April 22, 1998 Contents
NJIT Rockets To Nation's No. 2 Most-Wired Campus
May Commencement Ceremonies Information
Men's Volleyball EIVA Division 2 Champs
Enterprise Development Center To Administer Internet Listing Service; Host ACE-Net Seminar
NCE Dean Candidates To Give Presentations
Campus Events Calendar: April 22-May 14
Seminars
People
Classifieds
Deans' Day Rated Success
Authorization Code Theft Alert
Undergrads Present Research Projects At Science, Engineering Poster Session
Van Houten Library Adds Staff
Benefits Open Enrollment, Medical Plan Changes
Health Benefits Traditional Plan Rates
Dental Plan Rates
Medical PlansListing
Dental Plans Listing
Theatre Arts Program Presents 'The Oak Table'
Aquatic Staff Offers 'Learn To Swim'
NJIT Rockets To Nation's No. 2 Most-Wired Campus
The May issue of Yahoo! Internet Life magazine, a popular online guide to the Internet with a circulation of 400,000, ranks NJIT No. 2 in the nation in its second annual survey of "America's 100 Most Wired Colleges." For NJIT, this year's ranking is an improvement of five places over Yahoo!'s 1997 rankings. The university also ranked first in the nation among technological universities.The new rankings placed NJIT above MIT, Rensselaer Polytechnic Institute, the University of Illinois at Urbana-Champaign, Carnegie Mellon, Caltech, Indiana University, the University of Oregon, and Worcester Poly, in the Top 10. Dartmouth University leads the rankings and is the only other school besides NJIT with 100 percent of students owning personal computers. Only one other New Jersey university, Princeton at No. 66, ranks in the top 100.
Yahoo! Internet Life based its survey on 22 factors organized under four main categoriesgeneral services, academics, social life, and computer statisticsto determine each school's ranking. Weighing in NJIT's favor:
· Distance learning students participate in one-third of all NJIT courses
· 100 percent of NJIT students own their own computers
· 60 percent of classes offer materials online
According to the magazine, NJIT is impressive outside the classroom as well, sponsoring campus-specific usenet groups, an online gaming network, and an electronic message board for students to find home-to-campus ride shares.
"We are delighted with our Yahoo! Internet Life ranking. The results of the survey help us benchmark our progress as a university," said NJIT President Saul K. Fenster. "Computing is an integral part of our culture. Students want to work in an environment that maximizes connectivity and access to the universe of resources available on the Internet. NJIT wants to lead the way in applying technology to higher education."
The survey included more than 400 colleges and universities identified as being highly selective (profiled in Peterson's Competitive Colleges 1997-98), state universities with student populations greater than 15,000, and institutions represented in last year's top 100 list.
Men's Volleyball EIVA Division 2 Champs
The men's volleyball team won its first-ever Eastern Intercollegiate Volleyball Association (EIVA) Division 2 championship on April 2 when it defeated Queens College in the final match.In the semifinal, NJIT topped Southampton in five games. Three NJIT players were named to the All-Tournament team. Wycliffe Gordon, the nation's leader with a .506 hitting percentage, was named the EIVA Tournament Most Valuable Player. Pedro Trevino and Harold Nazaire also were honored.
NJIT concluded its outstanding season when it lost to George Mason University in the first round of the NCAA Division 1 Tournament April 18.
Enterprise Development Center To Administer
Internet Listing Service; Host ACE-Net Seminar
The U.S. Small Business Administration selected NJIT in November to serve
as the New York metropolitan area administrator of the Angel Capital Electronic
Network (ACE-Net), a national Internet-based listing service that provides
information to investors on small, dynamic businesses seeking $250,000
to $3 million in equity financing.
A special ACE-Net seminar will describe the benefits and uses for investors as well as entrepreneurs Thursday, April 30, 1:30-4:30 p.m., in the Hazell Center Ballroom. Response to ACE-Net has been overwhelming, according to Stash Lisowski, director of NJIT's Enterprise Development Center (EDC).
Jere Glover, chief counsel of the U.S. Small Business Administration's (USSBA) Office of Advocacy, will present "Inside: Connecting Angel/Seed Investors with Entrepreneurs," followed by a panel discussion. Afterward, Marvin K. Blount, USSBA's assistant chief counsel, will demonstrate ACE-Net live.
