The Board of Trustees of New Jersey Institute of Technology (NJIT) yesterday voted unanimously to appoint Dr. Joel Bloom as President of the University, effective immediately.  >>

The New Jersey Institute of Technology (NJIT) Board of Trustees accepts with regret the resignation of Robert A. Altenkirch, President of NJIT since 2002, effective on or about November 1.  >>

The NJIT Board of Trustees approved a 4.5 percent tuition and fee increase for in-state undergraduate students for the 2011-2012 academic year. >>

AECOM President and CEO John M. Dionisio and NJIT President Robert A. Altenkirch signed on May 9, 2011, a $200,000 scholarship agreement to establish an endowment providing scholarships for undergraduate students of the Albert Dorman Honors College. >>

Faizan Naqvi, of Kearny, a junior majoring in electrical engineering and the third of three brothers to receive a Goldwater Scholarship, was recognized yesterday at a reception attended by NJIT President Robert A. Altenkirch, administrators and his parents. >>

NJIT President Robert A. Altenkirch received the Martin Luther King Award this morning at “MLK Day: Fulfilling the Dream Through S.T.E.M.,” a breakfast to acknowledge those individuals who have been an advocate for Dr. Martin Luther King’s dream.   >>

Essex County Executive Joseph N. DiVincenzo, Jr. joined with the Zoological Society of New Jersey on Monday, December 13th to welcome NJIT as the newest exhibit sponsor at Essex County Turtle Back Zoo.  >>

Six finalists in the Newark Innovation Acceleration Challenge presented their projects this week at NJIT’s Enterprise Development Center (EDC). In the end, Anson Wilson (Mave), Harsh Mehta (T-Shirt Tech), Mario Rannamae (Elect Charge); and Daniel Cerone (WordHerd) were awarded Capital One Summer Innovation Acceleration Fellowships of $2000 each to help support them during the summer so that they can spend time working in the New Jersey Innovation Acceleration Center Entrepreneurial Learning Lab at the EDC.  >>

NJIT President Robert A. Altenkirch and Greater Newark Enterprises Corporation Executive Director Michael A. Wall were honored at the Brick City Development Corporation's Recognize Newark event for their contributions to the economic development accomplishments in the City of Newark. Wall, a member of the NJIT Board of Overseers, is the honorary chair of the Executive Dinner Committee at Celebration, NJIT's annual black-tie fundraiser, on Nov. 12, 2010. >>

The Honors Student Council Office located on the fourth floor of NJIT’s Fenster Hall was officially named The Roberta Renard Student Council Office at the Albert Dorman Honors College (ADHC) yesterday in honor of the ADHC Board of Visitors member and benefactor. Roberta Renard, of Summit, is president and chief executive officer of Renard Communications, Inc., a Springfield, NJ company that publishes the trade magazine, Diversity/Careers in Engineering & Information Technology. >>

Each year since 2005, colleges and universities across the United States have recognized September as National Campus Safety Awareness Month. Following the ninth anniversary of 9/11, higher education institutions continue to work collaboratively to improve the safety and security of students, faculty, staff and guests on their campuses by sharing information regarding policies and strategies to consistently maintain safe campuses throughout the State. >>

Faculty and staff volunteers will serve a free breakfast to students at the university’s seventh annual Pancakes with the President event on August 30, 8-10 a.m. on the Campus Green. NJIT President Robert A. Altenkirch will welcome students to campus as NJIT officially kicks off the 2010-2011 academic year.  >>

For the fifth consecutive year, NJIT was named by U.S. News & World Report’s 2011 Annual Guide to America’s Best Colleges to the top tier of national universities offering a range of undergraduate majors and master's and doctoral degrees.   >>

NJIT is one of the country's best institutions for undergraduate education, according to The Princeton Review. The education services company features NJIT in the 2011 edition of its annual college guide, The Best 373 Colleges (Random House). >>

NJIT’s Board of Trustees has approved a four percent increase for tuition and required fees for the upcoming 2010-2011 academic year for in-state undergraduate students starting this fall. About 95 percent of NJIT’s full-time undergraduates pay in-state tuition. >>

