Around Campus

For many students, getting around campus at Bentley University can be an uphill battle—literally. Situated on a large hill, most of Bentley’s academic buildings can be found at the top, while the student center, residence halls and fitness center are located at the bottom. As a result, a culture of driving to and from upper to lower campus has emerged as students attempt to avoid the dreaded walk up the Smith stairs.

It is fitting that the student affairs profession took shape in the early 20th century, just as Harry Bentley was starting his own educational endeavor. Our founder cared very much about students’ development as professionals and for them personally (in lending money to those in need, for example). The sentiment carries through our history, more evident now than ever as we aim to develop students who go on to have great careers and great lives.

From courses and professors to the best (and worst) excuses for missing class, alumni share their favorite academic memories.

While Bentley’s commitment to providing a world-class business education has not wavered throughout the decades, the university’s student life experience has changed dramatically. Here is a snapshot of an average day in the life as told by students from two distinctly different eras in Bentley’s history.

In my years working on the grounds, I saw both the university and my department change so much. The campus of course continued getting larger and larger, with new buildings going up. Naturally, our department grew too.

From Wednesday night bowling leagues to pizza bagels and mozzarella sticks, alumni through the years share their favorite Bentley student life memories.

Meet the Spencers, one of many families with proud ties to Bentley that span generations: Walter ’48; his son, Robert ’77, MST ’85; and Robert’s son and daughter, Jonathan ’07 and Courtney ’09. Each is inspired by the others to make a difference in the world — and determined to continue their Bentley legacy.

1982, Fenway Park: Jim Rice, Wade Boggs and Dwight Evans lead the Red Sox, as former Triple Crown winner Carl Yastrzemski begins his penultimate season with the team. Mark Balaban ’84, P ’20, then a Bentley sophomore, takes the “T” from Waltham to Yawkey Way more than 30 times from April to September. His seat in the sunshine costs $7.50.

Growing up, Katherine (O’Keefe) O’Leary ’64 was athletic, but couldn’t play sports in her all-girl school. She spent a lot of time playing with kids in a local park — and the guys never minded that she was a girl.

Study and work were the predominant student activities for most of Bentley’s first 40 years. The Boston campus lacked spaces to gather other than smoking lounges.