The Office of Advocacy selected EDC, a small business incubator, as its ninth ACE-Net network operator. "Angel investors," often wealthy individuals with significant business expertise, will be able to view the securities offerings at http://www.sba.gov/advo/acenet.html. ACE-Net will be located in the Prudential Center for Entrepreneurs, a unit of EDC.
"ACE-Net provides an information network that allows angel investors
to find
entrepreneurs and entrepreneurs to
advertise to angels across the country," said Lisowski.
Companies using ACE-Net are exempt from registration fees and the lengthy and costly state review process. Qualified angel investors can register for access to ACE-Net at NJIT, where they are given a password to the user-friendly software system running on personal computers. The ACE-Net files can be accessed using keywords such as city, state, and dollars requested through a specially designed Internet search engine. Angel investors also can place search criteria on ACE-Net. The system will then e-mail the investor whenever a company is listed that meets their needs.
INFO: Claire Dougherty, (973) 643-5740.
May Commencement Ceremonies Information
The PNC Arts Center in Holmdel informed the university several weeks ago that the on-going renovation and construction taking place at the Arts Center will not be completed in time to accommodate our May 22 Commencement date. While NJIT has enjoyed the rich tradition associated with the Homdel venue, the university has accepted this turn of events as a fortuitous occasion to work together to showcase the NJIT campus facilities, as well as reach out to its newly inaugurated neighbor and friend, the New Jersey Performing Arts Center (NJPAC), located proximate to the Newark campus.After exploring many options, the university was able to procure a two-fold arrangement, which is felt will best accommodate the graduates and their guests.
· Approximately 50 percent of master's degree candidates have attended the traditional Friday morning ceremony, due in part to their often full-time work schedules. A Thursday evening ceremony may best enable more of the masters' degree recipients to participate in the Commencement Ceremony. On Thursday, May 21, rain or shine, the university will convene a unified ceremony for the conferral of all masters' degrees at 6:30 p.m. on The Green.Immediately following the master's degree ceremony on Thursday, the university will host an 8:30 p.m. Commencement Reception in the Hazell Center for the graduates, guests, faculty, administrators, and staff.· Master's degree candidates have received a response card in the mail, which they must complete and return to Special Events. Each candidate responding in the affirmative will receive detailed candidate instructions and guest invitations. Because this event will be outdoors, no tickets will be required. Deadline for response is Friday, May 8.
· NJIT recently came to an agreement with the NJPAC as the site for the Friday, May 22 Commencement Ceremony. The PAC was gracious enough to accommodate NJIT by making significant changes to their schedule, which will enable the use of Prudential Hall for a 10 a.m. program and conferral of baccalaureate and doctoral degrees.
· Students eligible to participate in the Friday ceremony have received a response card, which they must complete and return to Special Events. Once their intent to participate in the ceremony is established, these candidates will receive detailed instructions and three guest tickets. Due to the PAC's capacity, NJIT is unable to predict the number of additional tickets that may be available for guests until Special Events has an accurate assessment of student participation. Deadline for response is also Friday, May 8. Any remaining tickets will be available to students after Monday, May 11 on a first-come, first-served basis.
Commencement may be seen as the culmination of students' academic achievements. It is also a momentous occasion, for which the university community bands together under the auspice of ceremony and celebration. The university community is encouraged to work towards the fulfillment of this charge. Further logistical details will be coordinated via Special Events.
NCE Dean Candidates To Give Presentations
NJIT is looking for a strong leader who will be able to exploit fully the potential of its interdisciplinary faculty, departments and programs, build on the university's successes, and lead Newark College of Engineering (NCE) toward an even higher level of excellence.The NCE Dean Search Committee has invited three more candidates for a second visit. Each will make a presentation to the NJIT community, followed by an open session for questions. Dr. S.T. Mau was scheduled for April 17 and Dr. James Modestino on April 21. Dr. John Baillieul will give his presentation 10-11 a.m., Monday, May 4 in Electrical and Computer Engineering Building 202.
Copies of the vitas are available for review in the engineering department offices and in the provost's office. Participation and written feedback by the NJIT community is strongly encouraged and of value to the committee. Please send written comments within one week after the presentation to Nadine Aubry, mechanical engineering.
INFO: ext. 3215.
Deans' Day Rated Success
More than 1,000 people, including 402 prospective freshmen, attended Deans' Day for admitted freshmen on March 29.Guests interacted with academic deans, attended an information fair, and spoke to faculty advisors to new students and representatives from athletics, freshman studies, career development services, counseling center, health services, student activities, public safety, residence life, the University Learning Center, and students services.
