RIT charts path to 2035 with focus on research, student outcomes and global impact

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In his first year at the helm of Rochester Institute of Technology, President William H. Sanders is moving quickly to position the university for what he calls a pivotal moment in higher education. 

Sanders, who was officially installed as RIT’s 11th president last year, said colleges and universities nationwide are navigating rapid technological change alongside demographic shifts and mounting affordability concerns. 

He believes RIT’s newly released strategic framework, entitled Transforming Lives Through Creativity and Innovation, comes at a critical time. 

“It’s the North Star of where we would like to be and go,” Sanders said. 

The framework, which outlines the university’s vision through 2035, was developed following months of conversations with faculty, staff, students, parents and the university’s Board of Trustees. It centers on what Sanders describes as a shared ambition: building a university that is more inclusive, innovative and interconnected. 

“Through strategic actions and a visionary approach, we are positioning ourselves not simply to weather uncertainty but to stay ahead of it and lead,” said Sanders, who was recently named to the 2026 RBJ Power 100 list. 

The strategic framework launched this week, and Sanders is preparing to take the message on the road.

He is traveling this spring to cities along the East Coast to discuss the plan with alumni and supporters, beginning in Boston, with additional stops planned in New York City and Washington, D.C. Visits on the West Coast are planned later this year. 

Sanders said RIT is well positioned at a time when higher education institutions must adapt quickly, connect learning more directly to workforce needs and demonstrate clear outcomes for students and society. 

Applied learning and innovation have long been central to RIT’s identity, he noted, adding that a key goal is preparing graduates to become “leaders in careers that don’t even exist today.” 

The strategic framework is built around four core pillars: transformative student experiences and success; world-changing research; a culture of well-being and belonging, and a global reach and mindset. 

Supporting those pillars are organizational strategies focused on growing and stewarding financial resources—including philanthropic fundraising and a future capital campaign—as well as increasing institutional agility and resilience and strengthening the university’s storytelling. 

Among the initiatives outlined in the plan are expanding research infrastructure, integrating disciplines such as health care and technology, and recruiting new faculty in emerging fields including artificial intelligence. 

Another focus is preparing graduates to be global citizens. Sanders said developing a broader worldview helps cultivate stronger leaders and can also benefit society more broadly. 

Sanders has acknowledged that higher education is facing significant external pressures, including geopolitical tensions, a complex federal regulatory landscape and shifting government policies. 

However, he believes RIT’s long-standing emphasis on experiential learning and strong industry partnerships will help the university navigate those headwinds while remaining true to its mission. 

That approach appears to be resonating with prospective students. Sanders noted the university has seen continued growth in interest, including a 20 percent year-over-year increase in undergraduate applications for the upcoming fall semester. 

Sanders succeeded David Munson, who retired after eight years as president. 

Before arriving in Rochester, Sanders spent nearly four decades in higher education. Most recently, he served as the Dr. William D. and Nancy W. Strecker Dean of the College of Engineering at Carnegie Mellon University from 2020 to 2025. He officially began his role at RIT on July 1. 

RIT enrolls more than 21,400 students across more than 200 career-oriented and professional programs and has roughly 154,000 alumni representing more than 100 nations. Some 56 percent of alumni have graduated in the 21st century, with one-third graduating since 2010.

While the strategic framework has a global focus, Sanders stressed the importance of maintaining strong ties to the communities where RIT operates, particularly the Rochester region. 

“It’s important that we help drive ethical prosperity and economic development in the Rochester community,” he said. 

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