Under Davis' presidency the university expanded student enrollment and faculty, added several buildings including the Howe Center and S.C. Williams Library, Humphreys Hall and Davis Hall and has not regained it to date; WCPR may only broadcast internally and via the internet. Jess Davis also sought to increase the quality of faculty, expanding the number of faculty with Ph.D.s from 13 of 35 to 118 of 129. He initiated the development of undergraduate programs in science and doctorates in engineering, science and management. Social hallmarks of the Davis era were notable in two sectors: a program to expand access to engineering and science for minorities and the inclusion of women in Stevens undergraduate programs. This move was, in part, a result of the urban riots of the 1960s which led to federal funding for programs assisting disadvantaged minorities. In 1967 Davis encouraged the Dean of Student Affairs, Colonel William L. Bingham, to organize the Stevens Technical Enrichment Program.
During the Cold War, funding for academe was generated by the belief that education on all levels created a democratic citizenry which would strengthen western institutions. As such, Stevens' expansion of campus and academic programs were largely funded by levels of government, foundations, and private industry and individuals gifts at a rate never before seen. In 1956 the graduate school enrollment had outgrown undergraduate by 1035:976. This was done largely by the work of Luigi Pollara, founder of the Polymer Processing Institute, who commanded much of the Stevens graduate school expansion. He also began the departments of Chemistry and Chemical Engineering during this time. Pollara shared a philosophy with new graduate school dean Ralph A. Morgan, former director of the National Science Foundation, that faculty and doctoral students should be engaged in funded research. This outlook matched well with the increased availability of grants and fellowships offered by the government.
Master Plan
In order to meet the needs of the increasing undergraduate and graduate student population, Jess Davis developed a master plan to meet Stevens' future and present needs. The plan included two undergraduate dormitories, a graduate residence hall, construction of a library, a student-faculty center with new dining facility, and additional research laboratories. The most controversial of these was the demolition of the notorious Stevens Castle, acquired from Edwin A. Stevens Jr. in 1911. The Castle's location was slated to be the location of the new student-faculty center. To mollify the alumni the architect created a remembrance of a feature in the Castle by including a hanging staircase in the lobby of the new building. To raise the necessary capital for this ambitious plan he created an Office of Development and Public Relations Office. Major gifts were made by alum John McDermott, President and Founder of Texas Instruments, the sale of auto pioneer Edward B. Gallaher's estate, the Charles Hayden Foundation, Anson Wood Burchard, and James B. Pierce, for whom the dining hall is named.
Retirement and death
Jess Harrison Davis retired as President of Stevens Institute of Technology in June 1971 after serving for twenty years. His cited reasons were his age and belief that the college should be relinquished to a younger man. He died on September 17, 1972 in Charlottesville, Virginia.
