# New York Institute of Technology

The New York Institute of Technology (NYIT or New York Tech) is a private research university founded in 1955. It has two main campuses in New York—one in Old Westbury, on Long Island and one on the Upper West Side in Manhattan. Additionally, it has a cybersecurity research lab, a biosciences and bioengineering lab, Nassau County’s first Class 10,000 clean room for nanoengineering, and the Entrepreneurship and Technology Innovation Center, which has close links to NASA, in Old Westbury, as well as campuses in Arkansas, China, and Canada. The U.S. Department of Defense and the U.S. Department of Homeland Security designated NYIT as a National Center of Academic Excellence in Cyber Defense Education.
NYIT has over 100 undergraduate and graduate degree programs. It awards bachelor's, master's and doctoral degrees for the completion of these programs. It has five schools and two colleges, all with an emphasis on technology and applied scientific research.
The New York Institute of Technology Computer Graphics Lab has played an important role in the history of computer graphics and animation, as founders of Pixar and Lucasfilm, including Turing Award winners Edwin Catmull and Patrick Hanrahan, began their research there. NYIT is the birthplace of entirely 3D CGI films.
New York Tech enrolled 7,711 full-time students across its campuses worldwide in 2023. NYIT's intercollegiate competitive sports teams, include its four-time NCAA Division II national champion lacrosse team. All of NYIT's teams compete in Division II. In 2019, NYIT became a College World Series team. The NYIT Bears are part of the East Coast Conference.
New York Tech's alumni and faculty include academic scholars, literary and media figures, National Academies members, inventors, government officials, international royalty, professional athletes, Olympians, billionaires, founders and chief executives of Fortune 500 companies, and recipients of Turing Awards, Emmy Awards, and Academy Awards.

## History
### Foundation and vision

In 1910, the New York Institute of Technology's predecessor, New York Technical Institute, opened. In 1955, the New York Institute of Technology opened under a provisional charter granted by the New York State Board of Regents to NYIT. Its first campus opened at 500 Pacific Street in Brooklyn, New York. The founders of NYIT, and in particular, Alexander Schure, started NYIT based on the European polytechnic university model, with the mission of offering career-oriented professional education, providing all qualified students access to opportunity, and supporting applications-oriented research. Schure later served as NYIT's first president. In the higher education community at the time, a debate arose around the concern that humanities studies would be overshadowed by too much emphasis on science and engineering. NYIT's goal was to create a balance between science/engineering and a liberal arts education, and ever since, it has been focusing on this model to prepare students for current and future careers.
By the 1958–1959 academic year, the university had 300 students, and the time had come to expand its physical operations. In April 1958, the college purchased the Pythian Temple at 135–145 W. 70th St. in Manhattan for its main center. The building, adjacent to the planned Lincoln Center for the Performing Arts, was an ornate 12-story structure with a columned entranceway. Built in 1929 at a cost of $2 million, it included among its features a 1,200-seat auditorium. In 1958, NYIT sponsored the first National Technology Awards, created by Frederick Pittera, an organizer of international fairs and a member of the NYIT Board of Trustees, to help raise funds for the NYIT science and technology laboratories. The awards, held at the Waldorf-Astoria Hotel, were attended by several hundred guests, with entertainment provided by the U.S. Air Force Band. Senate Majority Leader and future President of the United States Lyndon Johnson was the keynote speaker. His speech was broadcast nationally by the ABC Radio Network. Among the honorees were Dr. Wernher von Braun and Major General Bernard Schriever, Commanding General of the Ballistic Air Command. Photos, press clippings, and audio tapes of the event are on view at the Lyndon Johnson Library at Austin, Texas.

### Distinction through technology
#### Teaching Machines

In 1959, NYIT introduced “teaching machines” for student instruction in physics, electronics, and mathematics. NYIT also pioneered the use of mainframes as a teaching tool, having received its first, donated by the CIT Financial Corporation, in 1965. The curriculum was successful enough that NYIT received two grants totaling approximately $3 million from the federal government – one to develop a system of individualized learning through the use of computers; the other to develop a computer-based course in general physics for midshipmen at the United States Naval Academy in Annapolis, Md. WLIW (TV) got studio space when it moved in to the New York Institute of Technology in Westbury in 1974, but that arrangement lasted two years.

#### NYIT Computer Graphics Lab

In 1974, the New York Institute of Technology Computer Graphics Lab was established and attracted the likes of: Pixar Animation Studios president Edwin Catmull and co-founder Alvy Ray Smith; Walt Disney Feature Animation Chief Scientist Lance Williams; DreamWorks animator Hank Grebe; and Netscape and Silicon Graphics founder James H. Clark. Researchers at the New York Institute of Technology Computer Graphics Lab created the tools that made entirely 3D CGI films possible. NYIT CG Lab was regarded as the top computer animation research and development group in the world during the late 70s and early 80s.

#### Clean Air Road Rally

In 1995, the NYIT School of Engineering took first place in the U.S. Department of Energy's Clean Air Road Rally. The student engineering team spent three years designing and building the high-performance hybrid electric car that beat 43 other vehicles. In 1998, NYIT opened its first international program in China. In 1999, Bill Gates spoke at NYIT and received NYIT's Presidential Medal. In 2002, NYIT installed the fastest broadband network on the East Coast.

