Webb Institute
Encyclopedia
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
.
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 (56,656 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.
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 1974.
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
.
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 feet (27.4 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 limited around-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
.
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
.
Glen Cove, New York
Glen Cove is a city in Nassau County, New York on the North Shore of Long Island. As of the United States 2010 Census, the city population was 26,964....
that has only one program, which is undergraduate. Each graduate of Webb Institute earns a Bachelor of Science degree in naval architecture
Naval architecture
Naval architecture is an engineering discipline dealing with the design, construction, maintenance and operation of marine vessels and structures. Naval architecture involves basic and applied research, design, development, design evaluation and calculations during all stages of the life of a...
and marine engineering
Marine propulsion
Marine propulsion is the mechanism or system used to generate thrust to move a ship or boat across water. While paddles and sails are still used on some smaller boats, most modern ships are propelled by mechanical systems consisting a motor or engine turning a propeller, or less frequently, in jet...
.
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
David B. Hill
David Bennett Hill was an American politician from New York who was the 29th Governor of New York from 1885 to 1891.-Life:...
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 (56,656 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
World War II
World War II, or the Second World War , was a global conflict lasting from 1939 to 1945, involving most of the world's nations—including all of the great powers—eventually forming two opposing military alliances: the Allies and the Axis...
, the institute was closely associated with the US Navy as a training center for naval officers.
Relocation and expansion
A site was chosen in Glen Cove, Long Island
Long Island
Long Island is an island located in the southeast part of the U.S. state of New York, just east of Manhattan. Stretching northeast into the Atlantic Ocean, Long Island contains four counties, two of which are boroughs of New York City , and two of which are mainly suburban...
– The Braes, the former country estate of Herbert L. Pratt
Herbert L. Pratt
Herbert Lee Pratt was an American businessman and a leading figure in the United States oil industry.- Early life :...
, the son of Charles Pratt
Charles Pratt
Charles Pratt was a United States capitalist, businessman and philanthropist.Pratt was a pioneer of the U.S. petroleum industry, and established his kerosene refinery Astral Oil Works in Brooklyn, New York. An advertising slogan was "The holy lamps of Tibet are primed with Astral Oil." He...
. 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 1974.
Webb Institute was used for the exterior shots of Wayne Manor
Wayne Manor
In DC Comics, Wayne Manor is a fictional setting, the personal residence of Bruce Wayne, who is also Batman. The residence is typically depicted as a huge stately mansion on grounds outside Gotham City, maintained by the Wayne family's servant, Alfred Pennyworth...
in the 1995 film Batman Forever
Batman Forever
Batman Forever is a 1995 American superhero film directed by Joel Schumacher and produced by Tim Burton. Based on the DC Comics character Batman, the film is a sequel to Batman Returns , with Val Kilmer replacing Michael Keaton as Batman...
, and was featured in the 1998 film Great Expectations
Great Expectations
Great Expectations is a novel by Charles Dickens. It was first published in serial form in the publication All the Year Round from 1 December 1860 to August 1861. It has been adapted for stage and screen over 250 times....
.
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 William A. Brockett Rear Admiral William A. Brockett, was born 22 February 1914 in Illinois and raised in Litchfield and New London, Connecticut. A naval engineer and author, Brockett served aboard a US gunboat in China at the time of the Battle of Shanghai in August 1937. In 1950, he co-authored with Robert M... , 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 12% being female. 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
Sailing
Sailing is the propulsion of a vehicle and the control of its movement with large foils called sails. By changing the rigging, rudder, and sometimes the keel or centre board, a sailor manages the force of the wind on the sails in order to move the boat relative to its surrounding medium and...
, tennis
Tennis
Tennis is a sport usually played between two players or between two teams of two players each . Each player uses a racket that is strung to strike a hollow rubber ball covered with felt over a net into the opponent's court. Tennis is an Olympic sport and is played at all levels of society at all...
, soccer, volleyball
Volleyball
Volleyball is a team sport in which two teams of six players are separated by a net. Each team tries to score points by grounding a ball on the other team's court under organized rules.The complete rules are extensive...
, ultimate
Ultimate (sport)
Ultimate is a sport played with a 175 gram flying disc. The object of the game is to score points by passing the disc to a player in the opposing end zone, similar to an end zone in American football or rugby...
