CAST Complex

Name of Concept: CAST Complex

Overview

Provide an academic, scholarship, and community focal point for the integration of all CAST programming, activities, faculty, staff, students, and facilities.

How this idea leverages current areas of RIT expertise

The concepts provide a means of integration and synergy for various facets of CAST that are currently spread among six buildings throughout the RIT campus.

Main RIT on-campus champion(s) for this idea

H. Fred Walker, Dean CAST

Additional on-campus champions:

Barbara Bangs

Potential off-campus advocacy and support for the idea?

Yes, Industrial Advisory Board Members, Board of Trustees Members, Alumni, Corporate Sponsor

Are you aware of another university that is working on a similar idea?

Various universities have completed similar facilities -- Purdue University, Indiana State University

How you envision this idea advancing RIT's national or global stature in an important or emerging field

Such a facility would enable faculty, staff, and students from CAST departments the context and proximity to explore common areas of interest in a way that is not possible now.

Why you believe RIT has a unique opportunity or an ability to differentiate itself through this idea

A key justification in making a business case for this request is the collaborative works that can be facilitated among faculty, staff, and students engaging in applied research, innovation, and a host of related activities and endeavors.  Such facilitation can be leveraged more fully when curricular renovation is directed toward creating curricular-based programming focused on promoting such interactions/integration -- curricular-based programming can then be measured in terms of outcomes assessment to ensure desired goals have been met.