### The 21st century

In 2003, NYIT opened its Bahrain site to students seeking an American-style education in the Middle East. In 2005, NYIT participated in its first Solar Decathlon, an international competition sponsored by the U.S. Department of Energy. NYIT was one of nineteen colleges internationally and the only school in the New York metropolitan area. The team, composed of students and faculty, captured fifth place honors. In 2007, NYIT co-hosted the International Energy Conference and Exhibition in Daegu, South Korea. In 2007 the university received $500,000 in federal funding to develop a "green print" initiative to research alternative fuel technology and determine its carbon footprint. In 2008, NYIT installed a 3-D motion capture lab for its Fine Arts program in Old Westbury. The system allows the university to use technology to teach the next generation of computer animators. In 2008 NYIT was awarded a $130,000 research contract by United Space Alliance to help NASA scientists design the crew module of the Orion spacecraft using 3-D motion capture technology. NYIT's College of Osteopathic Medicine also uses 3-D motion capture technology to help doctors better identify mobility and stability problems in patients with Parkinson's disease. In July 2008 NYIT sponsored the first annual International Water Conference at the United Nations in New York City. The event brought together representatives from non-governmental organizations, international corporations, and universities to discuss the need to safeguard the planet's water resources. In 2009 NYIT sponsored its second U.N. event, the International Energy Conference (Aug. 31-Sept. 1, 2009) to welcome energy secretaries, policy makers, and executives from multinational companies to examine opportunities and innovations in the field of sustainable technology. NYIT closed its campuses in Jordan and Bahrain in 2013 and 2014 respectively. NYIT had to close its campus in Bahrain because the Higher Education Council of Bahrain decided to come up with a new set of regulations, aiming to standardize all private universities in Bahrain. NYIT could not adapt to the changes like the other local universities in Bahrain, as all NYIT campuses around the world must follow the same American standard programs, otherwise they would be threatened to lose their international license and accreditation. In 2015, NYIT received from New York State a grant of $0.4 million for a portion of the costs required to renovate a 5,300-square-foot facility to house three new laboratories on its Old Westbury campus.
In 2018, NYIT and Holon Institute of Technology, a university based in Israel, signed a memorandum of understanding to pursue research opportunities for faculty and students at both universities.

## Campuses
### Old Westbury

New York Institute of Technology's Old Westbury, New York, campus is seated on 1,050 acres (425 ha). It encompasses numerous contiguous former estates situated in the wooded hillsides of Old Westbury, New York. Some of these estates were formerly owned by members of the Rockefeller family. Opened in 1965, the campus has many buildings including a sports complex, administrative and academic buildings, a 100-seat "smart" auditorium, several dining halls, a bookstore, as well as NYIT's de Seversky Mansion, a party and event venue on Long Island, and one of the largest houses in the United States. It was developed on and around the nucleus of the former C. V. Whitney estate and includes several former North Shore estates. Original buildings have been reconstructed for educational use while retaining the charm of traditional exteriors. To preserve the natural beauty of the landscape, other buildings are clustered in low, modern structures surrounded by trees and open vistas. Classroom buildings and parking areas are connected by walkways through woods and meadows untouched by construction. Plazas connect classroom buildings and act as outdoor rooms for students and faculty. Concerts, lectures, and informal recreational events are frequently scheduled on campus.
Athletic facilities at the Old Westbury campus include the 1,000-seat President's Stadium, the President's Field, the 500-seat Recreation Hall arena, the NYIT Softball Complex and the NYIT Tennis Complex consisting of six courts. Many notable people, including Patch Adams, spoke at Riland Auditorium on its Long Island campus. The Old Westbury campus is mainly a commuter campus, although residential students have dormitory options.
The Long Island campus is also home to the New York Institute of Technology College of Osteopathic Medicine, the only osteopathic medical school on Long Island, which was formerly named New York College of Osteopathic Medicine, or NYCOM. In 2008, NYIT installed a 3-D motion capture lab for its Fine Arts program in Old Westbury. The system allows the university to use Hollywood technology to teach the next generation of computer animators. Between 2009 and 2013, the Old Westbury campus has undergone a number of significant improvements, including renovation of the 3,000 sf. Student Activities Center, creation of a Life Sciences biomedical research laboratory, renovation of Engineering Materials lab, creation of a Nursing Simulation lab and creation of an 8,000 sf. Entrepreneurship and Technology Innovation Center, among others.
In 2014, New York Tech announced a $93 million plan to erect seven new buildings on its Old Westbury campus, including four, four-story residence halls. In 2015, NYIT received from New York State a grant for a portion of the costs required to renovate a 5,300-square-foot facility to house three new laboratories on its Old Westbury campus. According to Bloomberg/Businessweek, in 2011, Old Westbury is the second "richest" town in the United States, trailing behind only Palm Beach, Florida. The magazine previously dubbed the town "New York's wealthiest suburb."
Free weekday shuttles between the Long Island Railroad (LIRR) stations in Manhasset and Hicksville and the Long Island campus are available to all NYIT students, faculty, and staff.
A new 80-room residence hall, located at 120 Jericho Turnpike in Jericho, is set to open in Fall 2024. A scenic 10-15 minute drive from the Old Westbury campus, this residence hall will have modern rooms, a fitness center, laundry facilities and a swimming pool. Free shuttle service will be available between the new residence hall and the Old Westbury campus.

### New York City

The New York City campus is located between 60th and 62nd streets on Broadway, adjacent to Columbus Circle, across the street from Central Park and within walking distance of Lincoln Center for the Performing Arts. Its central location is accessible via subway and bus routes and is close to concert halls, theaters, museums, and libraries. It is served by public transit buses and the A, B, C, D, and 1 Subway trains, which are accessed at the 59th Street/Columbus Circle station. The New York City campus offers a full range of classes in all of NYIT's schools.
The campus comprises six buildings (excluding the residence halls):
* Edward Guiliano Global Center, 1855 Broadway,
* The New Technology Building, 16 W. 61st Street,
* 26 W. 61st Street,
* The Student Activities Building, 1849 Broadway,
* NYIT Auditorium on Broadway, 1871 Broadway,
* 33 W. 60th street
The Student Activity Building at 1849 Broadway, has a student lounge, recreation areas, food services, a bookstore, and the offices of the Student Government Association as well as other clubs and student organizations. The Office of Student Activities is located on the second floor. The NYIT Auditorium on Broadway has a seating capacity of 268. The offices of Counseling and Wellness Services, Disability Services, Campus Life, Career Services, Student Employment, and Housing and Residential Life, are located at 26 West 61st Street. In 2014, NYIT opened a simulated trading floor, equipped with the latest technologies, including hardware, software, databases and datafeeds, on the fifth floor of the 26 W. 61st Street building. The Student Solutions Center (Enrollment Services, Bursar, Financial Aid, and Registrar) and International Education are located in the New Technology Building, 16 West 61st Street.
The New York City campus is home to student clubs and organizations such as Students Working to Achieve Greatness, Phi Iota Alpha, the Allied Health Life Science Organization, Bear Hug Club, Student Nurses Association, Dance Club, American Medical Student Association, Student Programming Association, Society of Hosteurs, and American Institute for Architecture Students.
Residential students have one dormitory option for the Manhattan campus: 525 Lexington Avenue which is supervised by full-time staff.
NYIT Auditorium on Broadway, currently closed, hosts events including the Lumen Prize Exhibition and the SAG-AFTRA Foundation's Conversation Series, bringing in celebrities such as Carey Mulligan, Gloria Steinem, Meryl Streep, Mark Ruffalo, and Leslee Udwin among others to NYIT's campus in Manhattan. NYIT Auditorium on Broadway has 3-D screening capabilities. In January 2020, the auditorium was flooded and suffered substantial damage after a water main under the adjacent street ruptured.

### Central Islip

New York Tech purchased more than 500 acres of the former Central Islip Psychiatric Center in 1984 to establish a campus in Suffolk County, New York. Less than 10 years later, the school began selling pieces off for commercial use. In 2005, NYIT ceased operations as a full college campus there. At one point, the location included residence halls with student lounges and laundry facilities, dining hall, classroom buildings, and library. The school still operates its 7,000-square-foot Central Islip Family Medical Center, located near the former campus, to serve the local community. Aluminaire House was located on this campus. NYIT donated about 100 acres to the Suffolk County for its Cohalan Court Complex.

### Jonesboro, Arkansas

In March 2014, NYIT announced plans to open an osteopathic medical school site in Jonesboro, Arkansas, by acquiring and renovating a building belonging to Arkansas State University-Jonesboro, for approximately $13 million. The distinctive three-story yellow brick building, the Wilson Hall at Arkansas State University, once housed the university's library, auditorium (complete with balcony seating), and administrative offices as well as the laboratories, kitchens, studios, sewing rooms, classrooms, and offices that served all departments of the arts and sciences. In April 2015, Commission on Osteopathic College Accreditation awarded initial approval for the osteopathic medical school site in Jonesboro. In December 2015, NYIT's College of Osteopathic Medicine received final approval from Commission on Osteopathic College Accreditation to recruit students, open a second location on the campus of Arkansas State University in August 2016 and become the first osteopathic medical school in Arkansas. This campus is currently in operation.

### Other facilities

NYIT formerly had research centers in Florida. In 2011, NYIT's College of Osteopathic Medicine opened a Family Health Care Center in Central Islip, New York, and in 2014, NYIT's College of Osteopathic Medicine opened another Family Health Care Center in Uniondale, New York. NYIT opened a cybersecurity center in Old Westbury, New York in 2017.

### Global programs

In addition to its United States locations, New York Institute of Technology has a presence in the following countries:

#### China
##### Nanjing

NYIT-Nanjing was established in collaboration with Nanjing University of Posts and Telecommunications. NYIT-Nanjing students have access to Nanjing University of Posts and Telecommunications residence halls, dining facilities, and activities. NYIT's campus is separate but joined with the campus of Nanjing University of Posts and Telecommunications. The courses are taught in English, and students get the equivalent of an American degree without the expense of traveling abroad. Graduates have an option to earn 'parallel degrees' from NYIT and NUPT or, if they choose, just the NYIT degree. Students can study solely in Nanjing or can opt to take some of their courses at NYIT campuses in New York. Enrollment at NYIT-Nanjing is projected to eventually reach 6,000.

##### Beijing

Faculty of International Media of Communication University of China (commonly referred to as ICUC) is a Ministry of Education in China-approved Media Technology Center that NYIT launched with the Communication University of China in Beijing in 2015. It is the first China-foreign, cooperatively-run institution in media approved by the Ministry of Education. It offers dual-degree graduate and undergraduate programs.
Students are taught first by Beijing-based NYIT and Communication University of China faculty members and then have the option to complete their studies at NYIT's New York campuses. The campus includes NYIT-designed digital laboratories and a distance-learning, video-presence classroom connected to NYIT's New York campuses. NYIT students in Beijing are able to remotely operate equipment in NYIT's high-tech Home for Innovation, Visualization, and Exploration (HIVE) Center in New York with its motion capture, 3-D, and visualization tools.
The interconnectivity of the New York and Beijing programs enables students and faculty members to collaborate on creative projects and reviews. The NYIT-CUC programs are highly selective, and students chosen from throughout China had to meet both NYIT and CUC admissions standards, including the ability to take their courses in English. The curriculum and requirements of each program are identical to NYIT courses and programs offered in New York.

##### Sites

New York Tech offers M.B.A. programs in conjunction with Jiangxi University of Finance and Economics in Nanchang, Shanghai, and Shenzhen.

#### Canada

NYIT-Vancouver offers graduate degrees and has two campus locations: one in downtown Vancouver, in the heart of the financial district and close to many cultural venues, and the other in a suburban locale. In December 2022, New York Tech-Vancouver closed its downtown location and moved into an expanded and redesigned space at Broadway Tech Centre due to persistent enrollment growth. The new campus totals nearly 40,000 square feet across three different buildings, which are connected by covered walkways.

#### Bahrain (closed)

NYIT-Manama offered undergraduate and graduate degrees until 2014 in fields including business, computer graphics, engineering, and interior design.

#### Jordan (closed)

NYIT-Amman offered until 2013 undergraduate and graduate degrees in fields including business, computer graphics, engineering, and information technology.

#### United Arab Emirates (closed)

NYIT-Abu Dhabi was located in the CERT Technology Park. NYIT-Abu Dhabi had a library collection, catering services and parking facilities. Notable people who spoke at NYIT-Abu Dhabi included U.S. Secretary of Education Margaret Spellings. NYIT-Abu Dhabi stopped enrolling new students in 2018.

## Organization and administration

NYIT's undergraduate and graduate programs are divided into six schools and colleges. Collaboration among the schools and colleges is frequent, as mandated by a number of interdisciplinary degree programs and research centers.

### Schools and colleges

New York Tech comprises the following academic schools and colleges:
* School of Architecture and Design
* College of Art and Sciences
* College of Engineering and Computing Sciences
* School of Health Professions
* School of Management
* College of Osteopathic Medicine
The now-defunct Ellis College of NYIT was created as an online division operating under the university's mission to provide career-oriented professional education and access to opportunity. In the fall of 2008, NYIT phased out its Ellis College branch, which for another nine years operated separately as Ellis University until it ceased operations altogether in 2017.

## Academics

Of faculty at NYIT, 95% hold their doctorate or other terminal degree. NYIT holds full accreditation in over 50 academic areas. Nationally, fewer than 100 colleges and universities match this achievement. The New York Tech School of Architecture and Design is the only school of architecture and design in the New York metropolitan area with fully accredited programmes in both architecture and interior design. As the liberal arts and sciences college of NYIT, NYIT's College of Art and Sciences is committed to serving not only the students who pursue their degrees in this college, but all NYIT undergraduates who depend on CAS for developing foundational academic skills and completing general education and other critical pieces of their education. As of 2015, the College of Arts and Sciences at NYIT offers 28 undergraduate and five graduate degree programs in departments including Behavioral Sciences, Communication Arts, Fine Arts, Interdisciplinary Studies, English and Speech, Mathematics, Physics, Social Sciences, Urban Administration and Life Sciences. The College of Arts and Sciences is home to NYIT's undergraduate Core Curriculum.
New York Tech offers cross-registration programs with other New York metropolitan area institutions, including Princeton University, Columbia University and Cornell University.

### Core curriculum

Since fall 2010, all undergraduates must complete the Core Curriculum. NYIT's core curriculum was created to provide undergraduate students with an outcomes-oriented education that will prepare them for today's workforce.

### Demographics

The student body has over 7,700 graduate and undergraduate students and around 1,000 academic faculty. The student body at NYIT is 55% male and 45% female.

### Libraries

The New York campuses include four libraries:
* George and Gertrude Wisser Memorial Library,
* Art and Architecture Library at Education Hall,
* College of Osteopathic Medicine Library,
* 1855 Broadway Library,
Access to the collection of books, periodicals and journals is open to registered NYIT students and alumni. Onsite use of special collections is also available to visiting students and researchers. NYIT collections include more than 100,000 books, 200 databases, 13,000 ebooks, and videos.

### Rankings

In its 2025 rankings, U.S. News & World Report ranked New York Tech 15th among regional universities in the Northern United States.
The Georgetown University Center on Education and the Workforce ranks NYIT in the top 10% among all colleges and universities in the U.S. for return on investment.

### Study abroad

In addition to NYIT's auxiliary campuses in Canada, China, and the Middle East, NYIT has degree partnerships with over a dozen Chinese universities, as well as with universities in France, Taiwan, Brazil, India and Turkey. NYIT also has student exchange programs with universities in Denmark, Netherlands, China, United Kingdom, India, Costa Rica, Germany, Brazil, and France.

### Admissions

Number of undergraduate applicants :
| Season | Number |
| Fall 2012 | 6,769 |
| Fall 2014 | 8,394 |
| Fall 2016 | 10,010 |
| Fall 2022 | 11,537 |
U.S. News & World Report describes New York Institute of Technology's admissions process as "more selective".
In the undergraduate admission season for fall 2022 entry, there were 11,537 applicants. The middle 50 percent SAT Composite scores of enrolled students were 1180–1390. The middle 50 percent ACT Composite score of enrolled students was between 25 and 33. The average high-school GPA of enrolled students was 3.6 on a 4.0 scale.
NYIT received 10,010 first-year applications from prospective undergraduate students for the Class of 2020. NYIT students represent nearly all 50 U.S. states and 112 countries. For the undergraduate freshman class that entered its New York campuses in Fall 2012, NYIT drew 6,769 applications and enrolled 1,005. The undergraduate transfer class that enrolled in 2012 engendered 1,625 applications and 497 enrolled. NYIT's undergraduate acceptance rate was 65% in Fall 2012. For the undergraduate freshman class that entered its New York campuses in Fall 2014, NYIT received 8,394 applications, and its undergraduate acceptance rate was 64%. NYIT's undergraduate acceptance rate for the undergraduate transfer class that enrolled in 2014 was 57%.
Eight hundred eighty-three new graduate students beyond medical students enrolled in fall 2012. As of 2015, NYIT's graduate schools have acceptance rates of 7% to the New York Institute of Technology College of Osteopathic Medicine, 11% to the New York Institute of Technology School of Health Professions, 32% to the New York Institute of Technology School of Architecture and Design, 41% to the New York Institute of Technology College of Arts and Sciences, 49% to the New York Institute of Technology School of Education, 65% to the New York Institute of Technology School of Management, and 66% to the New York Institute of Technology School of Engineering and Computing Sciences.
In the 2012–2013 academic year, NYIT ranked 13th amongst US Master's Universities by total number of enrolled international students.

### Accreditation
#### Overall accreditation and charter

* Commission on Higher Education of the Middle States Association of Colleges and Schools (all campuses)
* New York Institute of Technology is chartered by the Board of Regents of the University of the State of New York

#### Academic program accreditations

NYIT is accredited by the Commission on Higher Education of the Middle States Association of Colleges and Schools, and:
* Accreditation Board for Engineering and Technology, Inc.
* Accreditation Review Commission on Education for the Physician Assistant
* American Osteopathic Association
* Association for Childhood Education International
* Association for Educational Communications and Technology
* Commission on Accreditation in Physical Therapy Education
* Commission on Collegiate Nursing Education
* Council for Interior Design Accreditation
* National Architectural Accrediting Board, Inc.
* National Council for Accreditation of Teacher Education
* The Accreditation Council for Occupational Therapy Education of the American Occupational Therapy Association
* ACPHA/CHRIE program accreditation.
* Association to Advance Collegiate Schools of Business (all campuses).
* New York State Board of Regents, State Education Department, Office of the Professions (Nursing Education).
* Academy of Nutrition and Dietetics, Accreditation Council for Education in Nutrition and Dietetics.

