The Samuel C. Williams Library has officially reduced its operating hours and the Office of Undergraduate Academics (OUA) has paused drop-in tutoring services outside of finals week following university-wide budget cuts.
The change, which went into effect on October 10, 2025, was announced in a campus-wide email and was received with discussion concerning operational financial impacts across the Stevens community. For many, the library’s amended hours represent one of the most tangible impacts of the recent financial adjustments on student life.
Library Director Linda Beninghove explained that “due to the recent required budget reductions across the university, the library has been called upon to significantly reduce the library budget in all areas: personnel, materials, and supplies, including research resources, and the library hours.”
The library’s new schedule is as follows:
- Monday to Thursday: 8 a.m. to midnight
- Friday: 8 a.m. to 8 p.m.
- Saturday: 1 to 6 p.m.
- Sunday: 1 p.m. to midnight
According to Beninghove, the decision to adjust hours was informed by a review of headcount data and entrance gate records presented as follows:
- Weekday afternoons/evenings (Mon–Thurs, 12–6 p.m.): 100–300 students.
- Late nights (12–2 a.m.): significantly fewer students.
- 1 a.m. (Sun–Thurs): average 7–18 students.
- Saturdays: average 18–63 students, with peaks 1–5 p.m.
- Higher traffic observed around midterms and finals.
Drop-in tutoring, which previously ran throughout the semester, will now be available only the week before finals and during, though the exact dates have not yet been announced. However, individual tutoring remains operational and can be booked here.
The recent changes have caused confusion and frustration among both students and tutors. Tutor Ethan Hagen shared, “The message we received as tutors was very abrupt, as we were notified the morning of the DITC closing. I was initially confused and wanted more of an explanation than what was given.”
Many students and tutors rely on the library’s late-night hours during high-stress periods of the semester, and the reduced access has prompted some to seek alternative study spaces. Tutor Emma Smith expressed her concerns, saying, “I worked 11 hours a week in the DITC; now I don’t work at all some weeks, with only one-on-one tutoring. I think overall, for the students at Stevens, the DITC should still be open.”
When asked about future plans, Academic Affairs Chair Emely Vargas, a 2/4 Biomedical Engineering major, said she has been in communication with the Library, Tutoring Center, and the Office of the Provost to find solutions that better address student needs.
Organizations such as APO, RHA, and Greek Life have been in talks of creating a pseudo drop-in tutoring center.
It remains unclear whether the reduced hours for the library and Drop-in Tutoring Center will remain in effect beyond this semester. Beninghove noted that the library will continue to monitor usage and feedback to guide future decisions. Students can check the updated library schedule on the library website and will receive a campus-wide email with any changes to be made.
