Brief History of Bentley
The Bentley School of Accounting and Finance opened in Boston in 1917. Its founder, Harry Clark Bentley, was a dedicated and dynamic teacher who sought to prepare a new generation for professional careers in business. Relocating from Huntington Avenue to Boylston Street in 1922, the school offered a two-year certificate program in accounting and finance. In 1948, the school was incorporated as a nonprofit institution with a Board of Trustees and Harry Bentley as president.
Enrollment grew steadily through the first half of the 20th century. As the objectives of business education and the needs of students broadened, Bentley introduced a four-year academic program; the year was 1961. The school embraced a residential character in moving to suburban Waltham in 1968. Four years later, approved to grant both Bachelor of Science and Bachelor of Arts degrees, the institution was renamed Bentley College.
The college launched graduate programs in 1974, with accountancy and taxation the first master’s degrees offered. In 1999, the graduate school was named to honor alumnus and benefactor Elkin B. McCallum ’67. The current list of internationally ranked programs includes the Day and Evening MBA, eight Master of Science degrees, and a combined MS+MBA. All prepare students to be fluent in the principles and practices that fuel decision-making in a global economy.
Graduate and undergraduate business programs at Bentley are accredited by AACSB International — The Association to Advance Collegiate Schools of Business and by the New England Association of Schools and Colleges. Current enrollment is 4,250 undergraduate, 1,400 graduate, and 20 doctoral students.
Construction on campus started in 1965 and continued almost unabated through 1988. A library, residence halls, faculty and administrative offices, and a campus center were among the first buildings to rise. A second building boom, between the late 1990s and 2006, brought additional residence halls, an academic technology center, and a student center. Most recently, an ambitious renovation reaffirms the Bentley Library as the heart of the academic enterprise and reflects the school’s leadership in technology and research. The Dana Athletic Center has expanded with top-tier resources for varsity teams, intramural sports, and individual fitness. The college now occupies 163 acres.
Campus facilities trace a direct line to the academic mission of the college — and offer a valuable catalyst for ongoing innovation at the intersection of business and the liberal arts. Today we celebrate the commitments that have shaped Bentley through the years.
Joining the study of business, information technology, and the liberal arts. A faculty whose expertise crosses the disciplines of business and the arts and sciences ensures students a well-rounded education. The emphasis on technology dates back to 1985, when Bentley became one of the first schools in the country to require personal computers for course work. Today, all first-year students receive an industry-standard laptop and in-depth introduction to the school’s extensive technology resources. These include “smart” classrooms and specialty labs with leading-edge software and hardware used in business. New undergraduate programs are Liberal Studies, an optional second major for business students; and Media and Culture, a Bachelor of Arts program whose unique requirements include a business minor and either a capstone project or internship in a media-related field.
Putting ethics and social responsibility into practice. The Bentley Alliance for Ethics and Social Responsibility is a campus-wide conduit for teaching and research on business ethics, community service and social responsibility. Member organizations include the Bentley Service–Learning Center, Cronin International Center, Global Cyberlaw Center, Women’s Leadership Institute, and Valente Center for Arts and Sciences. The alliance is also home to the Center for Business Ethics, one of the nation’s first and most respected resources for aligning corporate performance with high standards of ethical behavior.
Promoting the value of service–learning. For almost two decades, the Bentley Service–Learning Center has helped students develop professional skills and a keen sense of social responsibility. Each year, some 1,500 undergraduates work with local, national and international organizations, gaining experience for their future career, along with insight into social concerns such as the digital divide, poverty and homelessness. Students also discover the powerful effect of individual civic engagement on society as a whole.
Fostering a global perspective. A number of Bentley programs and resources illuminate the cultural and economic impacts of globalization. Many of these initiatives are coordinated through the Cronin International Center, which set down roots as the Office of International Programs in 1987. Today’s students can take part in life-changing, career-enhancing study abroad programs in 18 countries. Other initiatives include the International Summer Institute, Global Speaker Series, and Bentley in Bahrain program. Recent federal grants are creating partnerships between Bentley and Tilburg University in Holland and the University of Deusto in Spain, among other academic institutions.
Educating business scholars. With the launch of a doctoral program in 2006, Bentley recognized the growing demand for scholars of business, prepared to teach at the college level. The two PhD programs — in business and in accountancy — share a focus on business, technology and society, while remaining distinctively discipline based. The structure of the programs provides an unusually supportive environment for study and research. Current PhD candidates come from countries including Ghana, China, Peru and France as well as the United States.
Bridging business theory and practice. A focus on practical knowledge and applied skills has been part of the Bentley landscape from its earliest days. Faculty members’ own experience in corporate settings offers students a window on the daily practice of business. Similarly, professors’ research often explores issues and challenges that drive decision-making at companies and other organizations. The blend of theory and practice informs teaching and produces scholarship with significant application to the business world.
Building corporate partnerships. Bentley has deep and longstanding ties with leading companies in the United States and abroad. The Office of Corporate Relations and the Miller Center for Career Services take the lead in fostering these relationships. Corporate partners provide student internship and job opportunities, venues for field-based course projects, classroom speakers, advisory board service, in-kind and financial support, and other assistance vital to advancing the Bentley mission.
