Contact Information

Welcome to the First Year Connections Program which connects first year students with one another, with faculty and staff, with academic departments, and with other NJIT students and resources.

The First Year Connections Program has three exciting components:

1. Connections Miniversity

Connections Miniversity is a fast moving two-day overnight orientation program for all incoming first year students. It is organized around academic majors and colleges, so when you go to Miniversity you will immediately connect with people like you. You will join a cluster of 12-15 new students with the same major. You will be led by an upperclassman or Connections Cluster Coordinator.

In large and small groups you will learn all about NJIT, the people, the resources, and the many ways that you can connect with everything you need for success.

Staying overnight will give you a real taste of life at NJIT. You will be eating great food and you will be entertained and begin new friendships. You will also meet your Dean, your academic advisor or deprtmental representative, receive your Placement Testing results, and learn all about your academic program.

Connections Miniversity continues through the summer in a virtual way, with your Cluster Coordinator keeping you connected with one another as you prepare for the year ahead.

You will be notified about your assignment to Connections Miniversity once you have taken your placement tests and paid your tuition deposit. Participation is required of all new full time undergraduate students.

2.   First Year Seminar

First Year Seminar (or Freshman Seminar) is the introductory course to your life at NJIT and beyond. The in-class sessions will help you to transition to your new life as an NJIT student and as an independent adult. Expect to learn a lot about yourself and your career.

Several of the First Year Seminar topics include: Your Rights and Responsibilities as a Student; Communication Skills; Ethics of a College Student; Time Management; Study Skills; and Working Successfully in a Group.

The out-of-class sessions are an introduction to the NJIT College in which you are enrolled---Engineering, Science and Liberal Arts, Management, Computer Science and Architecture. You will meet according to your college to learn about majors, meet the chairs and faculty and get a broader look at exciting developments in your field.  You will also attend university-wide workshops and programs to help you develop skills to enhance your academic skills. 

Seminar will culminate with setting goals with your advisor for your academic and professional development.

3. Connections Events and Traditions

First Year Connections Events and Traditions extend throughout the academic year. Organized by Cluster Coordinators, Events and Traditions include a wide range of programs and activities. These include small scale events for specific Clusters (bowling, going to the movies or having a study session) as well as large scale programs such as Freshman Convocation and   Dean’s Night, where each of the academic Deans give a talk to the first year students enrolled in their college.

Also planned are field trips to local museums, historic sites, professional sports events at Prudential Center, Newark and New York City, as well as field trips and community service projects.

Connections will also field a number of intramural teams, hold sporting events and will plan group attendance at the Newark Bears Riverfront Stadium, as well as NJIT Soccer, Volleyball, Baseball and Basketball.

All of these programs, large scale and small, connect students in a variety of contexts.

Program Staff

Associate Dean for First Year Students

Dr. Sharon Morgan - morgan@njit.edu

Associate Director, Testing and Placement

Mrs. Margo Gilchrist - margo.burnett@njit.edu

Associate Director, First Year Programs

Mr. Joseph Rios - jrios@adm.njit.edu

Administrative Assistant

Mrs. Shyron Edwards - shyron.edwards@njit.edu

2010 Connections Miniversity Lead Coordinators:

• Jason Cornwell
• Leanne Marano

Fall 2009 Connections Miniversity Cluster Coordinators:

• Samantha Pearson
• Allison Tremayna