NJIT students will encounter a course of study that is under continual scrutiny in order to ensure it meets current professional standards, provides a general education to produce the most highly qualified leaders and is delivered by enthusiastic instructors using innovative and effective methods. Digital learning will be an integral part of every student’s experience, with instructors engaging students through “converged” pedagogies where the boundaries between online and face-to-face instruction fade. Students will be given more opportunities to learn at their own pace and to explore their own path to achieve their learning goals. Academic programs and other learning opportunities will foster in the students a professional attitude, broaden their cultural experiences and increase their understanding of civic responsibilities.
OBJECTIVES
CURRICULAR ASSESSMENT—To assess student learning and use the results for course and program improvement, leading to increased rates of retention and graduation.
Evaluate the Curriculum
- Continuously assess the curriculum. This will help assure its currency and determine the achievement of learning outcomes.
- Use assessment to guide ongoing curricular reform. This will identify areas for potential innovation.
Raise the Prominence of Academic Assessment
- Establish yearly program self-assessments and cyclical program reviews. This will create a culture of assessment.
- Highlight the importance of curricular assessment and its impact on learning. This will increase the effectiveness and quality of NJIT programs.
CURRICULAR REFORM—To ensure degree programs meet the needs of students and the employment market.
Improve Undergraduate Education
- Update the General University Requirements (GUR). This will provide students with the general skills and technological literacy needed for professional success and active citizenship.
- Modify credit requirements and semester load. This will facilitate retention, increase graduation rates and reduce the cost of attending NJIT.
- Implement a 4 X 4 curriculum in which students take four courses at four credits across four years of undergraduate study. This will further improve retention and graduation rates, as well as reduce degree costs.
- Train students in the competencies of current digital technology related to their majors and integrate this into the GUR. This will provide graduates with technological knowledge and skills required by the marketplace.
- Establish learning outcomes for all academic degrees and for the GUR. This will align all curricula, advance student learning and improve teaching.
Innovate Graduate Education
- Create professional master of science degree programs devised in collaboration with industry partners. This will provide students with expertise in their engineering or science discipline, as well as competence in management, ethics, policy, communication skills and leadership.
- Create applied master’s programs, particularly online. This will make NJIT competitive locally and nationally by graduating students who can immediately meet the needs of specialized industries.
- Enhance doctoral student financial support. This will make NJIT more competitive and improve graduate student recruitment, enrollment and retention.
- Introduce a doctoral program in the School of Management. This will elevate the visibility and stature of the school in industry and academia.
Update the Curriculum Continuously
- Incorporate feedback from professional organizations and accrediting agencies. This will ensure that the curriculum meets national standards.
- Incorporate feedback from industry advisory boards and employers. This will ensure that the curriculum produces graduates with appropriate skills.
CONVERGENCE THROUGH DIGITAL TECHNOLOGY—To embrace digital technology as the transformative learning strategy for the delivery of instruction, giving students control over time, place, path and pace of education.
Create an Instructional Culture of Digital Technology
- Converge face-to-face and online modes of course delivery by use of advanced instructional technologies. This will lessen the boundaries between the physical and virtual classrooms.
- Increase the use of digital technology in the classroom. This will enhance the teaching and learning environment.
- Deploy adaptive learning systems to provide at-risk students personalized digitally-based instruction. This will offer students necessary learning support especially in the lower-level GUR courses in mathematics, the sciences and writing.
Assure Academic Rigor
- Achieve uniformity of academic standards, regardless of course delivery mode. This will ensure consistent excellence across the curriculum.
- Create a digital repository for learning artifacts. This will facilitate sharing of best instructional practices among faculty, contribute to digital literacy among students and support the assessment of courses and degree programs.
MILESTONE EXPERIENCES—To give every student in good-standing unique, credit-bearing learning opportunities outside of the classroom.
Integrate Milestone Experiences into Undergraduate Programs
- Expand the Undergraduate Research and Innovation program. This will promote collaboration and connect knowledge acquired in the classroom to applied research problems.
- Increase the number of curricular-based co-ops and internships. This will enhance student opportunities for industry experience.
- Develop a robust study abroad program to expand international experiences. This will allow undergraduate students to study, live and work in new cultural environments and develop an understanding of their place in global society.
- Integrate service-learning projects in the Newark community, and beyond, into the curriculum. This will involve undergraduate students in meaningful civic engagement.
Develop Milestone Experiences for Graduate Programs
- Foster research, industrial, service and international learning experiences. This will enhance advanced study.
- Expand research and service, including civic engagement opportunities for graduate students. This will advance the presence of the university locally, nationally and internationally.
Support Personal Milestone Experiences
- Provide a framework allowing students to pursue personal milestone experiences, such as music and the arts. This will contribute to students’ personal and academic development.
- Coordinate additional joint milestone initiatives between NJIT and Rutgers-Newark. This will expand opportunities for students’ personal enrichment on both campuses.
PROFESSIONAL SUCCESS—To provide the knowledge, skills and experience necessary for students to attain success and leadership positions as professionals and citizens.
Promote Paths to Professional Success
- Prepare students to attain their first-choice destination upon degree completion. This will assist them in gaining professional employment or graduate education.
- Provide professional development workshops. This will better prepare students for success after graduation.
Promote Engagement with Intended Professions
- Promote and support student engagement with professional societies on campus. This will expose students to professional practice and encourage their participation in these societies upon degree completion.
- Prepare students to obtain professional licensing or registration, as applicable. This will equip them for professional careers.
Assess Student Professional Success
- Track alumni to periodically assess their success and satisfaction in their professional careers. This will contribute to improvements in the curriculum.
- Effectively survey alumni to determine their satisfaction with their experience at NJIT. This will provide information needed to improve university programs and enhance student satisfaction.
The Provost is responsible for overseeing the implementation of the strategies and tactics under Strategic Priority Two. Success will be measured by the following Key Performance Indicators:
