Stevens Institute of Technology Awarded American Talent Initiative Grant to Launch Transfer Student Success Initiative
Grant to expand STEM opportunities for low-income community college students
Hoboken, N.J. October 9, 2024 – Stevens Institute of Technology today announced it has been awarded a highly competitive grant from the American Talent Initiative (ATI) to launch its innovative Stevens Transfer Student Success Initiative (STSSI). The grant, provided in partnership with the Aspen Institute College Excellence Program and Ithaka S+R, and funded by Bloomberg Philanthropies, will support Stevens' efforts to expand access to STEM education for talented low-income students.
Stevens is one of just 16 institutions selected from a pool of 47 applicants for the ATI Fund, which will award $5 million in total grants to support and expand promising practices that help more students from low-income backgrounds earn a four-year degree.
"The Stevens Transfer Student Success Initiative embodies our belief that talent is evenly distributed within our society, but opportunity is not," said Dr. Nariman Farvardin, President of Stevens Institute of Technology. "As an ATI 'High-Flier,' we're further strengthening our commitment to expand access to STEM education. By partnering with community colleges and providing comprehensive support to transfer students, we aim to double our Pell-eligible transfer enrollment. This initiative isn't just about numbers — it's about changing lives and shaping the future of STEM leadership."
The STSSI addresses a critical challenge in higher education: While many talented individuals start their academic journeys at community colleges, only 16% earn a bachelor's degree within six years. Over the next two years, the grant will support Stevens in implementing a multi-faceted approach to change this statistic:
Developing partnerships with local community colleges
Creating seamless transfer pathways for STEM programs
Providing comprehensive support from enrollment through graduation
Offering summer bridge programs and tailored orientations for transfer students
This initiative builds on Stevens' track record of success in expanding opportunity for lower-income students. As an ATI "High-Flier," Stevens is among the top five schools nationwide showing high rates of Pell enrollment increase. Since 2016, Stevens has been part of ATI's collective effort that has enrolled an additional 18,100 Pell Grant recipients across member institutions.
"Our focus on expanding access and opportunity for all students is a key part of Stevens' identity," added President Farvardin. "While we take great pride in our progress and ATI 'High-Flier' recognition, we recognize there is more work to be done. Stevens remains deeply committed to unlocking the full potential of talented students from all backgrounds."
The STSSI aligns with Stevens' Accelerating Opportunity goal to increase enrollment of Pell-eligible students. By aiming to double its Pell-eligible transfer enrollment to 30% of incoming transfer students, Stevens is taking a significant step towards creating a more diverse and inclusive STEM workforce.
For more information about Stevens Institute of Technology and its commitment to expanding access to STEM education, visit stevens.edu.
Stevens Media Contact
Kristen Daily
Assistant Vice President for Strategic Communications and Public Relations
Division of University Relations
973-879-5074
kdaily1@stevens.edu
About Stevens Institute of Technology
Stevens Institute of Technology is a premier, private research university situated in Hoboken, New Jersey. Since our founding in 1870, technological innovation has been the hallmark of Stevens’ education and research. Within the university’s three schools, nearly 9,000 undergraduate and graduate students collaborate closely with faculty in an interdisciplinary, student-centric, entrepreneurial environment. Academic and research programs spanning business, computing, engineering, the arts and other disciplines actively advance the frontiers of science and leverage technology to confront our most pressing global challenges. The university continues to be consistently ranked among the nation’s leaders in career services, post-graduation salaries of alumni and return on tuition investment.
About ATI
The American Talent Initiative (ATI) is a Bloomberg Philanthropies-supported collaboration between the Aspen Institute College Excellence Program, Ithaka S+R, and more than 135 top colleges and universities nationwide committed to enrolling, supporting, and graduating more talented students from lower-income backgrounds. The American Talent Initiative seeks to substantially expand access and opportunity for talented, low- and moderate-income students at the nation’s colleges and universities with the highest graduation rates. Member institutions are enhancing their own efforts to recruit and support lower-income students, learn from each other, and contribute to research that will help colleges and universities expand opportunities. To learn more about ATI, visit www.americantalentinitiative.org.