2023 Rose-Hulman President's Report

CHARTING OUR LEGACY

Rose-Hulman’s Strategic Plan: Advancing by Design

FROM HERACLITUS TO BENJAMIN FRANKLIN TO BOB DYLAN, GREAT THINKERS HAVE FOR MANY CENTURIES SPOKEN OF THE INEVITABILITY OF CHANGE. THEY HAVE ESPOUSED CENTRAL THEMES THAT INCLUDE THE NEED TO NOT JUST ACCEPT CHANGE BUT TO PREPARE CAREFULLY FOR IT, OBSERVING THE IMPORTANCE OF SEEING CHANGE AS AN OPPORTUNITY TO ADVANCE.

Such ideas lie at the heart of the strategic planning process in general and have been key guideposts for creation of the next Rose-Hulman Institute of Technology long-term strategic plan. Under the title “Advancing By Design,” the new strategic plan launches at the beginning of 2024, Rose-Hulman’s sesquicentennial year.

The plan examines the shifting landscape of higher education, which is arguably changing faster than it ever has in Rose-Hulman’s 150 years. It evaluates the changes in society and industry, explores globalization and diversity, investigates the world’s sustainability challenges, assesses the evolving needs of students, and spotlights the essential nature of innovation, entrepreneurship, and discovery.

The aim is to ensure that Rose-Hulman remains aligned with these forces and requirements, not only adapting to the changes but advancing through them as the next 10 years unfold. The plan acknowledges that a full decade of change is a challenge to foretell, and is therefore built to be flexible and responsive, with periodic pauses for reflection and refinement.

Most important, “Advancing By Design” guides how Rose-Hulman will continue to deliver tomorrow’s students with the world’s best undergraduate education in science, technology, engineering, and mathematics. It maintains the culture of support and commitment to individual attention for which the Institute is known. It ensures that graduates will continue to emerge as well-rounded, forward-thinking innovators energized for leading their fields and addressing the world’s challenges. And as Rose-Hulman celebrates its sesquicentennial throughout the next year, “Advancing By Design” strengthens the Institute’s foundations for the next 150 years.

Strategic Plan Vision

The Strategic Plan will enhance and mobilize Rose-Hulman’s current strengths, effectively empowering our students to address important

2022-2023 TIMELINE OF ACHIEVEMENTS

This strategic roadmap is organized into four key themes, spelled out in more detail in this report. Within each theme, planners have established overarching goals and identified key strategic actions designed to advance those goals. The actions are intended to be reviewed and updated as needed on cycles of roughly three years, to ensure that these plans for change maintain the right pace and adapt to unforeseen twists and turns.

Infuse Sustainability into the Rose-Hulman Education and Culture

The first theme of the plan focuses on instilling concepts of sustainability into both the culture of Rose-Hulman and the education of its students. The plan centers on a definition of sustainability put forth more than three decades ago by the United Nation’s World Commission on Environment and Development, referring to development that achieves “the needs of the present without compromising the ability of future generations to meet their own needs.”

Instill a Mindset of Innovation, Discovery, and Entrepreneurship

Rose-Hulman is already highly regarded for attracting the brightest scientific minds and preparing them to excel at whatever pursuits they choose post-graduation. Given the

The overarching goal is for Rose-Hulman as an institution to reduce its consumption of non-renewable resources and become more proficient at reusing and reclaiming waste. Among other things, it seeks on-campus production of renewable energy. From a curricular perspective, this part of the strategic plan calls for enhanced learning and training opportunities in sustainability for all associated with Rose-Hulman, including students, faculty, and staff.

The sustainability portion of the plan establishes a series of specific strategic actions to take between the January 2024 launch and the end of 2026. Examples include:

• Establishing a Sustainability Committee and getting a baseline assessment of campus energy usage.

• Setting targets to reduce energy usage so that both consumption and carbon-dioxide-equivalent emissions drop by at least 10% compared to levels from the 2022-23 academic year.

• Improving campus recycling programs and setting landfill diversion targets.

• Creating a plan to produce cost-effective, renewable energy on-campus that covers at least 20% of the Institute’s electrical energy consumption.

fast pace of change and the need to solve urgent global issues, graduates must be prepared to innovate bold ideas, discover solutions, and use entrepreneurial approaches to bring them to life.

The second theme of “Advancing By Design” focuses on enhancing the environment that instills such a mindset. It supercharges the innovative potential of students while expanding the Institute’s entrepreneurial ecosystem for external clients and beyond. At the center of this work is Innovation Grove, an integrated complex for discovery and entrepreneurship, located on expanded campus property at the northeast corner of Indiana highways 42 and 46.

JULY 18, 2022

Chemical engineering associate professor Irene Reizman, PhD, is expanding and enhancing undergraduate research experiences for students as the new Alfred R. Schmidt Endowed Chair for Excellence in Teaching.

AUGUST 2, 2022

The Lilly Endowment-supported MINDful College Connections mental health consortium (with DePauw and Saint Mary-of-the-Woods) continues addressing students’ needs by hiring Curtis Wiseley, Psy.D., as the program’s first executive director.

AUGUST 3, 2022

Associate professor Kyle Kershaw, PhD, is incorporating concepts of resilient infrastructure and designing for climate change into courses as the new Dr. Roland E. Hutchins Endowed Chair in Civil Engineering.

