Photo by Rensselaer/Gary Gold

U.S.News & World Report has ranked Rensselaer 42nd among the nation’s top universities, up from 43rd last year. The Institute also is ranked 24th in the “Best Values” among national universities, up from 27th last year. Rensselaer’s School of Engineering is ranked 19th in the nation.

“There is a renaissance under way at Rensselaer, a rebirth and re-emergence of the Institute as a leader in science, engineering, and technological education,” President Shirley Ann Jackson said. “Rensselaer is proud of its ranking among the elite 50 universities in the nation. We are making investments in faculty, facilities, and research to give our students nothing less than a superb educational experience, expanding their sense of infinite possibilities by offering a depth and breadth of academically challenging and personally stimulating programs. And, we want them to have fun. We are educating the next generation of leaders: innovators, entrepreneurs, creators, and thinkers who will meet the challenges of the 21st century, but the most important affirmation of the successful transformation under way is the quality and intellectual breadth and personal commitment of the stellar students who have chosen to enroll at Rensselaer.”

Rensselaer is making major investments in its research, facilities, and faculty:

• In May, Rensselaer announced a collaboration with IBM and New York state that will establish the Computational Center for Nanotechnology Innovations (CCNI), a $100 million partnership creating the world’s most powerful university-based supercomputing center. The center will be dedicated to computational nanotechnology, molecular bio-computation, and science-based predictions.
• Rensselaer also is making a major investment in its faculty. In the coming year, 20 new faculty will join 500 faculty members already at Rensselaer. Over a four-year period, Rensselaer will have hired 150 new tenured and tenure-track faculty.
• The Center for Biotechnology and Interdisciplinary Studies opened in September 2004 and has received $12 million of high-end bioscience instrumentation;
• Construction is under way on the Experimental Media and Performing Arts Center (EMPAC), which will provide new and unique opportunities for research and performance at the intersection of the arts, sciences, and technology.

“The rankings of the U.S.News & World Report are the latest among a number of indicators that Rensselaer continues to enjoy extraordinary momentum as a global research and teaching university. Striving under the guidance of The Rensselaer Plan, we have broadened the academic curriculum, improved the quality of life for students and faculty, made bold strides in the development of novel and broad-based research infrastructure, continue to invest in the arts and humanities, and continue to promote entrepreneurship across the curriculum,” said acting Rensselaer Provost Robert Palazzo. “These institutional investments, coupled with the energy and dedication of a world-class faculty, makes Rensselaer one of the most vibrant research and education institutions in the world, a truly exciting place to be.”

Published August 28, 2006