From: President Nariman Farvardin and Senior Vice President for Academic Affairs and Provost Jianmin Qu
To: Stevens Students, Faculty and Staff
Subject: Establishing a School of Computing at Stevens
Date: Dec. 16, 2025
We are writing to share important news about Stevens' future: Our Board of Trustees has approved the establishment of the Stevens School of Computing — a new academic hub for computing and AI education and research — with a launch targeted for Fall 2026.
This decision responds to a reality we all see: Artificial intelligence (AI) and computing are reshaping every sector of our economy and every aspect of our lives. The pace of change is accelerating. For Stevens to fulfill our mission — preparing students for an increasingly technology-centric world — we must position ourselves at the center of this transformation.
Computing is already Stevens’ largest and fastest-growing academic area, representing more than a quarter of the university’s total enrollment. Student demand in computing disciplines has increased steadily over the past decade, and projections indicate continued growth in both undergraduate and graduate programs as new offerings become available. A dedicated school provides the infrastructure, leadership and competitive positioning needed to meet this demand while upholding the highest standards of quality in education and research.
What This Enables
This new School of Computing will be a school with permeable walls to facilitate interdisciplinary research and education. It will lead, not own, computing at Stevens, fostering collaboration across all our schools.
Faculty in the School will be organized around key research areas such as AI, cybersecurity, data science, computational science, software engineering, quantum computing, etc., reflecting the collaborative and evolving nature of the field.
A dedicated School of Computing provides the structure to compete for world-class faculty in an intensely competitive field. It allows us to develop innovative programs that blend computing with disciplines across our university — from computational biology to financial technology to digital arts. We will offer expanded programs in computing such as computer science, AI, cybersecurity and data science, with new opportunities for future “Computing + X” programs and degrees.
For our students, this means access to additional faculty expertise, new course offerings, enhanced research opportunities and more pathways to interdisciplinary study.
For our faculty across all schools, this enables opportunities through joint appointments, research partnerships and innovative combined programs.
Funding and Strategic Priorities
Budget for the current Department of Computer Science will be transferred to the new school as its base budget. Additional expenses associated with establishing the new school will be provided through committed and anticipated philanthropic support. To date, we have secured more than $36 million in gifts, including endowed scholarships for undergraduate and graduate students, endowed professorships and support for new faculty hiring. These investments reflect strong confidence from donors who share our vision for Stevens and its role in shaping the future of education.
It is important to stress that computing and AI are not peripheral to Stevens' mission — they are central to it. We cannot prepare students for a technology-driven world without strength in these areas. Strategic prioritization becomes even more important during times of constraint. This is a deliberate choicethat will position Stevens for long-term competitiveness and success.
This initiative advances key priorities in Stevens 2032: Inspired by Humanity, Powered by Technology, our strategic plan. Specifically, it strengthens our position in computing and AI research, expands interdisciplinary educational opportunities and enhances our ability to prepare students for leadershipregardless of their career path.
Next Steps
In the coming months, Provost Qu will lead a search for an entrepreneurial founding dean of the School of Computing who will shape this new school. We will also begin strategic faculty recruitment in high-demand areas including AI, machine learning, cybersecurity and data science as well as in areas on the interface of computing and other disciplines.
Current computer science programs will transition to the new school structure, with existing faculty, students and curricula continuing without disruption. Current computer science majors will become part of the School of Computing; their degrees and academic progress remain unchanged. FAQ are available at this website, and we will continue to share information as plans develop.
This is an important moment for Stevens. By investing strategically in computing and AI, we are positioning our students — and our university — to lead in shaping the future.
Per aspera ad astra.