Diversity
Our Concerns
The WPI Computer Science Department is very concerned about the low numbers of women and racial minorities who are enrolling in our program. Unfortunately this is a nationwide phenomenon. Many talented students are opting not to move to the next level of their education.
The Goal
One of the department's current goals is to attract and encourage minority students. WPI has a long history of advising and guiding students in one-on-one situations. We are well prepared to provide students with appropriate advisors and mentors.
Some Strengths
Academic Advising at WPI is taken very seriously. Every student is encouraged to develop an academic development plan. Special assistance is provided for those who have problems with Math and Science. The student societies in Computer Science, ACM and UPE both provide help sessions for some courses, in addition to the help that is always available from the professor and the teaching assistant(s).
The Minority Affairs Office has the mission to increase the number of underrepresented students of African, Latino and American Indian descent who apply, matriculate and graduate from WPI. They are also responsible for the EMSEP program.
In addition, the Office of Diversity and Women's Programs, was founded to promote pluralism at WPI.
In Fall of 2004, WPI Women in Computer Science (WICS) was founded to support women in the CS Department. WICS now has its own room, the WICS Lounge, FL B20.
On campus, the The Black Student Union is a group devoted to "maintaining a cohesive black community on campus, to promoting knowledge and celebrating the cultures of Blacks and Africans, and to providing a forum for the expression for ideas and goals of black students on campus."
In addition, the Hispanic Student Association is open to "all WPI students with Hispanic roots or interests who desire to develop and plan activities that contribute to the advancement of the personal integration of the Hispanic student into the WPI community."
There are also a variety of other clubs and societies associated with national or ethnic groups.
The International House provides information and support for the approximately 10% of WPI students coming from another country.
The Computer Science department faculty consist of a significant number of women faculty members, and several faculty with international backgrounds. We hope that this can help provide a suitable background in which diversity can flourish.
Other Resources
External Resources
Maintained by webmaster@cs.wpi.eduLast modified: December 03, 2007 14:21:28