Stevens’ Decade of Progress Vaults Student Success
Students are the primary focus — and beneficiaries — as Stevens Institute of Technology marks 10 years of transformational growth in enrollment, research impact and student success.
In 2018, when Shalini Menon, a prospective financial engineering student who has been legally blind since birth, explored universities to pursue a master's degree, she chose Stevens Institute of Technology — located on the New Jersey waterfront directly across from Manhattan — from an impressive list of potential graduate school destinations.
"There was just something special here," says Menon. "Stevens saw my research and credentials, offered me a Provost's Scholarship — and told me, 'Whatever you need to do, we will do it.'"
Once Menon's decision was made, the university's Office of Disability Services facilitated Menon's transition to an education at Stevens.
"Our office is fortunate to have excellent relationships with the Stevens faculty," says Phillip Gehman, director of Stevens disability services. "They have demonstrated time and again their willingness to make every student feel like they are an important part of a community that cares."
Two years later, Menon graduated with a 4.0 GPA, a Beta Gamma Sigma honor society membership, an in-demand master's degree and a new career in Chicago, where she works as a corporate investment banking analyst with BMO Capital Markets, a company she connected with through a Stevens career fair.
Menon's positive experience and post-graduation success story is just one of thousands that have helped vault Stevens into the national spotlight. The university's unique blend of a relevant, experiential STEM curricula, remarkable student outcomes, premier location and vibrant research enterprise have created a buzz. At the heart of it all is an environment that propels every student to success, academically and personally.
"I have never regretted my decision to come to Stevens," says Menon. "The focus, from day one, was that Stevens would make the learning experience as fruitful as possible for me."
A president with a plan
Stevens was founded in 1870 as the nation's first college of mechanical engineering. Its founding family invented the American steam locomotive, steam ferry and railroad track and launched the America's Cup sailing design and race competition. Over subsequent decades, Stevens expanded undergraduate and graduate programs within its Schaefer School of Engineering and Science and added a School of Business, a School of Systems and Enterprises and a College of Arts and Letters.
President Nariman Farvardin, an accomplished scholar, researcher and academic administrator who holds seven patents, took the helm of Stevens in 2011. Harnessing the talent and aspirations of the Stevens community, he empowered them to realize their grand ambitions.
The resulting 10-year strategic plan, The Future. Ours to Create., provided a road map for the next decade, in undergraduate and graduate enrollment, student success, research impact, IT and campus infrastructure, fundraising and more.
And during the decade since the strategic plan launched, the university has achieved or surpassed many of its goals — some even a year ahead of schedule.
"In almost every imaginable measure of performance, impact and productivity, Stevens has reached new heights of achievement," notes Farvardin.
Between 2011 and 2021, Stevens' full-time enrollment increased by 70%, from 4,313 students to 7,332. Undergraduate applications increased by 214%; graduate applications increased by 272%.
The academic profile of students has increased, too. The average SAT score for the Fall 2021 cohort was 1,432, a 145-point increase over Fall 2011. Research funding doubled during the last decade. Annual philanthropy grew by 377%.
By design, Stevens' students have been the primary beneficiaries of the university's progress:
· 97.3% of Class of 2021 graduates achieved their desired outcomes within six months of graduation, landing some of the nation's top starting salaries and entering prestigious universities as graduate students.
· 100% of classrooms have been upgraded with leading-edge learning technology.
· Augmented mental health and wellness services earned Active Minds' 2022 Healthy Campus Award.
· The number of female and underrepresented minority students grew by 98% and 149%, respectively, thanks to initiatives like Stevens ACES (Accessing Careers in Engineering and Science), an award-winning program that builds bridges with high schools in underserved communities.
· The Gateway Academic Center, a state-of-the-art teaching and research complex, opened in 2019.
· The iconic, new University Center Complex will provide a modern hub for student life and state-of-the-art residential space for 1,000 students — many with unmatched New York City views.
This turnaround has been both noted and recognized.
Stevens received the American Council on Education/Fidelity Investments Award for Institutional Transformation, given for responding to higher education-environment challenges in innovative and creative ways and achieving dramatic, rapid change and improvement, in 2018.
The people of Stevens also have been noticed. Graduating senior Yanqing Liang is one of the world's 10 most promising young civil engineers, according to the American Society for Civil Engineers (ASCE), for example. Stevens faculty experts are regularly quoted by the world's leading media outlets, including in The New York Times, The Washington Post and on CNN and the BBC, among a host of others, on issues ranging from artificial intelligence and fintech to renewable energy, nuclear proliferation and election integrity.
Looking forward
Stevens is looking toward the future. With the past 10 years as a foundation, the university is poised to make contributions that improve society.
Stevens is both technology-centric and agile. In the center of one of the world’s most vibrant corporate and technology regions, Stevens is tackling critical challenges facing our global society — in healthcare and medicine, brain research, artificial intelligence, cybersecurity, robotics, quantum devices, financial technologies, renewable energy, sustainability, defense and security and more. Because of its deep industry connections and the constant curricular adaptation to meet — and anticipate — workforce needs, Stevens prepares its students to contribute to an innovation-based economy from day one on the job.
A Stevens education produces enormous value for students who graduate and go on to launch and lead companies with great success and who contribute to society as ethical, responsible and technology-savvy citizens.
"Looking ahead to the contributions that Stevens and our graduates will make in the future," says President Farvardin, "the best is yet to come."
This content was paid for and created by Stevens Institute of Technology. The editorial staff of The Chronicle had no role in its preparation. Find out more about paid content.
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