The New Jersey Institute of Technology (NJIT) Board of Trustees has unanimously appointed Joel Bloom, EdD, to serve as interim president of the university, effective immediately. This follows the recent announcement of the resignation of Robert Altenkirch. Altenkirch will serve as a consultant to the interim president until the end of October. >>

NJIT will be a proud sponsor of an important PBS NOVA documentary, “Engineering Ground Zero,” airing initially on Sept. 7, 2011, at 9 p.m. ET/PT on PBS; see local listings for details.  >>

NJIT announced today the fulfillment of the late Otto H. York’s $1M pledge to NJIT.   >>

A memorandum of understanding was signed today between NJIT President Robert A. Altenkirch and representatives from the University of Parma, Polytechnic of Valencia, University of Extremadura, and Rutgers University for a dual bachelor’s degree that focuses on multinational engineering management.  >>

NJIT marked the new academic year yesterday with its annual University Convocation, an awards ceremony coupled with a special welcoming ceremony for the freshman class. NJIT President Robert A. Altenkirch provided remarks and introduced the keynote speaker, C. Stephen Cordes '72, managing director and member of the executive board of ING Clarion Partners. Following the ceremony, the students inscribed their names into the class books of their respective colleges. >>

The White House announced yesterday that New Jersey Institute of Technology (NJIT) will receive more than $23 million of the $2 billion allocated by the American Recovery and Reinvestment Act of 2009 to achieve widespread meaningful use of health IT and facilitate use of an electronic health record (EHR) by every person by the year 2014. >>

NJIT’s 2008-2009 President’s Annual Report is hot off the press and posted on line. As NJIT President Robert A. Altenkirch points out in his message, "The history of NJIT is a chronicle of continual progress and transformation," and so too is this report. >>

Habitat for Humanity Newark will announce the winners of an affordable townhouse design competition for Newark’s South Ward on Dec. 14, 2009 at 6 p.m. in the 7th Floor Loft at NJIT’s College of Architecture and Design. >>

Students at Bergen County Academies can now look forward to saving one year of tuition and time if they choose to attend NJIT and graduate early, thanks to an agreement signed today between NJIT President Robert A. Altenkirch and Bergen Academies Superintendent Robert Aloia. >>

The Princeton Review today named NJIT among the nation’s top 50 public undergraduate institutions for value. NJIT was included in the select listing because it has long been known for affordability nationally and in the region.  The annual tuition this year for in-state students is under $10,500. >>

For the fifth consecutive year, NJIT students return to campus next Tuesday, Sept 2, 2008, to enjoy a campus tradition—fresh pancakes flipped by their professors and deans for the annual breakfast. Set for 8-10 a.m. on the campus green, the event signifies the start of the new school year plus welcomes all back to campus with smiles, handshakes and fresh flapjacks. >>

Ying Wu, founder of UTStarcom, a highly successful telecommunications firm, and currently General Partner at CTC Capital, met on Tuesday with Stewart D. Personick (right), the Ying Wu Endowed Chair Professor in the Department of Electrical and Computer Engineering at Newark College of Engineering, and NJIT President Robert A. Altenkirch. The Ying Wu Endowed Chair is supported by a gift of $1.5 million from Mr. Wu, who earned a master’s degree in electrical engineering at NCE in 1988. >>

NJIT President Robert A. Altenkirch, PhD received the 2008 Ellis Island Medal of Honor in a ceremony held May 10, 2008 on Ellis Island. The medals are awarded annually to a group of distinguished American citizens who exemplify a life dedicated to community service.  >>

NJIT President Robert A. Altenkirch expressed his concern for the victims of the recent earthquake in southwest China in a letter to the Ambassador, Consul General Keyu Peng. "While we hope that there has been no personal impact for any NJIT student from your country, we are fully aware of the scope of the earthquake on May 12. Be assured that we will offer whatever assistance that we can to all individuals at NJIT experiencing grief and loss in the aftermath of such devastation." >>

NJIT President Robert A. Altenkirch received the 2008 Ellis Island Medal of Honor in a ceremony held on May 10 on Ellis Island. The medals are awarded annually to a group of distinguished American citizens who exemplify a life dedicated to community service. >>

