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    A Timeline History of Babson College

The eighty-nine years of Babson College presents a story that John Mulkern, former Professor of History at Babson College and author of the 75th Anniversary history of the College, has rightly  called one of Continuity and Change. Roger Ward Babson's idea of a rigorous and pragmatic business education which always embraced the new while maintaining the traditional values of work and service has been the hallmark of Babson College.

Roger Babson announces the founding...


Babson Institute: Beginnings until World War Two


1919

  • On October 1st the Babson Institute opens it doors at Roger and Grace's Abbott Road home with 27 students, high hopes, and Roger W. Babson as its first President. Classes begin on the 2nd.
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  • Babson Institute offered a one-year "Certificate in Business Administration" also called a "Certificate in Management."  The program presumed some business and/or college experience. The latter requirement had a major impact on the development of the Institute 27 years later.
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  • Ralph B. Wilson is the first employee of the new Babson Institute while Austin Fittz is appointed the first member of the faculty.

1920

  • The first class graduates in June receiving one year Certificates in Business Administration with Arthur M. Cleveland of Plymouth, Indiana receiving the first Babson diploma.
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  • The Institute is housed in the Washington Street building that was the (recently) former home of the Babson Statistical Organization.The building is now known as the Stuart Building.
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  • Michael J. Timmons of Montreal is the first of many Canadians to graduate from Babson.

1921

  • George William Coleman, a prominent Boston civic leader becomes the second President of the Babson Institute.
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  • The Babson Institute is incorporated by the Commonwealth of Massachusetts.
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  • Roger Babson purchases 69 acres of Edward Lyon's farm as a residential base for the campus.
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  • The campus founding date seems to be November 23rd.
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  • Alice Coleman becomes the first female member of the Babson Institute Board of Trustees.
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  • The first few pages of the Babsonian becomes the first student “newspaper” at Babson Institute.
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  • The first yearbook is published. The Babsonian is its name for its entire run.
     

1922

  •   Boston architect George F. Marlowe is hired to design the first buildings (Georgian at Mr. Babson's request) and John Nolen is retained to design the campus grounds. A plan is made and construction begins on campus buildings.
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  • 1922 Babsonian.
     

1923

  • Babson Institutes's first four buildings open: the Administration Building (named Mustard Hall in 1975 and home of the Lunder Admissions Center), Bryant Hall, Lyon Hall (renamed Luksic Hall in 1996), and Knight Auditorium.
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  • The Commonwealth of Massachusetts charters the Babson Institute for the purpose of “furnishing education in all matters.”
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  • he 1923 Babsonian lists three women in attendance, the most taking classes at Babson until 1968.

1924

     
  • Peavey Gymnasium, named in honor of Babson Statistical Organization President Leroy D. Peavey opens.
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  • The student body numbers 37.
  • The Coleman Map Building, built to house the Great Relief Map and named for President Coleman is begun.
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  • 1924 Babsonian.

1925

  • Babson Park Clubhouse (renamed Park Manor South in 1930) opens with hotel-like amenities.
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  • There are 50 students enrolled at the Babson Institute.
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  • The Great Relief Map is begun.
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  • The 1925 Babsonian.
     

1926

  • Westgate is constructed as a home for the President. It was used as such until the Institute closed during World War Two. For most of its existence it housed the infirmary. It is the current home of the Economics division.
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  • The 1926 Babsonian.
     

1927

1928

  • Judge S. S. Holland describes the first graduating class of Webber College as being part of an “epoch in Florida educational history.”

  • The 1928 Babsonian.

1929

  • WBSO-AM studios are built at 1763 Great Plain Avenue Needham for the Babson Statistical Organization's radio station. It is currently part of the Olin College of Engineering's campus.

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    Roger Babson builds a house at 56 Whiting Road as a gift for his daughter, Edith Babson Webber. Beginning in 1957 it serves as the home of the President of the College.

  • The 1929 Babsonian.

1930

  • Park Manor (named Park Manor Central in 1951) is built as a residence hall and opens the following year.

  • Philip C. d'Arcis of Switzerland becomes the first European to complete the certificate program at Babson Institute.

  • The 1930 Babsonian.

1931

  • "For the first time in the history of Babson Institute a regularly organized athletic team represented the school in combat."  The Basketball team went 7-5 and called themselves "The Financeers."
  • There are 129 students enrolled at Babson Institute with over 580 alumni.

  • On March 13th the Town of Wellesley votes to allow Roger Babson and his immediate family to be buried on campus.

  • The 1931 Babsonian.

1932

  • Arthur Van Winkle and R. Howard Webster receive their Certificates in Business Administration. Both men eventually have their names on buildings.

  • The 1932 Babsonian.

1933

  • In the darkest year of the Great Depression, Babson Institute drops tuition, room, and board fees from $3,000 to $2000 as enrollment drops to 46.

  • The School for Positions, a two-month “career planning” program begins at Babson.

  • Chin Hsi Li of Hankow, China becomes the first Asian graduate of Babson.

  • Alexander Suero of Havana, Cuba is the first Latin American to graduate from Babson.

  • The 1933 Babsonian.

1934

  • Babson Institute begins a two-year Certificate of Business Administration program. This effectively drops the “some college” requirement for admission to the Institute allowing recent high school graduates to apply.

  • President Coleman writes about the founding years of Babson Institute.

1935

1936

  • The “Ancient Royal Order of the Goat,” founded by Dean John Millea during Babson's earliest days continues to grow with members never quite sure why they were selected. The organization ends with Millea's joining the U. S. Army after the US entry into WWII.

  • “Babson's Retorts” a parody of the founder's primary publication produces two issues.

  • The 1936 Babsonian.

1937

1938

  • The Fore-Parlour from Sir Isaac Newton's St. Martin Street residence is purchased for 450 Pounds Sterling. The room is to be placed in the new Babson Institute Library

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    Eleanor Haywood, B.S. (Simmons), M.B.A. (Boston University), M.S. (University of Wisconsin) leaves Babson for the W.P.A. after 19 years as Registrar and Librarian and the de facto engine that made things work.

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    Chester W. Cleveland, Class of 1921, becomes the first Babson graduate to receive an honorary degree.

  • The 1938 Babsonian.

1939

1940

  • The Great Relief Map is complete on December 31st.

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    Roger W. Babson places fourth  in his run for President of the United States.

  • Another effort at a student press, “The Statistician”, has a run of 13 issues.

  • The 1940 Babsonian.

1941

  • The Japanese finally draw the United States into the Second World War with the attack on Pearl Harbor.

  • Freeman T. Putney is elected Treasurer.

  • The 1941 Babsonian.

1942

  • Babson enrollment which had been creeping back up since the depths of depression drops from 112 to 58 students as the country gears up for war.

  • The 1942 Babsonian.

1943

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    The Commonwealth of Massachusetts grants authority to award a Bachelor of Science in Business Administration (B.S.B.A) degree for the completion of a three-year program. The ability to grant Masters of Business Administration (MBA) degrees is granted at the same time and is put on hold until 1951.

  • The U. S. Navy uses Babson facilities for training its supply officers as Babson Institute is closed on June 8th for the duration of the war.

  • The 1943 Babsonian.

1944

  • President Smith resigns effective October 31st.

  • John K. Horner becomes de facto president.


Post World War Two to Roger Babson's Death

1945

  • Babson Institute reopens on October 1st with 76 students.

  • The Poor's Printing Building is purchased and renamed for Babson associate and accounting teacher Dwight G. W. Hollister.

1946

  • On July 1st, Edward Barnard Hinckley becomes the fourth President of Babson Institute.

  • The Class of 1949 enters Babson Institute to find that the personal secretaries, maid service, and the time clock, all fixtures of pre-war Babson, had disappeared.

  • Roger W. Babson founds his third school called Utopia College in Eureka, Kansas.

  • The 1946 Babsonian.

1947

1948

  • The first class to enter Babson in the new three-year undergraduate program receive their Bachelors of Science in Business Administration degrees.

  • Songs of the Babson Institute” is published.

  • President Hinckley begins his column “Our Mutual Enterprise” in the October 8th issue of the Babson Beaver.

  • The 1948 Babsonian.

1949

  • The John E. Millea Swimming Pool in Peavey Hall is dedicated on November 10th.

  • The Student Christian Hour has its first meeting on November 11th.

  • The 1949 Babsonian.

1950

1951

  • The new Park Manor North residence hall opens in the fall.

  • The first class of 25 enters the newly formed two-year MBA.

  • The 1951 Babsonian.

1952

1953

  • A “Newton Apple Tree” is purchased from the Pennsylvania Historical Commission and is prepared for planting on the Babson Institute grounds.

  • Ground is broken for the Babson World Globe on May 30th.

  • The first MBAs (six in all) are awarded at the June Commencement.

  • The 1953 Babsonian.

1954

  • Wilson F. Payne becomes the first Dean of the Graduate School.

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  •    

    Husband and wife team of Kal Kubinyi and Doris Hall are engaged to create the paneled "skin" of the Babson World Globe/

     
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  • The 1954 Babsonian.

1955

  • Roger W. Babson resigns as Chairman of the Corporation.

  • Babson Institute holds its first Honors Day on May 19th.

  • The Babson World Globe is dedicated on June 18th.

  • The Board of Trustees vote to change the name of the Babson Institute Library to the Sir Isaac Newton Library.

  • “Hall of Flags” is dedicated in the Sir Isaac Newton Library on April 19th.

  • The “Babson Chair” is offered for the first time.

  • The 1955 Babsonian.

1956

  • Babson's original diploma and program, the one-year Certificate in Business Administration, is no longer offered.

  • Grace Knight Babson, Roger's wife, business partner, and force behind acquisition of the Newton Collection dies on April 30th.

  • Edward Hinckley resigns as President.

  • The 1956 Babsonian.

1957

1958

  • Nathaniel Wright, II becomes the first African-American to receive a degree at Babson Institute.

  • Liberians John R. H. Bright and Lafayette K. Morgan become the first Africans to graduate from Babson, earning their B.S.B.A.s in March.

  • The 1958 Babsonian.

1959

  • Babson gives its first Honorary Degree, a Doctor of Laws, to Ewan Clague, Commissioner of the Bureau of Labor Statistics.

  • The Babson Institute Theatre Guild performs The Boy Friend on February 21st.

  • The Boston Celtics begin use of Peavey Gym for pre-season workouts, which continues for several years.

  • The Children's Convalescent Hospital is purchased and eventually becomes Forest Hall.

  • Earliest known photograph of the Babson Beaver as mascot appears in this year's Babsonian.

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  • The 1959 Babsonian.

1960

  • The last class required to take Industry Analysis. (Only those who were required to take this course really know what this meant.)

1961

  • President Gordon Trim dies suddenly on May 5th. Henry August Kriebel, Dean of Faculty and Professor of Accounting, becomes Babson's 6th President on June 5th.

  • The Exec” (later Executive) begins publication.

  • The Evening (aka Part-time) MBA program begins in September with an enrollment of 60. It is directed by Economics Professor Frank Genovese. The program is co-ed from the beginning with several women enrolled but no woman completes an MBA until Carolyn Levosky in 1969.

  • The prospect of tenure is made available to Babson faculty for the first time.

1962

1963

  • Roger Babson's second wife, Nona, dies on July 13th.

  • Ground breaking for the Trim Dining Hall occurs on October 3rd.

  • Latin motto “Navis Commericii Institum Babsonis 1919” is seen from October 30th.

1964

  • Trim Dining Hall opens on September 7th.

  • First Evening MBA graduation in June.

1965

  • Babson Institute offers a $1,000 scholarship for any son of any member of the U.S.S. Thresher (SSN 593). The Thresher went down during a deep dive in the North Atlantic, April 9, 1963.

  • The “Division of Distribution” becomes the Marketing Division on April 30th.

1966

  • Brian Miller Barefoot, former Chairman of the Babson College Board of Trustees (1996—2001), and the 11th President of Babson College (2001--2008), receives his B.S.B.A.

1967

  • Roger Ward Babson, founder of Babson College, dies on March 5th at the age of 91.

  • Last sighting of the Latin motto on April 19th.


 

1968 to the end of the century

1968

1969

  • Babson Institute becomes Babson College on April 25th.

  • Carolyn Levosky, MBA, becomes the first woman to receive a degree at Babson College.

  • Babson College has its first sophomore class.

  • Former President Carl Smith dies on October 16th.

  • The undergraduate summer school begins.

1970

  • The Midwest Institute of Business Administration, originally Utopia College, closes its doors. Its hometown is accessible on-line at History of Greenwood County.

  • Ina Mae Harmon becomes the first Black woman to receive a degree at Babson College, completing her MBA in December.

  • Babson's Black Society is formed.

  • The first issue of the Babson Free Press is published on October 1st.

1971

  • Canfield Hall and Keith Hall are dedicated on October 2nd.

  • Babson College is granted authority to grant a Bachelor of Science “without specification” on March 3rd.

  • WRWB radio goes on the air.

  • The earliest record I have of the "Editor's Wastebasket" and "flashing" occurs in the September 8th issue of the Babson Free Press.

1972

  • Frances Burgess retires after 49 years as secretary to Presidents of Babson.

  • Babson College offers its first graduate course in entrepreneurship.

  • School for Executive Education is founded.

1973

  • Gerber Hall and Babson Hall are constructed in the first phase of the the “Educational Center.”

  • Cheryl Williams is elected the first female class president.

  • Debra Amidon becomes the first female Dean (Student Affairs).

  • Craig St. Armour (BS 1975) becomes the first Babson All-American winning for swimming three years running.

  • The B.S.B.A. Is last offered for the May Commencement. Henceforth the undergraduate degree is an unrestricted BS.

  • The Beaver Brau is established by an October 13th vote of the Board of Trustees.

1974

1975

  • Babson's original Administration Building is named in honor of Edith Babson Webber Mustard on December 15th.

  • The Babson International Student Organization (BISO) is organized.

  • The men's soccer team wins Babson's first NCAA title.

1976

  • Kriebel Hall is dedicated on November 13th.

  • Elizabeth McCarthy becomes the first female Editor-in-Chief of the campus newspaper.

  • Virginia Harrison retires after 17 years as Curator of the Grace K. Babson Collection of the Works of Sir Isaac Newton.

1977

1978

1979

1980

  • President Sorenson offers his resignation effective June 1981.

  • The undergraduate program is accredited by the AACSB (American Assembly of Collegiate Schools of Business) effective June 13th.

  • Babson College repeats as Division III Men's Soccer Champions.

  • Horn Library, named to honor the memory of Charles Lilley Horn of the F. W. Olin Foundation, is dedicated on October 18th.

  • Pietz Hall is opened.

  • The third class of inductees into the Academy of Distinguished Entrepreneurs consists of Lewis E. Lehrman, Mary Wells Lawrence, Mary Hudson, and J. Peter Grace.

  • The Babson Players present Pippin.

1981

  • William Rankin Dill, Dean of New York University's Graduate School of Business, is inaugurated as Babson's 8th President October 2nd.

  • Tomasso Hall, the renovated Sir Isaac Newton Library, is dedicated to honor Angelo Tomasso, father of Victor F. Tomasso (B.S.B.A. 1951).

  • Babson Players perform “Guys and Dolls” April 2-4.

  • The Graduate Program is accredited by the AACSB effective May 6th.

  • The former “Spear and Staff Building” opens as the new Alumni Hall.

  • Bennett E. Bidwell, Charles J. McCarthym and Richard M. Nichols are warded the first Babson Medals. The Babson Medal is awarded to distinguished alumni and friends in recognition of leadership and/or contributions to the College, th community, their profession, or some combination of the above.

  • Walter H. Carpenter, Jr., long-time faculty member and former Dean of Faculty, dies on October 13th.

  • Gustavo A. Cisneros, Undergraduate Class of 1968, becomes the first Babson graduate to be inducted into the Academy of Distinguished Entrepreneurs. This class includes An Wang, Marcus Walenberg, and Franklin P. Perdue.

  • Executive-in-Residence program begins with Al Ries as the first in residence.

1982

1983

  • The Certification Program in Advanced Management Studies begins.

  • A Commencement tradition, “That Special Goodbye,” is given for the first time. (Thank you Mr. Bishop.)

  • Esther Buffler is the first Charles D. and Marjorie J. Thompson Visiting Poet performing on February 24th.

  • The Babson Players perform Once Upon A Mattress and M.A.S.H.

  • Clinton Petersen, Professor of Accounting, is the second winner of the Carpenter Prize.

  • The 1983 class of the Academy of Distinguished Entrepreneurs consists of Frederick W. Smith, Sidney R. Rabb, Frederick C. Hamilton (B.S.B.A. 1948), and Nolan K. Bushnell.

1984

 
  • Babson Players perform Hello Dolly in April.

  • Women's Field Hockey becomes a varsity sport.

  • Men's Ice Hockey wins its first NCAA title.

  • Undergraduate students organize the Babson Student Federal Credit Union as an entrepreneurial venture.

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    175 campus trees are destroyed in an early spring storm.

  • The Babson Entrepreneurial Exchange is founded.

  • This year's new members of the Academy of Distinguished Entrepreneurs (ADE) are Heinz Nixdorf, John K. Hanson, John J. Cullinane, and Henry W. Bloch.

  • David Thompson is the second Thompson Visiting Poet reading on the ideal day of February 14th.

  • Ed Sullivan, Head of Buildings & Grounds, is this year's winner of the Carpenter Prize.

  • Somethin's Cookin' At Babson, a collection of favorite recipes, is published to raise money for the Babson College Women's Club.

1985

  • A residence hall called “New Hall” is built. It is later named Putney Hall after Jesse and Freeman Putney (see 1991).

  • Paul Cuneo (BS 1985) earns double All-American status for one and three-meter diving.

  • Dr. Paula Rooney became Babson's first female Vice President heading Student Affairs.

  • Kathleen Spivak is the 1985 Thompson Visiting Poet on February 21st.

  • Marketing Professor and Babson Baseball fan Norman Govoni is the 1985 winner of the Carpenter Prize.

  • The Babson Players perform Anything Goes in April and Arsenic and Old Lace in November.

  • The 1985 class of the ADE consists of Peter J. Sprague, Donald C. Burr, and Rubert Murdock.

  • Babson College hosts it first Symposium for Entrepreneurial Education.

1986

1987

  • The Horn Computer Center is dedicated on October 16th.

  • The Tenth Class is inducted in the Academy of Distinguished Entrepreneurs. The new members are Sir John Marks Templeton and Gilbert Trigano.

  • The 1987 Thompson Visiting Poet is John Hildebidle who read on February 11th.

  • Babson Players perform Grease in April and Table Settings in November.

  • Career Counselor Bill Wrenn is this year's Carpenter Prize winner.

1988

1989

  • President Dill resigns as President effective June 30th.

  • Xerox Vice-Chairman, William Francis Glavin, becomes Babson's 9th President on July 1st. He was inaugurated on October 20th.

  • The Webster Center is dedicated on November 10th.

  • Babson's new honors program gets the go-ahead in the spring.

  • This year's commencement is the first where the Graduate and Undergraduate Programs are separate.

  • The Babson Players perform The Skin of Our Teeth in November.

  • Maine Senator William Cohen is this year's Thompson Visiting Poet (reading on February 13.)

  • Nurse Evie McIntosh and Math/Science Professor John Saber share this year's Carpenter Prize.

  • The ADE adds Michael W. J. Smurfit, Patrick J. McGovern, and Alan Bond to its membership.

  • In September Babson College gives up the 12 point grading scale returning to the better recognized 4 point grading scale.

1990

1991

  • Babson College creates an “Athletics Hall of Fame.”

  • The One-Year MBA Program begins in May.

  • The Butler Did It is the fall show by the Babson Players.

  • Jesse Putney, B.S.B.A. 1956, MBA 1959, retires ending 50 years of Putneys (father and son) as the Babson College Treasurer.

  • The Academy of Distinguished Entrepreneurs taps Amar G. Bose, John R. Furman, and William G. McGowan as its newest members.

  • Galway Kinnell is the Thompson Visiting Poet on February 11th.

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    GroundskeeperJim Touhy is the 1991 Carpenter Prize winner.

