Stevens Institute of Technology (Hoboken, New Jersey)

 institute, engineering

Stevens is named for the distinguished family who perpetuated a tradition in American engineering, dating back to the early days of the Industrial Revolution. Col. John Stevens III (son of John Stevens Jr., politician and delegate to the Continental Congress in 1783) a Captain in Washington's army during the Revolutionary War, purchased from the State of New Jersey in 1784 the land included in the present-day 55-acre campus of the college. Here he built Castle Point, his estate on the hill overlooking the harbor. Col. Stevens served as treasurer of NJ, a pioneer in the development of the steamboat, and by 1825 had designed the first American-built steam locomotive.

Robert Stevens, one of Col. John Stevens' sons, improved flat-bottomed rail by inventing flanged T-rail, the form of railroad track in use today throughout the World. With his brother, Edwin A. Stevens, they built and operated profitably the first commercial railroad in the United States, the Camden and Amboy Railroad. Edwin, on his own, was active in the design and construction of ironclad vessels for the U.S. Navy. With another brother, John Cox Stevens, who was the first commodore of the New York Yacht Club, Edwin joined in the syndicate that built and raced the yacht "America." In 1851, that vessel defeated all the English contenders to become the first winner of the famed trophy now known as the America's Cup.

When Edwin Stevens died in 1868, his will provided for the establishment of the college which bears his family name, through a generous contribution of land and funds for building and endowment. Stevens Institute of Technology opened its doors in 1870. The original trustees determined that Stevens should have a single, rigorous engineering curriculum leading to a baccalaureate degree they designated "Mechanical Engineer." The undergraduate program encompassed most of the then existing and emerging engineering disciplines and was firmly grounded in scientific principles.

In June 1907, all classes had adopted an Honor System, which eventually became the cornerstone for all student self-government at Stevens and continues to this day as an essential element in the Institute's undergraduate life. Over the years, the Institute evolved from a small four-year undergraduate college of engineering into a much larger multifaceted institution with considerable research activity and a variety of graduate and undergraduate programs stressing not only engineering, but also science and management.

In 1971, for the first time, Stevens opened its doors to women. Stevens also became the first major educational institution in the nation to implement a personal computer requirement in 1982. In addition, a pioneering project was initiated which resulted in the networking of the entire Stevens campus and thus one of the country's first Intranets.

Stevens current president, Harold J. Raveche, became the sixth president of the university in 1988. His vision for Stevens is to educate leaders who create, apply and manage innovative technologies while maintaining a deep regard for human values. During his tenure, many new initiatives, including an extensive campus revitalization program, have been launched that will prepare Stevens students for success in a competitive global society.

Stevens seeks to develop its graduates as leaders who possess the skills and insight needed to renew American innovation, competitive spirit, and productivity. As Stevens moves forward into the next century, its strong commitment to academic excellence will position the college as a national force in higher education.