New Jersey Institute of Technology Selected for Student Success Capacity Investment

Published: Monday, March 22, 2021
PRESS RELEASE
Contact Information: Media Relations, mediarelations@njit.edu or 973-642-7042

New Jersey Institute of Technology (NJIT) is one of 16 institutions participating in the Association of Public and Land-grant Universities’ Powered by Publics initiative to receive additional investment and support to advance student-centered transformation. The cohort 16 of institutions will engage in an in-depth institutional needs assessment, share student success data, and receive targeted professional development and technical assistance based on needs in advising, college readiness policy and practice, and digital learning. The Bill & Melinda Gates Foundation is funding the effort.

“As we drive the next phase of our institutional transformation through NJIT’s current strategic plan, Building on a Strong Foundation, we are pleased to receive support and endorsement from APLU and the Bill & Melinda Gates Foundation,” said Provost and Executive Vice President Fadi P. Deek. “Our STEM+ disciplines are increasingly popular. As part of efforts from our most recent strategic plan, 2020 Vision, the number of applications to NJIT have doubled and the credentials of those applying became even more impressive.

“We have improved the graduation and retention rates of our students significantly. We have conducted curricular assessment and enhanced career placement for our students. We have renewed the faculty with more than 50% of whom we hired in the last ten years. These faculty have been instrumental in driving NJIT’s academic excellence by developing new courses and programs, teaching in new modalities, and implementing innovative pedagogical techniques. These internal efforts, combined with additional external support, will lead to higher retention and graduation rates, and bring more visibility to our STEM+ programs.”

“We’re very pleased to provide the opportunity to 16 Powered by Publics institutions to receive additional resources to enhance advising, support college readiness, and improve digital learning,” said Julia Michaels, associate vice president and executive director of APLU’s Center for Public University Transformation. “Powered by Publics institutions are laser-focused on collaborating to advance equity, increase degree completion, and share key data and lessons. The 16 institutions participating in this cohort will serve as a model that other universities can draw from as they seek to strengthen their work in this space.”

NJIT has a number of programs aimed at preparing and supporting students throughout their higher education journey. NJIT’s Center for Pre-College Programs offers a wide variety of STEM-oriented programs, including the Math Success Initiative and Mayor’s Honors Program, which have created a pipeline from the Newark Public School system to NJIT. Once enrolled, students find a bevy of student resources that enhance academic success, including a learning center, peer mentoring programs and dedicated faculty advisement.

APLU's Powered by Publics initiative has convened nearly 125 change-ready institutions and state systems within 14 “transformation clusters” – reaching 3 million undergraduate students, including 1 million Pell Grant recipients. Each cluster is focused on solving different pieces of the student success puzzle as public universities work together to tear down long-standing barriers, eliminate the achievement gap, prepare students to thrive in the 21st century workforce, and collectively increase the number of degrees they award. The clusters are advancing collaborative work in thematic areas of affordability, holistic student supports, and teaching and learning, with equity and data as integral, cross-cutting components.

The other institutions selected for the effort are: University of Arkansas at Pine Bluff; Clemson University; Illinois State University; Ohio University; Middle Tennessee State University; Montana State University; New Mexico State University; University of New Orleans; Rutgers University-Newark; University of South Alabama; Texas Tech University; Tuskegee University; Virginia Commonwealth University; Western Michigan University; University of Wyoming. Participating institutions will receive a $15,000 stipend to cover expenses related to participation, in addition to technical assistance and support services from the Bill & Melinda Gates Foundation’s Postsecondary Success network. The institutions will start their work this month and continue it through July 2022.

About APLU

APLU is a research, policy, and advocacy organization dedicated to strengthening and advancing the work of public universities in the U.S., Canada, and Mexico.  With a membership of 244 public research universities, land-grant institutions, state university systems, and affiliated organizations, APLU's agenda is built on the three pillars of increasing degree completion and academic success, advancing scientific research, and expanding engagement.  Annually, member campuses enroll 5.0 million undergraduates and 1.3 million graduate students, award 1.3 million degrees, employ 1.3 million faculty and staff, and conduct $49.2 billion in university-based research.

 
One of only 35 polytechnic universities in the United States, New Jersey Institute of Technology (NJIT) is a top-tier research university that catalyzes economic growth and prepares students to become leaders in the technology-dependent economy of the 21st century. NJIT is one of only 131 universities rated an “R1” research university by the Carnegie Classification®, which indicates the highest level of research activity. NJIT conducts more than $155 million in research activity each year and has a $2.8 billion annual economic impact on the State of New Jersey. Ranked No. 1 nationally by Forbes for the upward economic mobility of its lowest-income students, NJIT also is ranked in the top 2% of colleges and universities nationally for the mid-career earnings of graduates, according to PayScale.com. NJIT is ranked No. 39 nationally by The Princeton Review as a Best Value College and is rated third in New Jersey and among the top 100 colleges and universities nationwide by the QS World University Ranking® 2021.