Undergraduate Blog / Defining Your Babson

Do You Know the History of Babson?

Hope everyone is surviving this yucky rainy day! With founders day coming up on March 8th, I thought it would make sense to reflect back upon Babson’s history. I am also currently taking an advanced liberal arts course titled “The History and Culture of American Business” and therefore have been learning about how the business world has evolved up to this point. With Babson being one of the first business institutions, it only makes sense for us to study the history of Babson as a part of studying the history of business. We were assigned to read excerpts from the book “Continuity and Change: Babson College, 1919-1994” and it was so cool to learn more about how Babson came to be the way it is today! For example, I had no idea that Roger Babson’s original mission for the school was to “aim at the hearts as well as the minds of students and produce not only better businessmen, but also better human-beings” and for students to “rise above the narrow pursuit of self-interest and to dedicate their lives instead to the ideal of service to others”. The emphasis on real world experience and practical coursework was just as strong as it is today, with students having to act as though they were actual professionals through using desks, secretaries, and punching a timeclock. Roger Babson’s ideas for the college have clearly remained as Babson continued to grow, and can be used to serve as inspiration for how we should behave as Babson students. So the next time you think about skipping class or choosing social activities over community service, think to yourself—what would Roger Babson do?!

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Original Park Manor Quad

Original Park Manor Quad