[The Stute] January 30, 2026 (Issue 14, Volume CXXIII)

yep....still here

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🙆 We write Stevens history HOBOKEN, NJ | JANUARY 30, 2026

VOLUME CXXIII No. 14

NEW STUTE EVERY FRIDAY • EST. 1904

Decreased graduate enrollment and the FY26 budget BY TASHA KHOSLA, HEAD COPY EDITOR

transportation, improving public education, complete government transparency, and working closely with small businesses, senior citizens, and all members of the public. Mayor Jabbour hopes that Hoboken can re-

In an email sent to Stevens faculty and staff, President Nairman Farvardin provided an update on the 2026 fiscal year budget. According to the email, graduate enrollment has declined “due largely to visa issues for international students,” and since Spring 2026, graduate enrollment has been below the school’s budget target, the university has implemented an additional layoff of 19 staff members. This action highlights the impact of graduate enrollment on the university’s operating budget, particularly international enrollment, “which has had a sustained impact on our revenues.” In May 2025, The New York Times listed Stevens first on a list of schools with the most international full-time graduate students in Fall 2023. For Stevens, this figure was a sizable 88%, underscoring the

SEE MAYORAL PAGE 2

SEE BUDGET PAGE 2

PHOTO COURTESY OF JERRY LORE

Stevens hosts Hoboken’s 40th mayoral inauguration BY ISABELLA FAMA, CONTRIBUTOR Stevens Institute of Technology proudly hosted the mayoral inauguration of Emily B. Jabbour, warmly welcoming her with a historical celebration. Mayor Jabbour is not only the 40th mayor of the city, but

she is also the second woman to serve, making this a huge milestone for Hoboken and a monumental moment for Stevens. Mayor Jabbour has been a Hoboken resident since 2008 and has also been extremely involved with the city’s community, serving the public prior to

stepping into the mayor’s office. Hoboken’s official site highlights her previous experience: starting off as a Presidential Management Fellow, then serving as a Performance Officer in the Office of Planning, Research, and Evaluation, serving two terms as an atlarge Councilwoman, and

working for nearly two decades in the U.S. Department of Health & Human Services. Mayor Jabbour understands the importance of professional experience and the need for connections within the community. Her policies highlight public safety, reliable

eXtensible Business Reporting Language US joins Stevens’ CRAFT BY NIHIRA PATHAK, STAFF WRITER

PHOTO COURTESY OF STEVENS.EDU

Stevens tops ranking for NJ graduate earnings BY FIONA SHI, BUSINESS MANAGER New federal earnings data from the U.S. Department of Education demonstrates that a Stevens degree provides a strong return on investment (ROI). The data, which displays median salaries of graduates four years after completing their degree, places Stevens at number one among all institutions in New Jersey and 32nd nationally out of nearly 5,000 colleges. With a reported median salary of $111,977, Stevens ranks in the top 1% of schools nationwide, standing alongside the country’s most selective universities. The data is available for download on the Federal Student Aid website. The federal analysis also highlights Stevens’ significant impact on upward eco-

nomic mobility. The data shows that Pell Grant recipients at Stevens achieve median earnings closely aligned with the overall graduate median, placing the university among a select group of schools that provide both high earnings and accessibility. “These results reflect our unwavering commitment to preparing students not just for their first job, but for lifelong career success,” said President Nariman Farvardin. “At Stevens, we combine rigorous academics with real-world experience through co-ops, internships, and industry partnerships, and these outcomes show that approach works.” The findings reinforce Stevens’ consistent recognition for ROI. The uni-

SEE RANK PAGE 2

NEWS (2-3)

SCIENCE (6)

FEATURE (4)

PULSE (10)

Stevens hosts Hoboken’s 40th mayoral inaguration Learn about the Emily Jabbour’s mayoral inauguration that took place in Debaun Auditorium! Growing Into The New Year Discover ways to get back into the rhythm of the school year and what the E-board did during winter break!

Bovine braininess? Cellphone radiation study? Tylenol ≠ Autism? Read about what’s going on in the world of science. Read answers from the Stevens community to our weekly Roving Reporter, plus solve our weekly puzzle and sudoku.

XBRL (eXtensible Business Reporting Language) US has joined the Center for Research toward Advancing Financial Technologies (CRAFT) as an affiliate partner to increase the efficiency and accuracy of financial information fed to large language mod-

els (LLMs). XBRL is the global open standard for digital business reporting. The language transforms human-written financial documents into machine-readable structured data by assigning digital tags to financial and business information. XBRL uses taxonomies defined by regulators to catego-

rize and structure data. The standard is mandated by multiple organizations, including the Securities and Exchange Commission (SEC), Federal Energy Regulatory Commission (FERC), and the Federal Deposit Insurance Corporation (FDIC). XBRL improves readability and searchability while reducing human error when dig-

itizing financial records. CRAFT is an Industry University Cooperative Research organization, funded by the National Science Foundation. Co-founded by Stevens Institute of Technology and Rensselaer Polytechnic Institute, CRAFT aims to bridge the gap between traditional fi-

SEE XBRL PAGE 3

LOCAL NEWS ICE activity in Minnesota raises questions about New Jersey’s immigration BY JEYLAN JUBRAN, OPINION COLUMNIST In early January, the nation’s attention turned to Minnesota after a fatal incident involving a U.S. Immigration and Customs Enforcement (ICE) agent in Minneapolis sparked widespread debate about federal immigration enforcement practices. The case, part of a large-scale operation in Minnesota aimed at detaining individuals without lawful status, has intensified calls for clearer limits on immigration enforcement across the country.

Back in New Jersey, state legislators moved swiftly in response to concerns raised by immigrant advocates, community members, and national attention on enforcement actions. In Trenton, lawmakers passed three bills aimed at strengthening protections for immigrant communities and limiting cooperation between local agencies and federal immigration authorities. What the New Jersey Bills Would Do The legislative package passed by both chambers includes: • The Safe Communities

Act, which directs the New Jersey Attorney General to develop statewide policies governing how “sensitive locations”— such as schools, hospitals, courthouses, and places of worship—interact with federal immigration enforcement. The goal is to ensure these public spaces remain accessible and welcoming to all residents, regardless of immigration status. • A Privacy Protection Act, designed to limit the collection and sharing of personal information by state and local entities

that could be used to aid federal enforcement, and to protect confidentiality for those seeking public services. • A bill to codify the Immigrant Trust Directive, a policy originally issued in 2018 that distinguishes between state or local law enforcement and federal immigration agents, restricting voluntary assistance to ICE. Supporters of the bills say they would help build trust between immigrant communities and local au-

SEE ICE PAGE 3