Franklin W. Olin College of Engineering

Franklin W. Olin College of Engineering
Established	1997
Type	Private
Endowment	$328.7 million[1]
President	Richard Miller
Admin. staff	31
Undergraduates	306
Location	Needham, Mass., USA 42°17′36.48″N 71°15′50.10″W / 42.2934667°N 71.263917°W / 42.2934667; -71.263917
Campus	Suburban
Mascot	Phoenix
Affiliations	NEASC
Website	olin.edu

The Franklin W. Olin College of Engineering (colloquially Olin College or simply Olin) is a private undergraduate engineering college located in Needham, Massachusetts (near Boston), adjacent to the Babson College campus. Olin College is noted in the engineering community for its youth, small size, project-based curriculum, and large endowment funded primarily by the F. W. Olin Foundation. The College currently awards the half-tuition Olin Scholarship to each admitted student.^[2] Unlike many institutions, Olin College does not have separate academic departments. Consequently, no separate budgets exist for different majors or subject areas. All faculty members hold five-year renewable contracts with no opportunity for tenure. The college was accredited by the regional accreditation board NEASC on December 6, 2006. Olin's degree programs in Electrical/Computer Engineering, Mechanical Engineering, and Engineering received accreditation from the Engineering Accreditation Commission of Accreditation Board for Engineering and Technology (ABET) on August 31, 2007.

History

A view of Olin College. The dormitories are to the right; the Oval is straight ahead.

Olin College was founded by the F. W. Olin Foundation in 1997.^[3] The foundation donated most of its remaining financial resources to the college, providing Olin with an endowment of about 460 million dollars. Richard Miller was inaugurated as the college's first president on May 3, 2003.

In a program known as "Invention 2000", Olin College hired its first faculty and invited 30 students, known as "Olin Partners," to help them form the first curriculum. The Olin Partners lived in temporary housing and spent their first year after high school investigating assessment and grading methods, jump-starting the student culture, and experimenting with forms of engineering education.^[3]

Sunset over Milas Hall.

Olin admitted its first full class of 75 students in 2002. This class included the Olin Partners, a group of deferred students known as the Virtual Olin Partners, and recent high school graduates. After admitting three more classes, the college reached its full size of approximately 300 in fall 2005.^[3]

Olin's campus was designed by architects Perry Dean Rogers & Partners in the postmodern architectural style. The construction of the first phase of the Olin College campus was completed in 2002, comprising four buildings. The construction of a second dormitory, East Hall, was finished in fall 2005. Future plans include another academic building that would contain additional machine shops and project space. Olin College shares many of its campus services with Babson College, including health, public safety, and athletic facilities.

The Olin experiment

Olin College attempts to set itself apart from traditional engineering schools through its focus on project-based and team-based learning, its interdisciplinary approach, its unique organizational structure, and that it provides scholarships to all accepted students.

Much of Olin College's curriculum is built around hands-on engineering and design projects. This project-based teaching begins in a student's first year and culminates in two senior "capstone" projects. In the engineering capstone, Senior Consulting Program for Engineering (SCOPE)^[4] student teams are hired by corporations, non-profit organizations, or entrepreneurial ventures for real-world engineering projects. In the Arts, Humanities, and Social Sciences ("AHS") or Entrepreneurship ("E!") capstone, students work on a self-designed project relating to their focus.

All accepted students receive the Olin Scholarship, which pays for half tuition. This tuition also covers cross-registration with Babson College, Wellesley College, and Brandeis University. Although Wellesley College has an all-female student body, cross-registration is available for both male and female Olin students. Olin also shares clubs and intramural sports with the aforementioned colleges. Olin College also allows students to receive funding and non-degree college credit for "Passionate Pursuits," student-defined personal projects that the college recognizes as having academic value. Until 2009, the college offered full tuition to all students.^[5]

In addition to the Olin Scholarship, Olin College provides financial aid in form of need-based grants. These grants are paid when it is determined that the student is in need of more than $3500 a year, a figure which the school expects students to be able to obtain through part-time and summer work.