AUGUST 19, 2022

Samuel F. Hulbert Endowed

Chair in Biomedical Engineering

Alan Chiu, PhD, is expanding studies that may help patients with severe motor impairments caused by neurological diseases or disabilities.

Here are some of the strategic actions planned for the first three years:

• Building a new facility within Innovation Grove to relocate Rose-Hulman Ventures, allowing a stronger physical and programmatic integration with the campus.

• Enhancing offerings at the Branam and Kremer Innovation Centers, creating new training classes and supporting the Institute’s competition teams.

• Formalizing an information-sharing process in the areas of innovation, discovery, and entrepreneurship in a way that engages those on campus with alumni and external partners.

• Building resources that support the professional development of faculty and staff in innovation, discovery, and entrepreneurship, including initiatives that result in new curriculum, workshops, projects, and even startups.

Prepare Students to be Leaders in a Global and Diverse Society

In the past few years, Rose-Hulman has increased its investments and efforts focused on diversity, equity, and inclusion. The third theme of “Advancing By Design” builds upon these efforts to help graduates emerge as leaders in a global and increasingly diverse society.

One key is expanding cross-cultural experiences on and near campus as well as abroad. The plan aims to enhance the Institute’s diverse and inclusive community, encouraging a broader understanding of global and diverse perspectives. By building intercultural competence into the Rose-Hulman experience from the very start, students can develop greater abilities to define and solve problems in a diverse, global environment.

Here are some of the initiatives planned for the first three years of the plan’s implementation, by the end of 2026:

• Ensuring education in intercultural competence, diversity, and inclusion for all faculty, staff, and students.

• Implementing a credential to enhance all graduates’ intercultural experiences and competencies.

• Integrating intercultural issues into existing courses and tracking progress on a departmental level.

• Increasing support for off-campus international and intercultural experiences so that student participation increases by at least 25% compared to the 2022-23 academic year.

Increase the Affordability and Value of a Rose-Hulman Education

A Rose-Hulman degree is widely recognized for its return on investment. That said, it is increasingly important to boost affordability for students of all backgrounds and continue to increase the value of a Rose-Hulman education. That aim is the fourth theme of “Advancing By Design.”

This theme features a range of strategies focused on affordability and value, along with minimizing additional expenses when possible. For example, off-campus experiential internships and co-ops can not only offer invaluable educational opportunities, but also provide income and reduce costs.

Here are strategic actions slated to be completed by the end of 2026:

• Developing a comprehensive housing plan that will reduce overall expenses for returning students to below the cost of traditional on-campus housing—including living opportunities on or closer to campus to ensure campus connections.

• Building easier paths to credit-earning, off-campus educational opportunities outside the formal curriculum, such as sponsored research experiences, co-op, and practicum terms.

• Creating and expanding alternative programs offering personalized educational choices with added affordability and value beyond a traditional bachelor’s degree.

• Increasing financial aid opportunities by at least 10%, by securing transformational gifts.

TIMELINE CONTINUED

AUGUST 22, 2022

Student surveys conducted by The Princeton Review for its “The Best 388 Colleges” book gave Rose-Hulman all-time top rankings for internships (No. 1), science lab facilities (No. 1), career services (No. 3), student support (No. 3), and residence halls (No. 5)–elements making the institute a Best Value College, with a strong return on investment.

THE PRINCETON REVIEW RANKINGS

Internships #1

Science Lab Facilities #1

Career Services #3

Student Support #3

Residence Halls #5

AUGUST 26, 2022

A dynamic group of diverse learners with a global perspective were among more than 600 members of the Class of 2026 welcomed for Move-In Day. They came from a record 18 international countries along with 40 states, plus the District of Columbia.

SEPTEMBER 6, 2022

A $1 million gift from alumnus Pat Noyes (BSME, 1976/HD, 2016) and his wife, Cindy, has completed additions to the college’s Cook Stadium, including one of the largest electronic scoreboards in NCAA Division III sports.

SEPTEMBER 12, 2022

For the 24th straight year, Rose-Hulman was ranked the No. 1 college in the U.S. that’s focused on undergraduate engineering education. Electrical and mechanical engineering earned top department rankings.

Rose-Hulman’s strategic plan “Advancing by Design” focuses on themes of sustainability, innovation and discovery, preparing student leaders for a global and diverse society, and increasing the affordability and value of a Rose-Hulman education.

A Strong Pipeline for Incoming Students

ROSE-HULMAN HAS CONTINUED TO ENJOY STRONG ENROLLMENT, WITH MORE THAN 2,150 STUDENTS ARRIVING IN THE FALL OF 2022, A NEAR-RECORD. THAT INCLUDED 602 FRESHMAN STUDENTS MAKING UP THE CLASS OF 2026. HERE ARE SOME OF THE HIGHLIGHTS OF THE INSTITUTE’S STUDENTS WHO BEGAN IN THE FALL OF 2022:

• Freshmen arrived on campus from 40 states and 18 countries beyond the United States, which is a record for Rose-Hulman. The freshman class included students traveling from as far as China, India, South Korea, Japan, Brazil, and Italy. Nearly half of the incoming freshmen came from outside Indiana, and 13 other states each sent at least 10 students.

• The median high school GPA for incoming freshmen was 4.06, and they reported standardized math and science test scores that ranked within the top 5% nationally.

