President Bill Sanders prepares to welcome the RIT community with his first State of the University Address as a new academic year begins

Rochester, New York – The start of a new academic year at Rochester Institute of Technology will bring an important first for President Bill Sanders. On Wednesday, Sept. 10, Sanders will deliver his inaugural State of the University Address, sharing his reflections on the past year while laying out a vision for the months ahead.

The event is scheduled for 3 p.m. inside Ingle Auditorium at the Student Alumni Union. Following the address, a community reception will take place in the adjacent Fireside Lounge, offering faculty, staff, and students a chance to continue conversations in a more informal setting.

Sanders’ speech will be his first opportunity to speak directly to the RIT community in this format since officially stepping into the presidency on July 1. He is expected to highlight major accomplishments across campus, including milestones in enrollment, faculty and staff achievements, and student successes that have shaped the past year. Just as importantly, his remarks will look forward, with a focus on new opportunities, pressing challenges, and long-term strategies for growth.

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In a recent memo to faculty and staff dated Aug. 27, Sanders emphasized the importance of listening and learning as he begins his presidency. “Since my July 1 onboarding, I’ve begun listening tours with each college and division, governance groups, and government and community leaders. I want to find ways to meet and hear from as many of you as possible, so I will continue these during the fall term,” he wrote. “Our university continues to be defined by the energy, dedication, and creativity of our faculty, staff, and students, and I have no doubt that the year ahead will showcase the very best of what we can accomplish together.”

The upcoming address is expected to touch on issues that are increasingly relevant to higher education, including artificial intelligence, which continues to shape teaching, research, and industry collaboration. Sanders will also outline ways for members of the campus community to take part in the university’s next Strategic Plan, a guiding document that will set priorities for the coming years.

University leadership will not be the only voices at the event. Representatives from several key governance groups—including the Division of Access, Engagement, and Success, the Faculty Senate, the Staff Council, and Student Government—will also provide remarks. Their participation reflects RIT’s culture of shared governance and collaboration across different areas of campus life.

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For those unable to attend in person, the address will be livestreamed on the Office of the President webpage, ensuring that RIT’s global campuses and remote learners can join in. Still, students, faculty, and staff who are on campus are being encouraged to attend the event live, both to hear Sanders’ vision firsthand and to connect with fellow community members at the reception that follows.

The fall semester always brings a renewed sense of energy to RIT, but this year comes with added anticipation as Sanders steps into his first full academic cycle as president. With his listening tours underway and his first State of the University Address just days away, the community will soon gain a clearer picture of the priorities and opportunities that will shape the months ahead.