NJIT in the News

“The Brick,” a sculpture by Daniel A. Henderson, an inventor, entrepreneur, philanthropist and member of NJIT's Albert Dorman Honors College Board of Visitors, was unveiled today in the Fenster Hall lobby at NJIT. Completed in black Champlain marble and anodized aluminum, the sculpture was inspired by the world’s first portable cellular telephone: the Microtac 8000x. Henderson, who invented wireless picture and video messaging in 1993, said that his work was an example of taking a temporal medium—the plastic used to build cell phones—and putting it into a natural medium. “The point of this body of work is appropriate to NJIT,” he said. “We are proud of our research work in cell telephony and advances at this institution.” Shown at left are Henderson, NJIT President Robert A. Altenkirch; Vice President for Academic and Student Services and Albert Dorman Honors College Dean Joel S. Bloom; and Vice President for University Advancement Charles R. Dees, Jr. 

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.

U.S. News & World Report’s 2009 Annual Guide to America’s Best Colleges has named NJIT among the nation’s top tier of national research universities offering a range of undergraduate majors and master's and doctoral degrees. It also named NJIT as the nation’s eighth most ethnically diverse institution of higher education.

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. 

Daljit Ahluwalia, the visionary, vibrant and longtime chair of NJIT’s Department of Mathematical Sciences, will be honored at 6:30 p.m. on May 19, 2008 for his pivotal role in dramatically raising the department’s status on campus and in the nation. The honor will be awarded on the occasion of Ahluwahlia’s 75th birthday before more than 200 leading academics from around the world. 

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 NJIT Board of Overseers and NJIT President Robert A. Altenkirch presented yesterday to Philip R. Goode, PhD the first NJIT Excellence in Research Prize and Medal. Goode, who has led a five-year project to build the world’s most capable 1.6-meter solar telescope at Big Bear Solar Observatory in Big Bear Lake, CA, is distinguished professor of physics and director of the Center for Solar-Terrestrial Research, which manages the observatory. 

During the next decade, solar physicists will learn more than they have dreamed possible about the Sun, thanks to current technologies that have advanced the capacity of land-based instruments. Such advancements will be the focus of a talk on March 26, 2008 by noted NJIT solar astronomer Philip R. Goode, PhD. 

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."

An open house and robotics demonstration of cutting-edge manufacturing processes will showcase the new Vincent A. Stabile Laboratory at NJIT’s Newark College of Engineering (NCE) on Feb. 20, 2008 from 1 p.m.- 4:30 p.m.

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 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.

The first completely electronic version of NJIT Magazine is now available on the NJIT Website at http://magazine.njit.edu. Featuring articles about leading-edge research at NJIT and other university and alumni news, the issue’s new electronic format offers enhancements such as audio files with comments from President Robert A. Altenkirch, Senior Vice President for Research and Development Donald H. Sebastian, and Professor of Physics Dale Gary. Take our short survey. This digital spring NJIT Magazine is one of three 2007 issues, with the winter and fall issues being in the publication’s traditional paper format. Everyone on the magazine’s mailing list was sent a special postcard announcing the digital issue and asking that readers provide feedback about the digital version.“With many institutions publishing electronic magazines, we felt that it was time for NJIT to move in this direction and to evaluate reader response by publishing a digital issue this year,” said Jean M. Llewellyn, executive director of university communications. “The electronic format allows us to add exciting multi-media dimensions to a publication that has kept readers abreast of university and alumni news for nearly 50 years.”

The Port Authority of New York and New Jersey will make a  commitment to reduce carbon emissions at the agency’s three airports and its seaports, said Anthony R. Coscia, chair of the board of commissioners, during NJIT's 2007 commencement. NJIT awarded Coscia an honorary doctorate of humane letters at the ceremony held at Continental Airlines Arena.

New Jersey students who are physically challenged have additional opportunities to pursue higher education thanks to a $1 million gift from an NJIT alumnus, William S. Guttenberg, who has continually demonstrated his dedication to physically challenged young people and to NJIT through his generosity. Yesterday Guttenberg ’44 signed a revised scholarship agreement for an additional $1 million to endow scholarships primarily for physically challenged students, students from Paterson, NJ and other urban centers, students who lost a parent in the September 11th terrorist attacks, and Honors College students. A successful entrepreneur and decorated World War II veteran, Guttenberg credited NJIT with giving him the tools to succeed. “I’d just like everyone else to have the same opportunities as I had,” he said. Bill has previously given comparable gifts and has his name is on NJIT’s largest academic building, the William Guttenberg Information Technology Center. Signing the agreement are from left: Joel S. Bloom, vice president of academic and student services and dean of the Albert Dorman Honors College, Mr. Guttenberg and Robert A. Altenkirch, president of NJIT.

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.

Frank Cassidy, president and chief operating officer of PSEG Power, a subsidiary of Public Service Enterprise Group and affiliate of Public Service Electric and Gas, received the President’s Medal from NJIT President Robert A. Altenkirch at NJIT’s annual black-tie benefit dinner, called Celebration, on Nov. 10 at the Pleasantdale Chateau in West Orange.

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 presented an award for 50 years of service to Nissim Towfik, an associate professor in the department of physics, at the annual Service/Retiree Awards Ceremony and reception on June 15 in the Campus Center Ballroom. A total of 134 employees and retirees were recognized for their years of service to the university. 

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 received the highest annual honor from the Newark Preservation and Landmarks Committee for the restoration of Eberhardt Hall NJIT Alumni Center. NJIT President Robert A. Altenkirch accepted the Donald T. Dust Recognition Award at a ceremony last evening. "This award recognizes much more than the successful physical restoration of an elegant and historic building," said Dr. Altenkirch. "It honors a commitment to the well-being of a city and its people that spans a hundred and fifty years, and which looks forward to a prosperous future. "

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.

NJIT will receive the highest annual honor from the Newark Preservation and Landmarks Committee for the restoration of the first building on campus, a 35,000-square foot, three-story gothic Victorian castle known to generations of students, alumni, staff and faculty as Eberhardt Hall. NJIT President Robert A. Altenkirch will receive the Donald T. Dust Recognition Award at a ceremony on Feb. 28 , 5-7 p.m.