Communiversity: Rensselaer at Hartford

In the 1950s, when rapidly changing technologies in the aircraft and defense industries were creating a critical shortage of engineers and other professionals in the Greater Hartford area, Rensselaer answered a call for help from United Aircraft Corporation (now United Technologies Corporation) with a program of local graduate instruction with the same high academic standards for which Rensselaer’s home campus was known.

Operating as an extension of the greater Rensselaer intellectual community, Rensselaer at Hartford today enrolls more than 1,500 students from 100 corporations in professional master’s programs — in management, engineering, and computer science — that help busy professionals keep pace with the technological changes that continually transform business and industry.

Special Education Resource Center (SERC)
Through a contract with the State Department of Education, Rensselaer at Hartford serves as administrative and fiscal agent to the Special Education Resource Center, a centralized resource for professionals, families, and community members regarding early intervention, special education and pupil services, and transition-to-adult life for individuals with special needs. A vital community resource for more than three decades, SERC provides information resources, professional development and training, and parent training and support.

Connecticut Quality Council (CQC)
In 1990, Rensselaer at Hartford joined with 27 business leaders to found this nonprofit coalition promoting Continuous Improvement/Total Quality Management as a sound business operating strategy for all organizations. Rensselaer continues to provide administrative support for CQC, a respected and valued resource for high-caliber low-cost education, training, and professional networking. CQC, which now numbers more than 200 member organizations, has provided training to more than 25,000 participants. Together, Rensselaer and the CQC are working for a fully developed coalition of business, government, labor, education, and community. Through ongoing collaboration, Rensselaer is helping keep Connecticut businesses in business.

Rensselaer Learning Institute
The Rensselaer Learning Institute (RLI) is a department within Rensselaer at Hartford that offers corporate training programs and services to working professionals – anytime, anywhere. The program offerings — computer and information technology, leadership and executive development, and technical and professional development — are designed to meet the complex needs of corporations operating in today’s fast-paced business climate. In addition, the Rensselaer Learning Institute assists companies with needs assessments, educational consulting, custom program development, and executive coaching.