NJIT President Robert A. Altenkirch addressed student teams representing 30 New Jersey public and private high schools last week at the 2010 Panasonic Creative Design Challenge finals at the New Jersey Performing Arts Center. For this year's challenge, teams designed and built a remote-controlled robotic recycling plant to help sort through debris in the Great Pacific Garbage Patch. NJIT makes significant contributions to this science and engineering technology competition: Three NJIT student interns develop the Challenge, while NJIT staff score the written reports as well as provide judges for the performance and oral presentations.   >>

CGC Genetics, Inc., the first private medical genetics laboratory in Portugal, celebrated the grand opening today of its U.S. operations in NJIT's Enterprise Development Center with a ribbon-cutting ceremony and press conference. Newark Mayor Cory A. Booker, whose office brought CGC to Newark and the U.S., led the ribbon-cutting ceremony with Stefan Pryor, deputy mayor for Economic Development; Joao Vellera, Portuguese ambassador to the U.S.; Maria Amelia Paiva, consul general of Portugal; Robert A. Altenkirch, president of NJIT; Donald H. Sebastian, senior vice president for research and development at NJIT; and Dr. Robert Johnson, dean of the New Jersey Medical School. >>

Tony Award-winning choreographer Savion Glover thrilled friends of NJIT at the university’s recent annual black-tie benefit dinner, Celebration.  >>

Vincent J. Naimoli ’62, chairman and chief executive officer of Anchor Industries International and chairman emeritus/founder of the Tampa Bay Rays, discussed "My Career Path from NJIT" with mechanical engineering students as part of the Mary Sullivan Memorial Lecture Series. Shown at left are: Mechanical and Industrial Engineering (MIE) Associate Chair Albert Narh, Naimoli, NJIT President Robert A. Altenkirch, and MIE Chair Raj Sodhi. >>

Martin Katzen, PhD, professor in the department of mathematical sciences (shown here with NJIT President Robert A. Altenkirch), Deran Hanesian, PhD, professor in the Otto H. York Department of Chemical, Biological and Pharmaceutical Engineering, and Onofrio Russo, PhD, professor in the department of physics, received awards for 45 years of service on Oct. 28 at the 2009 Service Award ceremony and reception. A total of 134 employees and retirees were recognized for their years of service to the university.  >>

The National Action Council for Minorities in Engineering (NACME) presented NJIT with its Rising University Star Award at its 35th anniversary awards dinner and celebration Sept. 29, 2009 at the Waldorf Astoria. Accepting for NJIT were Robert A. Altenkirch, president; Joel Bloom, vice president for academic and student services and dean, Albert Dorman Honors College; and Tony Howell, executive director of NJIT's Educational Opportunity Program. >>

During the next decade, solar physicists will learn more than they might have dreamed possible about the Sun, thanks to current technologies that have advanced the capacity of ground-based and space-based instruments.   All the more reason for the excitement on Oct. 3, 2009 when NJIT formally dedicates the new solar telescope at Big Bear Solar Observatory (BBSO), CA. >>

NJIT President Robert A. Altenkirch welcomed the largest freshman class in the history of NJIT today at the annual Freshman Convocation in the Fleisher Athletic Center. Following the ceremony, the students inscribed their names into the class books of their respective colleges. >>

Akash R. Shukla, an industrial engineering major at NJIT, celebrated on Sunday the release of his new book titled Measure of a Man, a personal account of his experience with limb-lengthening surgery and his year-long recovery. Attending the event were NJIT President Robert A. Altenkirch, Interim Provost Donald H. Sebastian, NCE Dean Sunil Saigal and Mechanical and Industrial Engineering Chair Rajpal S. Sodhi. For more information about Shukla's book, click here.  >>

Students kicked off the first day of the academic year today with a free pancake breakfast served by faculty and staff volunteers on the Campus Green. NJIT President Robert A. Altenkirch was on hand to welcome students at the annual Pancakes With the President event. >>

U.S. News & World Report’s 2010 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.  NJIT is now ranked 115 among the nation’s best national universities.Every year for the past five years, NJIT has increased its ranking on this widely-read assessment of the nation’s colleges and universities.  >>

Faculty and staff volunteers will serve a free breakfast to NJIT students at the university’s sixth annual Pancakes with the President event on August 31, 8-10 a.m. on the Campus Green. NJIT President Robert A. Altenkirch will welcome students to campus as NJIT officially kicks off the 2008-2009 academic year.  >>

