Wentworth Institute of Technology is a private design and engineering college located in Boston, Massachusetts. Founded in 1904, it offers fifteen
bachelor's degreeA bachelor's degree is usually an academic degree awarded for an undergraduate course or major that generally lasts for four years, but can range from two to six years depending on the region of the world...
programs in such areas as
architectureFor a topical guide to this subject, see Outline of architecture. Architecture is the art and science of designing and constructing buildings and other physical structures for human shelter or use....
,
computer scienceComputer science is the study of the theoretical foundations of information and computation, and of practical techniques for their implementation and application in computer systems. It is frequently described as the systematic study of algorithmic processes that create, describe and transform...
, and
engineering technologyEngineering Technology is a field of study which focuses on the applications of engineering and modern technology, rather than the theoretical.-Education:...
. Wentworth Institute is one of six institutions of higher learning known as The
Colleges of the FenwayThe Colleges of the Fenway consortium include Emmanuel College, Massachusetts College of Art, Massachusetts College of Pharmacy and Health Sciences, Simmons College, Wentworth Institute of Technology, and Wheelock College. The consortium members are all in the Longwood Medical Area of...
consortium.
History
At his death in 1903, Boston businessman Arioch Wentworth left the bulk of his estate, estimated at $7,000,000 in value, for the founding of an industrial school in that city. Accordingly, a board of seven directors
incorporatedIncorporation is the forming of a new corporation . The corporation may be a business, a non-profit organization, sports club or a government of a new city or town. This article focuses on the process of incorporation; see also corporation.-Legal benefits:*Protection of personal assets...
Wentworth Institute on April 5, 1904, as a school "to furnish education in the mechanical arts." The directors spent several years investigating the educational needs of the community, nurtured the
endowmentA financial endowment is a transfer of money or property donated to an institution, usually with the stipulation that it be invested, and the principal remain intact in perpetuity or for a defined time period...
-- only $3.5 million after they reached a settlement with Wentworth's daughter Susan, who had contested his will -- established the campus location in Boston's
Back Bay FensThe Back Bay Fens, most commonly called simply The Fens, is a parkland and urban wild in Boston, Massachusetts, in the United States.Designed by Frederick Law Olmsted to serve as a link in the Emerald Necklace park system, the Fens gives its name to the Fenway-Kenmore neighborhood, which in turn...
, and hired educator Arthur L. Williston as principal.
September 25, 1911, Wentworth opened its doors as a
technical schoolTechnical school is a general term used for two-year college which provide mostly employment-preparation skills for trained labor, such as welding, culinary arts and office management.-Associations supporting technical schools:...
to 242 students. Quickly the school gained enrollment: by 1919 it had 1,800 students in day and evening programs and a faculty of 45 teachers. During the next three decades Wentworth sculpted itself into one of the finest
technical institutesTechnical school is a general term used for two-year college which provide mostly employment-preparation skills for trained labor, such as welding, culinary arts and office management.-Associations supporting technical schools:...
in the country. In 1953 Wentworth named its first president, H. Russell Beatty. Wentworth became a degree-granting institution in 1957, awarding its first associate's degrees, and offered
baccalaureate-level degreesA bachelor's degree is usually an academic degree awarded for an undergraduate course or major that generally lasts for four years, but can range from two to six years depending on the region of the world...
starting in 1970. Wentworth changed from an all-commuter college to a residential campus in the 1960s with the addition of several residence halls. The addition of a satellite campus in
Plainville, MassachusettsPlainville is a town in Norfolk County, Massachusetts, United States. The population was 7,683 at the 2000 census. It is formally a part of the Providence metropolitan area.- History :...
, allowed for a laboratory; this land was sold in 1999 to developers.
