NEWARK, July 16- Whether your student is or isn't a veteran of residence hall life, the one thing she can always use is a good plan on how to organize and maximize living space.

Jack Gentul, dean of student services at New Jersey Institute of Technology (NJIT) says that organizing a room well at the start of a new school year is always a good way to insure that your youngster will get off to a good start. "We haven't done a formal study on the subject, but I believe that the less time a student takes to find an item, the more time he has to work on academics and enjoy a social life."

NJIT, New Jersey's third largest public university located in the University Heights section of Newark, offers residential housing and many student services to more than 1,700 graduate and undergraduate students.

Gentul suggests the following ten tips for organizing a new residence hall room to ensure a productive academic year:

• Send all boxes home once you have unpacked
• Bring crates (found in home stores like Linens 'n Things) to stack for extra storage.
• Purchase closet organizers - shoe racks, extra shelves, etc.
• Do not bring everything with you when you arrive in August. Leave home non- seasonal clothing. Pick up seasonal items during a visit home.
• Raise your bed (most beds are capable of adjusting) to store items underneath.
• Bunk the beds
• Throw out garbage daily
• Put the bureau or dresser in the closet
• Use a laundry bag and clean dirty clothing weekly.
• Pick-up clothing, file papers and sort mail daily.

NJIT is a public, scientific and technological research university enrolling more than 8,800 students. The university offers bachelor's, master's and doctoral degrees to students in 80 degree programs throughout its six colleges: Newark College of Engineering, New Jersey School of Architecture, College of Science and Liberal Arts, School of Management, Albert Dorman Honors College and College of Computing Sciences. The division of continuing professional education offers adults eLearning, off campus degrees and short courses. Expertise and research initiatives include architecture and building science, applied mathematics, biomedical engineering, environmental engineering and science, information technology, manufacturing, materials, microelectronics, multimedia, telecommunications, transportation and solar astrophysics. Yahoo! Internet Life magazine cites NJIT as a "perennially most wired" university.

Contact Information:

Sheryl Weinstein Public Relations (973) 596-3436

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