successful, according to Minasian, and there is even a demand for the weekend MBA program. “People are excited; there’s a passion behind this [that] students come away with,” he commented.
Minasian said that while Hartford has traditionally had the problem of declining enrollment rates, he hopes that the initiatives being taken to better the program through a new focus will turn the tables. “I think there will be a decline in the open-enrollment programs, but we’re turning the corner,” he stated. This past fall, enrollment was ahead of schedule, coincident with the take-off of some of the cohort programs.
Minasian feels that what’s partly to blame for the enrollment problem is passive marketing incentives and the current reliance on Rensselaer’s reputation to attract prospective students to the Hartford campus. “Passive marketing incentives need to change to strong advertising and proactive marketing,” Minasian said. “That should make enrollment go up significantly. Education for the working professional requires different marketing.”
Tuition increased in 2003 from $750 to $942 per credit and has helped make the new cohort-based programs and various other initiatives aimed at strengthening Hartford’s Education for the Working Professional program possible, but is not the cause for decreasing enrollment rates, according to Minasian. “If you’re offering a Rensselaer experience, $30,000 is a small price to pay,” he stated. “People are willing to invest for quality and value.” Minasian also explained how RPI, which includes the Hartford campus, is worth the price students are paying despite tuition increases. “There are two things that distinguish us from the world: First, quality faculty, teaching, and research, and second, unique programs.”
Some programs are still in the making, particularly new fellows programs are in design for this fall and the beginning of next year. “These programs are built on a vision by Dr. Jackson and Bud Peterson; they have a good perspective of where this should go,” Minasian said. Following their vision also provoked a transition to research-based classes and the goal to hire more tenured faculty, which has yet to occur. “It’s difficult to get people tenured,” said added. “Making this transition into a balanced load between tenured faculty and research faculty is difficult. It’s mixing and balancing, not shifting.”
Overall, Minasian has many plans and hopes for the Hartford campus of RPI. “We want to create educational thinkers versus problem solvers…people who can formulate the problems and imaginative solutions whether in the classroom or in their corporations. I want to challenge them to be able to think and take things and make them better and become a better person.” He wants students to graduate feeling that Hartford offered them something of value and for them to determine what the value was. “We need to put that excitement back into education,” Minasian described.
Last Friday, the RPI chapter of Lambda Chi Alpha held a special reception in Minasian’s honor for all has done, as a brother of LXA and while serving on the LXA board for the past five years. Minasian said of the fraternity, in a speech given at the ceremony “It’s given me back so much more than I’ve ever given in.”
Ray Lutzky, an alum and member of LXA, took a moment to comment on Minasian.“We’re excited John has come to RPI to bring his talent and dedication. It’s an example to other administrators on campus to be involved. It would create a better environment on campus,” Lutzky said. Donald Pendagast ’07, also an LXA brother, added, “I’ve seen Dr. Minasian in both a personal and professional setting and it’s a pleasure to know he’ll be working for Rensselaer.”