In 1972 the Institute admitted its first women students, with an initial male-female ratio of 353 to 1. As of 2005, women represent 21% of the academic population. In 1975
cooperative educationCooperative education is a structured method of combining classroom-based education with practical work experience. A cooperative education experience, commonly known as a "co-op", provides academic credit for structured job experience...
was introduced at Wentworth with 28 mechanical engineering technology students, class of 1977, testing the program for the Institute. Wentworth instructors unionized in 1973 to become part of
AFTThe American Federation of Teachers or AFT is an American labor union founded in 1916 that represents teachers, paraprofessionals and school-related personnel, local, state and federal employees, higher education faculty and staff, and nurses and other healthcare professionals...
Local 2403; on October 28, 1977, the teachers of Wentworth went on strike.
http://www.mfteducator.org/NewHistoryMFT.htm Before 1977, the lower and upper divisions operated as two separate schools; in that year these two schools merged and
Wentworth Institute of Technology was born. With admissions numbers getting higher, Wentworth expanded, acquiring the Ira Allen School building from the city of Boston in 1980 and the former Boston Trade High School in 1983.
Major renovation to the third floor of Annex Hall was done in 1989, spending a million dollars adding studios. Along with this renovation came
NAABThe Naab is a river in Bavaria, Germany, and is a left tributary of the Danube. It is approx. long, including its main source river Waldnaab....
accreditation (1991). In 1993, Wentworth introduced a pair of five-year engineering programs (as opposed to engineering technology) into the curriculum: electromechanical engineering and
environmental scienceEnvironmental science is an interdisciplinary field that involves both the physical sciences and the social sciences . It encompasses the surrounding conditions that affect man and other organisms...
. In 2002, these programs received initial accreditation from the Engineering Accreditation Commission.
In 2001 Wentworth opened 610 Huntington Ave, a 473-bed residence hall which officially ended Wentworth's run as predominantly a commuter school.
On June 8, 2005
Zorica PanticZorica Pantic, born circa 1951 in the former Yugoslavia, is a college administrator and professor of electrical engineering. In 2005 she was appointed the fourth president of Wentworth Institute of Technology in Boston....
was announced as Wentworth's fourth president. She formally took office August 1, 2005 to be the first female engineer to head an institute of technology. The Inaugural Ceremony was held on April 5, 2006.
In Fall 2005 the new residence hall, 555 Huntington Ave, was completed, adding an additional 360 beds in apartment-style suites to the campus' housing opportunities.
Notable alumni
- Luther Blount
Luther H. Blount was an American entrepreneur, inventor, and philanthropist. Blount was a shipbuilder and holds 22 patents; most of which are relating to his trade.- Biography :...
(entrepreneur)
- Joe Lauzon
Joseph E. Lauzon Jr. is a professional mixed martial arts fighter from Brockton, Massachusetts. He currently lives in Massachusetts and is training at Lauzon MMA in Bridgewater, Massachusetts.-Biography:...
(mixed martial artist)
- Lenny Bogdanov (engineer/entreprenuer)
- David Lovering (musician)
- Stephen F. Lynch (politician)
- Michael Maltzan (architect)
- John A. Volpe
John Anthony Volpe was a Governor of Massachusetts and a U.S. Secretary of Transportation.Volpe was born in 1908 in Wakefield, Massachusetts. He was the son of Italian immigrants Vito and Filomena , who had come from Abruzzo to Boston's North End in 1905; his father was in the construction business...
(politician)
Academics
Wentworth has six departments: Department of Architecture; Department of Civil, Construction, and Environment; Department of Computer Science and Information Systems; Department of Design and Facilities; Department of Electronics and Mechanical; and the Department of Humanities, Social Sciences, and Management. In total, Wentworth offers bachelor's degrees in fifteen design and engineering majors. Wentworth will start a four-year undergraduate Biomedical Engineering program in Fall 2009. In addition, the Institute's co-op program starting in the junior year completes a learning model based on theory classes, practical laboratory and studio work and real work experience with the goal of assuring the student the knowledge and hands-on experience to enter the work force.
