The college that doesn't exist … yet: the F.W. Olin College has taken a unique approach to the planning, building and marketing of the nation's first new independent, four-year engineering school in 40 years. Here's an inside look at their story - Cover Story

Matrix: The Magazine for Leaders in Education, Oct, 2001 by Karen Singer

The strategy succeeded, well beyond projections, and school officials faced the daunting task of selecting 30 candidates from a field of 664. Of those, 126 were invited to the college on two weekends for interviews and team-based activities, such as a tower-building contest. Fifteen men and an equal number of women were chosen as Olin Partners. Sixteen others on the wait list are deferring admission for one year, and will join the partners--and some three dozen recent high school graduates--for the first freshman class.

"We wanted students who not only were exceptional in their preparation, as manifested in mostly A grades and high test scores, but also had some symbol of excellence they could bring to Olin culture," says Nolan. "A commitment to a particular thing or two, like music, an interest in theater or restoring old cars."

"In many traditional engineering schools, there's this notion that if you have other passions, you put them on the shelf, and maybe go back to them later," adds Kerns. "I hope we create a place where we nurture the whole person."

Fueling the flames

Faculty members are equally committed to that principle.

"I'm passionate about the partners holding on to all of their talents, and encouraging them in their own creative process," says Diana Dabby, an assistant professor of electrical engineering and music, whose courses explore links between art, music and science.

"One of the offerings I will be giving this year is to have students discover how Leonardo DaVinci's work as an artist was informed by his work as a scientist," adds Dabby, who earned her living as a concert pianist before pursuing engineering.

John Bourne, professor of electrical and computer engineering at Olin and professor of technology entrepreneurship at Babson, will guide student teams in product design and development as part of an online entrepreneurship project with potential real-world applications. At Vanderbilt, where Bourne developed the course, one student came up with an auction site, before eBay, which was so successful he left school. "He got so rich, he dropped out," Bourne says.

Looking ahead

Although Miller is pleased with the progress so far, the process has not been without bumpy moments. Pitfalls include a Massachusetts property transfer law delaying construction to the point where the Olin partners will live in temporary housing until mid-year.

Miller also acknowledges fear of failure. "Probably every other night I wake up in a panic," he says. "But those kinds of sweaty palms are inherent in a start-up organization.

"I guess five years from now when we look back on the college, there will be a list of things we regret. That's why we're so determined to make that list of regrets short."