1992

1993

  • Bryant Hall reopens as a residence hall for “non-traditional” students after a much-needed renovation.

  • Babson Players do Oklahoma! In April and Fools in November.

  • Van Winkle Hall opens on the campus highpoint.

  • The Babson Literary Society publishes volume two of options.

  • October brings the beginning of the year-long 75th Anniversary celebration.

  • The re-furbished Babson World Globe is re-dedicated on October 2nd.

  • Martin Espada is this year's Thompson Visiting Poet on February 17th.

  • Human Resources Benefits Coordinator Susan Roskey is this year's Carpenter Prize winner.

  • Robert A. Swanson and Jacob Stolt-Nielson, Jr. are the 1993 Class of the ADE.

1994

  • The former Dean's residence at 227 Forest Street is renovated and named in honor of John E. Millea, Dean of Students and member of the faculty from 1920 until World War II. It serves as home to College Marketing.

  • Joy Harjo is this year's Thompson Visiting Poet on February 16th.

  • Volume three of options is published by the Babson Literary Society.

  • Babson Alumni Bulletin Editor Dianne Coryell and Marketing Professor Bob Eng share the 1994 Carpenter Prize.

  • The ADE inducts Earl G. Graves and Leon A. Gorman as this year's new members.

  • The Babson Players fall show is Noises Off.

1995

1996

  • The F. W. Olin Graduate School of Business building is dedicated in October. The building was achieved as part of a $30 million grant, one of the largest ever given to a business school.

  • Lyon Hall is completely renovated and renamed Luksic Hall in honor of A. Andronico Luksic, a member of the Academy of Distinguished Entrepreneurs, and his son Andronico (BS 1976.)

  • First year students entering this fall are the first to experience the new integrated undergraduate curriculum.

  • Volume one of the “Babson Journal” is published.

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    The ADE offers membership to: Richard Branson, Elly R. Callaway, A. Andronico Luksic, and Lillian Vernon.

  • The Babson Players perform Guys and Dolls and Moonchildren.

  • Li-Young Lee is this year's Thompson Visiting Poet on February 14th.

  • Professor of Accounting and future Provost Michael Fetters wins the 1996 Carpenter Prize.

1997

  • Three new campus facilities are dedicated—the Glavin Family Chapel, the Richard W. Sorenson Center for the Arts, and the Donald W. Reynolds Campus Center.

  • Director of Strategic Projects Dick Bishop and future VP for Administration Mary Rose share the 1997 Carpenter Prize.

1998

  • Special Event's Jean Collins is the 1998 Carpenter Prize winner.
1999
  • Babson College sells a parcel of its Needham property to the F. W. Olin Foundation. The new Olin College of Engineering breaks ground.
  • The Academy of Distinguished Entrepreneurs inducts Ellen Gordon, Marie Gray, Robert Gray, and Masayoshi Son into its membership.
  • Former President Henry Kriebel dies on May 6th.
  • Entrepreneurship Intensity Track makes its debut in the MBA program.
  • Babson Journal's Third volume appears.
  • Math/Science Professor Gordon Prichett is the 1999 Carpenter Prize recipient.
2000
  • The first class to go through the new undergraduate curriculum, featuring the Intermediate Management Core (IMC I, II, and III), graduates.
  • The ADE inducts Pleasant T. Rowland, George N. Hatsopoulos, Robert Annunziata, and Patricia Gallup into the Academy.
  • Jerry Kanter, Director of the Center for Information Management Studies, is this year's Carpenter Prize winner.
  • The Fourth and final Babson Journal is published.


Babson in the 21st Century

2001

  • Babson Intel MBA Program is launched in May.
  • On June 30th Leo I. Higdon ends his term as President of Babson College.
  • July 1st, Brian Miller Barefoot, Babson Class of 1966, becomes the  11th President of Babson College.
  • C. K. Williams is this year's Thompson Visiting Poet (February 14th.)
  • Rick Echlov, Director of Summer Programs, is this year's winner of the Carpenter Prize.
  • The Center for Women's Leadership is founded.
  • The "Miss Babson" and "Mr. Babson" contest begins.
  • The 2001 Class of the Academy of Distinguished Entrepreneurs consists of Robert Davis (MBA 1985), Kay Koplovitz, and Robert Rosenberg.
  • Babson Players produce Damn Yankees and Drop Dead.

