In the same vein as NYU, Stanford, Purdue and Cornell universities have expressed interest in building satellite campuses in New York City.
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Last December, Mayor Bloomberg extended an invitation to universities worldwide to build an applied science research facility in New York City. Formal proposals are due March 16, and the city hopes to choose accept a university's proposal by the end of 2011.
"We believe that there is an opportunity in the applied science field. We're lucky to already have very strong institutions in New York City that have good engineering and science programs," said Julie Wood, vice president of public affairs at the New York City Economic Development Corporation. "We believe there's still room to grow."
According to Wood, four potential sites have been identified for construction: the Brooklyn Navy Yard, Governors Island, Roosevelt Island and the Farm Colony in Staten Island. Respondents may also request private sites of interest.
Purdue will submit a letter of interest before the March 16 deadline, according to Chris Sigurdson, the university's assistant vice president of external relations. Cornell University is also preparing a response. While Stanford has not made a decision, the university is considering the invitation.
"If we pursue the NYC opportunity, it would be different in character and bigger in scope than our current efforts outside Silicon Valley," said Jim Plummer, dean of the Stanford School of Engineering.
Lynne Brown, NYU's senior vice president for university relations and public affairs, said the university will also respond with a proposal of its own.
"From the vantage point of New York City, the mayor and his deputies want to assure the city's future as what John Sexton has called 'an ideal capital' — one of the dozen or so cities around the globe that can continue to attract the talent and creative class that will fuel its economy and future," Brown said.
P
resident John Sexton is open to expanding on Governor's Island.
"We've said to the city we'd be willing so long as they've activated Governor's Island and taken care of the infrastructure of the island," Sexton said. "It's only a two minute ferry ride, but the question is, does the ferry come every two hours or every fifteen minutes? So it's quality of life issues that will affect our decision."
Teboho Moja, professor of higher education at NYU, said similar expansions allow for "academic and intellectual mobility" by enabling institutions to "exchange [and] share knowledge [and] work together as an intellectual community."
But she noted that "Bloomberg is more of a business person," and said "his intentions are more for economic development or economic stimulation."
Laura Anglin, president of the Commission of Independent Colleges and Universities, supports the expansion of academic institutions.
"There are three ways in which higher education is exported: partnering with an institution in a foreign country, establishing a 'branch' campus, or providing distance education," Anglin said. "Any time a college or university seeks diversity — in its student body, its faculty, its academic offerings or its physical setting — learning opportunities are enhanced."
