Troy, N.Y. — In response to the devastation caused by Hurricane Katrina, Rensselaer Polytechnic Institute officials announced that the university will open its doors to 100 students from Tulane University and Xavier University of Louisiana in New Orleans, along with students who are from the New York state Capital Region and who also have been displaced from their academic pursuits by this tragedy.

“Engineering, science, media arts, architecture, and other students whose lives and studies have been disrupted by this extraordinary devastation, and for whom Rensselaer is an appropriate choice, should know they have a place to come and learn,” Rensselaer President Shirley Ann Jackson said.  “We welcome them into our community, until they can return to their own.”

Rensselaer is establishing a Gulf Coast Visiting Scholars program that will accept up to 100 students who had enrolled at Tulane University or Xavier University of Louisiana in New Orleans and who are not able, at this juncture, to be accommodated by those institutions. The visiting students will not pay tuition, fees, or room and board for the Fall 2005 semester.  Rensselaer has also offered to accommodate a faculty member or student life professional from these universities to assist in creating the conditions necessary for the students’ success.

The Gulf Coast Visiting Scholars program will also be available to students who are from the New York state Capital Region, who were enrolled at another affected college or university, and who have been temporarily displaced from their studies.

Rensselaer officials are reaching out to administrators at Tulane and Xavier, and working through other communications networks being established, to identify students – primarily in science, engineering, marketing, media arts, and architecture – for whom Rensselaer would be the appropriate venue.  The Institute has established a toll-free phone number — 1-866-436-6210 — and a website — www.rpi.edu/katrina — for students and their families to get information about the Gulf Coast Visiting Scholars program.

Calls for Contributions to Relief Agencies
In addition to establishing the Gulf Coast Visiting Scholars program, a donation of $25,000 is being made to the American Red Cross, and $5,000 each to the Salvation Army and to America’s Second Harvest in the name of Rensselaer Polytechnic Institute.  The Institute has invited members of the Rensselaer community to consider donating to these organizations, or to the charity of their choice.

Contact: Theresa Bourgeois
Phone: (518) 276-2840
E-mail: bourgt@rpi.edu