NJIT is launching two initiatives in partnership with Newark to create an easier path for city students to enroll. WBGO’s Ang Santos reports.

The Newark Math Success Initiative aims to double the number of city high school graduates that attend NJIT.

“There’s nothing stopping these students from getting the math instruction, mastering their mathematics that they need,” said University President Joel Bloom. “We work with them over the summer when they arrive there. It’s about the math.”

A scholarship program will offer three students a full ride at NJIT. In addition, Mayor Ras Baraka says they’ll be offered paid internship opportunities.

“That will allow our students not only to go to school but to work. So, school and career at the same time,” Baraka said. “We have an engineering department that deals with anything you can imagine. Roads, bridges, architecture, everything. And a water department that is very heavy in civic engineering as well.”

Currently only about 200 Newark high school graduates attend NJIT.