Rose-Hulman Institute of Technology and the Indianapolis 500

This Memorial Day weekend will mark the 97th running of the Indianapolis 500. I felt it was only appropriate to blog about my campus visit to the Rose Hulman Institute of Technology (RHIT). Perhaps you are puzzled at the connection between the Greatest Spectacle in Racing and this academically challenging school located one hour west of Indianapolis.

Indianapolis Motor Speedway Connection

Rose Hulman Institute of Technology was founded in 1874 as the Terre Haute School of Industrial Science. It would later be renamed Rose Polytechnic Institute after founder Chauncey Rose. In 1922, the campus moved to a 123 acre farm  donated by the Hulman family. The Hulman family were wealthy Terre Haute/Indianapolis businesspeople and philanthropists. The Hulman's acquired their wealth through business investments that include producing Clabber Girl baking powder, owning the Indianapolis Motor Speedway and the Indy Racing League. In recognition of the Hulman family's financial contributions over the years, the school was renamed in 1971 to Rose-Hulman Institute of Technology.

On an additional note, Ed Carpenter will be in pole position to start the 500. He is the also the stepson of Tony George, grandson to the Tony Hulman who helped build the family wealth. Thus, the top driving going into the race will have a connection to Rose-Hulman of Technology!

Engineering

1. That is the number that reads on all banners hanging on campus. It is where Rose-Hulman' stands in the U.S. News & World Report ranking of engineering colleges and universities that offer a Master's degree as the highest possible degree earned. This has been a ranking associated with RHIT for the past 14 years. Engineering has been the main focus of this highly selective school since its origins providing technical training for local engineers for Chauncey Rose's railroad construction company. In addition to the rigorous undergraduate education, the only Master's level courses at RHIT are in the engineering field.

Academics

Engineering, Math, Science. Those are the three fields in which a RHIT student can major. During a conversation with an admissions representative, he boosted "we do not have many majors, but we excel in those we have."  RHIT backs up this claim with the U.S. News & World Report ranking as the #1 engineering school for 14 consecutive years. Yet, the curriculum at this STEM school requires more Humanities and Social Sciences courses than  most engineering schools.

To help ensure excellence in the classroom and to continue a hands on, one-on-one education, typical classes are on the smaller size. The average class size of 12:1 and are taught by leading professors with the highest degrees in their field, not by teaching or graduate assistants.

To encourage group collaboration and intellectual thinking, white boards are in all dormitory commons area. Also, all dormitories must following the "Open Door Policy." This means students are required to leave their dorm room open during the day if they are inside. This fosters socialization amongst the nations brightest academic minds. The concept is to ensure students have a balance between academics and socialization. Quite a unique policy at a rigorous college, but when you have the top engineers in the nation on your campus, you can create unique rules.

Rose-Hulman Ventures

Rose–Hulman Ventures is an engineering educational experience located  in a Certified Technology Park three miles south of the main campus at Rose Hulman's South Campus. It serves as a source of internships and job opportunities for startups and established companies of all sizes for RHIT students and alumni. It is not an academic research facility run by RHIT or paid for through student tuition, but funded by the companies that pay for the student employment. Students are selected by the companies to intern part time during the school year and full time during semester breaks. All intellectual property created at RHV belongs with the company, not the student or the school. The purpose of this facility is not to commercialize RHIT, but to promote their students to local and national companies. It was established in 1999 and continual funding of nearly $55 million from the Eli Lilly Endowment has allowed this unique concept to flourish.