With the unveiling of the new academic curriculum for incoming first-year students, Stevens hopes to prepare students for exactly what the name says: success — the Stevens Undergraduate Core Curriculum Essential Skills for Success (SUCCESS). The aims of the program are to prepare students for the demands of college life (study skills, how to deal with mental health, time management, etc.) and to help them thrive in the constantly evolving workforce.
SUCCESS is an important part of the current 10-year strategic plan for improving the university’s position as a national leader in education. Part of that is improving the academic experience in a way that will promote future career success. As Vice Provost for Academic Innovation and Faculty Affairs David Zeng describes it, the new curriculum “will transform our undergraduate education and really enhance our students’ experience and success. They will have a better experience if they are better prepared. They will have more opportunities to succeed if they are better educated and prepared. The modern digital economy is technology-driven. If students have all the skills for success, they are more likely to be successful in their future career.” This goal to improve student performance in both academics and the workforce is what defines the SUCCESS program.
This upcoming 2024-25 academic year, SUCCESS consists of a series of three required Frontiers of Technology courses and the First-Year Experience course. The Frontiers of Technology courses are designed to evolve with changing technology, and year-to-year, their topics shall be reevaluated to ensure that Stevens students are always receiving the most up-to-date information about emerging technologies in the workforce. For the upcoming Fall semester, students will choose three of the five available classes: AI and Machine Learning (PRV201), Data Science and Analytics (PRV202), Biotechnology (PRV203), Sustainability (PRV 204), and Quantum Technology (PRV205). TFirst-Year Experience (FYE) course, PRV 101, is directed by Chris Shemanski under the Division of Student Affairs and aims to introduce students to Stevens and its resources. The required courses for all incoming undergraduate students in all schools and majors will now include HASS103, HASS105, a computing course, an entrepreneurship course, the FYE course, and an individual selection of at least three of the Frontiers of Technology courses.
As the university makes this transition, the plan will only affect incoming first-year students and transfer students starting in the Fall of 2024 and will have no impact on current students. There will not be any impact on the course requirements of the program of study for incoming students, as SUCCESS was created in a way that would leave as little impact as possible on academic requirements.
With the implementation of the new SUCCESS curriculum, Stevens is preparing its future undergraduates for success at Stevens while also setting them up for success in a rapidly evolving technology-centered world.
