Funded by the New Jersey Commission on Higher Education

 

                             Mission

Information technology is one of NJIT’s highest strategic priorities. NJIT is widely recognized for the excellence of its academic programs and its research in the IT field. A current $50 million commitment to the development of its IT infrastructure is bringing it to an even higher level. NJ I-TOWER will further enhance the quality and prominence of the institution in the IT field by  directing its resources toward graduate and undergraduate research and programmatic enhancements.

NJ I-TOWER unites the strengths of NJIT's Computer and Information Science (CIS) and Electrical and Computer Engineering (ECE) departments in the following related ways:

  • by connecting New Jersey industry and NJIT’s Enterprise Development Centers (EDC) with graduate and undergraduate classroom activity;

  • by disseminating IT research and development through seminars, workshops, an international conference, and the Internet to a global audience;

  • by providing an honors quality experience to all students in CS, IS, IT and ECE undergraduate programs; and,

  • by enhancing an already robust, nationally recognized distance education program in IT.

Increased student collaboration with high-tech industry will strengthen NJIT’s existing Undergraduate Research Experience (URE) and will provide new research opportunities for graduate students. Through industry-based projects, this collaboration will strengthen the IT education of all students. NJ I-TOWER will also provide access for students to NJIT’s EDC’s three incubators currently serving over 40 New Jersey start-up companies. The creation of honors courses throughout the four years of CIS and ECE programs will engage students in rigorous academic experiences in information technology by matching the level of intensity now found in NJIT’s Albert Dorman Honors College, thus raising the academic quality of all IT undergraduate programs. Since 1975, NJIT researchers have been designing computer mediated communication systems to support group decision-making and educational delivery. Today NJIT is a recognized leader in distance education, providing complete programs to over 2,000 students per semester throughout the state, nation and the world. The project will bring classroom educational innovations in place at NJIT together with distance education advancements to students in New Jersey and beyond.

The NJ I-TOWER project will deliver a comprehensive, integrated and superior complement of initiatives that unite disciplines, modes and levels of education with New Jersey’s high-tech industry. NJIT’s CIS, ECE and IT academic programs are closely aligned with the rapid developments in information technology now driving New Jersey's and the nation’s economy. The institution’s ability to maintain and enhance the high quality of its educational programs in IT will be greatly facilitated with initiatives and resources directed to instruction and research improvement. NJ I-TOWER will help make NJIT a destination of choice for students interested in information technology.