• Of the freshmen who arrived in the fall of 2022, 21% were women (the sixth-highest number in Rose-Hulman’s history), 26% were racially diverse, and 18% earned Pell Grants and/or were first-generation attendees.

Rose-Hulman has built both a strong reputation and powerful pipeline for recruiting some of the world’s most gifted undergraduate STEM students. An example of that effort is the Institute’s STEM summer awareness programs for high school students, such as Rose Power, Project Select, Operation Catapult, Creation Crates, and Rose Accelerate. The programs enjoyed record participation in the summer of 2022.

These kinds of initiatives continue to pay off in the long-term. Evidence of that is the outstanding class of freshmen who arrived in the fall of 2023. Overall enrollment continues to rise and is higher in the current 2023-24 academic year than it was the year before with nearly 2,250 students on campus.

FAST FACTS | SEPTEMBER 2023

TOTAL ENROLLMENT

2,239 [2,224 undergrad]

GENDER BREAKDOWN

76% male

SEPTEMBER 14, 2022

SEPTEMBER 26, 2022

Developing students with an entrepreneurial mindset are professors Miles Canino, PhD, and Namita Shrestha, PhD—two of the 2022 Engineering Unleashed Fellows, supported by the Kern Family Foundation.

The New Academic Building became Indiana’s first building to earn full WELL Certification (Silver level) for design and technology that enhances the human experience for those in the 70,000-square-foot, $29 million building.

RACIAL BREAKDOWN

77% white

15% underrepresented minority 7% international 1% unreported

SEPTEMBER 30, 2022

23% female 1% non-binary TIMELINE

The Triangle fraternity chapter earned first-place honors in the Larry and Judy Garatoni Building Better Men Program for academic success, leadership, community and campus service, and chapter growth.

OCTOBER 5, 2022

The Sports and Recreation Center’s fieldhouse was filled from wall to wall with recruiters from a record 283 companies for the Fall Career Fair, showcasing a robust fall recruiting season.

STATES AND COUNTRIES ON CAMPUS

46 states plus D.C., Virgin Islands, and military bases

30 countries outside the U.S.

PELL GRANT STUDENTS

264 / 12%

FIRST GENERATION

278 / 13%

STUDENTS ATHLETES

543 / 24%

BREAKDOWN BY SPORT

Men’s

Baseball (39)

Basketball (25)

Cross Country (62)

Football (114)

Golf (13)

Soccer (39)

Swimming & Diving (42)

Tennis (18)

Track & Field (117)

Women’s Softball (16)

Basketball (10)

Cross Country (17)

Cheer Team (12)

Golf (11)

Soccer (35)

Swimming & Diving (20)

Tennis (8)

Track & Field (51)

BRANAM AND KREMER INNOVATION CENTERS CLUBS

Chem-E Car

Concrete Canoe

Design-Build-Fly

First Robotics

Human-Powered Vehicle

Make It Happen

Makerlab

Robotics

Rocketry Team

Rose-Hulman Efficient Vehicle

Rose Grand Prix

Engineering

Team Rose MotorSports

Honors and Accolades

ROSE-HULMAN’S COMBINATION OF INTELLECTUAL RIGOR, INNOVATION, AND INDIVIDUALIZED ATTENTION CONTINUES TO EARN HONORS FROM THOSE WHO EXAMINE AND RATE HIGHER EDUCATION. THE INSTITUTE IS PERENNIALLY INCLUDED ON MANY OF THE MOST NOTEWORTHY LISTS, BUT ALSO CONTINUES TO MAKE ITS NAME IN NEW PLACES, AS WELL.

For the first time, the Institute appeared in the Wall Street Journal ’s “Best Colleges in the U.S.” ranking for 2024, placing 17th. That is higher than any other Indiana or Midwestern institution and in the company of the nation’s most prestigious names in higher education—including Princeton, Massachusetts Institute of Technology, Yale, Stanford, Columbia, and Harvard. In the Wall Street Journal ’s spotlight, Rose-Hulman ranked at the top of the list in both learning opportunities and learning facilities. It was second nationally in the likelihood that students will recommend it to others, and fourth in terms of career preparation. Students hailed their interactions and collaboration with faculty as well as other students, along with campus workspaces and classrooms.

U.S. News & World’s Report ’s rankings are highly regarded, as well, and Rose-Hulman has been top-ranked for a full 25 years now. Its “Best Colleges Guide” lists the Institute as the No. 1 undergraduate engineering college. Three departments earned No. 1 rankings most recently—civil, electrical, and mechanical engineering—and the computer engineering program ranked third.

Rose-Hulman also continues to fare well in Princeton Review’s guide to the best colleges. Notably, the Institute is No. 1 among private colleges and universities for internships, is in the top 10 for career placement and services, and also was lauded for science lab facilities and residence life services. Rose-Hulman is on the

OCTOBER 8, 2022

A record number of alumni, family, and friends returned to enjoy Homecoming festivities while current students started building their own memories by constructing the bonfire and winning the football game.

OCTOBER 10, 2022

Board of Trustees Chair and biomedical tech pioneer Niles Noblitt (BSBIO, 1973/HD, 1996) was inducted into the prestigious Indiana Academy, recognizing his achievements and contributions to Indiana and Rose-Hulman.

