The Stevens experience fuels connection, purpose and discovery for students. From the first-year experience, clubs and organizations and Greek life to recreation, mental health and wellness programs, these opportunities enrich campus life and prepare students for success. The generosity of our community helps to strengthen the dynamic and supportive campus environment that defines a Stevens education.
When students and alumni reflect about their most meaningful experiences at Stevens, they often highlight the sense of community they discovered on campus. This culture of connection and engagement is fostered by thoughtful investment in student life.
The Stevens community contributed to a wide array of student life areas to benefit our students in 2024-2025. The top donor-supported areas were the student emergency fund, mental health and wellness programs, campus traditions and student organizations. Contributions came from a broad network of supporters including students, alumni, parents, friends, faculty and staff.
“We are very grateful for the generous support for student life and student success,” says Sara Klein, vice president for student affairs. “Having funding to create programs, events and special initiatives for students facilitates the kind of transformative college environment that we want all our students to experience. I believe student culture drives everything on campus. A thriving student culture, like we have at Stevens, increases and improves retention, graduation rates, career outcomes and a sense of pride in the university.”
Stevens’ active and engaged campus provides many benefits to students with impact that extends well beyond graduation.
“Students need community and connectivity,” Klein says. “Engagement helps students to figure out their identity and what kind of person they want to be. They need to connect with faculty, staff and their peers and doing it through all these different subsets of campus – student organizations, clubs, programs, opportunities and research internships – is how they have a transformative experience in college.”
First-Year Experience Impact
One of the most impactful programs is the First-Year Experience course, implemented in Fall 2024, as part of Stevens’ groundbreaking SUCCESS curriculum. The course introduces students to Stevens and its resources, life and study skills for success, leadership principles and ethical values. It also fosters peer, faculty and staff connections within small groups, enabling students to explore their identity within the Stevens community, and provides ongoing support throughout their undergraduate journey.
“The first-year experience course is positioned in the first semester to introduce students to the supports that will facilitate their success in college and to help every student make connections,” Klein says. “Students learn about strategies for success in the classroom and skills such as how to manage their time. They also focus on their out-of-classroom experience – their personal, social and emotional needs and how to get involved in our community. We are not only delivering a curriculum that teaches about those things; we are creating a supportive group of peers, as well as a faculty and staff member, with whom students can connect for guidance and support throughout their time at Stevens.”
After its first year, the initiative has shown remarkable impact. Klein noted that the course elevated Steven’s already high first-year retention rate by one percentage point to over 99%.
Supportive Campus Environment
A supportive campus culture fosters belonging and shared purpose. “Not only does it benefit students who seek out support, but it creates a sense of community among students, faculty and staff that is inclusive and supportive of every single student,” Klein says. “It creates this idea that every person in the community is responsible for everyone else. It is not just faculty and staff who are extremely supportive, but also student peers who can help one another.”
The mental health and wellness of students is a significant priority for Stevens. CAPS (Counseling and Psychological Services) provides free and confidential counseling for students, along with workshops, campaigns and educational interventions to promote awareness.
Stevens partners with the Jed Foundation to develop systems, programs and policies that promote mental health and suicide prevention, reduce stigma about seeking help and promote campus-wide responsibility. After participating in the first ever cohort of colleges in the original Jed program, the university recently completed the Jed 2.0 program to reflect on achievements and progress and look for new areas of growth. In 2022, Stevens received the prestigious Active Minds Healthy Campus Award. Stevens also offers mental health first aid training to the campus community; more than 100 students, faculty and staff have completed the training and are now part of the Duck Support Network.
Student Emergency Assistance
The Stevens Student Emergency Fund, one of the top supported areas, provides limited emergency financial assistance to undergraduate and graduate students who are unable to meet immediate, essential expenses because of temporary and unexpected hardship. The emergency fund is fully funded by donor contributions and provides for basic needs in emergency situations. In the last fiscal year, four graduate students received support for critical emergency needs.
When students face urgent challenges, Klein and her team first work to assist them through campus resources. “The emergency fund is used for extreme cases in which students facing significant challenges might have no other means of support,” Klein says. “The support for this fund has been amazing. It has allowed us to meet immediate, urgent demand.”
Meaningful Connections
Along with a supportive campus environment, sharing in campus traditions and joining clubs and organizations help students to build community and camaraderie. The Stevens community showed strong support for these areas. The campus traditions fund provides for events and activities unique to Stevens like Wittpenn Walk, Duck Days and the Founder’s Day Ball. Stevens also offers 150+ student organizations to bring students together and help them connect in ways that resonate with their interests.
On Day of Giving, more than 200 students engaged in our first Stevens Day of Giving Fair, coming together in the University Center Complex to share their Stevens pride and encourage one another to support student organizations and areas meaningful to them.
William Franznick, Class of 2026 and chapter president of Engineers Without Borders (EWB), and Michael Moschello, Class of 2027 and vice president of relations for the Student Government Association (SGA), have found a strong sense of community within their organizations and both served as student leaders during the Stevens Day of Giving Fair.
“EWB has provided an atmosphere and community that combines fun and professionalism,” Franznick said. “I found a community that enables me to grow professionally, network with professors and engineers in industry, and practice service and advocacy for our community partners. Most importantly, EWB gave me a family and memories that will never fade.”
“The Stevens Day of Giving Fair created an environment where student organizations came together to advocate for the interests of the student body,” he said. “Many of the organizations have a mission to create a real difference in the world and in the lives of Stevens’ students. Philanthropy is a vehicle for anyone and everyone to make a difference.”
“Being involved in the SGA has given me valuable, hands-on opportunities to lead,” Moschello said. “Representing the SGA during Day of Giving was especially meaningful because we were fundraising for initiatives that elevate the student experience.”
“By supporting initiatives, especially those tied to student organizations, we were able to fund special programs that might not otherwise exist,” he added. “When students give to causes that are personally meaningful, it builds a sense of pride and helps foster a culture of giving back that continues beyond graduation.”
Stevens has received notable recognition for its impactful student life and support services. The university was recently featured in The Princeton Review’s The Best 391 Colleges: 2026 Edition, ranking No. 4 for “Best Student Support and Counseling Services” and No. 20 for “Best Quality of Life.”
Stevens is very grateful to all our supporters for their generosity in helping to empower our students through an enriching campus life and inspiring them to achieve greatness as impactful, innovative leaders.