, and basketball
Basketball
Basketball is a team sport in which two teams of five players try to score points by throwing or "shooting" a ball through the top of a basketball hoop while following a set of rules...
. New York City is only an hour away on the Long Island Rail Road
Long Island Rail Road
The Long Island Rail Road or LIRR is a commuter rail system serving the length of Long Island, New York. It is the busiest commuter railroad in North America, serving about 81.5 million passengers each year. Established in 1834 and having operated continuously since then, it is the oldest US...
. 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 feet (27.4 m)-long model ship model basin
Ship model basin
A ship model basin may be defined as one of two separate yet related entities, namely:* a physical basin or tank used to carry out hydrodynamic tests with ship models, for the purpose of designing a new ship, or refining the design of a ship to improve the ship's performance at sea;* the...
, 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 limited around-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
Fundamentals of Engineering exam
The Fundamentals of Engineering exam, also referred to as the Engineer in Training exam, and formerly in some states as the Engineering Intern exam, is the first of two examinations that engineers must pass in order to be licensed as a Professional Engineer in the United States...
, 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
Tuition
Tuition payments, known primarily as tuition in American English and as tuition fees in British English, Canadian English, Australian English, New Zealand English and Indian English, refers to a fee charged for educational instruction during higher education.Tuition payments are charged by...
, 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
United States Merchant Marine Academy
The United States Merchant Marine Academy is one of the five United States Service academies...
, the State University of New York Maritime College
State University of New York Maritime College
SUNY Maritime College is a maritime college located in the Bronx, New York City in historic Fort Schuyler on the Throggs Neck peninsula where the East River meets Long Island Sound...
, and the Cooper Union
Cooper Union
The Cooper Union for the Advancement of Science and Art, commonly referred to simply as Cooper Union, is a privately funded college in the East Village neighborhood of Manhattan, New York City, United States, located at Cooper Square and Astor Place...
.
Ranking
U.S. News & World ReportU.S. News & World Report
U.S. News & World Report is an American news magazine published from Washington, D.C. Along with Time and Newsweek it was for many years a leading news weekly, focusing more than its counterparts on political, economic, health and education stories...
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
California Institute of Technology
The California Institute of Technology is a private research university located in Pasadena, California, United States. Caltech has six academic divisions with strong emphases on science and engineering...
, the University of Pennsylvania
University of Pennsylvania
The University of Pennsylvania is a private, Ivy League university located in Philadelphia, Pennsylvania, United States. Penn is the fourth-oldest institution of higher education in the United States,Penn is the fourth-oldest using the founding dates claimed by each institution...
, Columbia University
Columbia University
Columbia University in the City of New York is a private, Ivy League university in Manhattan, New York City. Columbia is the oldest institution of higher learning in the state of New York, the fifth oldest in the United States, and one of the country's nine Colonial Colleges founded before the...
, Duke University
Duke University
Duke University is a private research university located in Durham, North Carolina, United States. Founded by Methodists and Quakers in the present day town of Trinity in 1838, the school moved to Durham in 1892. In 1924, tobacco industrialist James B...
, the University of Chicago
University of Chicago
The University of Chicago is a private research university in Chicago, Illinois, USA. It was founded by the American Baptist Education Society with a donation from oil magnate and philanthropist John D. Rockefeller and incorporated in 1890...
, Northwestern University
Northwestern University
Northwestern University is a private research university in Evanston and Chicago, Illinois, USA. Northwestern has eleven undergraduate, graduate, and professional schools offering 124 undergraduate degrees and 145 graduate and professional degrees....
, Washington University in St. Louis
Washington University in St. Louis
Washington University in St. Louis is a private research university located in suburban St. Louis, Missouri. Founded in 1853, and named for George Washington, the university has students and faculty from all fifty U.S. states and more than 110 nations...
, Cornell University
Cornell University
Cornell University is an Ivy League university located in Ithaca, New York, United States. It is a private land-grant university, receiving annual funding from the State of New York for certain educational missions...
, Johns Hopkins University
Johns Hopkins University
The Johns Hopkins University, commonly referred to as Johns Hopkins, JHU, or simply Hopkins, is a private research university based in Baltimore, Maryland, United States...
, and Brown University
Brown University
Brown University is a private, Ivy League university located in Providence, Rhode Island, United States. Founded in 1764 prior to American independence from the British Empire as the College in the English Colony of Rhode Island and Providence Plantations early in the reign of King George III ,...
.