2002

     
  • Kelly A. Peterson, MBA Class of 2003, becomes the first woman President of the Graduate Student Association.   
  • Brian M. Barefoot is inaugurated the 11th President of Babson College on September 20th.
  • Steven B. Dodge and Leonard Riggio are inducted into the Academy of Distinguished Entrepreneurs.
  • Alicia Suskin Ostriker is the Thompson Visiting Poet (February 12th.)
  • Librarian Frances Nilsson is the 2002 recipient of the Carpenter Prize.
  • Babson Players perform How to Succeed in Business Without Really Trying and Bottoms Up.     
  • Babson College is awarded the 2002 Hesburgh Award from TIAA-CREEF for its "Reinvention of Undergraduate Education."  

2003

     
  • Information Technology Management is created as a new academic division.
  • David Ferry is the Charles D. and Marjorie J. Thompson Visiting Poet for 2003.
  • Donna Stoddard (Information Technology Mangement) receives Babson's first National Science Foundation grant.
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  • The Reynolds Campus Center Coffee Bar is named for "Woody" Lapen on April 28th.
  •  
  • MBA Alumni Academy of Achievement is launched in May.
  • Babson Players present Pippin in April.
  • In separate ceremonies Ben Cohen and Michael R. Bloomberg are inducted into the ADE.
  • The first Babson Literary Magazine titled "Unfiltered..." is published. 
  • The Institute for Family Enterprising is launched in September.
  • The Lone Star Love Potion is the fall play by the Babson Players.
  • William C. Lawler, Babson Leadership Professor, is this year's winner of the Carpenter Prize.
  • The Fast Track MBA program begins.  
  • The second issue of the Babson Literary Magazine titled "The Morning After..." is published.
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  • A new "bird's eye" campus map in unveiled. The work was done by award winning illustrator Laszlo Kubinyi.
  •  
  • The Writing Center is twenty-five years old this fall. 
  • The Speech Resource Center is fifteen years old this fall.

2004

     
  • The Charles D. and Marjorie J. Thompson Visiting Poet is Ellen Bryant Voigt who read on February 11.
  • The 58th Founder's Dayis celebrated on April 23rd. The 25th Anniversary of the Academy of Distinguished Entrepreneurs is featured with the premier of Lemonade Stories.    
  • Babson Players perform Li'l Abner for the spring show. The fall show was "But Why Bump Off Barnaby?"
  •    
  • Babson holds the first Martin Luther King, Jr. Heritage Celebration on March 1st.
  •    
  • On April 17 Liz Kebbe, career counselor at Babson from 1947 until September 1973, died at the age of 96.
  •  
  • Babson held its 82nd commencement on May 15th.
  • The Babson Literary Magazine published its Spring issue called "Cock-a-doodle Blue."
  • William D. Bygrave, Frederick C. Hamilton Professor for Free Enterprise Studies, is this year's Carpenter Prize recipient.    
  • Babson College becomes the first business school to become a member of the Posse Foundation
  • The Babson Student Federal Credit Union is 20 years old on October 21st.
  • On October 23rd the Board of Trustees vote to start a Ph. D. program in Entrepreneurship.
  • The Babson Toolachs won!
  • The 2004 Babsonian.
       

2005

     
  • Paul Muldoon is this year's Charles D. and Marjorie J. Thompson Visiting Poet. He read on February 16.
  • The Babson Players present "Guys & Dolls" in the spring and "Whose Wives are they Anyway?" in the fall. 
  • Babson College celebrates its 83rd Spring Commencement on May 21st.
  • Julian Simcock, Babson Class of 2005, becomes Babson's first ever Fulbright Scholar. Julian will be doing his research in South Africa.
  • "...Why Not?" is the spring 2005 edition of the Babson Literary Magazine.     
  • Beginning with the Spring issue the Babson Alumni Magazine is now called "Babson Magazine."
  • In July the Information Management Technology division was reorganized andrenamed Technology, Operations and Information Management (TOIM).
  • ITSD announced the first Babson Portal in August.
  • "Suggestions...Seductions" is fall 2005 issue of the Babson Literary Magazine.     
  • The 2005 Carpenter Prize was awarded to Melissa Shaak, Associate Dean and Director of Student Financial Services.
  • Around Thanksgiving I got a question from George Recck (BS 82, MBA 84--former Director of the Computer Center, long-time Lecturer in Mathematics, and current Director of the Math Resources Center) wanting to know who was planning Babson's Centennial in 2019. 
  • The 2005 Babsonian.
         

