Table of Contents
 News You Can Use
Upcoming Events
Community Bulletin
Kudos
New Faces @ Olin
Articles of Interest
Trivia

The Link: Olin’s Campus-Wide E-Bulletin                             1.20.06
Happy New Year from the Link staff!

This bi-weekly newsletter includes news and information that will keep you informed of campus happenings.

If you have information you would like distributed to Olin the community, please send it to Announcements@olin.edu.

News You Can UsE
Admission Receives Record Number of Applications
As of January 10, the Admission Office had received 776 applications from prospective students, a new record that topped the previous high of 664 by a considerable margin. Interestingly, the number of inquiries this year (around 4,500) was fewer than last year, even though the number of actual applications went up. The inquiry to application yield (number of inquiries compared to the number of applications) is 17.25 percent, which is considered quite high. “Our strategy was to generate fewer, but “hard” inquiries, rather than “softer” ones,” said VP Duncan Murdoch. “It looks like we succeeded.” Of the 776 applicants, 583 are men, 188 are women, and five did not designate a gender.

Community Forum for Discussion of Diversity Issues
If you are interested in discussing issues of diversity and inclusiveness with other members of the Olin community, check out the new mailing list and newsgroup. To join, either subscribe to diversity@lists.olin.edu or point your newsreader at olin.community.diversity. (If newsgroups are new to you, check out http://groups.acl.olin.edu -- you must be on the Olin network to see this site).

Administrative Council Holds Further Meetings
Two more meetings of the new Olin Administrative Council have been held. The December 21 meeting was dedicated to a discussion of college finances presented by VP Stephen Hannabury. The January 19 meeting covered a variety of topics, from admission to commencement planning. For more information, or a summary of the meetings, please contact Joe Hunter.

Helpful IT Tip
“Did you know that you can check a person's availability (even if you don't have rights to their calendar) by opening a new appointment, clicking on the scheduling tab and entering the names of the people you want. You only see if a person has something scheduled, not the details. Now you'll never need to ask when someone is available  - this is much faster, easier and reliable! ”

Crisis Management Team Holds Table Top Exercise
On Wednesday, January 11, 2006 representatives from various segments of the college engaged in a Table Top Crisis review program. The simulated crisis impacted all areas of the college operations and allowed representatives to review their department response plans, develop team building within a crisis setting and identify areas that would need to be addressed in the event of a campus crisis or emergency.

New Postal Rates
As of January 8, new postal rates are in effect. The cost of a First Class letter has increased from .37 cents to .39 cents. Books of .39 cent stamps can be purchased Monday thru Friday from 10:00 a.m. - 2:00 p.m. in the mail room, located in the lower level of the Campus Center. Campus Mail Services did not buy any two-cent stamps, but can put two-cent meter stamps from Cash Sales on your letters to help you in your mailing.

Electrical Installation Completed
NSTAR electric has completed the installation of primary and secondary underground electrical conduit lines from the Curtis Street and Burrell Lane to the rear of the Olin Center. These conduit lines will carry the college's main electrical connections to NSTAR and will allow the college and the local Needham neighborhood to be fed from two separate NSTAR distribution centers should the electrical supply to the area be affected. NSTAR is in the process of upgrading some 70 pole locations and cable between the electrical distribution centers and Olin College. This project will be completed during the summer of 2006, when new switchgear and metering devices will be installed at the rear of the Olin Center and the permanent electrical service to the college will be provided through the underground infrastructure.

Olin College is Hiring
The College is currently seeking qualified candidates for several positions. Employees are reminded that HR is always happy to accept referrals.

• 2 Mechanical Engineering Faculty Positions, Fall 2006 Faculty
• Electrical and Computer Engineering, Fall 2006 Faculty
• Assistant Dean of Student Life, Student Life
• Post Graduate Planning Assistant, Post Graduate Planning
• Vice President for External Relations and Dean of Admission, External Relations and Admission
• Development Assistant, Development
• S.C.O.P.E. Program Coordinator, (40hours/week), S.C.O.P.E Department
• Material Science & Chemistry Lab Technician, Laboratory Operations

• Visit Community Calendar for upcoming Olin community-wide events
• Visit CORe Public Calendar for upcoming Olin student activities
• Click Wellesley Campus Calendar for upcoming Wellesley College events
• Visit Babson Online Calendar for upcoming Babson College event

In addition to her afternoon talk, which is open to the entire community, there will be an open meeting from 2-2:45 p.m. for students interested in talking with Dr. Widnall and a similar meeting for staff and faculty from 3-3:45 p.m. If you are interested in attending either of these please RSVP to Nick Tatar by Feb. 10.

This speaker series is intended to provide an opportunity for students to hear the words, stories and expertise of nationally known speakers and philosophers as well as faculty, staff, parents and alumni who have taken the time and energy to engage in the tough work of defining one of the Honor Code's core values, and who understand the implications of ‘doing something' when one believes in one or more of those values.

College Seeks Work for New Art Gallery
Olin College is calling on Needham , Wellesley and Olin community members to submit their artwork for the inaugural opening of a new art gallery that is being created at the college. The college will consider original, two-dimensional work in any medium up to 30 inches wide. The college is asking that the submitted work be judged only from actual work—no slides accepted. Work to be considered for the opening exhibition must be submitted between Monday, February 6 and Friday, February 10, to Cara Szeghy in Olin Center 209. For more information, visit http://www.olin.edu/about_olin/news/pr_single.asp?id=148.

• On January 1, Christopher Lee joined the faculty as an Assistant Professor of Mechanical Engineering. His office is located in OC327 and his extension is 2539.
  
• On January 16, Kathleen Ives joined the community as the Event Producer for the Sloan Center. Her office is in OC266.