The cooperation of NJIT students, faculty and staff contributed to the success of the event. University Admissions extends a special note of thanks to members of Physical Plant, Gourmet Dining Services, and Public Safety for their work and to the faculty, students, and staff for their support.
Authorization Code Theft Alert
In a previous notice, the university community was alerted to the increased theft of authorization codes for dialing out. Recent ongoing Telecom investigations have revealed that several stolen codes were taken directly off of the user's PC. Users who have a modem attached to their PC should not permanently enter their authorization code into the modem's dialing software.If you must use a modem, enter the code manually to ensure that no one else can later obtain the code from the PC.
If you suspect your code has been compromised, send an e-mail message
to TELECOM on the Admin
System so that your code can be changed.
INFO: telecom@njit.edu.
Undergrads Present Research Projects
At Science, Engineering Poster Session
Three Alliance for Minority Participation (AMP) students represented NJIT
on March 14 at the Lincoln Advanced Science and Engineering Reinforcement
(LASER) Poster Session at Lincoln University in Lincoln, Pa.
Brent Andrews, a senior electrical engineering major; Wade Reid, a senior
electrical engineering major/applied mathematics minor; and Dacosta Williams,
a junior computer engineering major/applied mathematics minor presented
their research projects as part of the Philadelphia AMP Consortium. NJIT
became a member of the consortium in
January.
Andrews' research topic is entitled "Using the Hall Effect to Characterize Semiconductors." His research advisors/mentors are John Federici, Department of Physics, and Roy Cornely, Department of Electrical and Computer Engineering.
Reid 's research topic is entitled "DTLS System Assembly and Programming."
His
research advisor/mentor is Durga Misra, Department of Electrical and
Computer Engineering.
Williams' research topic is entitled "Improving the Accountability and Usage of Energy in Multi-unit Dwellings." His research advisor/mentor is Walid Hubbi, Department of Electrical and Computer Engineering.
These three students are also Undergraduate Research Fellows of the Minority Academic Careers (MAC) Program, which is committed to increasing the number of minority faculty in the 21st Century. In addition, they have been scholars of the NJIT University Research Experience program. Juan Herrera, AMP Graduate Assistant, worked closely with the scholars to help them prepare for the poster session.
INFO: Sheridan O. Quarless, ext. 2992.
Van Houten Library Adds Staff
The Robert W. Van Houten Library has added Paul Schwartz and Michael Byrnes to its staff.Schwartz will serve in the newly created position of Interlibrary Loan/Serials Librarian. He has a master's degree in library science from Columbia University, a M.A. in media studies from the New School for Social Research, and a bachelor's degree from the Center for Creative Studies in Michigan.
Previously, Schwartz was the multimedia/reference librarian at Rutgers' Dana Library. In his new position, he will focus on improving processes with journals, full text and bibliographic databases, theses, document delivery, and interlibrary loan.
Byrnes joins the library staff as the fourth technical reference librarian team member. He serves as the liaison to the departments of Computer and Information Sciences and Electrical and Computer Engineering.
Byrnes earned his master's degree in library science from Simmons College in 1996. He earned a bachelor's degree from Northern Arizona University. Before joining NJIT, he was head reference librarian at Mohave Community College in Bullhead City, Ariz.
Benefits Open Enrollment, Medical Plan Changes
April is the Open Enrollment period for medical, prescription drug and dental coverage changes. All changes made in April will become effective July 1, 1998. During the Open Enrollment period you may:1. enroll in any of the plans offered, if you have not done so previously.Several changes affect the medical plans this year. Changes include increased rates for employees enrolled in the Traditional Health Plan (participants enrolled in NJ PLUS or an HMO do not have a payroll deduction for medical coverage); the elimination of two plans; changes to service areas; and benefit improvements.2. change to another health or dental plan.
3. add dependents.
· Prudential Healthcare HMO has reduced its coverage area to New Jersey. Coverage in New York, Pennsylvania, and Connecticut will be discontinued effective July 1, 1998. Employees enrolled in Prudential Heathcare who live outside of New Jersey must file an application and select another plan during this open enrollment.Operating Standards:· QualMed Plans for Health will no longer offer coverage. Employees enrolled in QualMed must select another plan during this open enrollment period. Failure to do so will result in no medical coverage as of July 1, 1998.