#### Campus-specific accreditations, licensures, and approvals

NYIT-China is accredited by the Ministry of Education of China.
NYIT-United Arab Emirates is accredited by the Ministry Of Higher Education & Scientific Research of UAE.
NYIT-Canada is accredited by the Ministry of Advanced Education of British Columbia.
NYIT-Bahrain was accredited by the Ministry of Higher Education and Scientific Research of Bahrain, as well as the Ministry of Higher Education of Kuwait.
NYIT-Jordan was accredited by the Ministry of Higher Education and Scientific Research of Jordan.

### Research

The Office of Sponsored Programs and Research works with faculty members and students to apply for funding to support research programs. Research is organized under the Office of the Vice Provost for Research, Jared E. Littman, Ph.D. In 2022, NYIT maintained annual sponsored research expenditures of approximately $60 million. To date, NYIT has received funding from public, private, and government agencies, including among others:
* National Institutes of Health
* National Science Foundation
* New York State Department of Health
* New York State Education Department
* U.S. Department of Defense
* U.S. Health Resources and Services Administration
* U.S. Department of Commerce
* U.S. Department of Energy

#### Examples of research

* In 1968, the federal government of the United States awarded $3 million in grants to NYIT for computer research. Researchers at the New York Institute of Technology Computer Graphics Lab created the tools that made entirely 3D CGI films possible. Among NYIT CG Lab's innovations was an eight-bit paint system to ease computer animation. NYIT CG Lab was regarded as the top computer animation research and development group in the world during the late 70s and early 80s.
* In 1973, NYIT students engineered a glider and successfully flew it on NYIT's Old Westbury campus.
* In 1978, the digital noise reducer invented by William E. Glenn, earned NYIT its first television Emmy award. Glenn directed NYIT's former Science and Technology Research Center in Florida, where he also developed his invention. The digital noise reducer received a patent in 3-D technology in 1979.
* In 1995, the NYIT College of Engineering and Computing Sciences took first place in the U.S. Department of Energy's Clean Air Road Rally. The student engineering team spent three years designing and building the high-performance hybrid electric car that beat out 43 other vehicles.
* In 2007, NYIT received $5000,000 in federal funding to develop a "green print" initiative to research alternative fuel technology and determine its carbon footprint.
* In 2008, NYIT received a grant from the U.S. Department of Energy to study the relationship between electric vehicles and renewable energy charging stations. For $250,000, NYIT was able to install two solar carports (one at its Old Westbury campus and one at its Central Islip campus), convert two Toyota Priuses to plug-ins with extra battery capacity, and install data collection technology. Each carport spans 4 parking spots, provides level 1 charging (110 volt) at each parking spot, and supports a 10 kW solar array.
* NYIT's research on electric vehicles, solar energy, and their resulting environmental and grid impacts continues in partnership with the Long Island Power Authority and the Electric Power Research Institute. The study currently has NYIT Students participate in car-share program where they are able to drive the plug-in Priuses between their homes and the school campus. The school plans to expand participation to faculty members as well.
* In 2008, NYIT was awarded a $1300,000 research contract by United Space Alliance to help NASA scientists design the crew module of the Orion spacecraft using 3-D motion capture technology.
* In 2009, U.S. Health Resources and Services Administration awarded a $1 million grant to NYIT to improve clinical training experiences and community health research.
* In 2010, NYIT and the Intrepid Sea, Air & Space Museum announced a new partnership to incorporate project-based learning for NYIT's undergraduate students with the reconstruction of an aircraft restoration tent on the deck of the aircraft carrier USS Intrepid through a design competition.
* In 2010, NYIT received a $1 million grant from the National Science Foundation for interdisciplinary research on cyber-enabled learning.
* In 2011, the National Institutes of Health awarded NYIT a $1.8 million grant to study the link between heart failure and thyroid disease.
* In 2011, the National Science Foundation awarded NYIT a $1 million grant for research on how to use technologies to reach students in a new way.
* In 2013, the National Science Foundation awarded NYIT a three-year multimillion dollars grant to establish a Research Experience for Undergraduates (REU) site to study the security of mobile devices and wireless networks.
* NYIT and Peking University led a research project that was selected as one of six U.S.-China EcoPartnership programs intended to promote innovative models for collaboration between the United States and China on clean water and environmental sustainability. The team also included Wuhan University, the International Society for Water Solutions of the American Institute of Chemical Engineers (AIChE), and HDR, Inc., an industrial partner. The project ran from September 2013 through August 2015.
* In 2015, NYIT was awarded a nearly $5000000 million grant from National Institutes of Health to develop an implantable wireless system to study the body's gastric and digestive systems.
* In 2015, the New York State Education Department awarded a nearly $1 million grant to NYIT for research on how to immerse students in STEM subjects.
* In 2016, NYIT faculty and students were featured in an episode of Horizon, a BBC worldwide television show, for their patented, climate-appropriate, disaster-relief roof system.
* NYIT's research on animals such as dinosaurs and giraffes is regularly featured on National Geographic.
* A renewable energy park in Point Lookout, New York, features a self-reliant solar house designed by architecture, engineering and interior design students at the New York Institute of Technology for the U.S. Department of Energy Solar Decathlon in 2007.
* NYIT sponsors the Kids’ 3D Spaghetti Utensil Design Competition. NYIT sponsors many notable events and conferences related to academic programs every year, throughout the world. DARPA and United States Department of Homeland Security regularly headline NYIT's Annual Cybersecurity Conference.
* In 2021, NYIT bought a STED microscope with the support of a $1.05 million grant from the New York State’s Regional Economic Development Councils to get a more precise view of cell structure to understand how cancers, multiple sclerosis, and other diseases develop.
* In 2024, researchers at the New York Tech published findings that showed parrots used their beaks as a “third limb” to propel themselves.
* As of April 2024, the New York Institute of Technology College of Osteopathic Medicine’s Department of Biomedical Sciences have more than $8 million in funding from the National Institutes of Health (NIH) for currently active research projects in cardiovascular pathophysiology.

