<p>Hi:</p>
<p>Came across some recent news this week about RPI having over 95+ layoffs.</p>
<p>What is going on exactly? How is the student population and remaining staff responding? Any extra insight will be appreciated. </p>
<p>My son currently has RPI as his top choice, but this is definitely concerning.</p>
<p>The local newspaper Times Union in Albany, New York has lots of info about the current situation at Rensselaer Polytechnic Institute (RPI): RPI</a> begins staff cuts - Business News Blog - The Buzz: Business news - Times Union Albany NY </p>
<p>The Times Union also has a feature article about the RPI layoffs here: For</a> RPI, priorities an issue -- Page 1 -- Times Union - Albany NY</p>
<p>Two words:
The Economy.</p>
<p>While they have, and will continue to have a very strong endowment, the impact of the struggling economy has been felt at RPI. This is really just a temporary job freeze though. Thankfully, it isn't something to get too worried about with the school, and I am sure that there are related situations occurring at others schools around the country.</p>
<p>RPI's president is making ridiculous load of $. It is just wrong, plus that RPI is one of the most expensive schools in the US, in a area that is really *****ty</p>
<p>Some of the comments to those articles are very interesting. According to the comments, the president not only has a housekeeper and a house manager, but two personal security guards. That's ... weird.</p>
<p>I guess being a college president comes with a certain amount of... danger?!</p>
<p>
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Some of the comments to those articles are very interesting. According to the comments, the president not only has a housekeeper and a house manager, but two personal security guards. That's ... weird.
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</p>
<p>Yes it is weird, and assuming those people are on the school's payroll it really is telling how backward the priorities are of some schools. Professors and other people directly contributing to making money should be last on the chopping block. There are a plethora of studies done on rising "administration" costs for universities which can be ascribed to hiring more and more people who serve ornamental roles. At my school, for example, there is a team of people devoted to making posters and sending e-mails about diversity on campus.</p>
<p>Thanks for the links to the articles and blog comments. The blogs certainly provide insight into the overall situation at RPI from numerous and different sources - students, staff, professors, etc. </p>
<p>One comment from the first article link and blog responses to the article indicated that President Jackson is a candidate for the open position of president at Georgia Tech? Does anyone know if this is fact or rumor? If it is fact, what does Georgia Tech know about the RPI situation?</p>
<p>Bottom line, its obvious that with the economy in dire straights and it is essential to look deep into a college/university prior to selection. RPI is not the only institution with "issues" which are not being openly disclosed. If college is a type of investment, it would seem wise to know how sound that investments operation and environment actually is prior to making a 4+ year commitment. What concerns me most is that parents/students are expected to pay such high tuition with less assistance and yet college admin. raise their salaries, raise tuition, and yet reduce scholarships. </p>
<p>If our economy is to surge in 4-5 years after the hoped for economic recovery we will need the talents of those in college and entering college to help move us forward. How will these young people do this if they are burdened by huge college debt?</p>
<p>I worked at RPI for over 10 years until December 16. The Institute is in a much worse economic situation than other colleges and universities. The 08/09 budget that was distributed in July was in most cases only 95% of 07/08. In November, departments were asked to cut an additional 25% (by contrast, my spouse works at another college in the area, and their budget cuts are 3%). And to respond to MechE12, this is not temporary. We were not layed off; our jobs were eliminated, and many of us worked directly with students. We worked in the Career Development Center, the Computing Center, the Library, the Archer Center, the Registrar's office, Financial Aid, and as Administrative Assistants in department offices.
While the current economy certainly contributed to the crisis, RPI has been sliding for 3-4 years due to over-commitment to building (EMPAC and Athletic Village) and "the care and feeding" of a very expensive President. All of the comments on the Times Union forum about her salary, her personal staff, and her top heavy administration (VPs), I know to be correct.</p>
<p>I'm a current student of RPI, a sophomore in the Electrical Engineering department. If I have any advice to your child considering this school, it's DON'T COME HERE. I honestly mean that, if I had any idea about the state of this school's administration when I was on my college search, I would not have applied here. It's really disgusting. So many departments here were already understaffed to begin with, and it really shows to undergraduate students. I'm looking forward to not getting paid as a TA anymore and instead getting useless credit that doesn't apply to anything, because there's no longer a budget for that in quite a few departments, physics and math being two of them. </p>
<p>And Shirley Ann Jackson? I enjoy driving by her house where a security guard is parked 24/7, seeing her chauffeur idling in front of the building her office is located in, reading the news to see that she's gotten yet another raise. She claims that the changes she has been facilitating are all for us students. Well, when EMPAC opened (the shiniest waste of money I've possibly ever seen), the opening event was a black tie one that you needed an invitation to even get near. The student body wasn't allowed in, save for high ranking members of the student government and a few other student organizations.</p>
<p>As a final note:</p>
<p>ALAC - Advising and Learning Assistance Center</p>
<p>This department does so much for us students. From advice to running the drop-in tutoring problem, there are plenty of students here who would have done far worse in certain classes without the extra help. They had their budget cut in half, meaning less help for students when there was already so little to come by.</p>
