Today, on the first day of the fall 2026 semester, I want to welcome the new members of our community — new students, new faculty and new colleagues. I hope you're all joining us or returning with the same sense of momentum and excitement I feel as we open the school year. We have a lot to celebrate! 

As the technological landscape evolves, so does our academic programming 

In one of the most consequential academic developments of recent years, this fall will be the inaugural semester of the School of Computing. Responding to a surging demand for professionals who can apply AI and computing skills to a range of disciplines, this launch will enable students to pursue rigorous studies in computing, as well as its application to health, finance, the arts and other fields.  
 
This development shows our community’s longstanding strength in the field of artificial intelligence — and our ability, as well as our determination, to proactively respond to a fast-moving technological landscape.  
 
For the first time this year, we’ll offer a dedicated undergraduate degree and minor in artificial intelligence. Twenty-three students are making history as members of Stevens' inaugural B.S. in Artificial Intelligence program.   
 
Our new programming doesn’t stop there. Through a new Master of Science in Aerospace Engineering, students will receive rigorous graduate-level training in the core disciplines that drive the aerospace, defense and space industries. 

Major new AI@Stevens initiative 

In the coming weeks, you will learn more about a university-wide effort to ensure that Stevens is fully prepared for — and appropriately leverages — the transformational impact that artificial intelligence will have on higher education and society. I am so grateful that, over the past eight weeks, five working groups comprising 41 colleagues — faculty and members of the administration — have brainstormed and contributed to our plans in five key areas: (i) our Vision; (ii) Governance; (iii) Infrastructure and Technology; (iv) AI in Academics; and (v) AI in Administrative Operations. We will unveil the results of this exciting process in the coming weeks and seek the input of our entire community on our strategy and implementation plans as we continue this work with great intensity. 
 
Welcoming new students and faculty 

This fall, we welcome nearly 1,100 new undergraduates, including nearly 50 transfer students. Students hail from New Jersey, New York and Pennsylvania, and from as far away as Hawaii, Indonesia, China, India and Brazil.  

New graduate students, including master’s, Ph.D. and certificate students, number over 970, including 470 new students in online programs and representing 37 countries across 74 different academic programs. 

The College of Professional Education (CPE) continues to grow Stevens Online at a remarkable pace. For fall 2026, we expect to serve nearly 1,800 online students. Applications and enrollments to CPE have grown more than 20% year-over-year.  

In addition, five new faculty joined us this fall, from prestigious institutions such as Cornell, Georgia Tech and Arizona State. 

We’re preparing our graduates to thrive — and the world is taking note 

This academic agility has not gone unnoticed by employers. In the latest graduate outcomes report, 93% of Class of 2025 graduates achieved their desired outcome — either employment or graduate school — within six months of graduation.  
 
It did not come as a surprise to see Stevens place on U.S. News’ list of “Most Innovative Schools” in the nation at No. 48, making us one of only two schools from New Jersey to make the list, along with Princeton. Stevens continues to rank among the best colleges in the U.S. On the inaugural TIME list of America’s Best Colleges, Stevens debuted at No. 30, reflecting recognition of our strong student outcomes and ROI. Another recognition I’m particularly proud of comes out of the Princeton Review, where we placed No. 2 in Best Student Support and Counseling Services. We are committed to supporting the well-being of our students in an environment that feels caring, so they can focus on what inspires them. We appeared on several other Princeton Review lists as well: No. 3 on “College City Gets High Marks” and No. 21 on “Best Quality of Life.” Additionally, we were one of 30 top schools recognized on the “Mental Health Services Honor Roll.”

These accomplishments and accolades are contributing to the increase in our recognition on the national stage and our growing reputation. During FY26, Stevens’ media relations efforts secured 11,235 total media mentions and 397 high-quality top-tier media, a 10.5% increase over FY25. 
 
Our research enterprise is making waves and setting new records 
 
In Stevens 2032: Inspired by Humanity, Powered by Technology™, we laid out a bold vision to become a leading research institution, and our faculty continue to answer that call:

We’re making a Stevens education possible for more students 
 
For the first time this fall, we’ll welcome students receiving full tuition coverage through the Stevens Investment, a bold new program aimed at expanding access to a transformative Stevens education by offering full tuition to qualified students whose families earn $75,000 or less. And because not all academic journeys are the same, we expanded the Stevens Transfer Student Success Initiative through a new partnership with Hudson County Community College, to create seamless transfer pathways and expand access to STEM education for community college students in New Jersey. 