#### Interdisciplinary graduate centers

New York Tech's academic centers focus on interdisciplinary research and bring together departments, faculty, and students for collaborations and exchanges of ideas.
In 1981, NYIT's Center for Robotics Research opened at the Old Westbury campus.
In 1998, NYIT's College of Osteopathic Medicine opened the Adele Smithers Parkinson's Disease Center. NYIT's College of Osteopathic Medicine uses 3-D motion capture technology to help doctors better identify mobility and stability problems in patients with Parkinson's disease.
The Center for Global Health opened in 2007. Students in medicine, allied health, and engineering have traveled to Haiti and Ghana, where they help deliver babies and provide fresh water as part of NYIT's Center for Global Health program.
The Center for Labor and Industrial Relations provides training and research into workplace related issues.
The Center for Gerontology and Geriatrics collaborates with the academic community, government, civic, professional and business groups, and funders.
In 2015, NYIT Center for Sports Medicine opened at the Old Westbury campus.
NYIT opened a cybersecurity center in Old Westbury, New York in 2017.
In 2023, the Ferrara Center for Patient Safety and Clinical Simulation opened at NYIT. NYIT alumnus Daniel Ferrara (D.O. ’86) supported the center with a $1 million gift.
NYIT's faculty and students have conducted research with such institutions as the Cold Spring Harbor Laboratory, Brookhaven National Laboratory, Memorial Sloan-Kettering Cancer Center, Los Alamos National Laboratory, and other organizations around the world.

#### Biomedical Research, Innovation, and Imaging Center (BRIIC)

As of 2024, construction is underway at New York Tech for a multi-million-dollar 20,000-square-foot research center with collaborative laboratories and imaging equipment. The research facility, named Biomedical Research, Innovation, and Imaging Center (BRIIC), is expected to be completed in the first quarter of 2025. It will house, among others, open laboratory space with many lab benches, core labs, fume hoods, tissue culture rooms, labs for tissue engineering, a freezer room, an autoclave, a multicolor 3-D STED (stimulated emission depletion) microscope and a 2,000-square-foot functional magnetic resonance imaging (fMRI) suite dedicated solely for research purposes.

#### Research areas

NYIT conducts faculty-led and student-supported research in areas such as:
* Alternative energies
* Bioengineering
* DNA
* Educational technology
* Heart disease
* Parkinson's disease
* Robotics
NYIT faculty and students are also involved in other areas of research, including sustainable technology, cardiovascular health, epilepsy, blindness, staph infection, and cyber security, among others. NYIT has won hundreds of millions of dollars in grants from the National Institutes of Health and the National Science Foundation for research on disease and for cyber-learning.

#### Industry connections

NYIT maintains close ties to the industrial world. Many of these connections are made through NYIT's cooperative education and internship programs. For example, in 2017, NYIT opened a cybersecurity lab in Old Westbury, New York, the first lab on Long Island designated as a National Center of Academic Excellence in Cyber Defense by the National Security Agency and the Department of Homeland Security.
The Entrepreneurship & Technology Innovation Center for Industry-University Partnerships at NYIT is structured around a collaborative network of industry-university partnerships, connecting industry and academia, innovators and entrepreneurs, the Entrepreneurship and Technology Innovation Center (ETIC) is a catalyst for technological innovation, entrepreneurship, and economic development. The ETIC focuses on three technological drivers of economic growth in the New York metropolitan region:
* Information & Cybersecurity
* Energy & Green Technologies
* Bio-Engineering and Medical Devices
The Empire State Development Corporation has provided seed funding for the initiative, which is supported by the Long Island Regional Economic Development Council. An Advisory Board made up of members of industry, government, and the venture capital community, has agreed to help NYIT create the center and work on its three focus areas create a high-tech teaching and research environment.

## Student life
### Traditions

NYIT has few formal traditions, compared to many other universities, but has a rich culture of informal traditions and jargon. There are a few "big events" such as Commencement (graduation), but many smaller, decentralized activities sponsored by departments, labs, living groups, student activities, and ad hoc groups of NYIT community members united by common interests.

### Housing

The Office of Residence Life and Off-Campus Housing at New York Institute of Technology caters for students living in residence halls and independently in housing off-campus.

### Student government

NYIT's Student Government Association (SGA) is the official voice of the student body. The SGA advocates on behalf of student interests—academic, cultural, and social. It is charged with working with the college's faculty and administration to improve campus life. In addition, the SGA oversees the budgeting process for student clubs and organizations and supports a variety of campus-wide events.

### Student media
#### LI News Tonight

LI News Tonight is a nightly television newscast produced on the Old Westbury campus as both a community service to Nassau and Suffolk counties and an internship opportunity where students can learn about careers in television news. For more than 25 years, college interns have covered breaking news and feature events alongside reporters and photographers from professional news stations, with their work appearing that evening on a nightly TV newscast aired on a Long Island cable station. Notable internees at LI News Tonight include Diana Perez.

#### Globesville

Globesville is NYIT's student-run web channel. It is an online network of students that uses the power of social media to integrate NYIT campuses, students and alumni from across the globe. The Globesville team creates and collects video and features which focus on the activities, interests, and goals of the NYIT community.

#### Campus newspapers

On the Old Westbury campus, NYIT students produce The Campus Slate, the student-run newspaper founded in 1966. The Campus Slate conducted interviews with celebrities such as Oscar-nominated actress Diane Lane and The Beach Boys. On the Manhattan campus, students produce the NYIT Chronicle, a student-run newspaper founded in 2005. On the Central Islip campus, students produced the Campus Voice, a student-run newspaper founded in 1992.

#### NYIT Magazine

NYIT Magazine is the official magazine of New York Institute of Technology. The magazine features articles on topics relevant to alumni and the community, and includes news of events, research, sports coverage, and profiles as professor and alumni accomplishments. The magazine is published three times a year.

#### WNYT

Radio station WNYT was formed shortly after NYIT opened its Old Westbury campus in the mid-1960s, operating from studios located in Education Hall. The student-run station has alternately broadcast on campus via carrier current and closed circuit connections, and during the 1970s and early 1980s, it served as the audio for Cablevision's on-screen program guide. Today, WNYT is heard online, with Internet-based programming via RealAudio.
WNYT Radio broadcasts many of the NYIT Bears sports broadcasts, giving more exposure to the station.