<p>Wow - both of you have given me quite a bit to think about. When I toured RPI, I wondered why they were building a Division I-type sports complex when they are (mostly) Division III, although the football field does need a better location. My impression was that Jackson seems to be moving RPI away from its tech foundation to make it a more mainstream university.</p>
<p>my son is very interested in RPI. Are you still of the same mind as your post? </p>
<p>He likes physics and math.</p>
<p>Needless to say, this situation with RPI has had a disappointing effect on how my son feels about the school. If RPI is going to continue to charge the tuition, room and board that it does, the univ. should be stellar on all levels. </p>
<p>I accept the fact that univ. have to make changes to address the economic downturn, but I also expect that those who lead a univ. to buy into the challenges as well and make personal sacrifices to show they too are in this with everyone else. This includes not accepting pay raises, bonuses, freezing tuition, giving certain classes for free, increasing merit based aid, etc.</p>
<p>RPI is still a great school, but it could be and should be exceptional. For $50,000+ with an inflation rate of approx. 5-6% yearly, there should be few questions raised regarding the quality of education, atmosphere, or standards of the dorms, labs or facilities. </p>
<p>Personally, we are waiting to see how the admin. responds to the questions being raised by the staff, prof. and students. My son still likes RPI, but....for $50,000+ there needs to be some major changes for the positive.</p>
<p>My H is an engineering department head at a flagship U. He's at a conference this week and the situation at RPI has come up in discussions with his peers. He called the situation there "unbelievable" and he is not one to use hyperbole. I have to think that the situation is affecting the students.</p>
<p>I am a sophomore/junior at RPI. Do not listen to these comments that say not to come here. Perhaps these individuals had some bad grades this semester? I am sorry to those who have lost their jobs, but you will see this happening everywhere across the country. RPI is a great school. I don't want to say this, but some of the staff here especially the maintenance staff sits around and does nothing. It has proven there has been an over abundance of people hired as well. Again, I am sorry to those who have lost their jobs but this is the truth. It will be happening everywhere... I will agree with the fact that our president's salary is excessive. I would like to add that the facilities that are built or are being built are very needed and have been all financed through some major donations from people like the Nvidia founder. I would not be surprised if RPI would give these people their jobs back eventually.</p>
<p>H also said they are having a hard time hiring; there are "all kinds of unfilled positions, at every level". Among the current postings are Dean, School of Engineering, Dean, School of Science and Dean, School of Architecture.
<a href="https://rpijobs.rpi.edu/applicants/jsp/shared/frameset/Frameset.jsp?time=1231366667181%5B/url%5D">https://rpijobs.rpi.edu/applicants/jsp/shared/frameset/Frameset.jsp?time=1231366667181</a>
I believe that is fully half of their schools.</p>
<p>RPI was a great school and is headed down the tubes with the current leadership. Please get the facts - the college has been understaffed for quite some time. My spouse was one of those permanently FIRED - her position ELIMINATED - as in NOT BEING REHIRED. And, she did more than the work of one person. The donations for the programs and buildings are INSUFFICIENT to complete the work and/or to operate them. How can you possibly hold the opinion that you do after reading the Times Union blog? Wake up NDJake!</p>
<p>Look, I am sorry about your spouse. RPI is not headed down the tubes. Rankings are increasing, and this will pass. A whole lot of corporations and businesses are being affected by the economy. There are many other schools with layoffs that I am hearing about. I also realize that you have 1 post. How would you know about the donations we have? I wish your spouse best of luck, but realize that she is not alone many people across America are losing their jobs and close friends of mine. I do not agree with all the people RPI let go, but some I know personally and their actions led to this. To say that our school will collapse is just not necessary.</p>
<p>Hi Skylark-</p>
<p>My daughter is a freshman at RPI. What I can tell you is overall she LOVES the school. She is an engineering major- leaning towards Chem Engineering right now. And I have to tell you- she is too busy to be hanging out by Ms. Jackson's house or any of the administration offices to take much note. Her class sizes are very manageable and she has been able to get help any time she has needed it. </p>
<p>They did need to upgrade the sports center. Did they need to go THAT far- probably not but these day I even see high school spending over the top money to do it. It is insane. I'm not saying it is right- I'm just watching it happen to the high school in my own town so it sure didn't surprise me to see it going on at a top notch college.</p>
<p>Ms. Jackson has a pitiful reputation on campus at the moment. I didn't know much better being from "out of town" and all. It sure didn't take very long for the rumor mill to reach my ears. It's very hard to know what to believe and not believe sometimes. The terminations at Christmas were awful. It sounds like she makes far too much money for the school to support - that would be partially the Board's fault for allowing it I guess. Troy itself is not an economical prosperous city either so all of these "big projects" seem so magnified against that backdrop. I also believe she has now been there so long that she is out of touch with the students which is a huge problem. I hope her departure is on the short horizon. It would be best. In spite of that however- for your son, just like for my daughter- a lot more goes into the decision.</p>
<p>My suggestion- go visit if you can! That itself sold my daughter. RPI does have a great reputation in spite of the few comments you hear to contrary. Close your eyes on the way in through town :) Every school out there has it's skeletons I'm sure. RPI are just coming out of the closets right now. Campus are always evolving- hopefully for the better.</p>
<p>I hope this might help somewhat.
kgrmom</p>
<p>the surrounding area of RPI is pretty aweful</p>