Worcester Polytechnic Institute

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Institution type	Private

About Worcester Polytechnic Institute

Worcester Polytechnic Institute (WPI) was founded in 1865 as a private university located in Worcester, Massachusetts, United States. It is one among a small group of polytechnic universities in the United States which tend to be primarily devoted to the instruction of technical arts and applied sciences.WPI also is one of the United States' first engineering and technology universities.

WPI's 14 academic departments offer more than 50 undergraduate and graduate degree programs in science, engineering, technology, management, the social sciences, and the humanities and arts, leading to bachelor's, master's and PhD degrees. It is most well known for its engineering disciplines and is one of the top-ranked schools to attend for engineering in North America and the world over. The faculty of WPI works with students in several research areas, including biotechnology, fuel cells, information security, materials processing, and nanotechnology.

Worcester Polytechnic Institute (WPI) has ranked No. 1 by BusinessWeek in the nation for its part-time Master of Business Administration (MBA) program, and No. 1 in the nation for student satisfaction in the program. In 2010, WPI undergraduate major IMGD ranked 7th out of hundreds of universities in Top Undergraduate Game Design Programs according to The Princeton Review and WPI managed to rank 6th for year 2011.

Campus information

WPI offers several athletic facilities in the campus and divided among three main venues: Alumni Gymnasium (Fitness Center, Pool, and Bowling Alley), Harrington Auditorium, Recreation Center, and the outdoor facilities. All of the facilities are open to the WPI community during posted hours when there are no events scheduled.

Other than that, WPI also hosts various annual and weekly events. These events usually attract students, eventually are large enough to draw in off-campus visitors. Some of the events are Homecoming, Gaming Weekend, Tuesday Dance Socials, Weekend Movies, Comedy Festival, and so on.

WPI's main campus set in an urban context in New England's second largest city after Boston. The campus sits on Boynton Hill, apart from the adjacent neighborhood, which includes restaurants and stores on Highland Street. There’s also diverse dining, arts and entertainment, and a lively nightlife around the area.

This convenient central location puts students close to all the best the city has to offer, including the Worcester Art Museum, the EcoTarium, and the world-renowned American Antiquarian Society.

Accommodation

Each residence hall at WPI has an environment that is unique. From state-of the-art green buildings to halls full of history and tradition, there's a hall to suit every taste. Depending on your interests, one living environment might be more attractive to you than another. One thing all the halls have in common is a sense of community defined by cooperation, a commitment to the welfare of the group, and a sense of responsibility to self and others.

All halls are wired for telephone, cable television, and data network services. The bedrooms contain beds, desks, desk chairs, and a closet or wardrobe. The floors in the rooms are carpeted and have window treatments. The exterior doors of all residence halls require a card key to enter. All our residence halls are smoke-free.