THE HALLMARKS OF AN FDU EDUCATION ARE PERSONAL SUPPORT AND CONCERN, GLOBAL PERSPECTIVES AND OPPORTUNITIES, AND TRANSFORMATIONAL EXPERIENCES.
HISTORY AND BACKGROUND
Founded in 1942 by Dr. Peter Sammartino and his wife, Sylvia (Sally), Fairleigh Dickinson University has grown into the largest private university in New Jersey. More than 11,000 students from 44 states and 79 other countries are enrolled on FDU’s two campuses in New Jersey and its campuses in Wroxton, England, and Vancouver, British Columbia, Canada.
Beginning as a two-year junior college in Rutherford, N.J., today the University offers nearly 100 degree programs at the associate, baccalaureate, master’s and doctoral levels. Fairleigh Dickinson University strongly emphasizes an international component to its curriculum and provides its students with a global and multicultural perspective. The University has consistently been an innovator, adapting to the changing educational demands of the students it serves.
Responding to the need for higher education in northern New Jersey, the college expanded to a four-year curricula in 1948. In 1954, the first graduate program — a master’s degree in business administration — was offered, and Bergen Junior College in Teaneck , N.J., was purchased as a second campus. In 1956, Fairleigh Dickinson attained university status. One year later, the beautiful 178-acre Vanderbilt-Twombly estate in Florham Park and Madison, N.J., was acquired to serve as another campus.
FDU became the first American university to own a campus in England when it acquired Wroxton College from Trinity College, Oxford niversity. Opened in 1965, Wroxton College offers American students an array of graduate and undergraduate courses as well as an enriching cultural experience. Formerly a 13th-century abbey, Wroxton College is now a beautifully restored and modernized Jacobean mansion.
Recognizing that the student profile on most U.S. campuses is changing dramatically, the University’s Petrocelli Center for Continuing Studies (formerly New College of General and Continuing Studies) was formed in 1998 to provide a unified approach to an enhanced focus on the adult learner and to continue to position FDU as a leader in providing learning opportunities in a strong academic foundation for students of all ages.
Over the years, Fairleigh Dickinson University has maintained its commitment to broadening global horizons and fostering greater international understanding. In 2000, the Board of Trustees adopted the following mission for FDU: “Fairleigh Dickinson University is a center of academic excellence dedicated to the preparation of world citizens through global education. The University strives to provide students with the multidisciplinary, intercultural and ethical understandings necessary to participate, lead and prosper in the global marketplace of ideas, commerce and culture.”
In addition to Wroxton College, the University opened its second international campus in Vancouver, British Columbia, Canada, in fall 2007. Each of the University campuses has developed a unique character and vitality. The Metropolitan Campus, located in Teaneck and Hackensack, features a university atmosphere with an international perspective attracting nearly equal numbers of graduate and undergraduate students from throughout the United States and around the world. Fairleigh Dickinson’s Florham Campus in suburban Madison and Florham Park offers a classical undergraduate and graduate experience for the contemporary world in a small-college setting.
The Silberman College of Business is accredited by the prestigious AACSB International – The Association to Advance Collegiate Schools of Business and has been named among the nation’s best by The Princeton Review. Many other programs are also highly ranked. And FDU has been repeatedly recognized as a “Military Friendly® School” by G.I. Jobs magazine.
Fairleigh Dickinson University has enjoyed special partnerships with prominent institutions around the globe. For example, the University has been associated with the United Nations since it was founded in 1945 and has earned special designations with the world body that provide unique learning opportunities for students. With the depth and breadth of its faculty and programs, Fairleigh Dickinson University has positioned itself as a quality, comprehensive private university serving the citizens of New Jersey and beyond.
TODAY AND TOMORROW
In 2023, Michael J. Avaltroni became the first alumnus of FDU to become the president of the institution. Under his leadership, FDU is embarking on a new chapter and a renewed commitment to “Students First!” FDU is more determined than ever to meet students where they are, define its priorities around students’ changing needs and provide them a place where they belong and where they can forge an identity and make a powerful impact. As Avaltroni said during his inaugural address, “As an institution we have defined our North Star. The path forward means focusing people and resources on programs and priorities that best serve and support students.”
Among recent developments and highlights:
FDU created a new strategic plan titled FDU Will Soar. The six major strategic goals include: Recruit students, Retain current students, Graduate students, Partner with institutions that can enhance offerings, encourage more to Give to our programs and students and better Position and communicate FDU’s special traits and accomplishments.
In the 2024 U.S. News & World Report’s collegiate rankings, FDU resumed its place in the top 50 regional universities in the north, but even more importantly, the University was ranked number 14 in Best Value Schools and number 13 in Top Performers on Social Mobility. In addition, the University did very well in a new category created by the organization, ranking number 17 in “Undergraduate Teaching Programs.” “We have long prided ourselves on the value we offer and the opportunities we provide our students to move upwards, so to see those hallmarks recognized in these rankings are especially gratifying,” said President Avaltroni.
In fall 2023, FDU announced the establishment of FDU Health, a comprehensive and innovative new division that combines new initiatives along with existing programs from multiple colleges and schools within the University. This hub for interdisciplinary health care education and training will open doors of opportunity for students and address the growing needs of the health care sector. For decades, FDU has been at the forefront of health education, research and service with bachelor’s, master’s and doctoral degree programs. FDU Health builds on this legacy, providing integrated, world-class training for students pursuing opportunities in the growing health care field.
Building on the creation of FDU Health, a number of exciting developments are underway.
FDU, for example, created the Transforming College Campuses (TCC) program, spearheaded by the School of Psychology and Counseling in collaboration with the Office of Student Affairs. Funded through a generous donation, the TCC program will support the mental-health needs of FDU’s undergraduate students and foster opportunities for undergraduates and graduate students to pursue careers in mental health related fields. The project embeds graduate students with first- year students taking a mandatory course, A Transition to University Life. The students remain paired with the graduate students for their first two years at the University to foster support and mentorship. The TCC program also provides physical spaces on the campuses where students can go for support and resources.
FDU also recently became the first private college in New Jersey to join the Moon Shot for Equity, a national network of colleges and universities committed to eliminating equity gaps in higher education.
Each participating school has committed to implementing more than a dozen research-based best practices proven to remove systemic barriers to student success. These commitments range from updating academic policies, to working together to establish common academic pathways, to providing equity-mindedness training to university leaders. FDU has a rich history and strong legacy of providing access and opportunity for students to transform their lives and this is yet another milestone in our institutional development.
FDU has also recently enhanced its commitment and support for Hispanic students through the Hispanic Center, which includes programs for English speakers with Latino roots and for emergent bilingual students, as well as programs for traditional college-aged students and adult learners. The University has been recognized as a Fulbright Hispanic Serving Institution Leader and in 2022 was honored by Excelencia in Education as a national collegiate example of excellence for the advancement of Latino students in the classroom and in the workplace.
In 2023, FDU announced a new fundraising campaign, “Students First,” which will be dedicated entirely to supporting students throughout their academic journeys. Funding will support scholarships and fellowships to ensure that FDU students can pursue and complete their education. FDU has taken great strides in recent years to make an FDU education affordable, including a major tuition reduction in 2021, and this campaign will further help provide the resources students need to overcome hurdles and open doors.
President Avaltroni believes the University’s best days lie ahead. “Through devoted service to our students, FDU can continue to forge an impactful presence in higher education so our graduates will continue to transform their lives and the world around them.”
