Inclusion, Diversity, Equity & Access (IDEA) at Olin

You belong here. 

College is a time of self-discovery, making connections with new people from diverse backgrounds, and expanding your way of thinking. The Office of Inclusion, Diversity, Equity, & Access (IDEA) is here to support your personal growth by providing education and event programming around identity, issues of equity, and how to ensure a culture of belonging for all students. 

In addition, the Office of IDEA exists to minimize the barriers and exclusion historically present on college-and engineering-campuses. In support of Olin’s desire to “reduce inequity both within and through engineering education”, we seek to provide and create a community where all students can pursue an engineering education while bringing and celebrating the multiple aspects of their identities.  

Our staff and student workers are dedicated to being a resource during your time on campus. We also welcome ideas and suggestions from you! We are all on this journey together: making Olin a place where we all belong and create belonging for one another. If you would like to connect with us, please email: [email protected].

Connecting with Groups on Campus 

We know that a major part of the college experience is charting out your own path and building your own community. There are student organizations & clubs that focus on aspects of identity. There are also ways to connect at neighboring Babson College and Wellesley College. As a student, you are also welcome to start your own club/organization if there’s one you want that does not already exist. 

Here are some existing students groups that focus on aspects of identity at Olin:

Students of Color 

• The MIX: a professional group for students of color 

• Olin’s Latinx Association((H)OLA): a cultural and social community for Olin LatinX students and allies 

• OSASA: the Olin South Asian Student Association

• The Wellesley Arab Women's Association: an off-campus group for people of Arab descent; open to all students  

LGBTQ+ 

• OPEN: a group for members of the LGBTQ+ community and allies 

Women 

• Society of Women Engineers : a professional group at Olin for support of all things women-in-tech; open to students of all genders 

Religious Groups 

• The Babson Olin Catholic Association (BOCA): a group for Catholic Students  

• The Olin Christian Fellowship (OCF): a group for Christian students 

• JooClub: a group for Jewish students 

• Olin does not currently have an active Hindu student group; you are welcome to reach out to Darshana (Wellesley College) or Hindu Student Association (Babson College). Additionally, Wellesley has a Hindu Affiliate Chaplain.

• Olin does not currently have an active Muslim student group; you are welcome to reach out to AL-Muslimat (Wellesley College) or Babson Muslim Students Association. Additionally, Babson has a Muslim Chaplain.

If you would like help finding additional off-campus resources or places of worship, feel free to reach out to Breauna Campbell, Associate Director of Student Equity & Access. 

There is also a space for students, staff, & faculty to express their faith and spirituality on campus in the MAC Memorial Lounge (MAC 400). This space has spiritual texts and related items that you may use in the space and return to the cabinet when you are finished.   

Other Resources 

• Olin’s Library has many resources for different groups — just ask! 

• The Identity and Engineering Co-Curricular runs most years and is a space to talk about the intersection of identity (i.e. race, gender, ability, sexual orientation, etc.) and engineering. Look for ways to register at the beginning of the semester! 

Opportunities for Involvement with Other Identity Groups

International Students 

Contact Courtney Beach, Assistant Director for International and Post-Graduate Programs, if you would like information about international program services at Olin. 

Students with Disabilities 

While there is not a current group for students with disabilities, feel free to reach out to Shannon Tocher, Assistant Director for Accessibility & Advising, at [email protected] if you would like information about disability services at Olin. If you want to talk about programming to educate the community about disability as part of one's identity, please reach out to Breauna Campbell, Associate Director of Student Equity & Access. 

1st Generation 

While there is not a current group for students who are among the first generation in their family to attend college, reach out to Breauna Campbell, Associate Director of Student Equity & Access, for information or to get involved with Olin's first-gen community. There is an informal group of students that has formed and is excited to connect with additional students.

Directory Name and Pronoun Change Form

This Directory Name and Pronoun Name Change form allows students to change their common use, or chosen, names in the Olin email directory as well as the student directory. It also allows students to change pronouns appearing in the student directory. 

Olin College is committed to becoming a more diverse and inclusive environment. At a glance, here is a little more information about the Olin student body, by Academic Year (AY).

* Defined as Asian, Hispanic, Black, Native Hawaiian or Pacific Islander, & American Indian or Alaskan Native.

Percentage of students who are Pell eligible (Fall 2023): 13.4%

Source: IPEDS

Percentage of students who are 1st generation (Fall 2023). This is defined as students with no parent or guardian that has completed a four-year bachelor’s degree: 9%    

Source: Applicant Database

In addition, here is a quick glance at Olin’s part-time and full-time faculty, by Academic Year (AY).

* Defined as Black, non-Hispanic; American Indian or Alaska Native; Asian, Native Hawaiian or other Pacific Islander, or Hispanic.

Source: Common Data Set