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Kettering University

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Kettering University
TypePrivate
Established1919
PresidentDr. Stan Liberty
ProvostDr. Robert Simpson
Academic staff
145
Students2600+
Undergraduates2000+
Postgraduates600+
Location
Flint, Michigan
,
USA
CampusUrban
Websitewww.kettering.edu

Kettering University (formerly the "General Motors Institute") is an engineering school in Flint, Michigan along the Flint River on property that used to be the main manufacturing location for General Motors. It is named after inventor Charles Kettering.

The school is one of the few engineering schools that focuses on preparing students for the workplace through continued experience as a co-op. The university boasts that a large majority of its seniors are employed or accepted to graduate schools before graduation and that one out of 15 alumni either own their own business or are high-level managers in leading companies (see #Notable Alumni). Even though the school is small, it graduates one of the largest mechanical engineering graduating classes in the United States annually and is consistently ranked by US News and World Report as one of the best schools in the country for an undergraduate engineering education without PhD programs.

Kettering University offers Bachelor of Science degrees in Applied Mathematics, Applied Physics, Biochemistry, Computer Engineering, Computer Science, Electrical Engineering, Environmental Chemistry, Industrial Engineering, Management, and Mechanical Engineering. The University also offers several minors and has recently developed a Master's Program.

In addition to classwork, students spend half the year acquiring full-time professional work experience. The student body is broken into two sections, A and B. A-Section attends classes from July to September and from January to March, while B-Section attends classes from October to December and April to June. During the three-month periods between class terms, students gain work experience by working full-time with one of 700 co-op employer partners. To graduate students must, in addition to classwork, complete five work terms and a major project for their employer. The major project must be documented in a thesis. The curriculum is designed to be completed in four and one-half years; some students finish one term early, after four years, while others finish one term late, after five years.

History

The history of Kettering University is deeply tied to the development of the American automotive industry. The school was originally founded as The School of Automotive Trades in 1919 by Albert Sobey under the direction of the Industrial Fellowship of Flint as a night school, training individuals for careers in industry. In 1923 the school became known as the Flint Institute of Technology. General Motors acquired the school in 1926, renaming it General Motors Institute.

GMI focused on creating leaders for business and industry (sometimes called the West Point of Industry) and pioneered many educational firsts including the co-op program (following the development of this program at the University of Cincinnati in 1907), a freshmen level manufacturing course, and automotive degree specialities. Acceptance to the school included a job at General Motors as an engineer. Work and school were mixed in six-week rotations. Because General Motors used the school to train its engineers, tuition was partially subsidized. A fifth-year thesis requirement was added in 1945, along with the ability to grant degrees.

In June of 1980, with the entry of the Graduating Class of 1985, co-op rotations were expanded to twelve weeks. After General Motors reduced its operations in Flint, the company and the University became separate entities in 1982, although General Motors continued to hire co-ops from GMI. The name of the institution at that time became GMI Engineering & Management Institute. The letters GMI were retained to allow easy identification with the old General Motors Institute, although officially GMI didn't stand for General Motors anymore. As part of this change new co-op employers began participating with the institution, one of the first non-GM sponsors being Magna International of Canada, and the University began charging a full tuition fee.

On January 1 1998, the school's name was formally changed to Kettering University. Various reasons for the name change have been offered, including:

  • The desire to create an identity separate from General Motors and the auto industry, especially with corporate partners and funding agencies who naturally assumed that GMI was still a part of General Motors
  • The desire to avoid confusion with General Motors University, a General Motors training center created in 1997.
  • A desire to honor Charles F. Kettering, who was an early 20th century inventor.

Student life

Clubs

Kettering Student Government sponsors many student clubs to promote an atmosphere conducive to social interaction. Most clubs receive money from the University to operate. However, some clubs are self financing, either because they wish to avoid the restrictions placed on the KSG sponsored clubs or because they are unaware that funding is available. For a full list of clubs, see the #List of Student Organizations at the bottom of the page.

Greek life

Kettering University Bulldog painted for Pi Kappa Alpha Pledge Party.
Kettering University Bulldog painted for Delta Chi Rush.

The university has a very active Greek system, which is recognized as an excellent source of service opportunities and leadership training. Over one-third of the student body is currently involved in a Greek Letter Organization. Historically membership has been as high as 80%. However, several years of continually declining fraternity membership have caused debate in the community as to the cause. Most of the chapters agree that school policy is a major factor, however there is disagreement as to the solution.