### Greek life
#### Fraternities

* Phi Iota Alpha
* Alpha Chi Rho
* Tau Kappa Epsilon
* Iota Nu Delta
* Zeta Beta Tau
* Delta Sigma Phi
* Delta Epsilon Psi
* Alpha Phi Alpha
* Zeta Eta
* Upsilon Mu

#### Sororities

* Alpha Sigma Tau
* Zeta Phi Beta
* Kappa Phi Gamma
* Sigma Iota Alpha
* Eta Chi Gamma

#### Coed

DiGamma Omega Xi

### Dining services

NYIT has seven major dining halls across its campuses in New York State, as of 2015. NYIT has five dining halls on its Old Westbury campus, one on its Manhattan campus. A new dining hall is being built on NYIT's Old Westbury campus, as of 2015.

### ROTC

NYIT has an ROTC program, including both Air Force Reserve Officers' Training Corps and Army Reserve Officers Training Corps.

## Athletics

The New York Tech (NYIT) athletic teams were called the Bears. The institute was a member of the NCAA Division II ranks, primarily competing in the East Coast Conference (ECC; originally called as the New York Collegiate Athletic Conference (NYCAC) until after the 2005–06 academic year) from 1989–90 until their last season of competition in the 2019–20 school year before the institute announced its suspension until further notice.
NYIT sponsored an intercollegiate athletics program in 13 varsity teams. Men's sports included baseball, basketball, cross country, lacrosse, soccer and track & field; while women's sports included basketball, cross country, lacrosse, soccer, softball and track & field.
NYIT's intercollegiate competitive sports teams, include its four-time NCAA Division II national champion lacrosse team. In 2019, NYIT became a College World Series team.
NYIT announced in August 2020 that the Bears would suspend its NCAA Division II intercollegiate athletics for at least two years. However, it hasn't yet returned to active competition as of the 2022–23 academic year.

## Notable people
### Alumni

The New York Institute of Technology has nearly 114,000 alumni around the world, as of 2023.
Those recently in the spotlight include Kevin O'Connor (D.O. '96), personal physician to Joe Biden; Karine Jean-Pierre (B.S. '98), press secretary for the Biden administration; David Barnea, the current Director of the Mossad; and Claudia Coplein (D.O. '92), Tyson Foods' first chief medical officer.
Many have gone into business and finance, including: Vincent L. Sadusky, Chief Executive Officer at Univision Communications Inc; John Antioco, CEO, Blockbuster Video, Chairman, Board of Directors, Red Mango; Richard J. Daly, CEO, Broadridge Financial Solutions; Linda Davila, Chairperson, First Vice President, Investments Merrill Lynch; Eli Wachtel, Managing Director, Bear Stearns; Gary S. Lynch, managing director, Marsh & McLennan Companies; Itzhak Fisher, executive vice president, Nielsen Holdings, he also founded and served as CEO of RSL Communications, an over $1.5-billion telecommunications company with over 2,500 employees in 22 countries; Steve Johnson, Director for Labor Relations at The Coca-Cola Company; Robert E. Evanson, President, McGraw-Hill Education; Jerry Romano, chairman, New York Emmy Awards; Monte N. Redman, CEO, Astoria Financial; Patricia McMahon, vice president and general manager at Northrop Grumman, and vice president and general manager at BAE Systems; Indera Rampal-Harrod, director of human resources, American Express; Roseann Stichnoth, executive vice president and head of the Financial Services Group at the Federal Reserve Bank of New York; Chen Ningning, self-made billionaire; and Matthew F. Calamari, Executive Vice President and Chief Operating Officer of Trump Organization.
Some alumni have entered academia, including: Kyriacos A. Athanasiou, Chair of the Biomedical Engineering department at University of California, Davis; Ken Pugh, professor at Yale University; Jill Wruble, professor at Yale University; Peter Ruggiero, professor at Columbia University; Jeannie Liakaris, Assistant Dean at New York University; Michael Patrick Meehan, professor at New York University; Robert Cohen, professor at New York University; Manish Sharma, professor at Cornell University; Frank LoVecchio, professor and medical director of Clinical Research at College of Health Solutions of Arizona State University; and Judith Barry, professor and the director of the MIT Program in Art, Culture and Technology at the Massachusetts Institute of Technology and Guggenheim Award winner
Alumni in science and technology include: Eric Cole, chief technology officer at McAfee and chief scientist at Lockheed Martin Corporation; Peter A. Eckstein, Senior Principal Engineer, Northrop Grumman Corporation. IEEE Board of Directors member, and 2016 IEEE President; Mark B. Berger, senior vice president and chief information officer, SWBC; Steven Wolk, chief technology officer, P. C. Richard & Son; Michael McCrackan, Research and Development Director, Kodak; Vincent Connare, font designer and former Microsoft employee, amongst his creations are the Comic Sans font, and the Trebuchet MS font; James Chemp, Director of engineering and energy, 7-Eleven; Philip Fasano, executive vice president and chief information officer at American International Group (AIG); and Patri Friedman, Software Engineer at Google.
Alumni in government include: Joseph Saladino, New York state assemblyman; Anthony Seminerio, politician; Averof Neofytou, Cypriot politician who has been President of the governing Democratic Rally (DISY) party since 2013. Former Minister of Communications and Works and Mayor of Polis Chrysochou; Andre Pierre, former Democratic mayor of North Miami; Rafael Piñeiro, First Deputy Commissioner of the New York City Police Department (NYPD); Brian M. McLaughlin, New York state assemblyman; Nicholas Estavillo, NYPD Chief of Patrol; Tom Cilmi, Suffolk County Legislator; Keith Kazmark, Mayor of Woodland Park, New Jersey; H.E Abdulla Bin Mohamed Bin Butti Al Hamed, Chairman of the Department of Health in the Emirate of Abu Dhabi and a member of Abu Dhabi Executive Council; Abubakar Kabir Bichi, member of the Nigerian Federal House of Representatives and Thani Ahmed Alzeyoudi, Minister of Climate Change and Environment for the United Arab Emirates.
Many of NYIT's alumni have also gone into arts, journalism and entertainment. They include Rahul Dholakia, film director-producer-screenwriter; Lori Bizzoco, writer; Patti Ann Browne, TV News Anchor, Fox News; Jim Geoghan, Emmy-nominated executive producer of The Disney Channel's The Suite Life on Deck and the original The Suite Life of Zack and Cody; Emmy Award-winning broadcast journalists Judy Martin, Dana Arschin, and Ben Finley who is the Editorial Producer with “Anderson Cooper 360” and has produced for several CNN and PBS programs; Brian Kenny, ESPN SportsCenter Anchor; Candice Night, lead singer, Blackmore's Night; and Adam Pascal, actor, singer, and producer.
Alumni in sports include: Allison Baver, Olympic Speed Skating Medalist (Bronze, 2010); Don Cooper, head pitching coach, Chicago White Sox; Jim Ferry, basketball coach; Sarah Fisher, race car driver; Joe Vasold, lacrosse player; Ray Giannelli, baseball player; Manix Auriantal, professional basketball player; Chris Algieri, professional boxer in the Light Welterweight division; Allen Watson, former Major League Baseball pitcher (member of 2000 World Series Champion New York Yankees); and Brian Brady (baseball), former right fielder in Major League Baseball who played for the California Angels.

