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Fairleigh Dickinson University is a private university founded in 1942. It is the largest private university in New Jersey. The institution has two campuses: the College at Florham in Madison and Florham Park, New Jersey which is centered around the former estate of Florence Vanderbilt and Hamilton Twombly, and the Metropolitan Campus located close to New York City in Teaneck & Hackensack, New Jersey. It also owns a non-U.S. campus in Wroxton, England called the Wroxton College in Wroxton Abbey. It is the first university in the United States to own a non-U.S. campus. The university has also won approval for opening a campus in Vancouver, British Columbia in 2007.
While both New Jersey campuses have a variety of courses and programs, the College at Florham emphasizes traditional liberal arts offerings, while the Metropolitan Campus is gradually placing more and more emphasis on professionally oriented study. Fairleigh Dickinson is home to the QUEST program, where students can study any major and combine their bachelor's degree with a masters in education. The University has had long-standing connections with the United Nations; as a result, qualified students have opportunities for internships with the UN and its associated agencies.
In intercollegiate athletics, the Metropolitan Campus competes in NCAA Division I, while the College at Florham competes in Division III. The teams at the Metropolitan Campus are known as the Knights, while the Madison teams are known as the Devils.
In total, there are about 6,500 undergraduate and 3,500 graduate students of which many are international students from over 60 countries; the majority of international students attend the Metropolitan Campus. Many students are commuters.
History
Fairleigh Dickinson University was founded in 1942 in Rutherford, New Jersey as a two-year college. It was named for its benefactor Fairleigh S. Dickinson, a co-founder of Becton Dickinson. By 1948 Fairleigh Dickinson College expanded its curriculum to offer a four-year program. In that same year, the school received accreditation from the Middle States Association of Colleges and Schools. In 1956, as determined by the State of New Jersey Board of Education, the institution was recognized as Fairleigh Dickinson University.
Notable alumni
- Richard Codey, Former Governor and Current State Senate President of New Jersey
- Peggy Noonan, Columnist, Author and Former Speechwriter for Ronald Reagan
- Gregory Olsen, American entrepreneur and astronaut
- John Spencer, late actor known for his role on The West Wing (did not graduate)
- Dennis F. Strigl, President and CEO of Verizon Wireless
External links
Middle States Association of Colleges and Schools | Sea-grant universities | Universities and colleges in New Jersey
"Fairleigh Dickinson University"