National Technical Institute for the Deaf
Encyclopedia
The National Technical Institute for the Deaf (NTID) is the first and largest technological college
in the world for students who are deaf or hard of hearing. As one of eight colleges within the Rochester Institute of Technology
(RIT) in Rochester, New York
, NTID provides academic programs, access, ASL
in-class interpreters and support services—including on-site audiological, speech-language, and cochlear implant
support. As of winter quarter
2007, NTID encompasses 5% of RIT's enrollment, or about 799 students. There are also 492 deaf and hard of hearing students are cross-registered into another RIT college's program with support from NTID.
In addition to a master's degree in deaf education, NTID also offers a bachelor's degree
program in ASL-English Interpretation.
89-36. The law also established a National Advisory Group to find a suitable site for the school. The Advisory Group considered proposals from Illinois State University
, Pennsylvania State University
, the University of Southern California
, the State University of New York
, the University of Colorado at Boulder
and others before deciding on RIT as its home in 1966. Three factors helped RIT secure the responsibility for the new Institute:
The Institute was originally conceived as tuition-free, providing technical training as well as academic and communication skills training to 600 students annually.
NTID admitted its first students in 1968. Its establishment initially caused a great deal of friction on campus between hearing students and deaf students and RIT faculty and NTID faculty, the points of contention centering around the construction of new buildings for NTID, whether or not NTID faculty salaries were more generous than those of their peers, and communication differences between American Sign Language
and American English
.
In the early 1980s, NTID's enrollment spiked as deaf students from the "rubella
bulge" of the mid-1960s entered their college years. Enrollment has been trending higher again in recent years; NTID's 2008 enrollment was its highest ever at 1,450, easily surpassing the previous record of 1,358 set in 1984.
In 1993, NTID established its Center for Arts and Sciences to help boost the numbers of undecided (or underprepared) students who stay on to pursue a baccalaureate degree. By 2005, this program had raised the proportion of NTID students in bachelor's degree programs to 41% (from 12% twenty years earlier).
College
A college is an educational institution or a constituent part of an educational institution. Usage varies in English-speaking nations...
in the world for students who are deaf or hard of hearing. As one of eight colleges within the Rochester Institute of Technology
Rochester Institute of Technology
The Rochester Institute of Technology is a private university, located within the town of Henrietta in metropolitan Rochester, New York, United States...
(RIT) in Rochester, New York
Rochester, New York
Rochester is a city in Monroe County, New York, south of Lake Ontario in the United States. Known as The World's Image Centre, it was also once known as The Flour City, and more recently as The Flower City...
, NTID provides academic programs, access, ASL
American Sign Language
American Sign Language, or ASL, for a time also called Ameslan, is the dominant sign language of Deaf Americans, including deaf communities in the United States, in the English-speaking parts of Canada, and in some regions of Mexico...
in-class interpreters and support services—including on-site audiological, speech-language, and cochlear implant
Cochlear implant
A cochlear implant is a surgically implanted electronic device that provides a sense of sound to a person who is profoundly deaf or severely hard of hearing...
support. As of winter quarter
Academic term
An academic term is a division of an academic year, the time during which a school, college or university holds classes. These divisions may be called terms...
2007, NTID encompasses 5% of RIT's enrollment, or about 799 students. There are also 492 deaf and hard of hearing students are cross-registered into another RIT college's program with support from NTID.
In addition to a master's degree in deaf education, NTID also offers a bachelor's degree
Bachelor's degree
A bachelor's degree is usually an academic degree awarded for an undergraduate course or major that generally lasts for three or four years, but can range anywhere from two to six years depending on the region of the world...
program in ASL-English Interpretation.
History
The Institute was established in 1965 by the passage of Public LawPublic law
Public law is a theory of law governing the relationship between individuals and the state. Under this theory, constitutional law, administrative law and criminal law are sub-divisions of public law...
89-36. The law also established a National Advisory Group to find a suitable site for the school. The Advisory Group considered proposals from Illinois State University
Illinois State University
Illinois State University , founded in 1857, is the oldest public university in Illinois; it is located in the town of Normal. ISU is considered a "national university" that grants a variety of doctoral degrees and strongly emphasizes research; it is also recognized as one of the top ten largest...
, Pennsylvania State University
Pennsylvania State University
The Pennsylvania State University, commonly referred to as Penn State or PSU, is a public research university with campuses and facilities throughout the state of Pennsylvania, United States. Founded in 1855, the university has a threefold mission of teaching, research, and public service...
