Stevens’ bright new direction in academics and
research, and its strengthened financial footing, were the focus of the Volunteer Summit
2007 this fall when alumni volunteers got a behind-the-scenes look at the Institute’s
development goals.
With student enrollment up dramatically, the global reach of the Institute’s academic
programs expanding rapidly and exciting new avenues of research funding coming into view,
the Institute’s top administrators reported that Stevens is well on its way to
meeting its goals, as it gears up for a new capital campaign.
By 2012, the Institute aims to double the value of its endowment, expand its sponsored
research programs to more than $50 million and become recognized as one of the top 50
research universities in the nation.
The strategy to achieve these goals involves building communities for research and
creative enterprise—championing Stevens’ practice of Technogenesis®. And the
Institute continues to deliver the highest quality academic programs and to strengthening
and expand its ties with business, industry and government.
Stevens is also building a stronger financial foundation, through tighter financial
controls, growing revenue and enhanced giving. While the audited financial statements for
the year ending June 30, 2007, are not yet final, the Institute finished the past fiscal
year with a surplus before depreciation.
Inside Hoxie
Two dozen alumni volunteers and guests visited Hoxie House, the campus residence of Steven
President Hal Raveché, in late September to hear presentations from top administrators,
in an event designed to engage alumni in helping the Office of Development’s
fundraising and volunteer efforts.
The evening began with presentations from President Raveché, Provost George P. Korfiatis,
Hon. M.Eng. ’95, and Marjorie Everitt, vice president for Development and University
Communications.
Korfiatis discussed the priorities of the Provost’s Office, which include attracting
good faculty and supporting their research, improving the Institute’s fiscal
management and financial controls, increasing the endowment for student scholarships and
faculty salaries and chairs and enhancing Stevens’ prestige and name recognition.
The provost explained the recent reorganization of the Institute into four schools: the
Charles V. Schaefer. Jr. School of Engineering and Science, the new School of Systems and
Enterprises, the Wesley J. Howe School of Technology Management and the new College of
Arts and Letters.
He talked about the focus areas of the Institute’s research programs that show
potential for making a global impact: nanotechnology and multi-scale systems engineering;
secure systems (including maritime, cyber, information and communication networks); and
systems engineering and enterprise systems.
Afterward, dinner was served in the Hoxie House’s sun room. Paul Magnone ’88,
M.S. ’93, chair of the Annual Giving Council, led a panel discussion on
“Volunteering for Impact.” The participants included SAA President Ed Eichhorn
’69; Jim Behnke ’02, M.S. ’02, M.Eng. ’06, chair of Graduates of the
Last Decade (G.O.L.D.); and Paul Steffen ’57, class president and 50th class reunion
committee member—who shared their reunion planning and fundraising experiences with
various constituencies of the Stevens community.
The discussions focused on the importance of adding value to having a Stevens degree by
increasing alumni pride and awareness of the Institute’s many achievements. Also
discussed was the importance of maintaining good communication and fostering relationships
with alumni, for example, increasing the alumni presence on campus during the school year
when students are on campus and can be involved in events.
Specific ideas discussed included using development tools such as surveys and social
networking Web sites.
Alumni have expressed much positive reaction to the Alumni Association’s recent
initiatives to expand its use of electronic newsletters and its Web site (http://alumni.stevens.edu).
Many other important points were raised at the Volunteer Summit, including three major
advancement goals:
• Grow alumni participation to boost giving. Stevens needs to increase the
number of alumni who give and the total dollar amount alumni are giving. To achieve
greater success, participation must go beyond alumni and include students, friends,
family, foundations and corporations. Networking and building stronger relationships will
be a key to boosting giving.
• Add prestige to Stevens’ reputation. Prospective students, their
parents, employers, donors, foundations and corporations value the Institute and provide
support when Stevens shows its successes. To add prestige, Stevens must strengthen its
financial base and increase the number of donors, to affect the overall ranking of the
Institute; college rankings are based, in part, on the level of alumni giving.
• Increase communication among the alumni base. With preparations beginning
for its next capital campaign, Stevens needs to re-engage and re-energize its volunteers.
Educating alumni and the community about Stevens’ fund targets and other priorities
will position the school for greater success in the next campaign.
Achievements
Recent successes mentioned by the speakers included the Institute’s record level of
enrollment. This year’s freshman class enrollment is 573, up from 530 in the fall of
2006. These freshmen were selected from 3,058 applicants; in 1995, the Instituted received
1,916 applications and enrolled 406 in the freshman class.
Other successes noted at the Volunteer Summit included the fact that recent Stevens
graduates earn more than those of other schools (with the average starting salary at
$59,000, compared with about $52,000 nationally); that Graduate School revenue is greater
than undergraduate revenue for the first time; and that interest in Stevens’
WebCampus academic programs, now in 40 nations, is expanding rapidly around the globe. The
program in pharmaceutical manufacturing, for example, has attracted a lot of students in
India.
Special recognition recently earned by the Institute includes a survey of students by the
Princeton Review that has ranked the Stevens Office of Career Development in the top 20 of
university career services and job placement bureaus in the United States. And Raveché
noted that a recent Business Week opinion piece titled “Who Needs the
Ivies?” cited the strong entrepreneurial environment at Stevens, saying:
“Schools like MIT and Stanford don’t graduate more founders [of businesses] than
Stevens Institute of Technology or Arizona State University.”
Vice President Marjorie Everitt encouraged alumni to stay involved as the Institute gears
up for a new capital campaign, and to work with the Office of Development to help it reach
its goals.
Alumni are urged to increase their participation with the Development Office by being
involved in their class reunion planning, reaching out to their class captains and fellow
alumni and networking with others to increase awareness and promote a positive Stevens.
For additional information or to become a volunteer, please contact Jamie Schmeelk in
the Office of Development at jamie.schmeelk@stevens.edu
or (201) 216-5247. |
