NYU-Polytechnic tie-up appears likely

Samantha Marshall

August 08. 2007 3:50PM

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Improvements orchestrated by Polytechnic University’s new president make it likely that the Brooklyn-based school will be able to strike an acceptable arrangement to merge with New York University.

President Jerry Hultin announced Tuesday on the school’s Web site that the two institutions had resumed talks which broke down three years ago when faculty members balked at terms which failed to provide them with the job security they sought.

The two sides have agreed in principle to preserve tenure for Polytechnic faculty who already have in, or are in the process of getting it, says Mr. Hultin. It’s also likely that the institute will get to keep its name, preserve its endowment and continue to use the Brooklyn campus as its main base of operations. Future hires will most likely be part of the NYU process, however, he adds.

Administrators at Polytechnic, one of the oldest engineering schools in the country, said that they are “highly confident” that an agreement will be reached, with a vote on a merger agreement expected this fall. Mr. Hultin, a xxxxer U.S. Navy undersecretary, who was hired after the merger talks collapsed, increased enrollment, balanced the budget and outlined a mission for the school.

“The real driver here is that this (merger) accelerates our strategic plan of being a major player of economic development, entrepreneurship and using technology in society,” says Mr. Hultin.

NYU has been lacking in engineering, applied sciences and technology since The College of Engineering and Science was disbanded more than 30 years and its engineering faculty and students merged with the Polytechnic Institute of Brooklyn.

"As an academic idea (Polytechnic Unviersity) is stronger and the leadership there is quite visionary," says NYU president John Sexton. "But it's a vision that needs support from a research university."

Polytechnic students and faculty, meanwhile, would be able to collaborate with NYU’s health care faculty on biomedical science and engineering.

NYU has also been looking across to Brooklyn to spread the tentacles of its ever growing physical campus. “Wouldn’t this location in Brooklyn – so vibrant and near our own location in Manhattan – be a wonderful neighborhood of which to be a part in future,” said Mr. Sexton.