The first NJIT Excellence in Research Prize and Medal will be awarded to Philip R. Goode, PhD, distinguished professor of physics by the NJIT Board of Overseers and NJIT President Robert A. Altenkirch on March 26, 2008.  >>

NJIT President Robert A. Altenkirch sent his condolences to Northern Illinois University President John G. Peters and the Northern Illinois University (NIU) family in response to the tragic events of February 14, 2008. "The entire New Jersey Institute of Technology community extends its deepest sympathy to the Northern Illinois University family for its darkest day, February 14. We hold Northern Illinois in our thoughts and prayers as NIU administrators, faculty, staff and students begin to mourn their enormous loss." >>

A memorial service for the late Gary Thomas, PhD, former NJIT provost,  will be held Jan. 30, 2008, 2:30 p.m.- 4 p.m., in NJIT’s Campus Center Atrium. >>

NJIT will receive a $150,000 gift from PSEG to launch a scholarship for freshmen enrolled in NJIT’s Albert Dorman Honors College. The PSEG Honors Scholarship Endowment will be available to freshmen enrolling next fall in NJIT’s Honors College. >>

"For New Jersey to gain the most benefits from R&D investments, the state’s institutions of higher education must have leading-edge laboratory facilities and learning environments, and all must be continually improved for current and future competitive success. You could say that construction of such vital resources would result in an A+ for the economy as well as for students.” This was the message delivered by NJIT President Robert A. Altenkirch representing the state’s three public research institutions at a New Jersey Alliance for Action summit focused on construction plans and needs for higher education throughout the state. >>

NJIT President Robert A. Altenkirch will report on the upcoming construction plans and needs of New Jersey’s public research universities.  Altenkirch, representing New Jersey’s three public research universities, will stress the important role these institutions play in supporting New Jersey’s ongoing economic development. >>

NJIT President Robert A. Altenkirch will report on the upcoming construction plans and needs of New Jersey’s public research universities on Sept. 5 at a conference in Trenton. Altenkirch, representing New Jersey’s three public research universities, will stress the important role these institutions play in supporting New Jersey’s ongoing economic development. The event, sponsored by the New Jersey Alliance for Action, will take place at the Lafayette Yard Marriott Conference Center at 9 a.m. >>

Faculty and staff volunteers will serve a free breakfast to students at the university’s fifth annual Pancake Breakfast on Sept. 4, 8-10 a.m. on the Campus Center plaza. NJIT President Robert A. Altenkirch will welcome students as the university officially kicks off the 2007-2008 academic year. >>

NJIT President Robert A. Altenkirch and his wife, Beth, hosted a gathering at their home yesterday for members of the NJIT Young Alumni Club Steering Committee. Pictured at left are Dr. Altenkirch; Kevin Boland '90, co-chair; and Don Blazina '87. >>

The first annual Herb M. Iris Award was presented to Seymour "Zoom" Fleisher '51 at a dinner at NJIT Tuesday night. The award was presented by NJIT President Robert A. Altenkirch and by Millicent Iris, widow of the late Herb Iris, who died in April. >>

“Technological innovation is key to the State’s success,” said New Jersey Governor Corzine at NJIT today. Corzine outlined his economic growth strategy for New Jersey before a capacity audience in the Campus Center Atrium that included leading members of the Governor’s cabinet and senior staff, Newark Mayor Cory Booker, State legislators, corporate CEO’s, chamber of commerce and trade organization executives, labor union leaders, and college and university presidents, in addition to many NJIT faculty, students, and staff who also attended. Prior to his announcement, the governor toured NJIT’s Enterprise Development Center, New Jersey’s oldest and largest business incubator facility. Corzine, who recently named NJIT President Robert A. Altenkirch to serve on his Economic Growth Council, said that his strategy will help to attract new capital investment in a highly competitive global marketplace and promote the state as a place in which to locate and grow successful high-tech businesses and attract federal research dollars. “It is time to make sure we’re pushing for long-term job growth,” Corzine said. “We have a great future ahead of us.” >>

Back-to-school events don’t usually focus on something as flipping as flapjacks. But as students at NJIT return to campus, one of the first and always most welcome events of the year is to join NJIT President Robert A. Altenkirch for handshakes, flapjacks and good wishes for a successful new year. The event, a campus happening since 2003, will take place Sept. 5 from 8 a.m.-10 a.m. on the main campus. >>

New Jersey Institute of Technology's Board of Trustees approved today a 7 percent tuition and fee increase for the upcoming 2006-2007 academic year, starting this fall. The commitment of the trustees to minimize the impact of tuition costs on its students resulted in bringing the increases below the state cap of 8 percent. “NJIT’s value proposition is that we provide an affordable education for the technological professions—and we work hard to deliver on that promise,” said NJIT President Robert A. Altenkirch. >>

NJIT President Robert A. Altenkirch met with Newark Mayor-Elect Cory Booker whose transition team kick-off event was held on May 25 in NJIT's Campus Center Ballroom. >>

NJIT President Robert A. Altenkirch was named last week by the City of Newark as board chairman of the newly-formed Newark Downtown Core Redevelopment Corporation, which will have control over the construction of the city’s downtown redevelopment project, which includes a hockey arena and new hotel. Altenkirch’s work with the corporation is a continuation of his involvement on the Newark Blue Ribbon Commission on Downtown Core Redevelopment. “As Newark works to improve the environment in the City and that in the University Heights area, the more attractive NJIT becomes to potential students and employees who will see NJIT’s location as a vibrant and attractive one in which to study, work, and live,” Altenkirch said. >>

Legislation that would place a $350 million bond proposal for stem-cell research on the ballot in November was approved by a New Jersey Senate panel yesterday positioning the bill for a vote by the full house during the lame-duck legislative session. The bill would boost the state's funding for labs for stem-cell and other biomedical research and allow for $50 million for a biomedical center to be established at NJIT. Donald H. Sebastian, PhD, senior vice president of research and development, and Robert A. Altenkirch, PhD, president, spoke yesterday on behalf of the expenditure. >>

NJIT, which boasts one of the nation’s most diverse student bodies, hosted the Second Annual Boricua Agenda Summit this past weekend, which celebrated the Puerto Rican community in New Jersey and the nation. NJIT President Robert A. Altenkirch provided opening remarks. “It is a privilege to host the Boricua Agenda Summit at NJIT, a university whose exceptionally diverse student body exemplifies the richness and strength of a society rooted in many different cultures,” said Altenkirch. >>

An executive coach, a general contractor and the owner and the founder of a small environmental agency can be interviewed on Oct. 11 about how the Defense Procurement Technical Assistance Center (DPTAC) at NJIT has helped them navigate the procurement process. “Obtaining this kind of work is not easy, especially for minorities, women and veterans, categories which fit most of our clients,” said Dolcey Chaplin, an attorney who has directed DPTAC since 1997. At the event, NJIT President Robert A. Altenkirch will sign an annual contract with the Department of Defense. >>

Just days after Hurricane Katrina deluged the Gulf Coast, NJIT President Robert A. Altenkirch invited students whose colleges were damaged by the hurricane to enroll at NJIT. Now, NJIT has its first student from New Orleans: Sean Kirkland, who would have been a senior at Tulane University, is enrolled at NJIT’s New Jersey School of Architecture. “Everyone at NJIT has been extremely kind and welcoming and I’m really grateful to be studying here,” Kirkland said. >>

An engineer, a student and a technician from NJIT who helped middle and high school students from Newark compete in New Jersey FIRST competitions will discuss their experiences with a delegation of Senegalese educators on Sept. 19 at 2 p.m., West Side High School, Newark. NJIT President Robert A. Altenkirch, engineer Levelle Burr-Alexander, project manager for instruction at NJIT’s Center for Pre-College Programs, and Frank Johansson, a technician at NJIT, will attend. >>

NJIT President Robert A. Altenkirch welcomed the second-largest freshman class in the history of the university yesterday at the sixth annual Freshman Convocation in the Campus Center Ballroom. Following the ceremony, the students inscribed their names into the class books of their respective colleges. Read Dr. Altenkirch's remarks.  >>

What's better than a pancake breakfast, served outside, on a beautiful September morning? Easy: A free breakfast, served up by smiling faculty, deans, and other staff volunteers. NJIT President Robert A. Altenkirch was there at the start of the 8 a.m. pancake breakfast, and he was still greeting students when the last stack was devoured at 10 a.m. “It’s always nice to get out and welcome the students and see what they think about the onset of the semester,” said Altenkirch. >>

