Supporting our Colleagues and Friends

Recent events in Israel and Gaza have caused shock and horror among many in our community. The war in Ukraine rages on well into its second year, and natural disasters such as earthquakes in Afghanistan, Morocco and along the Turkey-Syria border, among other tragic events, may have profound and long-lasting effects on our students, faculty and colleagues.

Stevens is a diverse and close-knit community of faculty, staff, students and alumni from many nations and cultures. Goal 7 of our 2022-2032 strategic plan calls upon us to build a strong and connected university culture and to:

Foster a vibrant, supportive and sustainable culture where students, faculty, staff and alumni from all backgrounds engage in ongoing activities that strongly connect them to the university and where all constituencies are mutually committed to helping each other achieve their full potential to advance the mission of Stevens.

I was recently inspired in a meeting with leadership of the Stevens Student Government Association who described their upcoming “Kindness Initiative,” aimed at showing kindness and appreciation to other members of the Stevens community through words and gestures.

In this time of national and global turbulence, we must do everything in our own power to foster kindness, support and appreciation for others and to model inclusivity and compassion.

I would like to take this opportunity to remind students and colleagues about the support provided by the university in times of need:

Students in need of support or assistance should contact Counseling and Psychological Services (CAPS), the hub for mental health services at Stevens. CAPS offers a choice of in-person or teletherapy to all students. Students may also register for free teletherapy through Uwill (details on the CAPS website). To book an appointment, call 201-216-5177 or schedule a visit online through the Healthy Stevens Portal.   

Employees seeking support may contact the Stevens Employee Assistance Program (EAP) powered by ComPsych® GuidanceResources®, a service that provides confidential and professional assistance at no cost to eligible employees, dependents and/or significant others.  Please click here to learn more about the EAP or visit guidanceresources.com.

Per aspera ad astra.

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