Social Sustainability

WPI is committed to working with its various communities, on and off-campus.  From Worcester to Windhoek, Namibia, from Boston to Bangkok, Thailand, through learning and research WPI students and faculty interact with urban and rural communities on sustainability issues that cut across the dimensions of environmental protection, economic prosperity and social equity.  Through our campus activities, learning, and project center experiences we seek to ensure that all people are afforded justice and have the opportunity to achieve economic, environmental, and social well-being.

Community Engagement

Community engagement is a critical part of our undergraduate education.  Faculty and students have the opportunity to engage in community research projects through WPI’s various project center experiences.  A key goal of these project experiences is to promote “civic learning.”  The goals of civic learning are to provide a platform for students and faculty to engage in the democratic processes of a community, exploring the problems it faces, appreciating the richness of its diversity, learning about the time commitments and energy required to enhance community life, and, most of all, learning how to work collaboratively.  These goals can be accomplished through “lending” a community our expertise.  Critically, however, it involves developing a process of learning with a community about their issues and developing solutions that reflect community values and promote an inclusive society.

Social, Economic and Environmental Justice

WPI students and faculty seek to promote social, economic and environmental justice.  On campus, seminars, teach-ins, and lectures provide engaging settings for our community to learn and appreciate the diversity of our campus community and beyond.  WPI is committed to making our campus a community that is respectful of people without regard to their race, class, gender, religious affiliation or sexual orientation.

Our project center work promotes these goals in the community.  Teams of faculty and students have sought, obtained and conducted funded research that pertains to everyone’s right to enjoy the benefits of clean air, clean water, and a healthy environment at home, at work, and at play.  For example, some of our project center teams have developed knowledge and information so that Namibians living in informal settlements could develop businesses fueled by renewable energy while others worked with hill tribes in Thailand to promote the preservation of clean drinking water and other public health issues.  At home, in Worcester, WPI project center teams have provided knowledge and skills to immigrant communities to promote small business ventures.

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Join the Discussion!

If you have any questions or concerns about WPI's current Social Sustainability practices or would like to propose a new initiative, visit the WPI Social Sustainability Forum on Sharepoint. (Only available for WPI community)

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Last modified: August 21, 2008 11:48:04