Student Culture

Name of Concept: Student Culture

Overview of Idea:

RIT needs to create a more active student culture, one that does not revolve around people spending most of their time cooped up in their dorms or generally acting anti-social.  The institute needs to find a way to promote greater student involvement.  This can be as simple as recruiting students that are more socially extroverted in addition to welcoming students in majors that do not typically attract introverts (such as computing, etc).

How this idea leverages current areas of RIT expertise:

With greater student involvement and interaction, the campus will truly come to life.

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

Student Government

Please identify additional on-campus champions willing to collaborate with this individual and take a lead role in driving the idea.

  Greek Council, IFC, CPC, All Clubs & Organizations]

Are you aware of another university that is working on a similar idea? If yes, which one?

90% of other colleges seem to have a better strategy than RIT when it comes to creating a cohesive social atmosphere

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

More active students will by nature, become more involved with the campus.  Greater things can be accomplished: more clubs can be formed, Greek life can expand (thus increasing RIT's public image through various philanthropic events), and people will enjoy their time here much more than they currently do.

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

Currently RIT's reputation is that of a school which outputs highly intelligent individuals, yet lacks a typical "college experience."  I know numerous people who are thrilled to graduate not because they have succeeded at earning a degree, but because they can finally leave RIT.  This is not the attitude in which we want.  By providing a more active student culture, RIT could enable students to enjoy their time at the university much more than they currently do.  One positive side effect could be greater alumni involvement and donations.  This is extremely important, as alumni donations can enable us to do more research and foster greater creativity and innovation.