Spring 2007

During my first nine months at Rose-Hulman, I made it a point to meet all the faculty and staff and to involve myself with the students as much as possible. My primary purpose in doing so was to learn the Rose-Hulman culture and traditions. Boy, am I glad I did!

I always knew that Rose-Hulman was an excellent institution. However, now that I’ve been here for nine months, I can honestly say that R-H is much better than I ever imagined or anticipated. Furthermore, I learned that there are certain characteristics that make the college stand out above other institutions.

What characteristics make Rose-Hulman unique? I believe there are six of them.

First, it’s the exceptional quality of the students who come to Rose- Hulman. I’ve discovered that not only are our students technically bright, but they also come to us with a broad array of interests and are highly motivated.

Second, it’s the quality of the faculty and staff who work at the Institute. The faculty members are truly dedicated to teaching and they spend a tremendous amount of time with the students beyond the classroom. I’ve also discovered that all staff members play a key role in the development of our students. It’s fantastic for me to see how all faculty and staff are willing to meet, help, advise, coach, mentor, be a friend, etc., to any student at any time.

Third, it’s the curriculum that we offer. Our academic programs are traditional in nature, but also current. Faculty members—through their own personal experiences—bring to the classroom the latest techniques being used in industry and are constantly revising the curricula. Accordingly, students are able to “hit the ground running” immediately following graduation.

Fourth, it’s our hands-on, project-based approach to learning. It’s one thing to learn the material between the covers of a book, but it’s another to be able to apply it. The faculty members really challenge the students along these lines, which results, once again, with students who are well prepared for early career success immediately following graduation.

Fifth, it’s our co-curricular activities. Our classes end at 5:10 PM offering students time to complete homework assignments, work on projects or participate in over seventy different clubs and organizations. I am amazed at how many students take advantage of the opportunity to get involved in our co-curricular activities from participating in athletics to performing with the drama club. Through these activities students develop character and learn leadership, management and personal skills that prepare them for their future professional careers. Other institutions call these things “extra-curricular” activities, because they do not necessarily provide the time for students to get involved – it’s “catch as catch can!” Furthermore, at larger institutions, there are so many students that not all of them will be able to “make the cut.” At Rose-Hulman, we are small enough that virtually everyone gets a chance to participate if they have an interest. We believe that these activities are a supplement to the curriculum in developing the whole person; therefore, we refer to those activities as “co-curricular.”

Sixth, it’s the spirit of the campus community. Rose- Hulman truly is a community of faculty, staff and students. We’re like a family where we care about one another and look out for each other. No one person is any more important than anyone else.

When I have mentioned these six characteristics to others, some- times I hear them say that surely other universities have excellent students, dedicated faculty and extracurricular activities. That may be true, but I believe that Rose-Hulman is the best institution that combines these elements to create an outstanding educational environment.

Currently, we’re going through a strategic planning process that will chart our course for the next five to ten years. As we do so, it’s very important that we hold firm to these six characteristics. It’s important for us to continue recruiting the best and brightest students; to recruit faculty who are dedicated to undergraduate education and teaching; to keep our curricula current and competitive; to continue our hands-on, project-based approach to learning; to ensure student involvement in co-curricular activities; and to preserve the spirit of community that exists.

I am honored to be associated with this great organization, and I pledge to do my utmost to maintain the culture and traditions that have made Rose-Hulman what it is today.