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Honors College NewsletterFall 2001Recruitment Committeeby Jonathon SalazarHonors College in Perspectiveby Lisa M. Kardos and Uma R. PhatakThe RecruitmentCommittee, under guidance ofthe Albert Dorman Honors Collegeat NJIT, serves several purposesfor both the NJIT community andprospective students. In fact,this committee serves anothercrucial role, for both AlbertDorman Honors College (ADHC)and for the school as a whole.This committee engages invarious activities that attracttalented and intellectual studentsto NJIT. This semester thecommittee is being led by one ofNJIT’s finest, John Pershouse.So far, John and thecommittee have plannednumerous activities that will takeplace in the coming months.Currently, they are engaged inmailing prospective studentsinformation regarding the ADHC.They are not only contactingprospective students throughmail, but also calling themweekdays after 4PM andanswering any possible questionsthey may have regarding theADHC. Furthermore, theRecruitment Committee plans totalk to individuals personally bymaking appointments, holdingcampus tours, and attendingopen houses at NJIT. Thepurpose of these encounters isto familiarize prospective studentswith the school, the people, andthe way of life here at ADHC andNJIT.The Albert Dorman Honors College, like many other colleges in NJIT,is undergoing numerous changes. These changes and transitions pertainto a variety of areas including enrollment, requirements, and events.This semester, 110 freshmen entered the Honors College. Therewere additionally 40 non-freshmen who entered, including both NJIT andtransfer students. In fact, according to Dr. David Reibstein, AssociateDean of the Honors College, “Statistically this is the best group that isentering the college. The average SAT in the group is 1316. Many wereleaders in high school, so we look forward to them being campus leaders.”In addition to their test scores and leadership abilities, they are all quitefocused on school, for two-thirds of the freshmen were in the top tenpercent of their high school class. Most interesting to Dr. Reibstein is thepercentage of females in the freshman class. Thirty percent of the classis female, a percentage higher than the overall enrollment of NJIT.Once admitted the Honors College, one cannot simply just stopworking. In fact, one must work even harder to maintain status and severalrequirements must be followed. To help outline these requirements, Dr.Reibstein wrote a handbook this year, to aid having rules in one place forstudents to find them. Also, the Honors College website, honors.njit.edu,is constantly being updated to make it informative for both prospectivestudents and current students. “Previously,” Dr. Reibstein explains, “thewebsite was looked at by prospective students mostly. Now, though, itwill be used for current students much more, especially to show themavailable opportunities for employment, study abroad, and various otherevents.” This form of communication, in addition to email, will help keepthe students in touch with the administrators. In fact, students are requiredto check their NJIT email address or at least have their NJIT mail forwardedto the account they use. Dr. Reibstein states that, “These students canhave so many research, colloquia, and study abroad opportunities,especially if they checked their email. It’s almost impossible to keep intouch with 500 students simultaneously, but the technology of email canallow us that opportunity.”On a final note, the staff always encourages students to stay incontact with them. Among those on staff are Dr. Joel Bloom, Dean ofADHC, Dr. David Reibstein, Associate Dean, Dr. Dennis Donahue, Directorof Academics, Ms. Lois Chipepo, Assistant to the Dean, and Ms. HarietteMassey, the Honors Secretary. The Albert Dorman Honors College alsowelcomes new Assistant Dean of Enrollment, Maria Kihiczak.Two

Honors College NewsletterFall 2001The Fall 2001 Colloquium Seriesby Sriram P. SivaprasaduThe Colloquium Series arranged by the Albert DormanHonors College every semester is a remarkable opportunityfor all NJIT students, as well as honors students to broadentheir perspectives and be acquainted with the latest trendsin our world. It offers an opportunity to learn about morethan the one narrow discipline that most students in otheruniversities are exposed to in their collegiate careers. Everyone of the speakers is an authority in their respective field.These colloquia are truly a gift to the University by theHonors College, and make one more than a just student,they make one a knowledgeable citizen of this global village.This semester’s colloquia include discussions on suchbroad-ranging topics as: Entrepreneurism, IntellectualProperty and Law for Engineers, Women Senior Executives,Stem Cell Research, New Directions in Technology, and atour of the Ballantine House in the Newark Museum. Inaddition, NJIT and Honors College-Specific Events are theAnnual ADHC Advisory Board Round Table, the College ofComputing Sciences’ presentation on its latest Programs,and the Annual Honors Feedback Session.Many honors students have already taken advantageof the Colloquium offerings this semester, and have beenexposed to many enlightening and provocative issues. Most,if not all, of the Colloquium Venues have been filled to seatingcapacity, and at times have been standing room only. Manymore