2006

     
  • Marjorie Agosin will be this year's Charles D. and Marjorie J. Thompson Visiting Poet and read from her work on February 14.
  • On Founder's Day Robert K. Kraft and Earvin "Magic" Johnson were inducted into the ADE.
  • There was no Carpenter Prize this year.
  • Christian Dambolena, Babson Class of 2002, Babson's second Fulbright Scholar studying in Argentina.    
  • Patricia G. Greene became the Provost at Babson College on July 1st.
  • "Of This I'm Sure" and "Green Lines" were the two editions of the Babson Literary Magazine for 2006.     
  • The Babson Players produced "Big: The Musical" and "RUMORS" in 2006.

2007

     
  • Glyn Maxwell was the Charles D. and Marjorie J. Thompson Visiting Poet this year.  
  • This year's Carpenter Prize recipient is Kathleen Kelly, Professor of English.
  • This year the Forbes family and Molson family were inducted into the Academy of Distinguished Entrepreneurs.      
  • Ariah Reilly, Babson Class of 2007, will be teaching English in South Korea as Babson's 3rd Fulbright Scholar.
  • The Babson Players produced "Sweet Charity" and "Noises Off!" The Babson Literary Magazine produced two editions this year, one in the spring and the other in the fall.
2008
     
  • In January it was announced that on July 1st Leonard Schlesinger will become the 12th President of Babson College. Dr. Schlesinger was inaugurated on October 17th and you can watch the ceremony here.
  • Natasha Trethewey was this year's Charles D. and Marjorie J. Thompson Visiting Poet.    
  • On April 9th Ernesto Bertarelli (BS 1989), Lee Man Tat, and Sunil Bharti Mittal were inducted in the Academy of Distinguished Entrepreneurs.
  • The Babson Players perform "Beauty and the Beast."
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  •       Allan Cohen, Edward A. Madden Distinguished Professor of Global Leadership, is this year's recipient of the Carpenter Prize.
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  • The Babson Free press published a special Commencement issue.
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  • The entire first Posse class graduates
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  • The inaugural class of Weissman Scholars enters in the fall.
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  • This fall marks the 30th Anniversary of the Writing Center and the 20th of the Speech Resource Center.
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  • The Lewis Center is founded with a gift from Alan E. Lewis and Harriet R. Lewis for the purposes of expanding the College's social entrepreneurship programs. AACSB notes other member programs expanding their interests in social entrepreneurship.
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  • The Babson Players present "You Can't Take It With You" for their fall show.
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  • Leonard A. Schlesinger is inauguarated the 12th President of Babson College on October 17th. The entire ceremony can be found here. President Schlesinger's address here and his planned remarks here.
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  • In November Babson College is accredited by EQUIS. Only three colleges in the United States have been accredited by them and only Babson earned a five year accreditation. The complete list of EQUIS accredited colleges can be found here.
       

2009      

     
  • Tom Sleigh is this year's Charles D. and Marjorie J. Thompson Visiting Poet reading on February 11.
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  • The College closed from 5PM March 28 until 5AM April 1 due to an outbreak of norovirus.
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  • The Babson Player's spring production  is Bat Boy: The Musical.
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  • Babson College annouces participation in the Post-9/11 GI Bill Yellow Ribbon Program.
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  • A Babson first? Summer theatre by a Babson student group.  The Babson Players present "A Midsummer Night's Dream." The performances will take place outside of the Glavin Family Chapel at Babson College's campus in Wellesley, MA on June 19th and 20th at 7pm. Facebook users can RSVP here.
     

 

 

 

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