Academics

Olin College offers degrees in Electrical and Computer Engineering (ECE), Mechanical Engineering (ME), and Engineering (E). Within the Engineering program, students may concentrate in Computing (E:C), Bioengineering (E:BE), Materials Science (E:MS), Systems Design (E:SYS), or they may design their own concentrations with the administration's approval. Students also have access to an accelerated MS in Technological Entrepreneurship program at Babson College, with the potential to obtain this degree one semester after graduating from Olin College.^[6]

Classes at Olin College emphasize the importance of context and attempt to take an interdisciplinary approach. Freshmen take integrated course blocks that teach engineering, calculus, and physics by exploring the relationships between the three subjects. Arts, humanities, and social sciences courses take an interdisciplinary approach to subjects such as the "self" ("What is I?"), history ("History of Technology"), and art ("Wired Ensemble" and "Seeing and Hearing").

Olin College maintains a strong emphasis on practically grounded education, teaching not only the concepts but also connecting them to real-world challenges and projects. Beginning during their first year, students receive training in Olin's machine shop for project-based work. First-year students are required to take "Design Nature," a class that teaches design tools and processes. In this class, students design and build mechanical toys based on biological systems (such as the click beetle's jumping mechanism). Projects often take a "do-learn" approach, with the application of concepts being taught before the formal introduction of the underlying theory.

Olin's Curriculum expires every five years, and must undergo an internal curriculum review. The goal of these reviews is to ensure that the college maintains a culture of change and continuous improvement, and constantly working to reinvent itself. The first of these reviews was completed during the fall 2007 semester. It is not yet clear to what extent the curriculum review will result in changes, but significant aspects of the curriculum are being considered for detailed review. Notably projects, student assessment, AHS/E! course offerings, experimentation within Olin, student workload are being targeted specifically for detailed review. These areas of detailed review were selected after significant student and faculty feedback was solicited from the Olin community.

Olin College's academic culture is heavily influenced by the school's honor code. Students often take exams on their own time and are generally allowed to use outside resources on exams, provided that they cite which sources they used. Students are trusted to adhere to the rules and limits specified for each exam without the supervision of a proctor. Because of this, honor code violations in an academic context are treated far more seriously and formally than social violations.

In general, the academic culture at Olin College is highly informal. Unlike most colleges and universities, some members of the upper administration teach classes alongside other faculty members. Teachers and administrators at Olin College are generally very receptive to student suggestions and feedback. This is viewed as especially important because Olin College is a new school, and its students play an active role in shaping the college for future generations.

Accreditation

Olin College is accredited by the New England Association of Schools and Colleges (NEASC). The college became eligible for accreditation after it graduated its first class on May 21, 2006. On August 31, 2007, Olin received accreditation from the Engineering Accreditation Commission of Accreditation Board for Engineering and Technology (ABET). The accreditation applies retroactively to all degrees issued by the college.

Culture

Residential life

The Academic Center at night.

Olin students are required to live on campus, unless an exception is made by the Dean of Student life due to personal circumstances (e.g. married students). As a result, much of the social life at Olin occurs in the lounges on each floor of the residence halls. Olin has no fraternities and sororities, nor does it plan to introduce them. Olin College does not regulate the dormitories, except where required by law or for the safety of the college.

Social conflicts are generally resolved informally; students approach the Honor Board with a conflict only in extreme cases. In addition, the Office of Student Life picks student Resident Resources (R2s) to fill the role traditionally filled by the Resident Assistants (RAs) at other schools. Unlike most RAs, R2s are not directly responsible for enforcing college dorm policies.

Honor Code

The Olin Partners created an Honor Code in 2002. The Olin Honor Code has six clauses: Integrity, Respect for Others, Passion for the Welfare of the College, Patience and Understanding, Openness to Change, and Do Something.^[7] The first five clauses are based on the college's Core Values as defined in its founding precepts. The sixth clause calls on students to take action when they feel that the Honor Code has been violated, either through official or unofficial means. Students sign the Honor Code during first-year orientation. The code is upheld by an elected Honor Board which mediates conflicts and applies sanctions where necessary.