NJIT’s Board of Trustees has approved a 3 percent tuition increase for the upcoming 2009-2010 academic year for both in and out-of-state students starting this fall.   About 95 percent of NJIT’s full-time undergraduates pay in-state tuition. >>

NJIT is one of the country's best institutions for undergraduate education, according to The Princeton Review. The education services company features the school in the new 2010 edition of its popular guidebook: The Best 371 Colleges. Only about 15 percent of America’s 2,500 four-year colleges and two Canadian colleges are profiled in the annual guide.   >>

NJIT athletics has officially gained across-the-board active membership in NCAA Division I, beginning Sept. 1, 2009. The NCAA made the announcement in a news release posted on its official website and in direct correspondence with NJIT officials. >>

“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.  >>

New Jersey Institute of Technology has been selected as a winner of the 2009 WealthEngine Award for Educational Fundraising from the Council for Advancement and Support of Education (CASE). This award honors superior fundraising programs across the country and is a component of CASE’s Circle of Excellence program. NJIT will receive an Overall Improvement Award based on the judges’ analysis of three years of fundraising data submitted to the council’s annual survey. “This is a result of a total University Advancement effort and the significant support and involvement of President Robert A. Altenkirch and the academic deans,” said NJIT Vice President for University Advancement Charles R. Dees, Jr., PhD. >>

NJIT President Robert A. Altenkirch served as the honorary chairperson of the Hispanic American Chamber of Commerce Foundation of Essex County Ninth Annual Scholarship and Awards Gala Dinner yesterday in the Campus Center Atrium. The Foundation recognizes business, governmental, corporate and individual efforts and accomplishments that positively impact Latino/Hispanic businesses and the Latino/Hispanic community in Essex County. Shown at left are Dr. Altenkirch, Dr. Niathan Allen of Summit Developers, and Robert P. Marasco, who received a Lifetime Achievement Award. >>

The NJIT community mourns the passing this morning of Bernard Coopersmith, a 1944 graduate of Newark College of Engineering and friend of the university. Coopersmith received the NCE Distinguished Alumni Service Award in 2000 and served as the president of the NJIT Alumni Association in 1969. Last year, Coopersmith joined those about to become alumni at Commencement 2008, receiving special recognition from NJIT President Robert A. Altenkirch as the “most mature” alumnus to participate in the ceremony. >>

NJIT’s 2007-2008 President’s Report is hot off the press and posted on line at http://www.njit.edu/president/annualreport/2008/index.php. “The report not only highlights the last year but marks five years of progress under President Altenkirch’s leadership," says Jean Llewellyn, executive director of University Communications (UC), publishers of the report edited by UC project manager Carol Pilla. >>

New Jersey Monthly magazine this month named NJIT President Robert A. Altenkirch one of New Jersey’s most important people to watch in 2009.  >>

NJIT President Robert A. Altenkirch has announced the appointment of Donald H. Sebastian, PhD, senior vice president for research and development, to the position of interim provost, effective Jan. 1, 2009.  >>

NJIT President Robert A. Altenkirch has announced the appointment of Donald H. Sebastian, PhD, senior vice president for research and development, to the position of interim provost, effective Jan. 1, 2009.  >>

Members of the NJIT community shared memories of Dana E. Knox, PhD, professor of chemical engineering, member of the Otto H. York Department of Chemical, Biological, and Pharmaceutical Engineering and Associate Provost for Undergraduate Programs, at a celebration of his life yesterday in the Campus Center Atrium. Knox passed away on Sept. 24, 2008; he was 53. Speakers led by NJIT President Robert A. Altenkirch remembered Knox as an exceptionally dedicated administrator, teacher, colleague and sports enthusiast whose legacy continues in the lives of the numerous students he mentored in his 25 years at NJIT. >>

Priscilla P. Nelson, PhD, has announced that she will resign her position as provost and senior vice president for academic affairs at New Jersey Institute of Technology, effective November 28, 2008, to pursue the university’s special projects related to international program development. >>

