Fairleigh Dickinson University Florham Campus: A Blend of History, Academics, and Student Life
Fairleigh Dickinson University (FDU) stands as a private institution with a rich history and a commitment to global education. With its main campuses in Madison/Florham Park and Teaneck/Hackensack, New Jersey, FDU offers a diverse range of academic programs and a vibrant student life. Founded in 1942, the university has grown into the largest private university in New Jersey, with additional campuses in Vancouver, British Columbia, Canada, and Wroxton, Oxfordshire, United Kingdom, as well as an online platform.
A Glimpse into History
The story of Fairleigh Dickinson University begins with its establishment as Fairleigh Dickinson Junior College in 1942 by Dr. Peter Sammartino and his wife, Sylvia (Sally). The institution was named after Colonel Fairleigh S. Dickinson, co-founder of Becton Dickinson, who served as an early benefactor. Initially a two-year college in Rutherford, New Jersey, FDU expanded to a four-year curriculum in 1948 in response to the growing need for higher education in northern New Jersey.
In 1953, Fairleigh Dickinson College merged with Bergen Junior College, acquiring its campus in Teaneck, New Jersey. This merger significantly increased the institution's capacity, allowing it to serve a larger student population. In 1956, Fairleigh Dickinson attained university status, marking a significant milestone in its development.
The Florham Campus: A Legacy of the Gilded Age
The Florham Campus of Fairleigh Dickinson University has a unique history that predates the university itself. The land was once part of the "Florham" estate, one of America's finest Gilded Age homes. In 1887, Florence Vanderbilt, granddaughter of Commodore Cornelius Vanderbilt, and her husband, financier Hamilton McKown Twombly, sought to establish a country estate in the quiet Morris County countryside, where over 100 other millionaires had sprawling country retreats.
The Twomblys acquired 1,200 acres of land and commissioned architects Charles McKim and William Mead, along with their partner Stanford White, to design their 100-room mansion. The Georgian Revival design, inspired by the Christopher Wren wing of Hampton Court Palace, was completed in 1897. The estate also included outbuildings such as an orangerie, greenhouses, a gate lodge, and a carriage house. The couple named their estate "Florham," a combination of their first names, Florence and Hamilton.
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During Morristown’s spring and fall social season, the Twomblys resided at their mansion, supported by a staff of 125. However, tragedy struck the family with the deaths of their daughter, Alice, in 1896 and their son, Hamilton Jr., in 1906.
After the death of the Twomblys' unmarried daughter, Ruth, in 1953, the estate's existence as a Twombly home came to an end. In 1955, the Mansion’s lavish contents were sold at public auction. In 1957, Esso Research and Engineering Company acquired 650 acres of the Twombly farmland. Today, the Mansion, the Carriage House, the Orangerie, and the Gate Lodge are integral parts of the Florham Campus, serving various university functions. The landscape design, originally created by Frederick Law Olmsted, the designer of Central Park, provides a magnificent backdrop for the campus.
Academics: A Commitment to Global Education
Fairleigh Dickinson University offers nearly 100 degree programs at the associate, baccalaureate, master’s, and doctoral levels. The university is composed of two academic colleges: the Maxwell Becton College of Arts and Sciences and the Silberman College of Business, along with seven independent schools: the Gildart Hasse School of Computer Sciences and Engineering; the Peter Sammartino School of Education; the International School of Hospitality, Sports, and Tourism Management; the Henry P. Becton School of Nursing and Allied Health; the School of Pharmacy; the School of Public and Global Affairs; and University College.
The Silberman College of Business is a tri-campus college of Fairleigh Dickinson University and is accredited by AACSB International - The Association to Advance Collegiate Schools of Business. Graduate programs are offered at all four of the university's campuses, with some available solely through online delivery.
FDU strongly emphasizes an international component to its curriculum and provides its students with a global and multicultural perspective. In 1965, FDU became the first American university to own a campus in England when it acquired Wroxton College from Trinity College, Oxford University. In 2000, the Board of Trustees adopted a mission statement dedicating the University to global education. In addition to Wroxton College, the University opened its second international campus in Vancouver, British Columbia, Canada, in fall 2007.