Changing the Honor Code

The Code and its related policies can be amended by a majority of students at a "town meeting" of at least half of the student body. Each such meeting concludes with a vote on whether to abolish the Honor Code. If the code were abolished, the governing policies set up by the Office of Student Life would take effect. This automatic vote prevents the Code from remaining in effect if students no longer support it.

Extracurricular activities

Students can participate in multiple extracurricular school activities. These include student clubs, community service projects, co-curricular activities with faculty and staff (which are noted on the transcript), and "Passionate Pursuits"—independent projects eligible for funding and/or non-degree credit.

Olin students are also involved in writing, visual arts, music, and theater. Olin College has a variety of clubs and organizations that support the arts, including the Power Chords (a cappella), the Franklin W. Olin Players (FWOP), Film Club, and the Olin conductorless orchestra.

There are several different athletic teams at Olin. Olin does not plan to compete alone on the NCAA stage and NEWMAC,^[8] the Regional NCAA conference, has not given approval for Olin students to compete with Babson's varsity teams next door. Olin has two soccer teams that compete in the fall through a Boston athletic organization.^[9] Olin also has an Ultimate team that competes in the fall BUDA league^[10] and in the spring through the Ultimate Players Association (UPA).^[11] The team placed 10th in sectionals during the spring of 2008 just behind regional powerhouses at Harvard, Brown, and MIT. In addition, Olin students are allowed to participate in club teams and in non-NCAA sports at Babson College. The Babson women's rugby team (currently ranked first on the East Coast for Div. III, and moving up to Div. II in the 2006 season) includes several Olin members. Additionally, students participate in Sunday morning football games, intramural sports, and pick-up Ultimate games, the Student Martial Arts Club (SMAC), the Weapons Handling and Combat Kakistocracy (WHACK) (Olin's fencing club), and other athletic organizations.

Olin clubs form in an ad-hoc fashion whenever a group of students unite around a common interest and apply for recognition. Funding is managed by the Student Activities Organization (SAO), which oversees both the Caucus of Clubs and Organizations (CCO), and the Student Activities Committee (SAC), which is in charge of all large on-campus events. The Council of Olin Representatives (CORe) is a group that focuses exclusively on representing student views and serving as an advocate to the administration.

Olin students are also encouraged to combine their creative and technical skills in competitions. Every year, students have competed in the Mathematical Contest in Modeling (MCM). In 2002, a team from Olin College received the highest rating possible in the MCM; in 2005 an Olin team received the highest rating and earned the INFORMS Prize. Some students compete in design projects for organizations such as the Society of Automotive Engineers' Mini-Baja competition and the Olin Automatons, a group interested in autonomous vehicle technology (originally pursuing the development of an autonomous vehicle for the DARPA Grand Challenge).

Spontaneity and student happiness

At Olin College, organized events are often arranged on a spontaneous basis. This is due in part due to Olin's small size and in part to the popular use of email lists in the Olin community. Olin College has over 180 public mailing lists, which is notable because Olin's students number only about 350. To some degree, this sort of communication is possible only because of the high level of trust placed in the student body. For example, Olin allows any student to send email to all students or all faculty without any sort of permission or moderation.

Organized "Study Breaks," fun activities run by R2s, student organizations, or informal groups of students, help students cope with high stress levels caused by work and disparate responsibilities. The Student Activities Committee (SAC), part of Olin College's student government, funds and organizes recreational events.

Rankings

In the The Princeton Review's 2011 college rankings, Olin ranked #20 on the "Best Career Services" list, #13 on the "Dodgeball Targets" list, #10 on the "Dorms Like Palaces" list, #14 on the "LGBT-Friendly" list, #8 on the "Happiest Students" list, #4 on the "Lots of Race/Class Interaction" list, #4 on the "Professors Get High Marks" list, #14 on the "Stone-Cold Sober Schools" list, #3 on the "Students Study the Most" list, #10 on the "Town-Gown Relations are Great" list, #4 on the "Easiest Campus to Get Around" list, #5 on the "Best Classroom Experience" list, and #13 on the "Best Quality of Life" list.^[12] Compared to 2010, Olin's rankings have shifted unfavorably in almost every category. Among the significant changes, Olin has completely fallen off the list for "Great Financial Aid" (previously #1) and "Best Campus Food" (previously #14), and significantly dropped in "LGBT-Friendly" (#4 to #13) and "Best Quality of Life" (#7 to #13).^[13] Formerly praised for its full-tuition scholarship and need-based assistance, Olin is no longer identified as a "Best Value College" by the Princeton Review. ^[14]