Princeton Review lists for “Best Value Colleges,” “Best Midwest Colleges,” “Best Run Colleges,” and “Best Green Colleges.”

These kinds of achievements can only happen through the efforts of exceptional faculty and staff, so Rose-Hulman also strives to be an employer of choice. Forbes placed the Institute on its inaugural list of “America’s Best Small Employers,” one of five Indiana employers honored. The magazine cited such characteristics as Rose-Hulman’s comprehensive benefits, professional development and engagement programs, and diverse workplace environment.

Rose-Hulman stands out for many reasons, but arguably the most important is the strong and prosperous future that its education provides for graduates. Of the entire graduating class of 2022, the placement rate was 99%, and the vast majority already had jobs or further education lined up before donning their cap and gown, leaving Terre Haute for destinations across 37 states and two foreign countries. The average starting salary for the class was an all-time high of $80,157, and the highest accepted starting salary reported by a 2022 graduate was $166,250.

Clearly, the nation’s most prestigious employers recognize the value of an undergraduate degree from Rose-Hulman. That was clear from participation in the fall career fair that helped 2022 graduates make connections. A record 283 companies took part.

OCTOBER 12, 2022

The Sports and Recreation Center opened its 25th anniversary celebration as the home for campus fitness and wellness, intercollegiate athletics, club sports/intramurals, along with more than 200 events annually.

OCTOBER 20, 2022

Endowed chair and Professor of Electrical and Computer Engineering Carlotta Berry, PhD, received the Society of Women Engineers’ Distinguished Engineer Educator Award in recognition of her significant contributions to STEM education. Berry was also recognized among Indianapolis Business Journal ’s 2022 Indiana Women of Influence award winners as a leader in a variety of career fields.

Upgrading the Campus

ONE OF THE MANY FACTORS THAT EARNED ROSE-HULMAN A SPOT ON THE WALL STREET JOURNAL’S RANKING OF BEST COLLEGES WAS THE QUALITY OF THE CAMPUS FACILITIES— BUT THE INSTITUTE NEVER STOPS IMPROVING IN THIS REGARD.

Ground was broken this past fall for a new $30 million, four-floor residence hall for first-year students, being constructed in an area formerly used for parking across from Speed Hall. The new facility will have living space for about 160 students, along with student lounges, kitchenettes, and study spaces on each floor.

The new residence hall will open by the fall of 2025, and its completion will make way for a second phase of the project that will include substantial renovations in Speed Hall. Rose-Hulman continues to invest in its residence life experience, for which the demand is continually increasing. First-year students are required to live on campus, but in recent years an increasing number of upperclass students are choosing to continue living in campus housing. Meanwhile, if you had to pick one word that summarizes what really drives Rose-Hulman, an appropriate choice would be “innovation.” Plans are accelerating for the initiative known as Innovation Grove, a district that will blossom on the Hulman Farm property—and a place where inventive Rose-Hulman ideas will come to life and start to change the world.

The Institute has been awarded a $2.2 million grant from the U.S. Department of Commerce’s Economic Development Administration

OCTOBER 29, 2022

Entrepreneurial-minded students learned the nuances of creating a company and pitching business ideas to experts during Startup Weekend, an annual event organized by Techstars.

NOVEMBER 2, 2022

Successful alumni Wayne Patrick (EE, 1970) and Chris Inman (BSME, 2000/MSBE, 2002) have brought their expertise in management, technology, manufacturing, and entrepreneurship to the Board of Trustees.

NOVEMBER 3, 2022

Teams of first-year electrical and computer engineering students created Lego Minestorm robots that participated in a challenge that reinforced lessons learned in the fall quarter’s Engineering Practice course.

NOVEMBER 10, 2022

Terre Haute Children Museum’s Engineering Design Day had kids providing feedback about prosthetic arm and hand devices created by biomedical engineering students as part of a Design Methodologies course.

NOVEMBER 28, 2022

The Rose Squared (R 2) program has expanded to allow students to earn a Bachelor of Science in Civil Engineering and a Master of Civil Engineering specializing in Structures in just four years–and at no additional cost.

Construction is underway on a new four-floor residence hall for 160 first-year students that will address an increased need for campus housing. It is scheduled to be available for occupancy by Fall 2025.

Innovation Grove will serve as the nucleus of activity that generates educational opportunities for students and faculty and expands the entrepreneurial ecosystem.

DECEMBER 14, 2022

The Princeton Review cited Rose-Hulman as one of America’s top “Green” colleges for its strong commitment to the environment through sustainability campus policies, programs, and practices.

DECEMBER 15, 2022

The Institute’s strong value and return on investment was again showcased by a 99% placement rate for the Class of 2022, with an all-time high $80,157 average starting salary and $166,250 high accepted salary.

(EDA) to support plans for the Innovation Grove initiative, which will be centered near Indiana state roads 46 and 42. A new facility for Rose-Hulman Ventures promises to be an early cornerstone of Innovation Grove, allowing much more convenient internship opportunities for students. Related proposals include a potential medical-related partnership involving Rose-Hulman, Union Health, and the Indiana Joint Replacement Institute, founded and led by Dr. Michael Meneghini, a 1995 Rose-Hulman graduate.

Historic Moench Hall—the Institute’s 102-year-old academic building—received $25 million in extensive renovations completed in time for the 2023-24 academic year. Highlights of the project included:

• New office spaces for mathematics as well as electrical and computer engineering, along with updated faculty office areas, laboratories, and classrooms.

