Frequently Asked Questions

In 2008, an affiliation was forged with NYU.  Why did Poly enter into this agreement?

The affiliation agreement combines the unique strengths of two highly regarded institutions of higher learning.  For NYU, it reconnects the University to an engineering research and education capacity that it has not had for more than three decades, offering new opportunities for NYU faculty and students.  For NYU-Poly it connects a venerable school of engineering and technology to a national research university, enhancing its ability to attract top students and faculty from across the world.  Additionally, on a local scale, the affiliation holds the prospect of sparking a major advancement in New York City’s stature as a world capital for science, technology and engineering. 

How has the relationship between NYU and NYU-Poly evolved since the affiliation was established?

The affiliation between NYU and NYU-Poly already has yielded results that have enhanced both institutions.  Increased collaborations between researchers at both institutions and the launching of the undergraduate engineering program at NYU’s new campus in Abu Dhabi are but two examples.  For NYU-Poly students both their academic and non-academic lives have been positively impacted by the increased opportunities available at NYU, including taking classes and accessing a range of services from across the entire university.  In general, the Institute has enjoyed increased visibility, on both a national and international scale, as a result of the affiliation.  This is evident in our enhanced ability to attract qualified students, recruit world-class faculty members, and command the attention of the international media with the innovative research undertaken on our campus.

Does the ultimate goal of NYU-Poly becoming a full-fledged school of NYU still hold?  If so, when is the merger expected to be completed? 

Yes, the affiliation agreement outlines the transition of NYU-Poly from an affiliated school to a school within NYU.  Systematically, we have been working towards meeting the specific milestones and requirements (e.g., systems integration, alignment of policies, synergies between NYU and NYU-Poly, etc.) outlined in the affiliation agreement, and have been making steady progress.  Once these milestones have been achieved and the requirements have been fulfilled, the merger can be completed.  We are aiming for a full merger in the next few years. 

How is NYU-Poly moving towards the merger?  In other words, what steps are being/will be taken to complete the process?

At its core, the transition process we are undergoing to achieve the merger is about making improvements and enhancements that support the growth objectives outlined in NYU-Poly’s academic plan.  Thus the incremental efforts we are making on the road to full consolidation within NYU are ones from which we are already reaping benefits.  For example, we have improved the academic profile of our students, increased our research expenditures, implemented a robust faculty recruitment campaign, and begun systems integration with NYU in the areas of student services, finance, development, and human resources.  Further examples of significant changes that have already occurred include:

1. Students have access to all classes and minors at NYU’s College of Arts and Science, select classes in other NYU schools, and are able to minor in Music at the Steinhardt School, Game Design at the Tisch School, and Business Studies at Stern.  NYU students are also able to take NYU-Poly classes.
2. More joint NYU/NYU-Poly faculty research is taking place, fueled by NYU SEED funds.

What does the pending merger mean for current and prospective students of NYU-Poly?

In the near-term, NYU-Poly students can benefit from access to the NYU Coles and Palladium athletic facilities, participation in many NYU student events and lectures, and accessing both Bobst and Courant libraries and their extensive research resources.  NYU-Poly’s Student Affairs Division has launched a newsletter entitled “Intersections” to share significant news with members of the NYU-Poly community and to encourage student participation on the NYU Washington Square campus.  In addition, an “Intersections Cultural Series” has been launched which engages NYU-Poly students in events where NYU students are in attendance, including excursions to museums, theater outings and intellectual forums.

NYU-Poly students also may take advantage of other new opportunities to connect with NYU colleagues and enjoy expanded privileges, including:  exploring membership in NYU student clubs, fraternities and sororities; attending University and club programs open to the NYU community in the Kimmel Center; qualifying for entertainment event discounts through Ticket Central; performing with the NYU Chorale and Orchestra; and participating in the All New York University Commencement and Grad Alley, a major outdoor celebration held at NYU Washington Square honoring graduates; accessing the full services of the  NYU Health Center and the 24-hour NYU Wellness Exchange Hotline; and utilizing the services of the NYU Wasserman Center for Career Development.

There are longer-term benefits for students, too.  Building on the current strengths and infrastructure at NYU-Poly, as we move toward the merger we have projected specific things we need —an expansion of  world-class faculty, state-of-the-art laboratories and learning environments, expanded entrepreneurship opportunities for students and faculty — to make NYU-Poly a more visible and highly regarded science and engineering school.  As NYU-Poly moves into the NYU structure, the increased national and international visibility will further broaden career opportunities for our alumni.  (NOTE:  According to payscale.com’s 2011 engineering survey, NYU-Poly ranks 4th among engineering schools for starting and mid-career salaries.)

What can NYU-Poly staff expect as the Institute progresses towards a merger with NYU?

At NYU, many services are centralized, but some are distributed through the individual schools.  In general, NYU-Poly will follow the same model, although there will likely be some variance given our different location and other factors unique to NYU-Poly.  NYU does have a well-developed administrative infrastructure which will allow some functions to be centralized at NYU, while others will remain at NYU-Poly.   In many instances, we will tap into NYU resources via “satellite offices” providing services on our own campus.  

In general terms, how will the pending merger impact NYU-Poly faculty members?

Again given the intricacies and time involved in executing a successful merger, in the near-term, little impact is likely to be felt on the administrative side.  On the academic side, NYU-Poly faculty members will increasingly see ever more opportunities for forming collaborative research partnerships with NYU colleagues.  Also, consistent with the academic plan, we are actively recruiting 23 new faculty members over the next several years to increase our overall depth and breadth.   And both new and existing faculty members are receiving joint appointments with other divisions of NYU, such as the NYU Langone Medical Center, Courant Institute of Mathematical Sciences, Tisch School of the Arts at NYU and NYU Gallatin School of Individualized Study. 

Does NYU-Poly’s i2e Campus Transformation planning take the merger into consideration?

Yes. Recognizing that the upgrading NYU-Poly’s facilities—both academic and public spaces— is critical to carrying out our academic aspirations, which include recruiting high-achieving faculty and students, NYU has provided the financial backing for our $38 million capital plan.  The main components of the capital plan include:  NYU-Poly’s expansion into MetroTech Center to accommodate faculty offices, dry labs, small classrooms and administrative functions; renovations of Rogers Hall to create labs for new faculty recruits; and the potential redevelopment of the Jacobs Administration and Civil Engineering building sites--all in alignment with progressing toward the merger.  We will also partner with NYU in the building of a new collaborative health sciences building along Manhattan’s First Avenue Health Corridor.  NYU-Poly meets with NYU on a regular basis, on both the leadership and working team levels, to discuss campus transformation initiatives and planning.

Further, New York University announced its expansion plan in 2010 (NYU 2031: NYU in NYC). In addition to building facilities along its Health Corridor on Manhattan’s First Avenue, this 25-year plan proposes significant building in downtown Brooklyn, including the proposed new Center for Urban Science and Progress (CUSP).  NYU’s and NYU-Poly’s plans will be well coordinated, and ultimate designs will be made in concert to create facilities that respond to student and faculty needs.

How will the NYU-Poly community be kept informed of major developments in the progress towards finalizing the merger?

A number of existing channels will be used to share significant updates with members of the NYU-Poly community, including university leadership meetings, departmental meetings, town hall sessions, website posts, newsletters, and email blasts.  In this way, we will keep the entire community up-to-date, while creating forums to address questions specific to faculty, staff or students that may arise.  In addition an Advisory Committee likely will be convened for the first time in the fall of 2012 to develop concrete mechanisms for communicating to the larger community.