The Evolution of RIT: From Its Roots to a Premier Public Research University

Hello@Admin Avatar

The Evolution of RIT: From Its Roots to a Premier Public Research University
Posted on :

The Rochester Institute of Technology, or RIT, is known as nothing but synonymous with advancement and progression. The beyond-expected support to the industry professionals let the university rule over others. In terms of research-oriented courses, barely any university can match the RIT’s excellence level. But the university also has a history of emerging from the trivial, a history of leaving everyone behind, and a history of setting an example. So now, let’s dig deep into the ocean of historical events that let the university become among the top five schools for cooperative education or internship programs.

The mesmerizing early history of RIT

The early name of the institution was the Rochester Athenaeum, founded in 1829. Back then, it wasn’t the superior research centre but a cultural association promoting literature, science and the arts. It believed it collaborated with like-minded people, prompting it to offer public lectures and debates and establish a library. Moving forward, it ripped off its previous name to adopt the current name, Rochester Institute of Technology, in 1944.

The gradual evolution of the university

  • Nearly 18 years after its establishment, it merged with the Mechanics Literary Association and became identical with its new name. However, it continued offering services like providing public lectures, book reviews, etc. 
  • 1891 marked its entry to the technical domain to bring revolution. Following its merger with mechanical institutions, it started providing technical training and increased its enrollment amount to 1000.
  • In 1910, the university experienced its first president, Carleton B. Gibson, who proposed the policy to let the students work in the industry for half of their time and the rest half of their time for study. This proposal was referred to as a “co-op.”
  • 1950 marked another revolutionary addition to the university as the Graphic Arts Research Center was established to incorporate scientific and engineering principles into the printing and publishing industry to make it a hub of research on graphic arts. 
  • Following this year after year marked the university’s uncountable addition to, making it one of the best research centres today. For example, 1972 let the university enter the era of modern technology, including Computer Science and Technology. The university’s growth knew know bounds as it continued to excel in different domains besides introducing the aspiring youths to several inclusions. The university’s rapid growth paved the way for the modern research centre.

The introduction to revolutionary momentum

2001 was the year that introduced the Golisano College of Computing and Information Science, with which the young generation gets a glimpse of Computer Science, Information Technology and Software Engineering. Ever since, the university has continued to thrive in different domains, including biotechnology. Not only that, the university became the first in the country to include a Ph.D. program in Microsystem Engineering and become the first to launch the Ph.D. Degree in Color Science. Not only that, the university continues to expand its campus location to let its world-class service serve in a global setting.

Getting an opportunity to complete an advanced degree under the supervision of world-class faculty members is a matter of glory for any student. Moreover, the knowledge provided by them will certainly be unmatched, using which students can reach a new height. Thus, anyone intending to highlight their research-oriented skills in this highly technology-driven world can opt for the university without further thought. 

To know more about similar topics, keep yourself updated with latest blogs by HelloUni.