The mission of Olivet College is to make available to a diverse campus community, an education which will enrich lives intellectually, morally and spiritually. Having gained these qualities through the educational experiences at Olivet College, our hope is that our graduates will embody the Divine art and science of doing good to others as stated by the founding fathers of Olivet College in 1844.

Olivet College is a private, four-year liberal arts institution. As a small, coeducational college, Olivet takes pride in recognizing its students as individuals. The campus features three residence halls, a campus-wide wireless network, computer labs, newly remodeled library, and a new athletic and recreation facility. Students have the opportunity to participate in more than 30 student organizations and 11 Greek societies.

Olivet College presently offers 28 programs leading to the baccalaureate degree, a master of arts in teaching degree, and dual degree programs with two higher education institutions in Michigan. Olivet College is accredited by the North Central Association of Colleges and Schools.

Students at Olivet College engage with faculty and staff in an exciting educational program called The Olivet Plan. The plan's purpose is to implement the college's academic vision of Education for Individual and Social Responsibility.

The Olivet Plan is based on the college's historical mission of offering education to all, regardless of race or ethnicity, sex or economic status. It seeks to help students integrate learning from the full range of their experiences, engage in active learning both inside and outside the classroom, and take genuine responsibility for their own learning.

At Olivet College, we seek to place equal emphasis on engaging, challenging and supporting our students.

The goals of this element of The Olivet Plan are to encourage students to assume responsibility for their own learning and engage in active learning beyond the confines of the classroom. Learning communities are designed to allow students to explore important themes and issues through interactions with each other and with experts from beyond campus.

Course-based learning communities consist of cohorts of students who enroll concurrently in two or three different but thematically linked courses. For example, students may enroll in courses in biology, economics and art, all linked thematically to the issue of the natural environment. Work in the two or three courses is supplemented by enrichment activities that extend beyond the boundaries of the classroom into the broader community.

Enrichment activities are organized through the active participation of the students themselves with the team of faculty serving as facilitators. Participation in learning communities is optional, but many students who choose learning communities say they enjoyed and benefited from their experiences.

Olivet College is located in south central Michigan, 30 miles south of Lansing and 125 miles west of Detroit. It sits on a rolling hilltop shaded by huge maple and oak trees in the city of Olivet, a community of about 1,700 people.