RIT Institute of Fellows records

Collection — Multiple Containers

Identifier: RITArc-0066

Staff Only

Scope and Contents

The RIT Institute of Fellows records consist mostly of copies of project proposals and completed projects by various program fellows. Since not all projects included a formal paper, many of the files contain project summaries, presentation transcripts, and related clippings instead of final papers.

The collection also includes administrative documents such as meeting minutes, member lists, program correspondence, calendars and schedules, and program guidelines. Most of the correspondence in the collection is made-up of meeting announcements. There are also planning documents for multiple symposia.

Dates

Creation: 1979-2009

Creator

Rochester Institute of Technology. Institute of Fellows (Organization)

Conditions Governing Access

This collection is open to researchers.

Biographical / Historical

The idea for Rochester Institute of Technology's (RIT) Institute of Fellows was proposed in 1977. RIT President Paul A. Miller and RIT Trustee Richard H. Eisenhart met with the Eastman Kodak Company's former Vice President, William S. Allen, over lunch. During the meeting, Allen and Eisenhart proposed a way for retirees to work with the university, while giving back to the greater Rochester community. Allen and Eisenhart felt that Rochester's pool of retired individuals was an untapped market that still had much to offer to the area in experience, ability, knowledge, and expertise. With the "changing circumstances of retirement," these individuals had more time to pursue interests that could benefit society. After some discussion, Miller suggested the name Institute of Fellows and Allen was tapped to spearhead the project.

After researching similar programs at other institutions, the steering committee for the Institute of Fellows first met on March 8, 1978. Four main objectives were established for the program:

To encourage projects and activities of the Fellows which may benefit Rochester or RIT

To help mobilize resources for individuals who, following retirement, pursue, advance and complete a creative endeavor

To foster the interchange of ideas and experiences among people in the community, faculty, and students

To provide opportunities for lively discussion among persons of different background, education and experience.

Extent

2.3 Linear Feet (1 carton, 2 document boxes, 1 half document box)

Language

English

Additional Description

Overview

Documents related to the RIT Institute of Fellows and its projects. The Institute of Fellows was founded in 1977 as a way for accomplished retirees to share their expertise with the Rochester Institute of Technology and greater Rochester community through special projects. The collection includes project proposals, final presentations and papers, correspondence, meeting minutes, clippings, and other miscellaneous documents.