Yardi Systems announced on April 6 a significant partnership with Stony Brook University to launch the Yardi Expanded Cohort Scholars Program, which will support 100 first-generation students over four years through scholarships and professional development opportunities.
The new initiative aims to help first-generation college students by reducing financial barriers and providing coordinated programming that supports both academic achievement and personal growth. The program begins with an initial cohort of 25 business majors in the College of Business, each receiving up to $10,000 annually in renewable scholarships. Participants will also benefit from dedicated support staff and opportunities to live together during their first year.
“I am so grateful for Yardi Systems’ visionary investment in our first-generation students through the Yardi Expanded Cohort Scholars program,” said Stony Brook University President Andrea Goldsmith. “This transformative program will reduce the financial barriers for their education while also providing unique experiences for them inside and outside the classroom that build a strong foundation for their future personal and professional success. Yardi Systems has been a steadfast partner to Stony Brook, and this new chapter deepens our shared commitment to ensuring that every Stony Brook student has the support and resources to succeed in their studies and in their professional journey when they leave this magical university.”
The curriculum includes leadership workshops, field experiences, mentorships, résumé development sessions, internship preparation, networking events, graduate school exploration activities, career planning guidance, global business experiences, cultural excursions in New York City, leadership events, and an early-arrival Business Success Academy. The goal is to help scholars transition smoothly into university life as well as prepare them for graduation or advanced study.
“First-generation students face unique challenges in pursuing a college education, and the additional support and mentoring this partnership brings can make all the difference as students find their place at Stony Brook,” said Carl W. Lejuez, Executive Vice President for Academic Affairs and Provost. “Stony Brook is committed to supporting the first-generation students who make up approximately 40 percent of our undergraduate student body. Partnerships and programs like the Yardi Scholars Cohort Program provide such deep and meaningful support for these students, and I am grateful for their continued commitment to helping Stony Brook remain an engine of social mobility and help these hardworking talented students achieve their dreams.”
The collaboration builds on an earlier partnership between Yardi Systems and Stony Brook established in 2023 that provided similar scholarships within the College of Business. The success of that effort led directly to today’s expanded model.
“We believe in the transformative power of education,” shared Anant Yardi, Chairman and Founder of Yardi Systems. “We are excited to expand our partnership with Stony Brook University’s College of Business and establish a Yardi Scholars Cohort Program here for first generation students. We hope that this will allow these scholars to attend persist,and graduate.”
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The broader impact is expected not only at Stony Brook but across higher education institutions where similar cohort models may be adopted as part of ongoing efforts toward increasing access among underrepresented groups.
