Rensselaer Polytechnic Institute is the nation's oldest technological research university. Since its founding in 1824, Rensselaer has maintained its reputation...

Rensselaer Polytechnic Institute is the nation's oldest technological research university. Since its founding in 1824, Rensselaer has maintained its reputation for providing a transformative education of undisputed intellectual rigor based on innovation in the laboratory, classroom, and studio. The Institute's motto is:'Why not change the world?' Rensselaer offers more than 145 programs at the bachelor's, master's, and doctoral levels from five schools: Engineering; Science; Architecture; Humanities, Arts, and Social Sciences; and the Lally School of Management; as well as an interdisciplinary degree in Information Technology and Web Science. Students are encouraged to work in interdisciplinary programs that allow them to combine scholarly work from several departments. The Institute provides engaging, interactive learning environments and campus-wide opportunities for leadership, collaboration, and creativity. Driven by talented and forward-thinking faculty, Rensselaer has expanded its research enterprise by focusing on five signature research areas: biotechnology and the life sciences; energy, the environment, and smart systems; computational science and engineering; nanotechnology and advanced materials; and media, arts, science, and technology. The Institute is well-known for its success in the transfer of technology from the laboratory to the marketplace so that new discoveries and inventions benefit human life, protect the environment, and strengthen economic development. Rensselaer is anchored by two vibrant roots. One root, written into the school's founding documents, is '...the application of science to the common purposes of life.' Rensselaer graduates constructed the canals, roads, bridges, skyscrapers, and basic infrastructure of America, which helped to form the basis for 20th century society. The second root, also built into the school's origin, is the employment of novel educational strategies. In the earliest days, after initial instruction, students taught what they knew to each other -- since teaching reinforces learning. Likewise, students performed scientific experiments instead of watching faculty conduct them, as had been the common practice. Rensselaer is led by the Honorable Shirley Ann Jackson and guided by The Rensselaer Plan, under which the Institute has made major investments in people, programs, platforms, and partnerships that have transformed Rensselaer into a top-tier technological research university with global reach and global impact. The Rensselaer Plan was recently refreshed to provide the roadmap to the Institute's 200th anniversary in 2024. The updated plan addresses three critical areas: student life, innovative pedagogy, and research to solve global challenges. In the area of Student Life, CLASS (Clustered Learning, Advocacy, and Support for Students) provides support and co-curricular opportunities for students throughout their undergraduate years. Through CLASS, students are connected to a network of faculty, staff and other students who lend support and guidance and help to build a strong community of learners as they strive to become the leaders of tomorrow. In the area of research, Rensselaer was the first university in the world to receive a Watson cognitive computing system from IBM. Watson, known for defeating the all-time champions of the game show Jeopardy!, along with AMOS, one of the world's most powerful university-based supercomputers, are based in the Rensselaer Center for Computational Innovations. Rensselaer is also home to several other unique facilities: The Center for Biotechnology and Interdisciplinary Studies, which houses over 400 researchers; the Curtis R. Priem Experimental Media and Performing Arts Center, which provides a platform for exploration and learning at the nexus of research, technology, and the performing arts; and the East Campus Athletic Village, which offers athletic and recreation facilities to enhance the Rensselaer scholar-athlete experience.