• Study spaces for students in mathematics as well as mechanical, electrical, and computer engineering. The project also included a significant expansion in the student lounge area for the Department of Humanities, Social Sciences, and the Arts.

• A new Commons Café for students, faculty, and staff, with a coffee shop, new seating areas, and a living wall.

• Infrastructure improvements, including new energy efficiencies, accessibility ramps, and an improved connection with Crapo Hall.

Finally, in keeping with Rose-Hulman’s inclusion among the nation’s “Best Green Colleges,” the New Academic Building became Indiana’s first building to earn full Silver WELL Certification from the International WELL Building Institute. The honor focuses on design and technology aimed at enhancing health, wellness, and the human experience. Earning that honor required third-party inspections focused on a variety of performance requirements regarding such categories as air quality, water quality, consideration for nourishment, exposure to daylight and comfortable lighting, movement and fitness, thermal comfort, and features with positive mental health impact.

JANUARY 4, 2023

Mathematics professor Tracy Weyand, PhD, was recognized nationally for helping build communities in which women in math can thrive and feel welcome, like the Sonia Kovalevsky Math Day for Girls and other campus events.

JANUARY 16, 2023

Retired University of Maryland, Baltimore County President Freeman Hrabowski, PhD, shared his inspirational story, “Beating the Odds,” as part of the campus’ Martin Luther King Jr. Day celebration.

JANUARY 18, 2023

A $3.5 million Lilly Endowment Inc. grant is expanding AskRose Homework Help services while creating a new outreach program to get historically underserved students interested in STEM fields.

The new Moench Commons Café, new study spaces, and updated top floor skylight are among several features of the Moench Hall renovation project.

The New Academic Building became Indiana’s first building to earn full Silver WELL Certification from the International WELL Building Institute.

The Year in Review

THROUGHOUT THE YEAR, OBSERVERS ACROSS THE NATION AND AROUND THE WORLD FREQUENTLY TURN A SPOTLIGHT ON ROSE-HULMAN’S EXCEPTIONAL PROGRAMS, INITIATIVES, STUDENTS, AND FACULTY. THE NEWS HEADLINES AND HONORS ARE IMPRESSIVE AND INSPIRING. READ ON FOR A HIGH-LEVEL ROUNDUP OF SOME OF THE HIGHLIGHTS FROM THE PAST YEAR INVOLVING ROSE-HULMAN’S ACADEMIC PROGRAMS, NOTEWORTHY ACCOMPLISHMENTS INVOLVING FACULTY AND STUDENTS, PHILANTHROPIC ACHIEVEMENTS, AND INSTITUTIONAL UPDATES.

Academic Advancements

Rose-Hulman’s Engineering Design program, launched in 2018, instills expertise in the design process and an understanding of technical tools such as modeling systems, rapid prototyping, and computer aided design. It features real-world design challenges, professional work experience, and a comprehensive engineering education, leading to a unique undergraduate degree not found at most institutions. And now, it has achieved accreditation status, meeting the strenuous STEM quality standards of ABET’s Engineering Accreditation Commission. It is a landmark achievement spotlighting the hard work of all involved in the program’s development and evolution.

Freshman and sophomore students can dive into meaningful research experiences through the new Rose Research Fellows program. Participants are exposed to coursework in research processes and are offered paid research roles, gaining valuable opportunities to work directly with faculty on research. Such experiences are uncommon for first- and second-year students at many institutions.

Structural engineers are in great demand, thanks in part to a major boost in federal infrastructure investment, and Rose-Hulman has responded by adding to its Rose Squared (R2) program to boost civil engineering education. R2 is a concurrent degree program that allows students to pursue graduate-level coursework while working on an undergraduate degree, earning both a bachelor’s and master’s in a total of four years. Civil engineering is the latest option—civil engineering undergraduates can now add master’s-level civil engineering coursework specializing in structures, with the ability to ultimately add a master’s degree at no additional cost.

A minor in cybersecurity is now available to students in all majors, a timely addition as graduates seek opportunities in an environment broadly impacted by cyberthreats. Most of the products and services that engineers design today have integrated computers, so a cybersecurity background is a valuable asset across many disciplines. Majors in computer science and software engineering already include a focus on cybersecurity issues, but the new minor expands instruction in cybersecurity skills to all other interested students.

The nation’s top-performing Reserve Officers’ Training Corps unit during the 2021-22 school year was Rose-Hulman’s Wabash Battalion. The unit brought home the 2022 MacArthur Award as the nation’s top Army ROTC unit, and as the Army’s representative for national honors, it earned the prestigious Department of Defense ROTC and Partner Institution Excellence Award, the highest honor among all ROTC Army, Navy, and Air Force units at 496 universities and colleges.

Faculty Achievements

Associate Professor of Chemical Engineering Daniel Anastasio, PhD, has landed two national scholastic honors. The Raymond W. Fahien Award from the American Society of Engineering Education’s Chemical Engineering Division honors outstanding teaching effectiveness and educational scholarship. And Dr. Anastasio was part of a national team of college educators receiving the David Himmelblau Award from the American Institute of Chemical Engineers’ Computing and System Technology Division, honoring outstanding innovations in computer-based chemical engineering education.