· Physicians Healthcare Plan has been purchased by Blue Cross and Blue Shield of NJ and will merge with HMO Blue effective July 1, 1998. Employees enrolled in PHP will be automatically transferred into HMO Blue unless they file an application to transfer to another plan.
· University Health Plan expanded its coverage to include all of New Jersey.
· NJ PLUS has expanded its coverage to include all of Delaware.
· All physician referrals will be valid for a minimum of 90 days from the date of authorization.· Health benefits coverage of totally disabled will be extended beyond normal termination dates for that disability if there is no other benefit coverage in effect.
· Certain treatments requiring numerous visits (e.g. chemotherapy) will not require repeated referrals.
· The maximum co-payment for emergency room services will be $35.
· Admissions to skilled nursing homes will be covered up to 120 days per confinement.
· Home health care will be covered up to 120 visits per benefit year.
· Outpatient therapy (physical, speech, cognitive, and occupational) will be covered up to 60 consecutive visits per condition.
· Maximum annual co-payments for medical appliances and durable equipment will be $100.
· There will be no co-payment charged for outpatient drug and alcohol rehabilitation treatment.
· All HMOs will use standard drug and alcohol rehabilitation treatment criteria recently established by the American Society of Addictive Medicine (ASAM).
Brochures for the medical, prescription drug and dental plans are available in the Benefits Office.
Traditional Plan Rates
| Coverage | New Rate | Old Rate |
| 12-Month Employees | ||
| Single | $33.85 | $19.27 |
| Member & Spouse | $69.12 | $37.05 |
| Family | $80.96 | $43.95 |
| Parent & Child(ren) | $44.45 | $24.32 |
| 10-Month Employees | ||
| Single | $40.62 | $23.12 |
| Member & Spouse | $82.94 | $44.46 |
| Family | $97.15 | $52.73 |
| Parent & Child(ren) | $53.34 | $29.18 |
| 9-Month Employees | ||
| Single | $45.13 | $25.69 |
| Member & Spouse | $92.15 | $49.40 |
| Family | $107.94 | $58.59 |
| Parent & Child(ren) | $59.27 | $32.42 |
INFO: Benefits Office, ext. 3143.
Dental Plan Rates
The biweekly rates for the Dental Expense Plan, administered by Prudential, for the new contract period effective July 1, 1998 are as follows:| Coverage | New Rate | Old Rate |
| Single | $7.75 | $7.11 |
| Member & Spouse | $11.94 | $10.95 |
| Family | $19.80 | $18.17 |
| Parent & Child(ren) | $15.60 | $14.31 |
| Based on 12 months |
| Coverage | New Rate | Old Rate |
| Single | $4.23 | $4.11 |
| Member & Spouse | $7.36 | $7.14 |
| Family | $12.04 | $11.69 |
| Parent & Child(ren) | $8.92 | $8.66 |
| Based on 12 months |
Health Benefits Medical Plans
| Plan | Phone Number | Service Area |
| Traditional
(Blue Cross/Blue Shield) |
1 (800) 414-7427 | Universal |
| NJ PLUS
Administered by BC/BS |
1 (800) 414-7427 | In Network: All of NJ & Delaware;
parts of NY & Pa. Out of Network: Universal |
| Health Maintenance Organizations (HMOs) | ||
| HMO Blue | 1 (800) 355-2583 | All of New Jersey & Bucks County, Pa. |
| HIP of New Jersey | 1 (800) 447-8632 | All of NJ, except, Cape May, Cumberland, Sussex, Warren counties; parts of NY & Pa. |
| PRUCARE a.k.a. Prudential HMO | 1 (800) 422-7399 | All of New Jersey |
| Aetna/US Healthcare | 1 (800) 323-9930 | All of New Jersey & Washington, D.C.; parts of NY, Pa., Delaware, Maryland, Illinois, & Virginia |
| Cigna/COMED | 1 (800) 462-6633 | All of New Jersey |
| Oxford | 1 (800) 444-6222 | All of NJ; parts of NY & Pa. |
| NYL Care | 1 (800) 640-6400 | All of NJ & parts of NY |
| AmeriHealth | 1 (800) 454-7651 | All of NJ & Delaware; parts of Pa. |
| First Option | 1 (800) 535-3647 | All of New Jersey |
| University Health Plan | 1 (800) 564-6847 | All of New Jersey |
Dental Plans
| Plan | Phone Number | Service Area |
| Dental Expense Plan Administered by Prudential | 1 (609) 653-8876 | Unrestricted |
