Webb Institute

Webb Institute
File:Webb Institute3.jpg
Established	1889
Type	Private
Endowment	US $40.3 million
President	Rear Adm. Robert C. Olsen Jr.
Faculty	10
Undergraduates	91
Location	Glen Cove, New York, USA
Campus	Suburban, 26 acres (105,000 m²)
Athletics	12 varsity teams
Nickname	Webbies
Website	www.webb-institute.edu

The Webb Institute is a specialized private college in Glen Cove, New York that has only one program, which is undergraduate. Each graduate of Webb Institute earns a Bachelor of Science degree in naval architecture and marine engineering.

History

The Webb Institute of Naval Architecture was founded in 1889 by industrialist William Henry Webb, who had established his career as a preeminent shipbuilder in the 19th century. He recognized the increasing role of science and engineering in the field of ship design, which had long been seen as more of an art form. Webb felt that the ship designers of tomorrow would need to be skilled in structural and mechanical engineering, and other scientific disciplines. Since its first graduating class in 1893, Webb Institute has continued the legacy of William H. Webb and established itself as one of the world's leading educational institutions specializing in naval architecture and marine engineering.

Founding and early history

File:Webb Academy circa 1899.jpg

Webb's Academy and Home for Shipbuilders, Bronx, New York City (c. 1899)

On April 2, 1889, Governor David B. Hill signed the bill previously passed by the New York State Legislature incorporating Webb's Academy and Home for Shipbulders as a non-profit institution, provided by Webb with an endowment presumed to be sufficient to allow the institution to be self-supporting in perpetuity. It was intended to serve not only as an educational institution for future naval architects, but also as a retirement home for aged shipbuilders.

Webb commissioned New York architect Arthur P. Jennings to design a building for the institution to be built on 14 acres (57,000 m²) of land on a bluff overlooking the Harlem and Hudson Rivers in the Bronx. Construction commenced in 1890 and was completed in 1893. The building was designed in the popular Romanesque style and was built of New York brownstone, and was intended to be "a romantic version of a medieval castle", with turrets, fanciful carving, and other flourishes. For 50 years, this facility would foster the development of Webb Institute.

During World War II, the institute was closely associated with the US Navy as a training center for naval officers.

Relocation and expansion

File:Webb bw.jpg

Stevenson Taylor Hall, Webb Institute, Glen Cove, New York (c. 2001)

By 1945, the Board of Trustees determined that the Bronx campus was no longer suitable and relocation was necessary to ensure the longevity and development of Webb Institute. The factors were reported to include the need for extensive laboratory facilities precluded by space restrictions at the Bronx facility, attractive offers from real estate developers for the Bronx parcel, and the availability of readily-convertible, attractive, abandoned estates along Long Island Sound. Aging infrastructure in the Bronx and fundamental shifts in the nature of higher education in post-war America further encouraged the move.

A site was chosen in Glen Cove, Long Island - The Braes, the former country estate of Herbert L. Pratt, the son of Charles Pratt. Designed by James Brite and constructed between 1912 and 1914, the main house had a distinct H-shaped layout and Jacobean, Tudor, and Renaissance-influenced design elements that made it particularly distinct among Long Island estates of the era. The estate was purchased in November 1945 and conversion work began in 1946.

In April, 1947, classes began at the new campus in Glen Cove. The main building was renovated to include classrooms, dormitories, and offices, and a model basin and gymnasium were being constructed elsewhere on the campus. The main building was renamed Stevenson Taylor Hall in honor of the charter member and President of the Board of Trustees (1900-1926) of the institute. Through the conversion, the ground floor of Stevenson Taylor Hall retained much of the original 1915-era decor.

A modern library and auditorium were added to the campus in 1971. Webb first allowed females to attend as students beginning in 1978.

Webb Institute was used for the exterior shots of Wayne Manor in the 1995 film Batman Forever, and was featured in the 1998 film Great Expectations.

List of Institute Administrators

There have been seventeen administrators of the institute since its establishment in 1893

Administrator	Function	Years
Andrew Reed	Resident Manager	1894 – 1902
J. Irvin Chaffee	Assistant Resident Manager	1899 – 1902
	Resident Manager & Dean	1902 – 1919
George F. Crouch	Resident Manager & Dean	1920 – 1923
James O. Pollion	Assistant Resident Manager	1921 – 1922
Frank L. Odell	Resident Manager	1923 – 1926
Gilbert P. Taylor	Non-resident Manager	1926 – 1932
George H. Rock, RADM. USN (Ret)	Administrator	1932 – 1945
Samuel M. Robinson, D.S., D.E., P.E., ADM. USN (Ret)	Administrator	1946 – 1951
Frederick E. Haeberle, P.E., RADM. USN (Ret)	Administrator	1951 – 1961
William T. Alexander, D.Eng. (Hon), P.E.	President	1961 – 1966
William A. Brockett, P.E., RADM. USN (Ret)	President	1966 – 1974
Charles N. Payne, RADM. USN (Ret)	President	1974 – 1980
C. Russell Bryan, VADM. USN (Ret)	President	1980 – 1986
Benedict L. Stabile, VADM. USCG (Ret)	President	1986 – 1990
James J. Conti, D.Ch.E.	President	1990 – 1999
Ronald K. Kiss, P.E.	President	1999 – 2005
Robert C. Olsen Jr., RADM. USCG (Ret)	President	2005 – present