Each year the Indianapolis Business Journal recognizes a roster of “Women of Influence,” spotlighting women leaders in education, business, law, and public service. Its 2022 honors included Carlotta A. Berry, PhD, the Dr. Lawrence J. Giacoletto Endowed Chair for Electrical and Computer Engineering. She was featured on the special issue’s cover and honored with a story describing her achievements in academia, as a professional engineer, and supporting the education of future STEM professionals, including those historically underrepresented in STEM fields.

Engineering Unleashed is a community of university engineering faculty and staff with a particular interest in instilling an entrepreneurial mindset among engineers. The group’s 2022 fellows included Miles Canino, PhD, and Namita Shrestha , PhD, while the 2023 fellows included professors Adel Alhalawani, PhD, and Michelle Marincel Payne, PhD.

Associate Professor Kyle Kershaw, PhD, incorporates concepts of resilient infrastructure and designing for climate change into undergraduate coursework, and has earned a three-year appointment as the new Dr. Roland E. Hutchins Endowed Chair in Civil Engineering. He plans to build upon collaboration with colleagues at University of Bath in the United Kingdom, enhance his geotechnical consulting experience with industry partners, and broaden his knowledge of resilient infrastructure design and evaluation principles.

The new John and Anne Swearingen Endowed Professor in Chemical Engineering is Associate Professor Sharon Dutrow, PhD. She plans to use her three-year appointment to develop new chemical engineering coursework advancing practical areas of process safety.

FEBRUARY 2, 2023

A transformative gift from Cindy Thoms Kalkomey and Kurt Kalkomey made in loving memory of her father and late alumnus Charles “Ted” Thomas (EE, 1943) will help fuel the next generation of women STEM leaders.

FEBRUARY 18, 2023

Mechanical engineering student Mandy Chick and her No. 74 Rose-Hulman stock car sped to an impressive fifth-place finish at Daytona International Speedway in her inaugural ARCA Menards Series 200-mile race—with a national television audience following her every move on the track.

MARCH 6, 2023

Chemical engineering seniors took advantage of a study abroad opportunity in Germany to learn new professional concepts and examine new problem-solving prospectives while designing a chemical production plant.

MARCH 9, 2023

A nearly $230,000 Indiana Department of Education grant is supporting computer science and software engineering professors in providing workshops to help elementary and secondary school teachers prepare students for high tech careers.

SHRESTHA

ALHALAWANI

MARINCEL PAYNE

KERSHAW

DUTROW

ANASTASIO

BERRY

CANINO

Student Accomplishments

Mandy Chick is balancing her full-time Rose-Hulman studies in mechanical engineering with her passion for auto racing. She has worked her way up to the ARCA Menards Series—a stock car league that is among NASCAR’s top four—driving her “rocket ship” No. 74 Rose-Hulman Chevy racecar in a pair of races. At the series’ 200mile race at Daytona International Speedway, she qualified 25th, overcame a penalty for speeding in the pits and zoomed to a fifthplace finish. Next up was a race at Talladega Superspeedway. Her car suffered heavy right-side contact in an incident involving several cars, and though her team helped her overcome that setback, a blown tire halfway through the race caused major damage— she finished 24th.

Ishaan Mishra, who is majoring in physics and computational science, received a scholarship from the Barry Goldwater Scholarship and Excellence in Education Foundation. Being named a Goldwater Scholar is the preeminent honor for undergraduate students pursuing degrees in the natural sciences, engineering, and mathematics. He is aiming for a doctorate degree in aerospace engineering or applied plasma physics, with an emphasis on developing space propulsion systems. His interest in that field has already led to national honors in an undergraduate research and design event.

MARCH 10, 2023

An Intel-sponsored initiative in integrated device manufacturing is aligning educators from Rose-Hulman, University of Illinois, and Stanford University to help revitalize America’s microelectronics and semiconductor industry.

MARCH 14, 2023

Rose Giving Day brought together alumni, friends, and supporters to contribute a record $508,607 to help the Institute meet its greatest needs, including supporting scholarships and academic programs.

MARCH 18, 2023

“All Fun & Games” was the theme of a special Sonia Math Day event, organized by the Department of Mathematics and student organizations, for young girls with an interest in mathematics.

An affordable, wearable haptic emergency alert system for the auditorily impaired earned second place at the NSF Undergraduate Design Project Competition. It was the work of a research team of four 2023 Rose-Hulman graduates. Emily Bartling (mechanical engineering), Ruth Hammond (mechanical engineering), Deven Cobb (biomedical engineering) and Jerritt Gutierrez (mechanical engineering) observed that most lifesaving emergency warning devices are expensive and require special installation, and their alerts can be difficult to interpret and recognize for those who are hard of hearing. Their initial prototype is designed for fire-related emergency alerting.

MARCH 25, 2023

A Power of Women in STEM campus panel discussion, as part of Women’s History Month, had six alumnae from a variety of technical fields passing along valuable insight to those eager to follow in their footsteps.

MARCH 30, 2023

Nationally recognized speaker Saul Flores shared experiences from his 5,328mile, three-month “Walk of the Immigrants” journey in a special campus convocation commemorating the birthday of Cesar Chavez.

