Carlsbad looks to add Tech Institute

Carlsbad is in exclusive talks with Rochester Institute of Technology (RIT) to open a satellite campus in the city. The addition of a graduate-level engineering program would be a great fit with Carlsbad’s cluster of technology and engineering companies, such as Viasat, Interknowlogy, Thermo Fisher Scientific, and Palomar Technologies to name a few.

The “career-oriented” university would offer Master of Science degrees in computer, electrical, and sustainable engineering. The campus is also expected to have a strong curriculum in the field of cybersecurity. Initially the program would start small with approximately 120 to 180 students, 11 faculty members and 10 staff members. Over time, RIT could be expected to produce as much as 1,000 graduates in 10 years.

The City of Carlsbad has been pushing for a higher education institute since 2012, hiring a consultant to help recruit a graduate program. Of the 30 academic institutions for which the city expressed interest, RIT, Arizona State University and Missouri University of Science and Technology submitted formal responses.  RIT requested the 90 day exclusivity agreement to review the proposal, at the conclusion of which both the city and RIT will have 10 days to come to a decision.

RIT, founded in Rochester, N.Y., in 1829 has a lot to offer the City of Carlsbad with its strong focus in technology programs and the creative arts. The university operates satellite campuses in all 50 states and over 100 countries. If all goes according to plan, RIT would occupy the first floor of the city-owned Farmers Insurance Group building at El Camino Real and Faraday Avenue.

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