The academic program

Today the student body of Webb Institute typically numbers around 90, with 20% being female. As with many engineering programs, the student population is not particularly diverse; however, ethnicity is neither a reason for nor a barrier from attendance at Webb. The school is atypical in that due to its small size, the professors rotate to each classroom. The main building houses both male dorms and four classrooms. Students are generally required to live on campus for all four years.

Webb currently has 10 full-time faculty members, and no teaching assistants. Student access to professors is superb; students are strongly encouraged to seek assistance from faculty, who routinely make themselves available at most hours. Adjunct faculty from local colleges teach some humanities courses at Webb.

The student body adheres to an Honor Code, which prohibits lying, cheating, and stealing. The Student Organization administers the Honor Code, operates the student treasury, oversees social activities, and serves as liaison between students and the school administration.

Students have many options for recreation during their studies. The school has its own yacht club, automotive workshop, and English pub. Intercollegiate sports include sailing, tennis, soccer, volleyball, ultimate, and basketball. New York City is only an hour away on the Long Island Rail Road. There are many student-led activity clubs on campus as well, both sporting and intellectual.

The centerpiece of Webb's academic facilities is the 90-foot (27 m)-long model ship model basin, which is frequently used by students and faculty alike for experiments and research. Webb Institute has its own physics and chemistry laboratories, an extensive library, an engineering lab for mechanical and electrical experiments, a carpentry shop, and a machine shop. Students have round-the-clock access to these facilities.

Academically, the coursework is intense. Students spend 5 hours a day in lecture, and can spend 10+ hours a day studying. There is a mandatory internship period from January through February each year, where students seek positions in the maritime industry, including shipyards, design offices, and aboard merchant vessels. All seniors are required to complete a senior thesis on a topic of their choice. Seniors are strongly encouraged to take the Fundamentals of Engineering exam, in which they usually perform exceptionally well.

Only 60% of incoming students make it to graduation. Many graduates establish careers in the maritime industry, with nearly 100% job placement. It is not unusual for graduates to forge careers in other engineering fields, or to find success in finance or law. About a third of each graduating class goes on to pursue an advanced degree. Webb has a very active alumni association which supports graduates, fosters a thriving social network, and maintains an alumni fund. The alumni giving rate is over 70%, one of the highest rates in the United States.

A unique feature of Webb is that students who are US citizens are not charged tuition, thanks to an endowment from its founder. Students must pay for other costs, such as room and board, books, and various fees. The Bachelor of Science degree is awarded after four years of "total immersion" study, which includes several months of job experience through internship periods.

Webb Institute has been highly rated by Princeton Review in the category of specialty engineering colleges. The institute maintains close relationships with the United States Merchant Marine Academy, the State University of New York Maritime College, and the Cooper Union.

Admission

Requirements for student admission include having US citizenship or permanent residence. The admissions process requires strong scores on the SAT I and II tests as well as an exemplary high school record. Significant weight is placed on a mandatory entrance interview. An early decision admission process is available. There are no credit transfers and everyone starts as a freshman.

Ranking

U.S. News & World Report categorizes Webb Institute as an Unranked Specialty School under Engineering. It is listed as a Tier 1 school and ranked #2 in the Engineering category. According to U.S. News & World Report, Webb Institute's score is 96. This is higher than the scores of many more famous educational institutions, such as the California Institute of Technology, the University of Pennsylvania, Columbia University, Duke University, the University of Chicago, Northwestern University, Washington University in St. Louis, Cornell University, Johns Hopkins University, and Brown University.

References

Dunbaugh, Edwin L. (1994). A Centennial History of Webb Institute of Naval Architecture. Webb Institute of Naval Architecture. ISBN 0-9622631-1-7. 

MacKay, Robert B. et al. (1997). Long Island Country Houses and Their Architects, 1860-1940. Society for the Preservation of Long Island Antiquities. ISBN 978-0-393-03856-9. 

External links

• Webb Institute home page
• Picture of Webb Institute
• Webb Institute Compared to Other Colleges and Universities