Olivet College
320 South Main Street
Olivet, Michigan 49076
Admission: Tel 800/456-7189
http://www.olivetcollege.edu/
ENROLLMENT
Undergraduates:
Full-time:
454 men/317 women
Part-time:
25 men/45 women
FRESHMAN ADMISSION
PROFILE
Number who applied:
736
Number accepted:
625
Number enrolled:
349
Average ACT score:
19
Average GPA:
2.7 unweighted
COSTS
Tuition:
$25,200
Room and board:
$8,650
Fees, books, misc.:
$1,900 approx.
FINANCIAL AID
Freshmen receiving aid:
97%
Average financial aid package:
$11,519 (including loans)
FACULTY
Full-time:
37
Part-time:
42
Ph.D.:
15
Student/faculty ratio:
14:1
Olivet College
320 South Main Street
Olivet, Michigan 49076
College Description
Olivet College was founded in 1844 as the first college in the country, by charter, to be open to all persons regardless of race or gender. Today's students come from 29 states and 10 countries and represent most major faiths, races, ethnicities, and economic backgrounds. Twenty-two percent are students of color. Olivet maintains an affiliation with the United Church of Christ and the Congregational Christian Churches and is accredited by the North Central Association of Colleges and Schools. The College is located in the small town of Olivet, Michigan, approximately 3 hours east of Chicago, Illinois, and 2 hours west of Detroit, Michigan. An intentional focus on individual and social responsibility, on character as well as competence, and on service as well as career is the cornerstone of the Olivet Plan. The distinctive vision of Olivet College is to provide an "education for individual and social responsibility."
Academic Life
Olivet operates on a modified semester system. Spring semester includes a 3 1/2-week intensive learning term (ILT). During the ILT, students concentrate their attention on completing a single course of special interest. Many ILT courses are held off campus or abroad. Students earn Bachelor of Arts degrees in 30 areas of study. Professional and pre-professional studies are available in elementary and secondary education, pre-dentistry, pre-law, pre-medicine, and pre-veterinary medicine. At the heart of the Olivet Plan are five key groups of educational outcomes. These outcomes define skills that all students must acquire prior to graduation. Educational outcomes include communicating, reasoning, individual responsibility, social responsibility, and major area outcomes. Key elements of the Olivet Plan include a portfolio assessment program, first-year experience course, required service learning, learning communities, the academic major, and a senior experience. Celebrating both the wealth of human diversity and the bond of human similarity is a theme that permeates all elements of the Olivet Plan. The Olivet Plan teaches lessons in character and responsibility.
Campus Life
Olivet students are involved in the establishment of the values, rules, regulations, and activities of the College. In 1997, the entire campus community developed The Olivet College Compact, a set of principles that guide our day-to-day interactions. All members of the community share a strong belief in serving others. Student interests and opinions are part of the decision-making process that includes faculty, administration, and trustees. Olivet considers cocurricular activities as integral to, not apart from, each student's educational experience. Many of these activities form the basis for portfolio exhibits that students create to demonstrate competency in required learning outcomes. Students participate in seven local fraternities and sororities, student government, academic clubs, campus newspaper, campus radio station, social clubs, and performing groups in music and theatre. With groups, clubs, and activities that coincide with practically every interest, students are able to express their personal growth and development in many different ways.
Facilities and Resources
Campus facilities comprise more than 35 buildings. A renovation and expansion of Burrage Library was completed in 1993. Three residence halls house students in both single-gender and coed formats and have floors focused on agreed-upon living themes including wellness and service floors. Residential theme houses include the Brewer Honors House, the African-American Cultural Center, and the Global Cultures Center. The athletic complex includes two gymnasiums, a swimming pool, and a fitness center. A student center hosts campus activities ranging from comedians to film nights and houses the campus dining hall and student cafeteria. All students have access to the College computer network through one of two computer labs or through dial-up facilities. Students are assigned voice mail boxes and have accounts on the Internet. Some have developed individual home pages. Numerous programming partnerships have been developed with area colleges and high schools.
Athletics/Sports
Athletic participation and leadership opportunities are an important part of life for many of our students. Olivet is a founding member of the Michigan Intercollegiate Athletic Association (the oldest athletic conference in the U.S.) and fields NCAA Division III teams in 9 men's and 10 women's sports. Women's sports include basketball, cross country, golf, soccer, softball, swimming, tennis, track, and volleyball. Men's sports include baseball, basketball, cross country, football, golf, soccer, swimming, track, and wrestling. A wide range of intramural offerings are available for students.
Financial Aid
Olivet College is the only college in the nation to make civic responsibility and demonstrable community service the keystone of its entire scholarship program. The College has earmarked up to $10 million over the next four years for scholarships for students with a history of service to others. Community Responsibility Scholarships, valued at up to $6,000 per year, are an integral part of the College's implementation of its new vision-"education for individual and social responsibility." Other institutional scholarships are awarded for academic merit, music participation, international involvement, membership in the College's two affiliated churches, and demonstrated financial need. The College is committed to making Olivet affordable for every qualified student wishing to attend. Over 95% of all students receive some type of financial aid.
Admission Requirements
Olivet College actively seeks and welcomes students from diverse backgrounds to join the campus community. Applicants must have graduated from an accredited high school (or must present an equivalent credential such as the GED) and should have taken a concentration in college-preparatory courses. The suggested GPA for incoming students is 2.6. Applicants should also submit either ACT or SAT I scores. Individual consideration is given to students who do not meet these criteria but demonstrate potential in other ways. Successful students should be committed to the principles of service, character, and equity. The Olivet Plan is an active approach to education and requires all individuals to take significant responsibility for their own learning. Students who are motivated to reach their full potential in a distinctive college are encouraged to apply. While the College admits students on a rolling admissions basis, for full consideration, students are encouraged to apply before June 15 for fall semester entry and December 15 for spring semester entry.