RIT Oversight Study Group records

Collection — Box-Folder: 8

Identifier: RITArc-0493

Staff Only

Scope and Contents

These records contain copies of an announcement for an RIT Community Town Meeting to introduce the Oversight Study Group to the community, a research policy proposal, and an article from the Democrat and Chronicle newspaper introducing the OSG to the general public.

Dates

Creation: 1992-1992

Creator

Rochester Institute of Technology. Oversight Study Group (Organization)

Conditions Governing Access

This collection is open to researchers.

Historical Information: RIT Oversight Study Group on Classified and Proprietary Research

The RIT Oversight Study Group on Classified and Proprietary Research was formed under the RIT Board of Trustees to review and to make recommendations for the oversight policies and procedures of RIT and its subsidiaries. This group was formed in 1992 as a result of the Central Intelligence Agency controversy. President M. Richard Rose left RIT for four months in 1991 for a confidential assignment. It was later revealed by the Rochester Times-Union newspaper that his assignment brought him to CIA headquarters in Langley, Virginia. This information resulted in public backlash. Many faculty, students, and members of the community felt that any CIA involvement in the university would be unethical to the goals, methodologies, and values of higher education. Close scrutiny by the media and the community followed, leading to the leakage of documents confirming the establishment of a complex working relationship between the CIA and RIT. The OSG created a research policy to ensure maximum transparency of university’s activities to the public, which is documented within these records.

Extent

1 Folder(s) (These records are located in a folder within a document box.)

Language

English

Additional Description

Overview

The collection contains records pertaining to the Rochester Institute of Technology Oversight Study Group on Classified and Proprietary Research (OSG). The OSG was formed in response to the RIT-CIA controversy that ultimately lead to the early retirement of President M. Richard Rose in 1992. These records include announcements and a newspaper article.