Between new campus construction projects, the mighty Jackets winning record and Tech continuing to dominate the forefront of academics (cue the AI makerspace), the 2025-2026 school year is sure to take students, old and new, for an exciting ride.
Though Tech may be known for its robust engineering programs, greater investment in other degree programs is coming to fruition. The long-awaited Scheller Tower at the corner of 5th and Spring Street has a projected occupancy date in early 2026. The building will soon become the home of the MBA and Executive Education programs at Scheller College of Business, as well as the H. Milton Stewart School of Industrial and Systems Engineering.
Such a tremendous development came with a lot of growing pain. After years of construction disrupting student life, the completion of these projects will provide tremendous relief to campus. By spring, many students will finally be able to use sidewalks and protected bike lanes that have never been accessible to them in their time at the Institute.
Also, in collaboration with the business school, the first ever interdisciplinary BS/MS program will have its inaugural cohort matriculate this fall, with students pursuing a Master of Science in Management. The degree plan partners the Scheller College of Business with the College of Computing and the College of Engineering, joining more than 35 B.S. to M.S. pathways available to students.
In the same vein, the Ivan Allen College of Liberal Arts will offer new minors this academic year, including minors in Collaborative Social Innovation, Creative Writing and Science Communication and Policy.
Tech’s unique emphasis on interdisciplinary learning makes its programs stand out in national rankings, and its students stand out in the work force and world. Academic excellence is abundant at the Institute and is one of the many reasons that people from all over the world come to Tech to continue their education. Everyone at Tech is united in their passion for learning, shown by their willingness to spend a weekend in the library and overall unbridled nerdiness.
Many people enter Tech as valedictorians, AP scholars, academic bowl champions and straight-A students. At the Institute, what once may have been a defining characteristic for many students is now commonplace, which for many is both a comfort and discomfort. Though it is validating to find people who have encountered similar challenges and achieved the same successes, it can also feel like a loss of identity in a market that champions individuality.
However, among those who fundamentally relate to each other is where people can truly find themselves. Tech is the ultimate space to unapologetically explore niche interests. One of the biggest privileges of attending the Institute is that one does not have to seek out rigorous work in their major — it is practically guaranteed. It is beneficial not only professionally, but personally, to apply the time that may have previously gone to seeking out challenges within a course to diversifying one’s education instead.
Finding students with the same hobbies is a fantastic way to make new connections, while also spending time participating in a meaningful activity. From the abundance of clubs to the accessibility of interdisciplinary research through vertically integrated projects (VIPs), there are myriad methods to pursuing passions meaningfully. Through these opportunities students become more well-rounded, and consequently, more adaptable and open-minded. An added bonus of engaging in these tight knit groups is finding faculty and alumni that share the same interests, who can pass on their valuable knowledge.
At the Technique, our vast network of staff and contributors spans colleges, countries and life experiences. Yet, all of us share a love for journalism, whether it manifests in writing, photography, design or editing. There is a spot for anyone with a voice that they want to share, or a voice they want to uplift. Though writing an article about an interesting event on campus or a competitive basketball game may seem inconsequential, it is a necessary part of a holistic portrait of the lives of over 50,000 students.
Even reading the paper solidifies one’s spot in the Technique community, by taking a moment to learn more about the issues that matter to people on campus. For anyone that does not know where their home on campus is yet, this is one of many places to learn about where that place might be.
Tech will continue to do what it does best — provide students with an outstanding education and opportunities that are not available anywhere else. Tech students will continue to do what they do best — paving new paths through the world.