Ворчестер Политехникалық институтының тарихы мен дамуы

Private university in Worcester, Massachusetts, US

Worcester Polytechnic Institute was founded by self made tinware manufacturer, John Boynton, and Ichabod Washburn, owner of the world's largest wire mill. Boynton envisioned science schooling that would elevate the social position of the mechanic and manufacturer, but not necessarily teach the skills needed to become either. Washburn, on the other hand, wanted to teach technical skills through a sophisticated apprenticeship approach. Boynton consulted Seth Sweetser, a pastor, for ways to realize his vision. By chance it happened that Ichabod Washburn had previously consulted Sweetser about the proper way to actualize his own vision. Washburn was disappointed to learn of Boynton's offer to create a college, although Washburn claimed, "I prefer to be imposed upon by others rather than by myself in withholding where I ought to give," with the help of Sweetser's diplomacy and wisdom, he agreed to build, furnish, and endow a "Department of Practical Mechanics" at Boynton's school. He specified, however, that every student should blend theory learned in the classroom with practice in the shops. In response to this anonymous request, more than 225 Worcester citizens and the workers at 20 of the city's factories and machine shops contributed to the construction of the original building. On May 10, 1865, after House and Senate approval, the secretary of the commonwealth recorded the Institute as a legal corporation, and it came into formal existence. WPI was led in its early years by president and professor of chemistry Charles O. Thompson. Early graduates of WPI went on to become mechanical and civil engineers, as well as artisans, bankers, and enter other prominent occupations. WPI continuously expanded its campus and programs throughout the early twentieth century, eventually including graduate studies and a program in electrical engineering. During World War II, WPI offered defense engineering courses and was selected as one of the colleges to direct the V 12 Navy College Training Program. During this time, WPI suffered from the lack of a unified library system, well maintained buildings, and national recognition. This changed under the leadership of president Harry P. Storke from 1962 to 1969. Building on growth under Arthur Bronwell's presidency, Storke brought significant change to the school in what would be known as the WPI Plan. The Plan called for the creation of three projects and drastically redesigned the curriculum to address how a student learns. The Storke administration also launched a capital campaign that resulted in the creation of the George C. Gordon Library, added residence halls, an auditorium, and a modern chemistry building. Furthermore, women were first allowed to enter WPI in February 1968. The WPI Plan is the guiding principle behind undergraduate education at the Institute today, and is arguably the most notable contribution WPI has made towards science and engineering education. In 1992, WPI became one of the founding competitors of Dean Kamen's FIRST Robotics Competition. Based in part on this experience, in 2007 the university launched the United States's first B. S. in Robotics Engineering. In 2016, the National Academy of Engineering awarded their prestigious Bernard M. Gordon Prize for Innovation in Engineering and Technology Innovation to WPI, recognizing the institute's groundbreaking approach to engineering education. In 2021–2022, seven students died within half a year. Five of the deaths were reportedly confirmed or apparent suicides.

