Troy, N.Y. — Rensselaer Polytechnic Institute ranks among the top 25 “most connected campuses” in the country, according to a Princeton Review survey. Describing the campuses on the list as “the closest to the cutting edge,” Forbes.com released the rankings today.

“We provide our students with access to sophisticated tools in a highly networked environment to enable innovative education and research,” said Rensselaer President Shirley Ann Jackson. “We challenge our students to develop the technologies of tomorrow, and to do that they must have the best that is available today.”

A leader in the use of computing to support education and research, Rensselaer thoroughly integrates computer use into the curriculum as an essential component of course work and communication, according to Rensselaer Chief Information Officer John Kolb.

The Institute, as part of its mobile computing program, distributes laptops to all incoming students. This ensures that the network integration on campus works effectively and that all students have universal access to high-level tools to prepare them for real-world industry applications.

Wireless Internet access, state-of-the-art electronic information retrieval services available in the libraries, and more than 25 studio classrooms that allow students at wired workstations to utilize Web-based technologies, full-motion video, computer simulation, and other laboratory resources are just a few examples of the cutting-edge technology employed at Rensselaer.

“Rensselaer has a history of maintaining a leading-edge integrated information environment,” said Kolb. “Access to that environment is essential in enhancing education, expanding research, and developing scientific and technological entrepreneurship among our students, faculty, and staff.”

Rensselaer’s robust computing infrastructure supports new applications in diverse areas of research such as bioinformatics, experimental multimedia in the arts, modeling, and simulation, according to Kolb.

Today the Princeton Review published the third annual “Top 25 Most Connected Campuses,” available on Forbes.com. For the full list and methodology, visit www.forbes.com/connected.

“The schools on our list have demonstrated leadership in preparing and supporting students for life in the digital age,” said Rob Franek, vice president and publisher of the Princeton Review. “Students who understand the value of technology to both their career prospects and overall quality of life will want to pay special attention to the schools on our list.”

Photo by Mark McCarty