Receiving little more information than a letter informing them that they had been selected to take part in the Insight program, freshmen living on Daniel's 3rd and 4th floors moved in on August 26. They were greeted by RAs, OLs, and faculty advisors. They said goodbye to their families and moved into their Orientation Groups. Sound like the typical freshman experience? Not quite. This was the beginning of Insight.
Insight was created from a grant given to WPI to do research on a program that would be beneficial to incoming students. WPI knew that student teams became close during orientation, but because they were formed from cross-sections of the campus, these bonds often didn't last. In the Insight program, students maintain this bond because they were oriented with students with which they lived. It has been shown that freshman do not do as well as students in later years because they lack a support network and often do not know what resources are available to them. The Insight program tries to respond to this problem. Last year, Insight's first year of running, the students in Insight in general earned one letter grade higher in their courses than those in a core control group of freshmen.
Through a series of activities like white-water rafting, a "Survivor" Scavenger Hunt, and other fun activities, students will remain close with their friends and their Community Advisors.
"This is my third year as an OL. I usually end up becoming close to my group and then when Orientation is over, we grow apart, whereas with Insight, I get to stay close with them all year," said Lizabeth Amaral, '00, a Community Advisor to one Insight group. "Since they are all in one place, I am easier to get a hold of if they need me and I like spending the time with them."
Tutors will come to the floor to help students with specific subjects under their own mentoring system. Each Insight floor also has its own computer in the lounge. The RAs and CAs will also plan more personal development activities for participants in Insight so that they can better understand themselves and who they want to be.
"There are good sides and bad sides to [Insight]," said Nicholas Reanrungrock, '04, a student in Insight. "The good side is that you know the people in your hall better sooner, but the bad side is that you don't meet and get to know people outside your dorm as well."
The four Community Advisors were chosen from among the 30 Orientation Leaders thorough a separate interviewing process. They are Lizabeth Amaral, Leanne Giusti, Steve Couture, and Bill Burgess. The RAs are Blake Carten, Joey Bufanda, Heather Wadlinger, and Kira Varhegyi. The faculty consultants for the Insight groups are Jill Rulfs, John Goulet, Chrys Demetry, and Steve Jasperson. The Insight coordinator is Dale Snyder, the Residential Services Coordinator is Yolanda Kris, and the Orientation Coordinator is Tracy Pakstis-Claiborne.