Mandy Chick

Ishaan Mishra

Deven Cobb, Ruth Hammond, Emily Bartling, and Jerritt Gutierrez

The Noblitt Scholars program develops future STEM leaders with the help of a $10 million donation from alumnus Niles Noblitt (1973), who recently completed his term as chair of the Rose-Hulman Board of Trustees, and his wife, Nancy. Just one of many success stories is the experience of mechanical engineering student Sam Betts, a member of the inaugural Noblitt Scholars Class of 2024. Among other accomplishments, she has spent many nights watching the stars from campus’ Oakley Observatory and has launched rockets for the national NASA Student Launch competition— in addition, she and a team of fellow students have an ambition to design and build a small satellite on campus, then see it launched. She has contributed to several Rose-Hulman research symposia, has collaborated with real-world clients at Rose-Hulman Ventures, and has extended her learning at Massachusetts Institute of Technology’s Lincoln Laboratory and Ball Aerospace in Colorado. And she spent part of a summer in Kenya with a group of fellow students working to improve living conditions for residents of a rural community.

Philanthropic Success

Pi Day, March 14, is a lighthearted celebration for STEM students and professionals, and it gained extra special meaning as the date for Rose-Hulman’s Giving Day. The most recent event inspired 590 individual gifts totaling a record $508,607 to support a variety of the Institute’s needs.

$508,607 590

individual gifts totaling a record

Several donors offered matching gift challenges to help boost the total. Significant gifts from Jane and Dave (’80) Hummel and Katherine and Jim Umpleby (’80) supported the Rose Prime program that lets students get an early start on their college experience with pre-orientation math instruction and support services. There was a matching gift from Frank Huff (’60) supporting Rose-Hulman’s greatest needs, and one from Ray Lepp (’63) backing the Rose-Hulman Rocketry Club. A gift from Lyle Carlson (’91) was earmarked for developing cybersecurity initiatives, Becky (’05) and Frank (’03) Levinson donated to support the Hybrid and Electric Vehicle Analysis and Design curriculum, and Dana (’06) and Jon Pierson gave in support of athletics. There were also matching gifts from Rose-Hulman’s president and his cabinet.

Cindy Thomas Kalkomey and Kurt Kalkomey have a personal mission of helping “give others the opportunity to succeed and live without fear,” and they have donated $500,000 in loving memory of her father and late alumnus Charles “Ted” Thomas (1943). The donation will establish a scholarship fund for women students at Rose-Hulman.

Meanwhile, a state-of-the-art electronic scoreboard is now keeping score at the east end of Phil Brown Football Field and Bill Welch Outdoor Track. It was added as part of a $1 million gift from alumnus Pat Noyes (1976) and his wife, Cindy, supporting recent additions to athletic facilities.

Student Sam Betts is just one example of the impact Noblitt Scholars are making on and off campus.

A generous gift from Pat and Cindy Noyes supported additions to campus athletic facilities, including a new state-of-the-art electronic scoreboard.

MARCH 31, 2023

This year’s mechanical engineering capstone design projects included a team using recycled materials to create possible short-term portable homeless shelters—an idea that may be replicated into a nationwide initiative.

APRIL 14, 2023

For the second straight year, students designed, built, and test flown a high-powered amateur rocket to carry a scientific payload to an altitude between 4,000 and 6,000 feet in the NASA Student Launch Challenge.

APRIL 17, 2023

Starting in the 2023-24 school year, the new Rose Research Fellows program will provide students with paid research experiences and develop a valuable academic network with faculty and classmates.

APRIL 19, 2023

During Earth Week, the Student Government Association provided students with reusable cups to highlight a new campus plastic recycling effort supporting Terre Haute’s reTHink, Inc.’s community upcycling program.

APRIL 21, 2023

Physics/computational science student Ishaan Mishra, founder of the Rose-Hulman Electric Propulsion Group, was the Institute’s latest Goldwater Scholar, prestigious recognition for students pursing degrees in the natural sciences, engineering, and mathematics.

The 2022-23 academic year featured a number of student, faculty, staff and institutional highlights.

Institutional Headlines

Rose-Hulman has study-abroad opportunities in more than 20 countries and continues to grow its focus on teaching students to be cognizant of global challenges. The Institute’s global education outreach promises to expand further through a memorandum of understanding aimed at exploring potential collaborations with Carnegie Mellon University (CMU)-Africa. CMU-Africa is a world-class research university based in Rwanda.

The new Intel-sponsored Higher Educational Initiative in Integrated Device Manufacturing (HIVE) is a partnership involving Rose-Hulman, the University of Illinois Urbana-Champaign, and Stanford University. The initiative brings together researchers and educators from the three institutions along with industry partners involved in microelectronics and semiconductor manufacturing. The partners will collaborate on updated semiconductor manufacturing and microelectronics curricula, while boosting engagement and training opportunities.

The Coalition for College initiative places Rose-Hulman among a select group of national private and public colleges collaborating to improve college access for low-income, under-resourced, and first-generation students. The participants uphold rigorous eligibility standards for access, affordability, and student success, and they have made a commitment to support students through the college preparation and application processes.

In Institute administrative news, now serving as chair of the Rose-Hulman Board of Trustees is Carl A. Cook , CEO of Bloomington-based Cook Group Inc., a Rose-Hulman trustee

APRIL 22, 2023

The second gathering of the Institute’s Sawmill Society network shared insight from successful enterprises, networking opportunities, and encouragement for the next generation of entrepreneurs and innovators.