### Faculty

* Reino Aarnio, architect
* Lance Williams, graphics researcher
* Bernard Fryshman, physicist
* Zeeshan Jawed Shah, filmmaker
* Ralph Guggenheim, video graphics designer
* Jim Blinn, computer scientist known for his work as a computer graphics expert at NASA's Jet Propulsion Laboratory
* Edwin Catmull, computer scientist and current president of Pixar Animation Studios and Walt Disney Animation Studios. Turing Award winner
* James H. Clark, entrepreneur and computer scientist, founded companies, including Netscape Communications Corporation
* Alvy Ray Smith, pioneer in computer graphics
* Greg Panos, writer, futurist, educator
* Mehrdad Izady, contemporary writer on ethnic and cultural topics, particularly the Greater Middle East, and Kurds
* Lynn Rogoff, film and television producer, and stage playwright, theatre director and professor
* Harvey Jerome Brudner, theoretical physicist/engineer
* Sheldon D. Fields, scientist
* Frank Genese, architect
* Ernie Anastos, won 28 Emmy Awards and nominations, and was nominated for the Edward R. Murrow Award for excellence in writing
* Pat Hanrahan, computer graphics researcher
* Rebecca Allen, international artist
* Frederic Parke, creator of the first CG physically modeled human face
* Carter Burwell, composer of film scores
* Barbara, Lady Judge, Chairman Emeritus of the UK Atomic Energy Authority
* David DiFrancesco, photoscientist, inventor, cinematographer, and photographer.
* Jacques Stroweis, visual effects artist and computer scientist
* Andrew Glassner, American expert in computer graphics
* Bruce Perens, computer programmer and advocate in the free software movement
* Harry Hurwitz, film director, screenwriter, actor and producer
* Morrie Yohai, food company executive best known for his creation of Cheez Doodles
* Joel B. Snyder, served as the Institute of Electrical and Electronics Engineers president
* W. Kenneth Riland, osteopathic physician (D.O.) whose patients included 37th president of the United States Richard Nixon and Nelson A. Rockefeller
* Manfred Kirchheimer, documentary film maker
* Ed Emshwiller, visual artist
* William E. Glenn, inventor known for his contributions to imaging technology. He was awarded 136 U.S. patents.
* Melda N. Yildiz, two-time Fulbright Scholar.
* Tom Duff, computer programmer
* Franklin C. Crow, computer scientist
* John Lewis, computer scientist
* Richard "Buz" Cooper, MD, a hematologist/oncologist who founded University of Pennsylvania's Cancer Center.

### Athletic coaches

* Bob Malvagna
* Ron Ganulin
* David Sweder

### Presidents and provosts

Presidents :
| Name | Tenure |
| Alexander Schure | 1955–1982 |
| Matthew Schure | 1982–2000 |
| Edward Guiliano | 2000–2016 |
| Rahmat Shoureshi | January 2017–May 2017 |
| Hank Foley | June 2017–present |
Provosts :
| Name | Tenure |
| Alexandra W. Logue | |
| Rahmat Shoureshi | 2011 – 2016 |

### Benefactors

NYIT financial supporters include:
* Alexander P. de Seversky, namesake of NYIT's DeSeversky Mansion and DeSeversky Center
* Cornelius Vanderbilt Whitney
* Rockefeller family, namesake of the Rockefeller Auditorium and the Rockefeller Building on NYIT's Old Westbury campus.
* Nelson Rockefeller, namesake of NYIT's Nelson A. Rockefeller Academic Center
* Laurance Rockefeller
* Henry Kissinger, National Security Advisor and United States Secretary of State.
* Richard A. Cody, 31st Vice Chief of Staff of the United States Army.

### Honorary degree recipients

* Steve Forbes, editor-in-chief and publisher of business magazine Forbes
* Bill Gates, founder of Microsoft
* Gail Wilensky, headed Medicare under the first president Bush
* Patricia Horoho, 43rd U.S. Army Surgeon General and Commanding General of the U.S. Army Medical Command.
* Frank Bisignano, Chairman and CEO of First Data
* Graham Nash, two-time Rock and Roll Hall of Fame inductee
* William Bratton, New York City Police Commissioner
* Kareem Abdul-Jabbar, one of the 50 Greatest Players in NBA History.
* Stanford R. Ovshinsky, prolific American inventor and scientist who had been granted well over 400 patents.
* Christine K. Cassel, member of United States President's Council of Advisors on Science and Technology.

### Commencement speakers

Notable commencement speakers include George Pataki, the 53rd governor of New York, and Sanjay Kumar, chairman and CEO of CA Technologies.

## In popular culture

NYIT's campuses have been the backdrop for movies such as Arthur and Three Days of the Condor and TV shows including Gossip Girl and Four Weddings.