such events are lined up in the coming weeks.On Monday, November 12 th , Professor Julian Scherand others from the Newly formed College of ComputingServices will speak on the New Programs in the College ofComputing Sciences. This is a must attend event to beaware of the range of options available to you as an NJITStudent.Two Important Honors College Events are the AnnualADHC Advisory Board Round Table, on Friday, November 2,from 8:30-10 AM, in GITC and the Annual Honors FeedbackSession on Wednesday, Nov. 14, from 2:30 - 4:00 PM, inHazell Ballroom A. This is an opportunity to interact withthe Honors College Administration, to find out the latestpolicies, and give feedback.On Monday, November 5 th , there will be an excitingtalk on New Directions in Technology by Mr. Kevin Carswell,VP Worldwide Development Transformation, IBM,organized by Jasraj Kohli.The highlight of the Colloquium Scheduleeach Semester is December 5 th ’s Tour of theBallantine House in the Newark Museum. For thisyou must sign up in the ADHC office by November15 th .The Colloquium Series is designed to puton exhibit the most diversified and broad-rangingsubjects in order to expand the viewpoints ofall those participating in the Events. Theaudiences as well as the speakers gain throughtheir interaction during and after the events.The Colloquium Series is the showcase of NJIT’sEvent Calendar.Honors Lounge Committeeby Vivek GangiredlaThe Honors Lounge Committee, as is evidentfrom its name, is responsible for the maintenanceof the Honors lounge, which is the recreationalfacility of the Kennedy Honors center.The committee is also concerned with ensuringthat the students comply with the rules relatingto the use of the lounge, attaching the utmostimportance to the preservation of thelounge equipment. The committee, which ischaired by Luke Helsel, is also always trying toimprove the Honors Lounge, and to this extent,work extensively with the administration of theHonors College and is continually suggesting enhancements.For example, it was influential in the installationof the new satellite television system last semester,and is currently working with the Computercommittee to replace the existing computersin the lounge with better models. Thecommittee also managed the quick repair of thelounge heating system last semester. Overall,the committee does its best to ensure thesmooth functioning of the Honors Lounge.Five

Honors College NewsletterFall 20012001 Honors Freshman Retreatby Christopher J. HodacThe Honors Freshman Retreat was a success this year,with nearly all of the new members of the Honors College inattendance. Held at a campground near Stickles Pond in Newton,New Jersey, the retreat allowed the newly inducted students achance to get to know each other, away from the hustle andbustle of the city. The weekend started on Friday, August 24,2001 at NJIT, where registration and assigning of teams tookplace. Events for that night included a party in the CypressHall game room and a bus trip to a nearby movie theater.Saturday morning marked the departure for thecampground, and upon arrival, the retreat began immediately.Events at the campground included multiple teamwork exercises,as well as relay races against other teams. Leading the teamsof freshman were upper-class students of the Honors College,who were there to answer any questions the new students hadabout college life. These upper-class students were also thereto help the new students make the transition more comfortablyinto their new environment. After the busy and tiring day ofactivities, the freshmen used free time in many ways. Somedecided to play volleyball or basketball at the campground’scourts, while others decided to sleep or listen to music. However,the most favored of all of the activities was a large slide aptlynamed “the mud slide.” This slide consisted of a large sheet ofheavy plastic tacked down to a large hill, while one person keptthe slide wet with a hose.Saturday evening, the freshmen had their first officialmeeting in which they were addressed by the Director ofAcademics, Dr. Donahue, and the newest member of the HonorsCollege administration, Dr. Reibstein, the Associate Dean. Thismeeting consisted of welcoming the students to the HonorsCollege and to NJIT, as well as to inform the students of theirobligations as Honors Students. After this meeting, the studentshad another period of free time, which they used to walk aroundthe camp, or to watch a movie.Sunday marked the end of weekend retreat. After themorning meal, those students running for the freshman classrepresentative position of the Albert Dorman Honors CollegeCouncil were nominated. Concluding the day’s events, studentsprepared for the trip home. The retreat ultimately enabled theincoming students to meet each other, and to start buildingfriendships before school started, and through this retreat, themembers of the freshman class learned much about each other,as well as themselves.The Albert Dorman Honors CollegeNewsletter CommitteeChair/Editor-in-Chief: Lisa M. KardosLayout Editor: Usama ElmalakWriting Staff:Sreelatha AkkapeddiVivek GangiredlaChristopher J. HodacDaniel PerezUma R. PhatakJeremy PonJonathon SalazarSriram P. SivaprasaduLayout Team:Oluwasanmi KoyejoSeth LevySpecial thanks to Roman Onik and Scott Saito forhelp with editingTo contact the newsletter committee, please emailLisa M. Kardos at lmk2@njit.eduSix