Wentworth is a technology-oriented college; all of the residence hall rooms and suites have hard-wired high speed internet access, and all incoming freshman receive a laptop as part of the institute's Laptop initiative which aims to provide all students with the right tools and skills to succeed in their learning experience. Depending on the student's major, a student will receive an appropriately equipped
AppleApple Inc. is an American multinational corporation that designs and manufactures consumer electronics and computer software products. The company's best-known hardware products include Macintosh computers, the iPod and the iPhone...
Macbook Pro or a Lenovo Thinkpad to work in and out of class. The program, started in 2004, guarantees that all students have the adequate software for all courses and are capable of accomplishing all projects assigned.
Departments and Majors
-
Department of Architecture
- Bachelor of Science in Architecture (pre-professional degree)
- Masters of Architecture (professional degree)
-
Department of Civil, Construction, and Environment:
- Civil Engineering Technology
- Construction Management
- Environmental Science
-
Department of Computer Science and Systems:
- Computer Science
- Computer Network and Information Systems
-
Department of Design and Facilities:
- Industrial Design
- Interior Design
- Facilities Planning & Management
-
Department of Electronics and Mechanical:
- Mechanical Engineering Technology
- Computer Engineering Technology
- Electronic Engineering Technology
- Electromechanical Engineering
- Biomedical Engineering
-
Department of Humanities, Social Sciences, and Management:
Cooperative education
As a fundamental part of Wentworth education, the Institute requires students to complete at least two
cooperative educationCooperative education is a structured method of combining classroom-based education with practical work experience. A cooperative education experience, commonly known as a "co-op", provides academic credit for structured job experience...
semesters in work placements. These can take place anywhere in the world and are always related to the career major of the student with the idea that the practical application of theory taught and experimented with in classes and studios or labs will augment the college education and prepare students for postgraduate work or further study.
By the end of the two mandatory co-op semesters, the student can now be competitive in a job application due to the months of experience prior to graduation. This combined with laboratory and class work should form students capable of achieving interesting projects once they have graduated.
Center for Community & Learning Partnerships
The center seeks partnerships that address neighborhood concerns while enhancing the educational and professional environment at Wentworth Institute of Technology.
Areas of Focus
While not inclusive of all projects or initiatives, these areas make up the bulk of Wentworth’s community learning priorities. These categories represent the critical community issues and Wentworth’s strengths.
- Digital Divide: Computer & Information Technology
- Sustainable Development: Design/Build
- Social Enterprise: Management
- Adaptive & Green Technology: Engineering & Design
- College Access & Success
Campus
The Wentworth campus spreads over in the Fenway, an urban neighborhood of Boston. It consists primarily of 15 buildings for administrative and faculty offices, classrooms, laboratories, a library, and athletic facilities. The main buildings are on Huntington Avenue.
The MBTA Green Line provides light-rail mass transit service at two stations. The institute's neighbors include
Massachusetts College of ArtMassachusetts College of Art and Design is a publicly-funded college of visual and applied art, founded in 1873. It is one of the oldest art schools, the only publicly-funded free-standing art school in the United States, and was the first art college in the United States to grant a degree...
, Northeastern University, several other institutions of higher learning, and the
Museum of Fine ArtsThe Museum of Fine Arts in Boston, Massachusetts, is one of the largest museums in the United States attracting over one million visitors a year. It contains over 450,000 works of art, making it one of the most comprehensive collections in the Americas. The museum was founded in 1870 and its...
.
Students enrolled for full-time study live in one of eight dormitories located near the main buildings. Baker Hall is the home of the First-Year Experience (FYE), where incoming students have the chance to socialize in a more extensive way due to the closeness among rooms. Other residences include Evans Way/Tudbury halls, 610 Huntington Avenue, 555 Huntington Avenue,
Louis PrangLouis Prang was an American printer, lithographer and publisher.- Youth :Prang was born in Breslau in Prussian Silesia. His father Jonas Louis Prang was a textile manufacturer and of French Huguenot origin...