In the 2010 U.S. News college rankings, Olin tied for #8 for Best Undergraduate Engineering Program among non-doctorate granting institutions^[15] and #9 for Best Undergraduate Engineering Program in Electrical/Electronic/Communications.^[16]

In 2006, Olin was selected for Kaplan, Inc. and Newsweek's 2007 guide as one of "America's 25 New Ivies".^[17]

Mascot

In 2002, the Olin Partners and Virtual Olin Partners selected the phoenix as the school's mascot. This mascot, sometimes unofficially called "Frank," represents Olin's willingness to reinvent itself, just as the phoenix is reborn from its ashes. Olin College's school colors are blue and silver.

See also

• Association of Independent Technological Universities

References

1. ^ As of June 30, 2009. "U.S. and Canadian Institutions Listed by Fiscal Year 2009 Endowment Market Value and Percentage Change in Endowment Market Value from FY 2008 to FY 2009" (PDF). 2009 NACUBO-Commonfund Study of Endowments. National Association of College and University Business Officers. http://www.nacubo.org/Documents/research/2009_NCSE_Public_Tables_Endowment_Market_Values.pdf. Retrieved March 12, 2010. 
2. ^ "Olin College Announces Change to Scholarship Policy". http://www.olin.edu/about_olin/news/press_release.aspx?id=341. Retrieved June 25, 2009-06-25. 
3. ^ ^{a b c} http://www.olin.edu/about_olin/history/olin_history_detail.aspx
4. ^ http://scope.olin.edu/about/
5. ^ Olin College Discontinues Policy of Full Scholarships for All; Olin College Discontinues Policy of Full Scholarships for All, June 18, 2009, Chronicle of Higher Education [1]
6. ^ http://careers.olin.edu/grad_business.php
7. ^ http://www.olin.edu/student_life/honor_code.aspx
8. ^ The New England Women's and Men's Athletic Conference
9. ^ Boston Ski And Sports Club
10. ^ Boston Ultimate Disc Alliance
11. ^ USA Ultimate
12. ^ "Error: no |title= specified when using {{Cite web}}". http://www.princetonreview.com/schools/college/CollegeRankings.aspx?iid=1037875. 
13. ^ "Error: no |title= specified when using {{Cite web}}". http://blogs.olin.edu/olinformer/2010/08/go-olin.html. Retrieved 1 June 2011. 
14. ^ "Error: no |title= specified when using {{Cite web}}". http://www.princetonreview.com/SchoolList.aspx?id=789&page=1. 
15. ^ "USNews, Best Colleges 2010". http://colleges.usnews.rankingsandreviews.com/best-colleges/spec-engineering. Retrieved September 1, 2009. 
16. ^ "USNews, Best Colleges 2010". http://colleges.usnews.rankingsandreviews.com/best-colleges/spec-electrical. Retrieved September 1, 2009. 
17. ^ "America's 25 New Ivies". Newsweek. August 21, 2006. http://www.newsweek.com/id/39401/page/3. Retrieved December 10, 2007. 

Further reading

1. Murray, Charles (August 30, 2004). "If I'm happy, can this be EE school?" EE Times.
2. Wessel, David (December 20, 2005). "Building a Better Engineer" Wall Street Journal.
3. Guizzo, Erico (May, 2006). "The Olin Experiment: Can a tiny new college reinvent engineering education?," IEEE Spectrum.

External links

• Official website

Coordinates: 42°17′36.44″N 71°15′50.19″W / 42.2934556°N 71.2639417°W / 42.2934556; -71.2639417