h3. Name of Concept: Collaborative Programs Initiatives


h3. Overview of Idea:

RIT is well know for its multidisciplinary approach. Dr. Destler often talks about Right-brain and Left-brain approach. But how does this reflect in the degrees being awarded by our various colleges. Although students have great flexibility to their advantage to select courses from different colleges (example: Industrial Engineering students taking Management classes from SCOB), the degree title awarded to them does not reflect this.

Suggestion - Because students appreciate this multidisciplinary approach, and have continuously shown interest in "what is going on" in other colleges/departments at RIT, we should leverage the opportunities to materialize the synergies between programs offered by colleges. This can be done by coming up with new concentrations and degrees. The costs related to this will not be substantial because RIT already has infrastructure for some of these programs.

Example 1: MS Industrial Design + BS/MBA (SCOB) = MS Design Management (a unique field with great prospects. Some of the top notch field experts recommend this) Why can't RIT have a separate curriculum awarding degree in "Design Management" This has potential to attract some of the brightest students from around the world.

Example 2: MBA Finance(COB) + MS Applied Statistics (CQAS) = MS Quantitative Finance (skill set that is very much appreciated in the field of Investment Finance, Corporate Finance and Financial Engineering. All major "Finance" universities have this option on their "menu". Recruiters on Wall Street dig for these students. It is very unfortunate to learn that "Finance" companies hire RIT Engineering students for Finance jobs and than train them further using their quantitative skill. So if this is the scenario, what happens to MBA Finance students? It would be very interesting to see how many RIT MBA (Finance) students actually end up in their field of preference.

There are several similar opportunities that could be materialized from "thin air" mainly because RIT already has two "half" ready. It is just a matter of giving it a final touch and bringing them together to market some really unique programs that would be valued by prospective students from around the world and more so by recruiters.

h3. How  this idea leverages current areas of RIT expertise:

1. Academic Programs and related Infrastructure - This is already present and one of the biggest leverage. Although new programs would need minor revisions and addition of some more unique courses

2. Labs and Library  - Transfer/Sharing from one part of university to other (Example: Software from CQAS lab to Business School Labs)

3. Teaching/Faculty - Design new courses and curriculum, cooperation from faculty and more collaboration among colleges and faculties in various departmens

4. Almost all aspect of RIT's strengths can be used in some way or the other to enhance this idea. Foundation required to execute this is almost there... on top of all it is great time to incorporate these "new" programs while we revise curriculum and transition into new academic calender

h3. Main  RIT on-campus champion(s) for this idea:

"Star faculty" from each participating college to collaborate with other

h3. Additional  on-campus champions willing to collaborate with this individual and  take a lead role in driving the idea:

 Member of Development and Alumni Relation

Coop office to share new trends and demand for skills from industry

Academic Affairs representative

Student representative from each college

h3. Potential off-campus individual, organization, company or government entity advocate(s):

Almost all potential recruiters

h3. Are you aware of another university that is working on a similar idea?

Boston University and Purdue offers MS in Quantative Finance


h3.

h3. Why  you believe RIT has a unique opportunity or an ability to differentiate  itself through this idea:

Mainly because of "Right-brain Left brain" presence on the campus. As Dr. Destler says, there are many campus having Engineering and Management schools, but we have design school in middle of both.

As a student, above statement is very exciting to me and makes me immensely proud of RIT. But it is also very disappointing when I see students from Liberal Arts in one corner of the campus and Business students in the other. I see no interaction to materialize this great opportunity that we have in hands.

This is also true for faculty because other day I asked one of my professor if he knew anyone from CLA and he said "I have not been in that building" during my 10\+ years of service at RIT. How unfortunate\!\!
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