Facing the realities of a “Virtual University”

Earlier this month, President Bottomly joined Babson President Leonard Schlesinger and Olin President Richard Miller in announcing a three-college collaboration that would enhance the academic cooperation already in place amongst the business, engineering and liberal arts campuses and allow for more tri-campus academic, research and business initiatives. Proposals have included intercampus community outreach programs, joint purchasing of business services, tri-college conferences and integrated social projects, with students from the three schools collaborating in student organizations and artistic productions.

While the vision for a "virtual university," as termed by President Miller in an announcement to the Olin community this July, no doubt holds potential for an innovative academic synthesis, there currently is no agenda supporting this intent for increased collaboration.

In developing a viable agenda, it is important to consider several points of ambiguity and concern that have not been fully addressed by President Bottomly. The first concern we raise is the absence of a financial plan that will allow for the expansion of joint academic initiatives. While it is important to foster innovative approaches even in difficult economic times, the College's priority should be in fully funding the existing liberal arts curriculum and each of the academic departments.

It would be problematic to invest resources in a three-school model that has in the past lacked support from the student body. Previous cross-registration records reveal consistent differential registration patterns amongst the campuses, with most activity occurring amongst Babson and Olin students registering for humanities courses at Wellesley. In the 2008-2009 academic year, 216 Babson and Olin enrollments were made at Wellesley while only 16 and 20 Wellesley enrollments were made at Babson and Olin, respectively. Students may thus be better served by investing more resources in the existing MIT-Wellesley academic exchange and partnership with MIT's undergraduate research opportunities program (UROP).

The final point of concern that we raise is that of compatibility between a three-school model and an all-women's liberal arts institution. The College must thoroughly consider the implications of this "borderless" cooperation, which may begin to redefine our approach to the humanities and our understanding of an "all-women's" campus.

We hope that the President will hold a series of forums this semester to address the above concerns and to solidify the "virtual university" which, in its present form, remains too much in the abstract.