NJIT President Robert A. Altenkirch welcomed the freshman class at the annual Freshman Convocation on Sept. 10 in the Fleisher Athletic Center. Following the ceremony, the students inscribed their names into the class books of their respective colleges. >>

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. >>

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.  >>

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.  >>

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. >>

Students kicked off the first day of the academic year yesterday with a free pancake breakfast served by faculty and staff volunteers on the Campus Green. NJIT President Robert A. Altenkirch was on hand to welcome students at the fifth annual Pancakes With the President event. >>

NJIT President Robert A. Altenkirch presented an award for 20 years of service to Saida Leon, administrative assistant to the executive director of University Communications, at the annual Service/Retiree Awards ceremony and reception on May 24 in the Campus Center Ballroom. >>

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. >>

NJIT today announced more than $5 M in innovative strategies to better prepare urban students to pursue 21st century engineering and science careers. Combining $4.5 M in National Science Foundation grants with NJIT’s own contribution, the university-wide initiative will enrich and strengthen high school curricula in science, mathematics and engineering in Newark and other urban districts including Perth Amboy, Union City and Orange. Jane Oates, executive director of the NJ Commission on Higher Education, was among those who spoke at the event. >>

NJIT President Robert A. Altenkirch and Provost Priscilla P. Nelson met with a delegation from Xuzhou Institute of Technology, one of the four universities in Xuzhou, China, yesterday at NJIT. The delegation also toured the NJIT campus. >>

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. >>

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. >>

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.  >>

More than 125 people gathered at New Jersey Institute of Technology (NJIT) last week to see NJIT President Robert A. Altenkirch receive the highest annual honor from Newark Preservation and Landmarks Committee President William Mikesell, a Newark architect.  The Donald T. Dust Recognition Award honored NJIT’s two-year, $13-million restoration of the oldest building on campus, a 35,000-square foot, three-story gothic Victorian castle. >>

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 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. >>

The 2004-2005 President's Report, "The Edge in Knowledge," is now available on line. Questions about the document or requests for hard copies should be referred to Carol Pilla, Project Manager, via e-mail: pilla@njit.edu.  Read the President's Report >>

NJIT President Robert A. Altenkirch will discuss the recent stem cell research initiative on NJN News tonight. The interview will air at 6 p.m., 7:30 p.m. and 11 p.m. >>

Some 300 students, faculty, staff, alumni and others gathered at dusk Oct. 21, 2005, in the lobby of the newest building at New Jersey Institute of Technology (NJIT).  The assemblage heard Robert A. Altenkirch, PhD, president of New Jersey Institute of Technology (NJIT) and Kathleen Wielkopolski, NJIT Board of Trustees Chair, dedicate the six-story modernist structure to the work of Saul K. Fenster, PhD, president emeritus of NJIT.    >>

NJIT bestowed 1,821 degrees during the 2005 commencement ceremony yesterday, held for the first time at the Continental Airlines Arena, East Rutherford. The university gave an honorary degree to Arthur F. Ryan, chairman and chief executive officer of Prudential Financial, Inc., who delivered the keynote address.  “Achieving your life dreams does not happen overnight,” said Ryan. “But making it to graduation didn’t happen overnight either. It took hard work, preparation and always having the end goal in mind." Read NJIT President Robert A. Altenkirch's remarks. >>

Students in New Jersey will soon be able to earn two degrees – one in physics and one in engineering – in just five years, thanks to a new collaboration between New Jersey Institute of Technology (NJIT) and New Jersey City University (NJCU). >>

Students will have the opportunity to pursue dual degrees in physics and electrical engineering as the result of an agreement signed today by NJIT President Robert A. Altenkirch and New Jersey City University (NJCU) President Carlos Hernandez (at left).  NJIT will award the B.S. degree in electrical engineering at the end of the fifth year of study and NJCU will award the B.S. degree in physics after the fourth year of study. >>

Robert A. Altenkirch, PhD, president of New Jersey Institute of Technology (NJIT), was named Chairman of the Board of Trustees for University Heights Science Park. The Board of Trustees, which has 32 members, is responsible for overseeing and guiding the development of the Science Park, a 50-acre mixed-use park in Newark’s Central Ward. >>

NJIT President Robert A. Altenkirch was named Chairman of the Board of Trustees for University Heights Science Park. The Board of Trustees is responsible for overseeing and guiding the development of the 50-acre mixed-use park in Newark’s Central Ward. >>

