Worcester Polytechnic Institute in Massachusetts has announced that the Class of 2021 which recently arrived on campus has the largest percentage of women in the university’s 152-year history. There are 1,130 student in the incoming class. Women make up 44 percent of the first-year students. A year ago, women were 34 percent of the incoming class.
The university conducts several pipeline programs to encourage young women to pursue degree programs in STEM fields. This year, the university also devoted additional financial resources to “incentivize more women applicants.” Over the past decade, the number of women applicants to WPI has increased by 99 percent.
Laurie Leshin, president of WPI, stated that “women bring diverse points of view, skills, and problem solving abilities to STEM, and higher educational institutions must do everything in our power to ensure these talented women have the same access to great technological education as male students do.”
“WPI has been diligent in our efforts to help more young women see themselves as scientists and engineers, and to foster an environment on campus where they can thrive,” added Kristin Tichenor, WPI senior vice president. “Those investments are now beginning to pay off – not just for WPI, but for the women who will go on to partake in important and rewarding careers, and for the companies who are eager for their talents and perspectives.”