On Campus - Thursday, May 14, 2009 9:43 - 1 Comment
Abu Dhabi Tries to Copy NYC Numbered Streets, Fails
If you make your way over to Google Maps, this is the wonderful visual you will encounter upon searching for the site of NYU Abu Dhabi. If this seems at all complicated, then you’re not getting the pattern. Just keep looking… There’s a pattern there, I promise…
What am I saying? It’s absurd nonsense. Hopefully they work this out before any American students make it over. I can hardly differentiate Spring and Prince Street—how in the world am I supposed to figure this out?!
On Campus - Thursday, April 30, 2009 11:24 - 10 Comments
NYU Abu Dhabi: Financial Aid Significantly Greater Than First Estimated
NYU Abu Dhabi may be able to attract top students from around the globe by offering an unprecedented amount of financial aid to its admitted students.
In my previous post about NYUAD’s financials, I wrote that the cutoff for a full scholarship (including airfare both ways, room and board, books, and tuition) was a net income of about $80,000. So any student whose family made less than that would attend NYUAD for free. This number was based on Prof. Zvi Kedem’s estimate.
However, it appears that the estimate is way off base – NYU’s target is much higher. Continue…
On Campus - Tuesday, April 28, 2009 7:00 - 5 Comments
NYU Abu Dhabi: Financials
For previous coverage of NYUAD, go here.
NYU Abu Dhabi is being built for a number of reasons: the enhancement of NYU’s prestige, John Sexton’s vision of a global university, expanded research opportunities, and more. But the one reason making all the others possible? Money.
In many ways, NYUAD is a blank slate, allowing Sexton and NYU to create whatever they can imagine. The campus is being built on an undeveloped island, entirely new classes are being created, and (in theory) the students are being almost hand-picked. And behind the scenes, the operation is being run by an endlessly flowing spigot of funding from the Abu Dhabi government. Continue…
On Campus - Friday, April 24, 2009 15:13 - 9 Comments
NYU Abu Dhabi: Admissions *UPDATED*
For previous coverage of NYUAD, go here.
Imagine starting a brand new university. Even if you have good name recognition and a solid reputation like NYU, it’s not exactly easy to attract a large crop of students to an untested, unknown campus. And add to that the condition that this new university is in the Middle East in a country most people have never visited (or even know anything about). If I were an admissions director, I would be daunted.
But there is one way to attract talent – and Abu Dhabi is already well-versed in it. Just buy it up. Continue…
On Campus - Friday, April 24, 2009 12:36 - 3 Comments
NYU Abu Dhabi: Background
When I sat down with Computer Science professor Zvi Kedem, a member of one of the AD Coordinating Groups charged with designing the curriculum, I didn’t expect to find out much about the new campus. The interview began slowly and awkwardly as I tried to ascertain just how much (or little) Kedem knew about the project. It turns out that he knew a lot and I knew we were getting somewhere when, about ten minutes in, he told me, “Look, I’m not a PR person for NYU Abu Dhabi.”
The following reports are based on my interview with Kedem, my interview with Graduate Student Senator Steven Jean who recently traveled to Abu Dhabi, and tips from students and faculty. My requests for interviews with top Abu Dhabi administrators have gone largely unanswered, aside from Hilary Ballon, associate vice chancellor for NYUAD, who agreed to answer emailed questions. I sent those questions Wednesday and have yet to hear from her.
Some background about the UAE, Abu Dhabi, and our campus there after the jump.
Featured, On Campus - Thursday, April 23, 2009 14:45 - 1 Comment
Is NYU Abu Dhabi Just a Mirage in the Sand?
As NYU moves closer towards the opening of its new satellite campus in Abu Dhabi, one question has persisted in the minds of students, faculty, and alumni: WTF is going on over there? The dedicated NYUAD website is only just beginning to provide details about the project. And despite yesterday’s Washington Square News report about a “steady stream of details” being released by the administration, the article is mostly devoid of the actual details. Why don’t we know more about this very large, very expensive endeavor? Continue…
