New Advisory Board

Member OrientationOctober 12, 2006

Lance SchachterleAssociate Provost

WPI – 1865

Third Oldest U.S. Technological University (“Polytechnic institute”)

“Two Towers” Tradition

Boynton Hall – AcademicWashburn Shops – Practical

73% of graduates in August poll indicated “Two Towers” is WPI’s distinctive tradition

WPI’s Motto

“Lehr und Kunst”Theory and Practice

Learning and Art

Who We Are Now

A university with a core focus on science, engineering, and the management of technology that grants bachelor’s, master’s, and doctoral degrees in 30+ disciplines.

Accreditation

• NEASC

• AACSB

• ABET/CAC/EAC

Undergraduate Program Overview

The WPI Plan – key points

•Flexible Curriculum

•Four Term Academic Calendar

•Non-Punitive Grading Policy

•Project-Enriched Academic Plan

Humanities and Arts Project

• In-depth study OUTSIDE your major

• 5 thematically-related courses– American Studies, Art History/Architecture,

English, Foreign Languages, Global Studies, International Studies, History, Music, Philosophy, Religion, Theater, and Writing

• Independent project (= 1 Class)– Performance, portfolio, musical composition,

final paper, – study abroad

Interactive and Major Projects

• Typically team projects

• Each equivalent to 3 classes of academic credit

• Most are sponsored by outside companies, non-profits, government agencies

• Completed in one term, or part-time over 3 terms

• Can be done on or OFF-campus…

…..Global Opportunities!!

Major Programs Interactive Projects Humanities Projects

Budapest, Hungary Bangkok, Thailand London, EnglandE & J Gallo Wineries Boston, Massachusetts Darmstadt, GermanyLimerick, Ireland Copenhagen, Denmark Madrid, SpainWPI-MIT Lincoln Laboratory (MA) Hong Kong, PRCNancy, France London, England Exchange ProgramsNASA Glenn Research Center Melbourne, Australia Darmstadt, GermanySilicon Valley (CA) San José, Costa Rica Monterrey, MexicoWall Street, NY San Juan, Puerto Rico Montréal, Canada

Venice, Italy Munich, GermanyWashington, D.C. Stockholm, Sweden

Windhoek, Namibia Zurich, SwitzerlandWorcester, Massachusetts

Interactive Project

• Interdisciplinary team project

• Looks at the impact of science and technology on society

• 13 different themes to choose from including:

Historic Preservation, Economic Development, Health Care and Technology, Energy and Resources, Social and Human Services, Education

Major Project

• Substantial research project in major field of study

• Typically a team project

• Students have received patents, published articles, and presented at conferences

Undergraduate Student Profile

• 2,825 undergraduates

• 42 states and 70 countries

• 25% female

• 6% underrepresented minorities

• 6% international

Class of 2010 Profile

Kristin TichenorAssociate Vice President for Enrollment ManagementOctober 12, 2006

Meet the Class of 2010!

•780 incoming first year students

•200 women; 580 men•54 domestic students of color•72 international students

Noteworthy

• 3.7 GPA

• Top 13% Rank in Class• 1290 SAT Average (1887 with Writing)

• 210 students with 4.0 GPA’s

• 26 valedictorians; 15 salutatorians

Domestic Students by State

International Citizens

▪ Albania ▪ Guatemala ▪ Russia ▪ Australia ▪ India ▪ Singapore ▪ Bangladesh ▪ Israel ▪ Sri Lanka ▪ Brazil ▪ Kazakhstan ▪ Turkey ▪ Bulgaria ▪ Myanmar ▪ Taiwan ▪ Cameroon ▪ Mexico ▪ Vietnam ▪ Chile ▪ Malaysia ▪ China ▪ Nepal ▪ Costa Rica ▪ Pakistan ▪ Cyprus ▪ Romania

Intended Majors 2006

Other, 1%

Management, 1%

Undecided, 9%

Computer Science, 14%

Engineering, 32%

Engineering Undecided, 26%Math & Sciences,

17%

1262

1281

1294

1284

1290

1250

1255

1260

1265

1270

1275

1280

1285

1290

1295

1300

2002 2003 2004 2005 2006

Average SAT Scores

Class Rank - Enrolling Students314

145

5444

165 1

0

50

100

150

200

250

300

350

1st 2nd 3rd 4th 5th 6th 7th

Decile

Women as Percent of Class

26%

23%

28%

26%

24%

0%

5%

10%

15%

20%

25%

30%

2002 2003 2004 2005 2006

Students of Color by Ethnicity

13

20

6

10

29

25

23

2827

28

1

43 3

35

3

4

0

5

10

15

20

25

30

2002 2003 2004 2005 2006

African Am Hispanic Am Indian Multi-racial*

Discount RateFirst Year Applications

2500

3000

3500

4000

4500

5000

5500

1999 2000 2001 2002 2003 2004 2005 2006

The Admissions Funnel

18,000 inquiries

4,930 applications

3,270 admits

780 enrollees

27%

66%

24%

DeclinesEnrolled at Other College

Grand Total

Rensselaer 148

RIT 62

Northeastern University 59

UMass Amherst 50

Boston University 49

MIT 32

Carnegie Mellon 29

UCONN 29

Cornell University 28

UNH 28

Enrolled at Other CollegeGrand Total

Tufts University 21

University of Maine 19

Lehigh University 18

Clarkson University 17

Georgia Tech 17

UMass Lowell 15

Syracuse University 13

Johns Hopkins 12

Franklin W Olin C Engineering 12

University of Rhode Island 12