| Dental Organization Plans (DPOs) | ||
| Atlantic Southern Dental | 1 (800) 843-4727 | All of New Jersey, eastern Pa. |
| Community Dental Associates | 1 (800) 451-8844 | Cumberland County |
| Cigna Dental Health, Inc. | 1 (800) 367-1037 | All of NJ, eastern Pa., & parts of NY |
| Group Dental Health | 1 (800) 241-9700 | Mercer, Union, Middlesex, & Essex Counties |
| International Health Care Svs. | 1 (800) 468-0600 | All of NJ; Bucks County & Philadelphia |
| Oracare Dental Health | 1 (800) 672-2273 | All of NJ & eastern Pa. |
| Unity Dental | 1 (800) 648-0146 | All of New Jersey |
| Flagship | 1 (800) 722-3524 | All of New Jersey |
| Dental Group of NJ | 1 (800) 925-6022 | North & central Jersey |
| Statewide | 1 (800) 839-8910 | All of New Jersey |
| Managed Dental Choice | 1 (800) 433-6825 | All of New Jersey |
| John D. Kernan, DMA | 1 (609) 869-8660 | Camden County |
| Prudential DMO | 1 (800) 843-3661 | All of NJ & eastern Pa. |
Aquatic Staff Offers 'Learn To Swim'
The aquatic staff is offering a spring session of swim classes to the university faculty and staff and their families at the NJIT pool.Children's classes are offered on Saturdays for infants and toddlers: April 25, and May 2 and 9. Classes are toddlers: 10-10:30 a.m.; Level I: 10-11:15 a.m.; Level II: 10:45-11:30 a.m.; Level III: 11:45 a.m.-12:45 p.m.; and Level IV: 11:45 a.m.-12:30 p.m. The fee is $18 per child.
Adult beginner classes are scheduled for Tuesdays from 5-6 p.m. Register at the physical education building front desk.
INFO: Amy Milavsky, ext. 3638.
Theatre Arts Program Presents 'The Oak Table'
n "The Oak Table," a new play by Michele Raper Rittenhouse, director of the Rutgers-NJIT Theatre Arts Program, will be performed April 23-25, 7 p.m., and April 26, 2:30 p.m., in the Theater.Debbie Saivetz directs this emotional comedy about two women, a homeless poet and a struggling young writer, fighting to connect to the life surrounding their homes in New York City's Tompkins Square Park on a moonlit summer night in 1980. In their journey, they find a parade of unusual individuals and finally each other.
Tickets are $5, students and seniors citizens; $7, general admission. For ticket reservations, call (973) 353-5119, ext. 17.
Seminars
· Hong Wang of Syracuse University will present "An Overview of STAP for Airborne Radars," sponsored by the Department of Electrical and Computer Engineering, Friday, April 24, 11 a.m., in Electrical and Computer Engineering Building 202.Wang will provide an overview of major issues in Space-Time Adaptive Processing Development and its status, with an emphasis on its surveillance application.
· Fabio M. Chiussi of Bell Labs and Lucent Technologies will present "Provisioning Quality of Service in Next-Generation ATM Switches," sponsored by the IEEE North Jersey Communications Chapter, and hosted by the Department of Electrical and Computer Engineering, Monday, May 4, 5:30 p.m., in Electrical and Computer Engineering Building 202.
People
Harriet Massey, University Admissions, thanks the university community for the support and messages of condolences she received upon the passing of her mother, Dorothy Jackson.Classifieds
Notice: All ads run for two issues, unless advertiser contacts the editor to cancel or renew.ITEMS FOR SALE: Desk with black inlaid surface, 50"x28" working space, $40; Metal paper sorter, 15 rows down, 4 across (60"Hx38"W), $30. Call (908) 389-0449.
WANTED: Air conditioner, minimum 8,000 BTU, in good condition. Call (973) 743-7086.
INTERN WANTED: For sales and marketing with insurance agency. Call Robert, (973) 743-8115 or fax resume to (973) 743-9498.
ROOM FOR RENT: Space available in 3BR home in East Orange. Off-street parking, close to NJ Transit No. 34 bus. Student preferred. $350/month. Call Denise, (973) 676-6892.
MANICURIST WANTED: Full- or part-time, experienced, bilingual a plus, for pleasant, well-established salon. Call 10 a.m.-3 p.m., Tuesdays-Fridays, (908) 273-4466.