NJIT will offer “visiting student” status this fall semester to students attending colleges and universities in the areas affected by Hurricane Katrina. Such status means that students will have the option of attending classes at NJIT and then transfer credits to their home institutions. “We understand that it may be some time before the universities are back in full swing,” said Robert A. Altenkirch, PhD, president of NJIT and former vice president for research at Mississippi State University. "I lived and worked in Mississippi for many years and my heart goes out to the people who are suffering as a result of the devastation this storm has delivered." >>

NJIT President Robert A. Altenkirch provided opening remarks at the annual Service/Retiree Awards Ceremony and reception on June 1, 2005 in the Campus Center Ballroom. A total of 139 employees and retirees were recognized for their years of service to the university. >>

U.S. Rep. Donald Young, of Alaska (at right) met early today with NJIT President Robert A. Altenkirch, Congressional leaders from New Jersey, and senior transportation officials to discuss renewal of a major transportation funding package that could benefit New Jersey. The legislation is known as the Federal TEA-LU transportation bill. With the U.S. Senate’s recent approval of a $295 billion spending bill, the package moves to a conference committee in the U.S. House of Representatives. Young, who is chairman of the transportation committee in the House, has also been named chairman of this key committee. Following the meeting at NJIT, a special luncheon honoring Young was held in Newark. In 2003, Altenkirch was named to a Blue Ribbon Transportation Commission to benefit New Jersey. In 2004, the Commission made recommendations to federal legislators regarding transportation funding and priorities.  >>

NJIT President Robert A. Altenkirch provided testimony before the New Jersey State Assembly Education Committee on May 5, 2005. “It is a fact of reality that an excellent product requires a substantial commitment of resources, and our educational system is no exception,” he said. “Let us collaborate and commit to making the investments required for New Jersey’s vitality and future economic prospects.” >>

NJIT faculty, staff and their families watched the Newark Bears play against the Camden Riversharks at the annual Faculty and Staff Appreciation Night on May 6, 2005 at Riverfront Stadium in Newark. NJIT President Robert A. Altenkirch threw out the first ball and the 2005 employee service award recipients were recognized. >>

NJIT President Robert A. Altenkirch addressed the more than 200 students, faculty and guests who attended the 33rd Annual Educational Opportunity Program (EOP) Awards Ceremony on April 28, 2005. Maria F. Karim, who will receive a bachelor of science in computer engineering next month, cited the program's commitment to helping disadvantaged students achieve their goals. EOP is a state and university-funded program that offers academic, financial, career and counseling support to under-represented students. >>

NJIT President Robert A. Altenkirch presented an award to Randy Schaeffer, FIRST regional director for New York City and New Jersey, at a volunteer awards ceremony on April 27, 2005. Nine high-school teams from Newark, all coached by students and technicians from NJIT, competed in the New Jersey FIRST (For Inspiration and Recognition of Science and Technology) Regional Robotics Competition in March. FIRST is a nonprofit organization dedicated to introducing young people to the excitement of science, math, engineering and technology. >>

Will New Jersey’s public higher education network be able to sustain the necessary workforce for the state to remain economically competitive and provide the educational opportunity and services residents have come to enjoy? Robert A. Altenkirch posed this question in an op-ed article that was published in the Star-Ledger on April 11, 2005. An investment in higher education has quantifiable impact, said Altenkirch, but unfortunately, for the state and its public institutions, higher education has not been able to position itself to be a priority, as witnessed by the steady decline in real state funding over the past decade. “We are reaching the point at which higher education must either become a state funding priority, or the cost of state universities may exceed the reach of many students and the quality of the programs will suffer, driving students to programs in other states at great cost to New Jersey’s economic prospects,” he said. >>

NJIT President Robert A. Altenkirch has asked the university community to consider responding to the epic devastation caused by the tsunami disaster through support of a fund that has been created for rescue and recovery efforts. Those who choose to contribute should send or bring funds to the Dean of Students Office. Checks should be made out to “NJIT Tsunami Relief Fund.”  These funds will be sent to the American Red Cross, which is assisting with the rescue and recovery efforts. >>