APRIL 22, 2023

A thriving Greek life community built upon the principles of brotherhood, sisterhood, goodwill, and service was featured in a friendly and high-spirited Greek Games that returned to campus after a lengthy absence.

since 2009, and a 2015 Honorary Doctor of Engineering degree recipient. Cook previously was vice chair, and now serving in that role is Linda E. White of Evansville. Joining the board are the Institute’s newest alumni trustee, Dan Price, CE ’75, and new trustee Carla McFarland

Cook became board chair upon the completion of the term of Niles L. Noblitt , an alumnus and Indiana biomedical technology pioneer. In recognition of Noblitt’s lifetime achievements and contributions to Indiana and Rose-Hulman, he has been inducted into the prestigious Indiana Academy, which promotes the state’s advancement through support of the Independent Colleges of Indiana Inc. and member institutions.

Tyler D. Kearney, PhD, is the Institute’s new vice president and chief business officer. He serves on the president’s administrative cabinet and supports the Institute’s overall financial and operational oversight. He came to Rose-Hulman from Louisiana State University in Baton Rouge.

And finally, Rose-Hulman President Robert A. Coons has been named by the Indianapolis Business Journal to the Indiana 250 listing of Indiana’s most influential and impactful leaders. The honor spotlights leaders across business, education, government, philanthropy, the arts, and not-for-profit organizations. He also has been appointed to a two-year term on the Governor’s Workforce Cabinet to help strengthen Indiana’s economy by addressing current and future education and employment needs for residents and employers.

APRIL 28, 2023

The Princeton Review cited the Institute among America’s best value colleges for 2023, along with highlighting the college’s strong internship opportunities, career placement, and career services—making it a Best Buy in higher education.

MAY 10, 2023

Innovative projects that went from inspiration to aspiration, sprinkled with entrepreneurial spirit and ingenuity, were featured among nearly 100 student projects in the Rose Show, the college’s version of the World’s Fair.

COOK WHITE PRICE

NOBLITT McFARLAND

KEARNEY COONS

Financial Snapshot

Balance Sheet as of June 30, 2023

Endowment $269.3 million

Property, Plant & Equipment $174.7 million

Other Operating Assets $51.5 million

Total Assets

FISCAL YEAR | 2022-23

Revenues

Tuition / 48%

Other Sources / 4%

Endowment / 11%

Gifts / 12%

million

million Total

million

Expenses by Functional Classification

Institutional Support / 16%

Auxiliary Enterprises / 20%

Government Grants / 1%

Auxiliary / 24% Student

Expense by Natural Classification

Other Operating Expenses / 19%

Utilities/ 3%

Cost of Goods Sold/ Food Service / 7%

Interest / 2%

MAY 27, 2023

The Institute’s Class of 2023—405 members strong—celebrated another achievement in their lives and were ready to use their degrees in a variety of STEM careers, graduate school, and military service.

MAY 27, 2023

Alumnus and best-selling business author Marshall Goldsmith (MA ECON, 1970) and trustee

Linda White received Doctor of Engineering and Goldsmith passed along advice to the Class of 2023 in the Commencement Address.

JUNE 9, 2023

Four biomedical engineering students created a new space station simulation exhibit for the Terre Haute Children’s Museum in hopes of encouraging STEM interests, especially for children with developmental disabilities.

JUNE 27, 2023

A new academic minor in cybersecurity is offering students of all academic areas a strong foundation to meet future high-tech challenges and follow a growing number of alumni who are impacting the cybersecurity industry.

President’s Letter

It is truly inspiring to look back over a year of the Rose-Hulman story and relish what we have all accomplished together. The achievements of our students, faculty, and staff are sources of great pride that enrich Rose-Hulman. We continue to build upon our curriculum, embrace our diversity, improve our facilities, solve technological challenges, and launch impressive careers. All along the way, Rose-Hulman keeps raising the bar for the best undergraduate education in science, technology, engineering, and mathematics.

It has been an amazing year, and indeed, an incredible century and a half to celebrate. In the coming months, we will honor the sesquicentennial of Rose-Hulman in many ways, relishing the vision that has been here from the start and marveling how we have stayed ahead of astonishing changes in technology and education across the past 150 years. There are countless ways our world has advanced since Chauncey Rose first launched a “school of industrial science” in Terre Haute, but the standards and aspirations have been consistently high from its founding.

The best part of the story, however, is the part that is only beginning to unfold. We will be “Advancing By Design” as elements of our new strategic plan begin to take shape in 2024 and beyond. Together, we will build upon the great things we have achieved today and move forward to address the challenges of tomorrow.

Robert A. Coons | President

We will promote a mindset of innovation, discovery, and entrepreneurship so that our graduates have the tools they need to change the world and build a stronger future. We will work toward sustainability so that our graduates can help humanity achieve sustainability across the planet. We will nurture diversity and a global approach here so that our graduates share those sensibilities along their paths ahead. And we will be tireless in making our education accessible to the brightest minds from all backgrounds, so that the ideas our graduates create can be shared broadly.

As exceptional as the last year has been and as inspirational as the past 150 years have been, we at Rose-Hulman are even more excited about the years to come. As we plan today to harness the change of tomorrow, we know that our best days are still ahead of us. We are honored that you are along for the ride.