Process Still Needs State Approval
By Mary Frost
Brooklyn Daily Eagle
DOWNTOWN BROOKLYN -- At 11:30 a.m. Thursday, the Board of Trustees at Polytechnic University voted by a “supermajority” – in excess of 75 percent — to approve a historic merger with New York University.
“It’s a wonderful day!” said a jubilant Craig G. Matthews, chairman of the board of Polytechnic, located at MetroTech Center in Downtown Brooklyn. Matthews said that a formal application to the state Department of Education would be made in the next few days, after which the application would go to the New York State Board of Regents for final approval. The entire process could be finalized as early as sometime in May, after which the integration of the two universities could begin, Matthews said.
In January, Jerry Hultin, president of Polytechnic University, had stressed that a merger with NYU was critical, “... because it provides us a platform upon which we have a much better chance of making Poly self-sustaining, with a national and eventually a global presence.”
Last week, NYU trustees unanimously approved the merger.
Last month, the 35 members of the Board of Trustees at Polytechnic suspended the official vote for 30 days to allow for a state investigation into allegations of a conflict of interest by board members at Polytechnic.
“Senator Kenneth Lavelle, chair of the Senate Higher Education Committee, sent a list of questions,” said Matthews. “We sent answers to him last Friday. He has not voiced any objections to the vote. We’re working with him to reach closure on these issues and expect no problem,” Matthews said.
Merger discussions had been begun – but broken off – three years ago. At that time, Polytechnic faculty members voted against the merger, worried that there were not enough benefits for Poly in the agreement as worked out at that time.
NYU is roughly 10 times larger than Polytechnic, so the joining of the two entities cannot be considered a merger of equals.
The integration of the two universities would be a “step process,” Matthews said. An integration plan has been worked out, but many details have not yet been finalized. “We’re working on a new, interdisciplinary program, but there are still a lot of questions,” he said. There are also questions about such areas as the establishment of sports divisions.
The merger will bring a great expansion of opportunities to Poly’s students and faculty, he said. “We’re in the process of developing a new curriculum – in bioengineering, for example,” he told the Brooklyn Eagle. He noted NYU’s prestigious medical and dental school. “In terms of research grants – you’ll see more of that.
“Now students can take a course at any one of their 12 schools,” he said. “There are programs being designed as we speak.” He said that next year’s freshman application pool is up 20 percent.
Faculty in Favor of the Merger
Matthews said that the faculty was solidly in favor of the move. “I met with 19 department heads and distinguished professors. The vast majority were incredibly enthusiastic. The merger offers them the opportunity to co-mingle with their colleagues both in direct science and engineering applications. They can go after new research grants, in the biomedical area, for example.”
In return, NYU would gain an engineering school, Matthews said. “To be a totally comprehensive university, they must have an engineering school.”
There are certain issues that Matthews said he could not yet address, which are covered in the “Definitive Agreement.” One of these is the issue of what Polytechnic’s final name will become. Some alumni had expressed concern that the Polytechnic name would be lost in the merger. “That issue has been addressed,” Matthews said, but the final name itself is confidential at this point.
Another issue covered in the Definitive Agreement is the issue of Poly’s substantial air rights, in light of NYU’s much-publicized need for real estate. “The Definitive Agreement clearly addresses this issue,” Matthews said. “The air rights are protected.” He said that further details were confidential.
Dianne Ramkishun, president of the Student Council at Polytechnic, said, “The students are pretty excited about this. They are looking forward to experiencing the benefits of the merger. They’ll be able to take courses at NYU and work with the faculty over there. The name NYU is pretty important. There will be more availability of resources, and students will be able to have more of a college experience.
“There were concerns at first, but the administration showed us that there’s no reason to be worried,” she said.
© Brooklyn Daily Eagle 2008
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