Polytechnic University of New York
Encyclopedia : P : PO : POL : Polytechnic University of New York
-->Polytechnic University (Brooklyn Poly, Poly, or Polytech), located in the Borough of Brooklyn in New York City, is the United States' second oldest private technology university, founded in 1854.
About Polytechnic University
A private, co-educational institution, Polytechnic has a distinguished history in electrical engineering, polymer chemistry, aerospace and microwave engineering. Currently, it is a leader in telecommunications, information science and technology management. The University is also known for its outstanding research centers as well as its outreach programs to encourage math and science education in New York elementary and high schools. In addition to its main campus at MetroTech Center in Brooklyn, Polytechnic offers programs at sites throughout the region, including Long Island, Manhattan and Westchester. Additionally, the University offers several programs in Israel.
Polytechnic played a leadership role in bringing about MetroTech Center, one of the largest urban university-corporate parks in the world and the largest in the United States. Today, the 16 acre (65,000 m²), $1 billion complex is home to the University and several technology-dependent companies, including KeySpan Energy, Empire Blue Cross/Blue Shield, Bear Stearns and Company, Securities Industries Automation Corporation, New York City Police Department's 911 Center, New York City Fire Department Headquarters and the U.S. technology and operations functions of JPMorgan Chase. In 1998, a Marriott Hotel was built adjacent to MetroTech. MetroTech has proven to be a case study in university, corporate, government and private-developer cooperation, and has resulted in renewing an area that once had been a site of urban decay.
The Bern Dibner Library of Science and Technology, opened in 1990 in a new building, is Polytechnic's information hub, accessible online from anywhere, on or off campus, 24 hours a day, seven days a week. In addition, wireless networks allow users with notebook computers to access the library's electronic services from anywhere on campus.
Key facts
According to the [school], in 2003, Polytechnic awarded 733 degrees:
- Bachelor of Science...........................291
- Master of Science.............................418
- Doctor of Philosophy..........................24
In 2003, 73 % of Polytechnic freshmen had an average grade of B or better. More than 90 % of Polytechnic's undergraduate students receive financial aid. Over 25 % of students gain valuable job experience through co-op programs and internships. The student body represents many diverse backgrounds. Of Polytechnic's undergraduate students, 10 % are African-American, 8 % are Hispanic, 39 % are Asian, 18 % are women and 8 % are international students. Of the University's graduate students, 4.5 % are African-American, 1.5 % are Hispanic, 14.4 % are Asian, 22 % are women and 24.9 % are international students. International students come from more than 50 foreign countries.
History
A group of distinguished Brooklyn businessmen draw up a charter on May 17, 1853, to establish a school for young men. In 1854, the Brooklyn Collegiate and Polytechnic Institute was chartered and moved into its first home at 99 Livingston Street. In 1855, the school opened its doors September 10 to 265 young men ages nine to 17.
The official timeline for the Institute is maintained on [Poly at a Glance: the Poly Timeline].
Notable alumni
Polytechnic's 37,000 alumni include business leaders, entrepreneurs and two Nobel Prize winners. Top executives from AT&T, Pfizer, Bechtel, Consolidated Edison, General Electric, IBM, Ingersoll-Rand, Jacobs Engineering, KeySpan Energy, MetLife, Parsons Brinckerhoff, Qwest, Raytheon, Stanley Works, Symbol Technologies, UNISYS, Verizon Communications and Xerox are proud of their roots at Polytechnic. Academic leaders, deans and university presidents started their careers at Polytechnic. Recent presidents of major professional societies, including the American Chemical Society and the IEEE, are alumni.
The Polytechnic Alumni, established in 1863, promotes and maintains the welfare of Polytechnic and provides fellowship and mutually beneficial activities among Poly graduates. Officers and an international board of directors govern the polytechnic alumni. Alumni sections offer events around the country and internationally.
- Edward Everett Horton '08 - notable Character Actor, appeared in The Front Page, Top Hat, Here Comes Mr. Jordan & Pocketful of Miracles
- Jasper Kane '28 - Pfizer scientist and creator of the deep tank fermentation method for mass-production of Penicillin in 1941 for the U.S. war effort.
- Joseph Owades '44, '50 - Brewing pioneer, inventor of Lite beer.
- Martin L. Perl '48 H'96 - awarded 1995 Nobel Prize in physics.
- Arthur Martinez '60 - Former CEO, Sears.
- Jay Greene '64 - NASA engineer, former Chief Engineer of Johnson Space Center.
- Hermann Viets '65, '66, '70 - President, Milwaukee School of Engineering.
- John Trani '65 - former CEO, Stanley Works.
- Charles Camarda '74 - NASA scientist and mission specialist on the Return to Flight voyage of the shuttle Discovery. Camarda earned his bachelor’s degree in aerospace engineering from Polytechnic in 1974.
- Gertrude B. Elion H'89 - former doctoral student at Polytechnic, awarded 1988 Nobel Prize in medicine.
- Eugene Kleiner '48 H'89 - Polytechnic Advisory Trustee, among eight scientists honored by the U.S. Postal Service with a commemorative stamp for developing and manufacturing revolutionary computer chips.
Notable faculty
- Rudolph Marcus - Former Polytechnic Professor awarded Nobel Prize in chemistry
- Herman F. Mark - founder of the Polymer Research Institute
- Donald F. Othmer - Co-Author, Kirk-Othmer Encyclopedia of Chemical Technology
- Eli Pearce - President, American Chemical Society
- Murray Rothbard - Former economics professor, key figure in libertarian movement
- Ernst Weber - founder of the Microwave Resarch Institute
- Maurice Karnaugh - A brilliant inventor of Karnaugh Maps, or K-Maps, while at Bell Labs. He was a professor at the Westchester campus from 1980-1999 and is now retired.
- David and Gregory Chudnovsky - famous mathematicians who held record for number of digits of PI in 1989, now run the Institute for Mathematics and Advanced Supercomputing (IMAS) at Polytechnic
External links
- [Polytechnic University]
- [History of Polytechnic University]
- [Founding of "Brooklyn Poly"]
- [Polytechnic Alumni]
- [ePoly: Poly Online Learning Initiative]
- [Othmer Institute for Interdisplinary Studies]
- [PolyTalk unnoficial message board]
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