A highlight of the first annual NJIT Day festivities on Oct. 23 was the rededication of the Lubetkin Soccer Field. In his remarks, NJIT President Robert A. Altenkirch said that the upgrade of the field was important not only for intercollegiate athletics, but for the use and enjoyment of all students, faculty and staff through intramurals and recreational activities. “Many of the young women and men who compete in intercollegiate athletics for NJIT will remember the experience vividly for the rest of their lives,” said Altenkirch. “It is important that we provide a quality experience for them, and, in turn, build the pride and alumni support that raises the currency of the NJIT degree even further.” Remarks at the Dedication of the Campus Center and the East Building, Oct. 23, 2004 >>

Students kicked off the first day of the academic year with a free pancake breakfast served by faculty and staff volunteers on the Campus Green this morning. NJIT President Robert A. Altenkirch was on hand to welcome students at the third annual Pancakes With the President event. >>

Astride his motorcycle, NJIT President Robert A. Altenkirch led a procession of students, staff, and the Highlander mascot to watch the Newark Bears shut out the Camden Riversharks at Riverfront Stadium yesterday afternoon. Altenkirch threw out the first ball and NJIT received special recognition at the game.  >>

NJIT President Robert A. Altenkirch will lead a group of faculty and staff volunteers to serve up free pancakes to students at the university’s third annual Pancake Breakfast on August 30, 2004, 7:30-10:30 a.m. on the Campus Green. The third annual event will officially kick off the first day of classes at NJIT >>

NJIT President Robert A. Altenkirch welcomed a new addition to his family on July 29, 2004, when his first grandchild entered the world.  "Beth and I are pleased to announce the birth of our first grandchild, Jackson Luke Moroney, NJIT class of 2027, who was born July 29th in Washington, DC, to Allison and Brian Moroney," says Altenkirch.  "While his father is teaching him all about Yankee baseball, we remain convinced that his first words will likely be, 'Go Highlanders!'” >>

Robert A. Altenkirch, president of New Jersey Institute of Technology (NJIT), has been appointed by Newark Mayor Sharpe James to a commission to study the city’s downtown redevelopment plan.  The plan includes a proposal to construct a $300 million arena for the Devils, the prominent New Jersey professional hockey team. The panel will be comprised of a dozen business, education and political leaders throughout the city. >>

To the mournful sound of a bagpipe and a sharp salute from NJIT's publc safety officers in dress blues, NJIT this morning  honored 11 alumni and friends who died in the terrorist attacks two years ago.   NJIT 's president Robert A. Altenkirch addressed  a crowd of about 200 students, staff, faculty, and the family of one of the alumni who gathered on the green under a bright blue sky  to dedicate a memorial to those lost.   Nine NJIT graduates were working in the World Trade Center September 11, 2001 when the towers were hit by two hijacked planes and collapsed. Alumnus and former Trustee Donald Peterson and his wife Jean were on United Airlines Flight 93 from Newark to San Francisco when it crashed in Western Pennsylvania.   "For decades to come, we will be seeking the right words, the right language, to help us heal and comprehend what happened two years ago in New York City," Altenkirch said.   "It is easy to talk about understanding and tolerance," Altenkirch said, but it is more important to make an individual effort to respect other people. "We are committed to those deeds and actions here at NJIT," he said.   The family of George Strauch attended the ceremony, and his brother Robert remembered him as a man who looked back fondly on his days as an undergraduate at Newark College of Engineering.    Several of those NJIT alumni worked for the Port Authority of New York and New Jersey. They were due to be honored at a separate ceremony at New York City's Riverside Church September 11 at 2 p.m. New York Governor George Pataki and New Jersey Governor James McGreevey will speak at  that service. It will  be broadcast live by New Jersey Public Television with a re-broadcast set for 9 p.m.   The lost  NJIT alumni included engineers, people who worked in finance, and computer experts.  Most were married. Among them they left 18 children.   Hilary Strauch, 13, wrote the following poem about her father: My Dad I see a face, a face of God He's smiling down on me and my mom My dad is up there smiling too When his tower collapsed he was trapped Inside a fiery inferno with no where to go Except heaven Also among those  named on the plaque are former NJIT Board of Trustees member Donald Peterson, who with his wife Jean, a retired nurse, was on United Airlines Flight 93 headed from Newark to San Francisco when it crashed in Pennsylvania. The Petersons were going to a family reunion. They lived in Spring Lake. Here are brief remembrances of the graduates. They were written  from news clips and from information compiled by the NJIT Alumni Association's Julie Jablonsky.       * Paul F. Beatini, 40, Class of 1986, Park Ridge, NJ, was operations vice president and assistant manager for engineering for FMGlobal Corp. He is survived by his wife Susan, two daughters now ages seven and five, and his parents and siblings. His co-workers remembered him as "a devoted family man with an unmistakable sense of humor and love of life."        * Eddie Wing-Wai Ching, 29, Union, Class of 1997, was a client support administrator for UmeVoice. He was in the WTC offices of Cantor  Fitzgerald, a client, on September 11. The youngest of four children, his relatives nicknamed him "Cool Man" but remember him most for his warm heart. He loved to play basketball, took pride in being a homeowner and had told friends he intended to propose marriage to his girlfriend by the end of 2001. His survivors include his mother and sister.     * Patrick A. Hoey, Class of 1969, 53, Middletown, was executive manager for the Port Authority's department of tunnels, bridges, and terminals. He was in his office on the 64th Floor of Tower One when it was struck. His voice can be heard on recently-released Port Authority tapes seeking advice on whether to evacuate the building. Remembered as a family man who was active in his church and community,  he was a former PTA president. Survivors include Eileen, his wife of 31 years, and their three sons.     * Edward T. Keane, 66, Class of 1961, West Caldwell, had been a retired Port Authority engineer. But  after three years of retirement he had decided to return to work there, this time as a consultant to the PA with Hill International. He managed projects connected with the George Washington and Goethals bridges. He was at work on the 60th Floor of Tower One when the plane struck. He and 15 co-workers had made it down to the 20th Floor when the building collapsed. Keane had survived the 1993 WTC attack, and was cited at the time for helping a distraught pregnant woman down 72 flights of stairs. Relatives remembered Keane as a man who took pleasure in hiking, sailing, gardening and travel. But his greatest joy was his family, including Barbara, his wife of 38 years, their daughter, son, and four grandchildren.     * Franco Lalama, 45, Nutley, Class of 1980, was a structural engineer with the Port Authority's department of  bridges and terminals. He was on the 64th floor of Tower One when it was struck. According to news accounts, he had spoken to his wife and sister by phone, telling them he was leaving the building. But he turned back to assist others. His co-workers remembered him as a brilliant engineer who could always be  relied on to put the George Washington bridge back together in time for the morning rush after even the most extensive repair work. Friends said he was a gourmet who loved to make homemade wine, and served cannoli and espresso at work. Survivors include his wife Linda, their three children, his parents and siblings.     * Kleber Molina, New York City, Class of 1998, worked for Fiduciary Trust Company International. He was at worked on the 95th Floor of Tower Two when it was struck. He is survived by his wife, Cathy.     * Francesco "Francis" Riccardelli, 40, Westwood, Class of 1985, worked at the Port Authority as manager of vertical transportation for the World Trade Complex.  He was remembered by his family as "an eternal optimist who saw only the good in the world." He was also an avid hiker, swimmer, and skier, who had a deep love of nature. He is survived by his wife Theresa and their five children. At the time of his death the children were ages 9, 8, 5, 3, and 1.     * George J. Strauch, Jr., 53, Avon-by-the-Sea, Class of 1970, was an executive with Aon Corporation. He was at work in the firm's 99th Floor offices when the first tower was struck. He had phoned his wife and his mother to assure them he was all right. But then his own building was hit . Strauch was remembered as having passion for the ocean, particularly fishing. He and his wife met on the boardwalk when she was 17. He put up with a daily, 5:30 a.m., four-hour roundtrip commute so he and his family could live near the beach. His survivors include Virginia, his wife of 27 years and their daughter Hilary, now 13.     * Mark Zangrilli, 36, Pompton Plains, Class of 1988, was employed by AXA Corporation near the Twin Towers on Water Street. But he was attending a meeting at Aon Corporation in Tower Two when it was struck. Zangrilli had formerly worked at the World Trade Center as an insurance underwriter for  Kemper National Insurance Co. He was there during the 1993 bombing and was cited for doing a heroic job in helping evacuate coworkers there. His last contact with his wife Jill was a phone message saying the evacuation was beginning and that he would call when he got down. She remembers him as a dedicated father and husband, who took his two sons, then 3 and 1, everywhere he went on weekends. His wife and sons survive him.   As part of NJIT's efforts to comfort the families of those who died, NJIT's alumni association had earlier mailed $1,000 donations to the families--including an additional alumnus,  John Fisher who took evening courses for years at  the university but had left before graduating.  Fisher, 46, a father of seven, worked at the World Trade Center, consulting for the Port Authority as an engineering consultant for Nanotek, Inc.   Immediately after the first attack he re-entered the south tower and went into the World Trade Center's operational control center. When that  tower collapsed he was there,  assisting with the evacuation and trying to help fix the buildings' communications systems. He is survived by his former wife Gail and their children, who were ages 16, 14, 12, 10, 10, 8 and 6 when he died. The family lives in Beachwood. ---Gale Scott >>