Student Life and Athletics make us proud 

This fall marks the launch of the Senior Year Experience (SYE), which is designed to support senior undergraduate students in successfully navigating their academic, professional and personal goals as they transition from the student experience to life after Stevens as a member of our alumni community and a professional. The SYE includes the collaborative senior academic experience (senior design, senior project or senior thesis), preparation and networking events with the Career Center and Stevens alumni, a Re-Orientation program, new traditions including a Senior Sunrise, adulting workshops, Senior Week experiences and Commencement activities. Follow @syestevens on Instagram to learn more. 

This fall, we’ve also introduced the Basic Needs Vending Machine on the second floor of the Howe Center. It offers free and low-cost food and medical items to Stevens students in need. Funded by the New Jersey Office of the Secretary of Higher Education’s Hunger-Free Campus Grant, this project seeks to help students experiencing food insecurity by increasing availability and providing 24/7 access to healthy food and snacks, toiletries and more.  

In athletics, Stevens captured 13 conference championships during the 2025-26 academic year, the most in the Middle Atlantic Conference, and placed 34th among all Division III institutions in the NACDA Learfield Directors’ Cup standings. The Ducks also led the conference with 10 MAC Senior Scholar-Athletes, an award recognizing excellence in academics and athletics. Stevens posted a 3.604 departmental GPA during the spring semester and had four student-athletes named Academic All-Americans. In competition, the Ducks produced 19 All-Americans and 137 all-conference selections. 

Continuous improvements in campus and IT infrastructure  

We have continued to invest in our campus to meet our community’s evolving needs. This past year brought a wave of infrastructure investment supporting academics, research, athletics and student life, with several major projects completed and more underway heading into fall.  

On the academic side, we have begun a major project to renovate the S.C. Williams Library to upgrade technology, expand seating and study space and create a welcoming, state-of-the-art facility that instills pride. The Bissinger Room is also getting a major upgrade, including new digital technology to host events and conferences and many aesthetic improvements. We completed a full renovation of the Chemistry, Chemical Biology and Biology teaching lab in McLean Hall, along with a renovation of the building's NMR room. The Schaefer Athletic Training Center gym was transformed into a modern, high-performance training space with new turf, batting cages and dedicated conditioning areas. We are also delighted with the progress on the new Ruesterholz Tennis Complex, slated for completion by spring 2027. These are just a few of the many projects that have been completed or are underway to continue to improve and modernize our campus.  

Our Division of Information Technology achieved remarkable progress this year, advancing the technologies and services that support teaching, learning, research and administrative operations across Stevens. The latest expansion of the JARVIS high-performance computing cluster was deployed, significantly increasing computing power and storage capacity to support advanced scientific research and artificial intelligence initiatives. New Canvas tools were integrated or upgraded, and numerous cross-functional Workday improvements were made, including a combined Workday governance committee to strengthen collaboration and oversight of Finance and Human Capital Management activities across campus.   

IT also continued to enhance the campus experience through innovation and strategic investment. The Extended Reality (XR) Lab engaged more than 820 students across 55 courses, providing immersive, hands-on learning opportunities, while upgrades to 20 classrooms, labs, collaboration spaces and event venues created more reliable and flexible environments for in-person and hybrid learning. To better support Stevens' evolving needs, the Division of IT completed an organizational realignment that strengthens infrastructure, data, platform services and enterprise systems, improving overall campus partnership and positioning the university for continued growth and success. 

Alumni and friends’ pride and investment in Stevens show unprecedented growth 

FY26 was a record-breaking year as measured by growth in investment by Stevens’ alumni and friends: FY26 development results were $72.4 million, or a 32% year-over-year increase. Philanthropy supported a wide variety of campus priorities, from student scholarships to attracting and retaining stellar faculty to capital projects. 

As classes begin today, I encourage our students to carry enthusiasm, pride in our progress, dedication and collaborative spirit with them in the 2026-27 academic year.  

Whether you’re a returning member of our campus community, a part of our alumni body or a new student finding their way on campus for the first time, I hope you feel as inspired by this news as I do. Thank you for all that you do to make Stevens a place where we can do our best work. I look forward to all we'll accomplish together this year. 
 
Per aspera ad astra.