, the University of Southern California
University of Southern California
The University of Southern California is a private, not-for-profit, nonsectarian, research university located in Los Angeles, California, United States. USC was founded in 1880, making it California's oldest private research university...
, the State University of New York
State University of New York
The State University of New York, abbreviated SUNY , is a system of public institutions of higher education in New York, United States. It is the largest comprehensive system of universities, colleges, and community colleges in the United States, with a total enrollment of 465,000 students, plus...
, the University of Colorado at Boulder
University of Colorado at Boulder
The University of Colorado Boulder is a public research university located in Boulder, Colorado...
and others before deciding on RIT as its home in 1966. Three factors helped RIT secure the responsibility for the new Institute:
- RIT had just moved to a new campus, so the Institute would not find itself in second-hand quarters.
- Rochester businessmen had enlightened views about disability in the workplace and were eager to share those views with the Advisory Group.
- RIT had had a trustee, Edmund Lyon, who had served as President of the Alexander Graham Bell Association for the Deaf and Hard of HearingAlexander Graham Bell Association for the Deaf and Hard of HearingThe Alexander Graham Bell Association for the Deaf and Hard of Hearing, also known as AG Bell, is a resource, support network and advocate for listening, learning, talking and living independently with hearing loss...
and as trustee of the Rochester School for the DeafRochester School for the DeafRochester School for the Deaf is a private, tuition-free school for deaf and hard of hearing students to attend in Rochester, New York. It is one of the oldest and most respected preK-12th grade schools for children with hearing loss and their families in the United States, and one of nine such...
.
The Institute was originally conceived as tuition-free, providing technical training as well as academic and communication skills training to 600 students annually.
NTID admitted its first students in 1968. Its establishment initially caused a great deal of friction on campus between hearing students and deaf students and RIT faculty and NTID faculty, the points of contention centering around the construction of new buildings for NTID, whether or not NTID faculty salaries were more generous than those of their peers, and communication differences between American Sign Language
American Sign Language
American Sign Language, or ASL, for a time also called Ameslan, is the dominant sign language of Deaf Americans, including deaf communities in the United States, in the English-speaking parts of Canada, and in some regions of Mexico...
and American English
American English
American English is a set of dialects of the English language used mostly in the United States. Approximately two-thirds of the world's native speakers of English live in the United States....
.
In the early 1980s, NTID's enrollment spiked as deaf students from the "rubella
Rubella
Rubella, commonly known as German measles, is a disease caused by the rubella virus. The name "rubella" is derived from the Latin, meaning little red. Rubella is also known as German measles because the disease was first described by German physicians in the mid-eighteenth century. This disease is...
bulge" of the mid-1960s entered their college years. Enrollment has been trending higher again in recent years; NTID's 2008 enrollment was its highest ever at 1,450, easily surpassing the previous record of 1,358 set in 1984.
In 1993, NTID established its Center for Arts and Sciences to help boost the numbers of undecided (or underprepared) students who stay on to pursue a baccalaureate degree. By 2005, this program had raised the proportion of NTID students in bachelor's degree programs to 41% (from 12% twenty years earlier).
| Name | Title | Tenure |
|---|---|---|
| D. Robert Frisina | Director Senior Vice President |
1967–1968 1977–1979 |
| William E. Castle | Director Vice President |
1968–1982 1979–1994 |
| Peter Pere | Dean | 1982–1984 |
| James J. DeCaro | Dean | 1984–1998 |
| Robert R. Davila Robert R. Davila Dr. Robert Davila served as the ninth president of Gallaudet University, the world's only university in which all programs and services are specifically designed to accommodate deaf and hard of hearing students... |
Vice President | 1996–2006 |
| T. Alan Hurwitz | Dean President |
1998 – December 31, 2009 2006 – December 31, 2009 |
| James J. DeCaro | Interim president | January 1, 2010 – December 31, 2010 |
| Gerard J. Buckley | President | January 1, 2011 – present |
See also
- PEN-InternationalPEN-InternationalThe Postsecondary Education Network International, known as PEN-International, is an international partnership of colleges and universities serving the higher education of students with hearing impairment....
(Postsecondary Education Network International) - Project InsightProject InsightProject Insight is a division of the San Francisco, California Recreation & Parks Department which provides recreational and learning activities for hearing-impaired and vision-impaired children, teenagers, young adults....