What's better than a nice hot breakfast on a rainy morning? Easy. A free breakfast, served up by smiling faculty, deans, and other staff volunteers at NJIT's new student center. Leading the group of cheerful servers today was NJIT's president Robert A. Altenkirch, who was there at the start of the 8 a.m. traditional pancake breakfast, and still there when the last hungry student polished off the last free stack. No one was counting the students, but according to Dean of Students Jack Gentul, approximately 600 tasty hotcakes were consumed. The event was originally scheduled for the campus green. "I was picturing blazing sun, green grass, big white tent, but this worked," Gentul said. This year's freshman class numbers 740 students, of whom 84 percent were in the top half of the their high school graduating classes and 26 percent were in the top tenth (according to reporting for 504 of those students.) More than half of the entering freshman are in the Newark College of Engineering (395 or 53 percent.) The College of Computing Sciences has 138 freshman (19 percent); the New Jersey School of Architecture has 127 freshmen (17 percent); the College of Science and Liberal Arts has 51 freshman (7 percent); and the School of Management has 29 freshman (4 percent.) The most popular fields selected by enrolling freshmen are architecture, biomedical engineering, civil engineering, computer engineering, computer science, engineering (undeclared), information technology, and mechanical engineering. Nearly all the students are from New Jersey (698), with 18 hailing from New York, eight international students, five from Pennsylvania, four from Maryland, and one each from California, Colorado, Connecticut, Delaware, Ohio, Virginia, Wisconsin, and the U.S. Virgin Islands. It was uncertain at NJIT Newsrooom's press time what percentage of the class likes pancakes.--Gale Scott >>

In an inaugural speech to students, faculty, public officials and industry partners of New Jersey’s public technological research university, New Jersey Institute of Technology (NJIT) President Robert A. Altenkirch, Ph.D. sounded a voice for optimism grounded in the promise of technological advancement, and articulated the changing roles the 125-year-old university will likely play under his leadership. >>

Idealism, celebration and commentary from leading state dignitaries will mark the inauguration of New Jersey Institute of Technology’s seventh president, Robert A. Altenkirch, Ph.D.Altenkirch will be inaugurated May 2, 2003, beginning at 2:45 p.m.. The ceremony will occur in a large white tent on the campus green. >>

The inaugural ceremony of Robert A. Altenkirch, Ph.D., the seventh president of New Jersey Institute of Technology (NJIT), will begin with a colorful academic parade of NJIT faculty, elected officials and delegates representing other college and universities. >>

New Jersey Institute of Technology (NJIT) will inaugurate Robert A. Altenkirch as the university’s seventh President. >>

Department of Transportation Acting Commissioner Robert Lettiere recently appointed New Jersey Institute of Technology (NJIT) President Robert A. Altenkirch, Ph.D., to a seven-member, Blue Ribbon Transportation Commission. The Commission, chaired by Lettiere, will make recommendations to the legislature within one year regarding transportation funding and priorities. The information will help the State renew the Transportation Trust Fund that expires in 2004. >>