/Vancouver Street apartments and Edwards/Rogers halls for upperclassmen.
Student body
Most Wentworth students are US citizens or permanent residents. The Institute also attracts international students from Asia, Latin America and Europe. Most of them opt for on-campus housing, creating a large community of students in a single area.
Due to the historic predominance of males in fields of engineering and architecture, a larger portion of the whole student body is made up of male students. To counter this, the Institute has a greater appreciation for women applicants and has in their organization, a number of programs and areas dedicated to women only. The resources for women include the Women's Center, a designated lounge area where women can go and relax, have dinner and study, the Woman to Woman Program and the
Society of Women EngineersThe Society of Women Engineers , founded in 1950, is a not-for-profit educational and service organization. SWE is the driving force that establishes engineering as a highly desirable career aspiration for women. SWE empowers women to succeed and advance in those aspirations and be recognized for...
. More women entering fields such as architecture and engineering is also naturally leading to more female applicants. As a result, over the past two years, a significant number of female applicants has been seen, making the way to a 50-50 gender student body.
Enrollment
Total enrollment: 3,412 (all undergraduates)
Ethnicity:
- Non-resident alien: 3.0%
- Black non-Hispanic: 4.1%
- American Indian or Alaskan Native: 0.1%
- Asian or Pacific Islander: 4.7%
- Hispanic: 3.4%
- White non-Hispanic: 75.5%
- Unknown: 9.2%
Athletics
Wentworth's athletics programs include 15 varsity, two club and six intramural sports, making emphasis in both men's and women's sports.
Wentworth's athletic program competes as a Division III member of the
National Collegiate Athletic AssociationThe National Collegiate Athletic Association is a voluntary association of about 1,281 institutions, conferences, organizations and individuals that organizes the athletic programs of many colleges and universities in the United States and Canada...
(NCAA), as well as holding memberships in the
Commonwealth Coast ConferenceThe Commonwealth Coast Conference is an intercollegiate athletic conference affiliated with the NCAA’s Division III. Member institutions are located in New England in the States of Maine, Massachusetts, New Hampshire, and Rhode Island....
(CCC) and
Eastern College Athletic ConferenceThe Eastern College Athletic Conference is a college athletic conference comprising schools that compete in 35 men's and women's sports...
(ECAC).
Since 1989 the Leopards have captured 16 conference championships in the sports of baseball, men's basketball, hockey, golf, men's soccer, and men's tennis. In addition, Wentworth has earned an invitation to the NCAA Division III Tournament six times (1997, 2007 men's basketball; 2000, 2002, 2003, 2004 ice hockey) in the last 10 years, as well as earning ECAC Tournament bids in baseball, men¹s basketball, hockey, lacrosse, men¹s soccer, and women¹s soccer over the course of the last 12 years.
A multi-purpose athletic field, a gift from Myles Sweeney '28 and his wife, Eugenia, opened in 1996. Sweeney Field is located in front of the main building of the institute. Since 1996, the men's and women's soccer teams have enjoyed a combined home record of 81-27-2 (75% wins).
Individual student-athletes have garnered numerous all-league, rookie of the year, and player of the year honors throughout Wentworth's history, with four student-athletes earning five Verizon/CoSIDA Academic honors within the last 11 years.
Student clubs and organizations
- National Society of Black Engineers (NSBE) NSBE/WIT
- Phi Sigma Pi National Honors Fraternity
- Wentworth Student Government (WSG)
- Wentworth Internet Radio Experience (WIRE)
- Wentworth Events Board (WEB)
- American Institute of Architecture Students WIT Chapter and Wentworth Architecture Club (AIAS+WAC)
- Society of Hispanic Professional Engineers WIT Chapter (SHPE @ WIT)
- Wentworth Environmental Club (Green Team)
- American Society of Civil Engineers (WIT Chapter)
- Mechanical Contractors Association of America (WIT Chapter)
- Student Association of Interior Designers (SAID)
External links