Set in an urban environment in New England's second largest city, WPI's main campus is entirely privately owned, ungated, and uninterrupted by public roads. The campus sits on Boynton Hill, apart from the adjacent neighborhood, which includes restaurants and stores on Highland Street. Once a laboratory for electromagnetic research, the "Skull Tomb" was built entirely without ferrous metals. Several years after its construction, electrified trolley tracks were built in Worcester, which led to the building falling into disuse. It served for a time as a site for Robert Goddard's rocket fuel research, as the building is relatively isolated from other buildings on campus and Goddard's research had previously led to explosions on campus. Subsequent to the building earning its present nickname, "Skull Tomb", a secret honor society inherited the building. The building was reconditioned in 2004. The 'Two Towers' shown in old WPI logos show the clock tower of Boynton Hall and the arm and hammer weathervane of the Washburn Shops. The original weathervane was stolen in October 1975 and never recovered. Boynton and Washburn were the university's first buildings, housing the classrooms and laboratories, respectively. The Two Towers symbolize Theory and Practice, which are the foundation of the university and still the approach used today. Boynton was completed in 1868 and Washburn followed shortly after that same year. WPI's school colors, Crimson and Gray, were inspired by the natural pigmentation of a beech tree's bark and foliage that grew near the foot of Boynton Hill. The tree was planted in 1945 and presently stands over 100 feet tall. Near the edge of WPI's campus is a large Tudor style mansion built in 1923 by WPI alumnus Aldus Chapin Higgins and later bequeathed to his alma mater. Named appropriately as the Higgins House, the mansion and the surrounding English garden serves as the backdrop for many alumni events and is the headquarters for the Office of Alumni Relations. WPI had one of 35 civilian research nuclear reactors licensed to operate in the United States. It was built and used in research during the height of the Cold War but the school's nuclear program ended at the turn of the century. The reactor was decommissioned and filled in early in 2018 due to heightened security around reactors post 9/11 and lack of need. A large bronze statue of Gompei the Goat stands at the quad side of the Bartlett Center, WPI's admission building. Gompei was an actual goat given as a gift by the class of 1891 and eventually became the school's official mascot. It was named after the first elected goat keeper, Gompei Kuwada, chosen for his initials (G. K.). The original bronze goat head is located in the Skull Tomb, on a shelf with carved rocks and empty liquor bottles. The Innovation Studio and Messenger Hall, a $49 million, 78,000 square foot residential and classroom facility was dedicated in 2018. The Innovation Studio (formerly the Foisie Innovation Studio), designed by Gensler, contains a robotics lab, a makerspace, various student used manufacturing technology (3 D printers, etc. ), and high tech classrooms. Messenger Hall is a residence hall with 140 beds and tech suites. The Innovation Studio was originally named the Foisie Innovation Studio, after Robert Foisie, WPI's biggest donor ever. Controversy emerged surrounding the man's donations, which totaled $63 million across his lifetime, when his wife and children alleged in public and legal filings that he had participated in various criminal practices, most notably stashing money overseas during his divorce and attempting to hire a hitman to kill his son. Following Robert's death in 2018, WPI began in 2021 to erase his name from the Innovation Studio and Business School (formerly the Foisie Business School). This was conducted in accordance with a settlement with Robert's wife, Janet Foisie.

The Major Qualifying Project (MQP) assesses knowledge in a student's field of study. As mentioned above, this project is similar to a senior thesis, with students doing independent research or design. MQPs are often funded by either WPI or external corporations. Topics of MQPs done in the recent past include the design of the MIR 2 space station life support system module, a study of the effects of stress and nicotine on ADHD, the design of a research rocket, a mathematical viscoelastic cell motility model, experimental research of liquid crystals using atomic force microscopy, and the design of polymers for medicine delivery.

WPI has employed several professors whose achievements have made them notable across the nation and the world. In 1995, Biology professor David Adams was the first to create a mouse which suffered from Alzheimers. Former history of science and technology professor Michael Sokal is currently serving as the president of the History of Science Society. Kaveh Pahlavan, professor of electrical and computer engineering and director of the Center for Wireless Information Network Studies (CWINS) who, during the 1990s, helped develop the 802.11 wireless protocols. Richard H. Gallagher, former professor of mechanical engineering and vice president of academic affairs, was one of the originators of the Finite Element Method. Umberto Mosco, professor of mathematical sciences and eponym of Mosco convergence. George Phillies, physics professor and 2008 Libertarian presidential candidate. Current professor of practice, James Lyneis, serves as the president of the System Dynamics Society. He is the third WPI faculty member to serve in this post, the other two being Michael J. Radzicki (SDS President 2006), and Khalid Saeed (SDS President 1995). Brian Moriarty, professor of interactive media and game development and former game developer for Infocom and LucasArts. Frederick Bianchi, Director of Music Technology and co inventor of the Virtual Orchestra. Joseph Mancuso (class of 1963) went on to become WPI's youngest department chairman when he took over the WPI management program after earning an M. B. A. from Harvard. Mancuso went on to become a best selling author in the business genre, and founded the CEO Clubs International, of which he is president and CEO. Albert Sacco Jr. Astronaut, former professor of chemical engineering and department head. Served as payload specialist on the STS 73 mission in 1995. Mimi Sheller, Dean of the Global School and theorist of mobilities.