Why not redefine engineering education? That’s precisely what Franklin W. Olin College of Engineering set out to do. Olin College, often called simply Olin, stands as a private undergraduate engineering college. It is located in Needham, Massachusetts near Boston.
Olin College is adjacent to Babson College. The engineering community notes Olin for its youth and small size. Its project-based curriculum and large endowment also stand out. The F. W. Olin Foundation primarily funds this endowment.
Founded in 1997 by the F. W. Olin Foundation, Olin College arose from a desire to perpetuate Franklin W. Olin’s donor intent. Lawrence W. Milas, the foundation’s president, proposed creating a new college. Milas noted Mr. Olin’s bias toward science and engineering schools. He even found evidence in board meeting minutes from the late 1940s suggesting Mr. Olin considered starting a new institution.
By 2005, the Olin Foundation had donated most of its financial resources to Olin College. This gave Olin an endowment of about $460 million. Richard Miller became Olin College’s first president on May 3, 2003. Interestingly, Miller was Olin’s first employee. He worked at the school for several years before his official inauguration.
Olin College launched “Invention 2000”. It hired its first faculty and invited 30 students called “Olin Partners”. These Olin Partners helped form the first curriculum. They lived in temporary housing. They spent their first year investigating assessment and grading methods. They jump-started the student culture. They experimented with forms of engineering education.
In 2002, Olin admitted its first full class of 75 students. This class included the Olin Partners. It also included deferred students known as the Virtual Olin Partners and recent high school graduates. By fall 2005, Olin College reached its full size of approximately 300 students. Today Olin College has an average of 350 students each year. Currently, Olin awards the half-tuition Olin Scholarship to each admitted student.
Perry Dean Rogers & Partners designed Olin’s campus in the postmodern architectural style. The first phase of construction finished in 2002. It comprised four buildings. A second dormitory, East Hall, was completed in fall 2005. Future plans include another academic building. This building would contain additional machine shops and project space.
Olin College shares many campus services with Babson College. These include health, public safety, and athletic facilities. Olin’s degree programs received accreditation from ABET on August 31, 2007. The regional accreditation board NEASC accredited Olin on December 6, 2006.
So as you stand before Olin College of Engineering, remember its innovative spirit. Consider its commitment to project-based learning. Think about its unique origins. Olin continues to shape the future of engineering education. It empowers students to become innovators and problem-solvers.