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Libraries and Resources
The university maintains libraries on all four of its campuses. The Florham Campus library is part of the John and Joan Monninger Center for Learning and Research. The Metropolitan campus features the Metropolitan Library and the North Jersey Heritage Center, an archival collection of New Jersey books, documents, maps, newspapers, reference material, as well as FDU history. The Metropolitan Library also holds the Columbia Pictures Archive, a collection of over 230 movies from the Columbia Pictures Studios on 16mm film.
Student Life: Engaging and Diverse
Beyond academics, Fairleigh Dickinson University offers a vibrant student life with a wide range of activities and organizations. More than half of Florham Campus students participate in a sport. The 50+ clubs students engage in include academic, arts, religious and spiritual, diversity and multicultural, service, social, and recreational.
Students can participate in on-campus programs such as Devil Days, Pep Rally, Haunted Mansion, Ian’s Luau, Wild West, Devils World, Club Fair, Ian’s Birthday, or Meet the Greeks. Novelty programs like DIY terrariums, Lego bingo, paint and sips, Stuff a Plush, friendship bracelets, journal decorating, or DIY suncatchers are also popular. Food programs like donut stress, funnel cakes, coffee bar, chocolate fountain, walking tacos or nacho bar provide opportunities for socializing and relaxation. Diversity programs include West Indian Student Organization Rep Ya Flag, Taste of Culture, Interfaith Mixer, Indian Sweets and Henna Art, or Bachata Night.
A Look Back at Early Campus Life
University life in the early days of the Madison Campus was a unique experience. Students were required to adhere to a dress code, with men wearing jackets and ties to class, and women wearing dresses or skirts and blouses. The women were housed on the third floor of the Mansion, while the men were housed in the left-hand wing, which had previously served as the Twomblys’ servant quarters.
Despite the age of the building, the rooms were freshly painted. There were no refrigerators or telephones in the rooms. A dumbwaiter was used to transport items between floors, including late-night pizza orders. The Mansion’s organ, with its pipes extending up into the second-floor lounge, was fondly remembered, with a student regularly playing it on Sunday mornings.
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The University’s annual Debutante Cotillion was held in the Mansion's Great Hall and ballroom (Lenfell Hall). Freshman hazing, which is no longer permitted, involved requiring members of the incoming class to wear beanies in school colors. The most daring hazing prank involved sneaking up the dumbwaiter to grab undergarments.
Many parts of the campus remained as the Twomblys had left them. Rooms still had fabric wall coverings and original bathroom fixtures. A barn was filled with animal trophy mounts. The Playhouse, an architectural masterpiece, contained an indoor clay tennis court and a heated Grecian swimming pool. The Playhouse also served as a base for the campus athletics program and hosted socials and meetings.
Athletics
The FDU Florham Campus sports teams are called the Devils. They are in NCAA Division III and the Eastern College Athletic Conference (ECAC) and they compete in the Middle Atlantic Conferences' (MAC) MAC Freedom.
Recent Developments and Highlights
In 2023, Michael J. Avaltroni became the first alumnus of FDU to become the president of the institution. Under his leadership, FDU is embarking on a new chapter and a renewed commitment to “Students First!”
Recent developments and highlights include:
- The creation of a new strategic plan titled FDU Will Soar.
- Resuming its place in the top 50 regional universities in the north in U.S. News & World Report’s collegiate rankings.
- Ranking number 14 in Best Value Schools and number 13 in Top Performers on Social Mobility.
- The establishment of FDU Health, a comprehensive and innovative new division that combines new initiatives along with existing programs from multiple colleges and schools within the University.
- The creation of the Transforming College Campuses (TCC) program to support the mental-health needs of FDU’s undergraduate students.
- Enhanced commitment and support for Hispanic students through the Hispanic Center.
- A new fundraising campaign, “Students First,” dedicated entirely to supporting students throughout their academic journeys.
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