Many North-American Interfraternity Conference (NIC) fraternities have chapters at Kettering as do several National Panhellenic Conference (NPC) sororities. The National Pan-Hellenic Council (NPHC) has several local chapters that are also affiliated with Kettering. Each group has a school-wide council that its members participate in. These councils are designed to keep communication lines open between the different groups, and to facilitate relations with the University on matters such as school-wide events and membership. In addition to the recognized organizations there are several unrecognized organizations including a local Christian fraternity and a local Christian sorority. For a full list of the Greek letter organizations on campus, see #List of Greek Letter Organizations.

During the first few weeks of school, freshmen are "rushed", a period of intense recruitment where all of the IFC Fraternities host events and attempt to recruit new members. Fraternities promote their events with signs, calendars, personal visits, and by painting the bull dog, a campus tradition. The process is often marred by misconceptions about Greek life made popular in movies like Animal House. As a result, discussions about the rush rules often become heated and are the major point of contention between the chapters.

Surrounding neighborhood

Although crime rates are low on campus, Kettering's campus is quite small. Immediately off campus the crime rate is higher. Security problems in the surrounding area are a concern among students. Many of these security problems have been reported to students by the campus security office in cautionary emails.

File:Flintfire.jpg
An abandoned building burns in the distance of Kettering University

Some students believe the crime results from being targeted. Other students believe these problems are caused by the University's poor public relations with the surrounding community and its historic affiliation with GM, a company which many local residents blame for the city's problems. Still others feel that the problems are caused primarily by the students themselves, citing "foolish and irresponsible behavior" on the part of many students combined with a generally hostile attitude toward the local population that often manifests in negative behavior.

Most students recognize the parts of the surrounding neighborhood as dangerous, but believe Kettering's high quality of education offsets the potentially higher risk of attending the university. A few students however claim that the security problem only appears to exist. These students point out that Kettering's small campus allows everyone to know about every single instance of crime and that the security office takes reported security problems very seriously. As a result the crime rate appears higher than other schools when in fact the per capita rate of crime is within the norm for an urban campus. Regardless, for years the Morgan Quitno study, which uses FBI statistics, has consistently ranked Flint as one of the most dangerous cities in the country. For 2006, Flint is ranked the third most dangerous city in the country.

Regardless of the cause, in order to remain competitive, many student residences are taking steps to improve their security. Advertisements for housing near campus often prominently display security information. Several fraternity houses have upgraded their facilities. The Campus Village Apartments (off-campus apartments for students only) immediately across the street from the campus center building has added key-card entry, as well as barbed wire and razor wire.

Notable alumni

Although Kettering University is a small school, with only 28,000 alumni, a high percentage have experienced extremely successful careers. Some examples of notable alumni include:

Honorary degrees

List of student organizations

  • The Technician (Student Newspaper)
  • The Reflector (Student Yearbook)
  • WKUF-LP FM (Student Run Radio Station, that holds a low-power FM license and has built an on-site 100 Watt tower)
  • Firebirds (Car Enthusiasts, involved in autocross, a car show, drag days, and tuning shop tours)
  • CCC (Campus Crusade for Christ, B-Section Only)
  • CIA (Christians In Action, A-Section Only)
  • CLIFFHANGERS (Kettering's Rock Climbing Club)
  • COMPASS Crew (Campus Orientation Meetings to Prepare for Academic and Social Success - Upperclassmen who plan the following year's freshmen orientation)
  • SWE (Society of Women Engineers)
  • Allies
  • Two Political Organizations (Actually work together to better inform the student population about political issues)
  • SHPE (Society of Hispanic Professional Engineers)
  • SPS (Society of Physics Students)
  • KUAC (Kettering University Anime Club, A-Section Only)
  • Gaming Society (Board Game, Card Game, and Role Playing Game club)
  • KUPS (Kettering University Programming Society)
  • AREC (Amateur Radio and Electronics Club)
  • The Bulldog Jazz Band
  • Aquaneers Scuba Club
  • Society of Hispanic Professional Engineers
  • International Club
  • Firebirds Car Club
  • SAE Society of Automotive Engineers
  • Black Unity Congress
  • International Club
  • Karate Club
  • Kickboxing Club
  • Hockey Club
  • Laser Tag Club
  • Off Road Vehicles Club: A-Section, Mud Boggers; B-Section, Kettering Off-Road Club
  • FSAE (Kettering Formula SAE)
  • Society of Opinionated Students
  • THINK
  • Paintball Club

List of Greek Letter organizations

The North-American Interfraternity Conference fraternities at Kettering include:

The National Panhellenic Sororities include:

The local National Pan-Hellenic Organizations include:

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