Frequently Asked Questions

Drop off each day is between 8:30-9:00am. Pick up times are from 4:00-4:30pm. Drop off on the first day is in front of Alden Memorial Hall. All other drop offs and all pick ups are in front of Harrington Auditorium.

Refer to this map as a reference.

Morgan Dining Hall provides an array of food, including a complete salad bar, vegan/vegetarian items, sandwiches, chicken tenders, French fries, pizza, and pasta! In addition, whole and sliced fruit, yogurt, baked goods, and soft serve ice cream are offered for dessert.

We are happy to accommodate participants with food allergies and other dietary concerns, including, but not limited to vegan, vegetarian, and Halal meals. If there is a dietary accommodation, please inform our office by June 1 so that we can provide the best dining experience for your participant.

We have removed the presence of peanuts and tree nuts from this dining hall in order to allow summer participants with nut allergies more freedom of choice. In order to ensure this policy, no outside food is allowed in the dining hall. If this is a concern, please reach out to the Office of Pre-Collegiate Outreach Programs at pop@wpi.edu.

Special Dietary Concerns:

We have a Balance U Station that prepares a tasty menu line without the “Top 8” allergens or gluten (milk, eggs, fish, crustacean shellfish, tree nuts, peanuts, wheat and soybean). Our culinary staff and associates at the station are all specially trained to limit cross-contact during food prep.

There is an area of the dining hall, called S.P.A.C.E. (Special Product Allergen Controlled Eating) which has a wide variety of packaged gluten-free foods, cereals, snacks, breads, and prepared pasta. A toaster and microwave oven are also available in this area and are used only for gluten-free foods to minimize cross-contamination. Non-dairy milk beverages are also available. Please contact Shavaun Cloran, Registered Dietitian, at scloran@wpi.edu for any specific concerns/questions.

All programs are overseen by several staff members with expertise in engineering, teaching, outreach programs, admissions, and student life. Our staff supports summer and academic year efforts in inspiring and reaching youth to spark a passion for STEM. During the summer, the entire WPI community is involved in supporting our programs, including various faculty, staff, graduate students, and WPI undergraduates who serve as daytime Program Assistant (PAs). All individuals who work with our students have demonstrated leadership skills, maturity, and experience working with youth. Faculty and staff also have extensive training and expertise in their line of work. No matter their role, all individuals who work with our summer students have passed a background check, signed a behavioral expectations agreement, and taken online trainings on the protection of students. Throughout the program, staff supervision ratios exceed camp association recommendations.

A summer health care center with registered nurses is open to all program participants from 8:30am-4:30pm. If your student needs to take prescription medication while on campus, this should be given to the health care staff when they first arrive at drop-off. Families will pick up the medication from the nursing staff on the last day of the program. Prescriptions must be in their original packaging with the prescribing physician and dosage listed.

The WPI Office of Pre-Collegiate Outreach Programs strives to provide a safe, secure, educational, and fun environment for our summer programs participants. In order to achieve this, we ask that all parents, guardians, and participants follow our Participant Code of Conduct.

In order to confirm your student's spot in WPI's Launch program, please follow the payment details on the program registration page.

We also require the following items to be submitted by June 1 so we can fully prepare for your student to have an enriching, meaningful, and safe experience:

• Payment in full.
• General Information & Liability Release Form
  • This form requires a student photo to be uploaded. Pictures should adhere to the following parameters:
    • Be of the head and shoulders, only, and clearly show the face without hats, sunglasses, headphones, or other non-religious accessories.
    • Be less than one year old
    • Feature a plain white background
    • Be formatted as a JPG or PNG
• POP Health Form, including physical and immunization records.

All forms can be uploaded through the personalized link received in your email. If you have any questions, please contact the Office of Pre-Collegiate Outreach Programs by at 508-831-4900 or pop@wpi.edu.

Students who apply to Launch are eligible for up to 50% tuition assistance and will be considered if the following are all true:

• Your Launch registration is submitted prior to March 15, 2026.
• The Tuition Assistance section is complete and submitted at the time of registration.
• Your combined family income is less the $120,ooo per year.

Even if all the above points are true, tuition assistance is not guaranteed. The Pre-Collegiate Outreach office operates independently of WPI's Office of Financial Aid and has limited funds available to support students. Available funds will be distributed on a first-come, first-served basis. Any award of tuition assistance will be sent approximately 5 - 10 business days after the Launch registration is received.

The Office of Pre-Collegiate Outreach Programs recognizes that in some cases students may need to withdraw their registration and request a refund. For Launch students please note the following:

• Students may withdraw up until May 15 for a partial refund.
• No refunds will be processed after May 15.
• Launch participants will be refunded in full minus a $100 administrative fee.

The full policy can be found on our Program Policies page.

It is suggested that all participants bring:

• Small notebook
• Pencil/pen
• Sweatshirt/jacket (as some rooms can be cool with air conditioning)
• Closed toe shoes and long pants, if needed for lab safety. Please be sure to read the welcome letter from your instructor for more information on this. 

Welcome letters will be sent to students two weeks prior to the first day of the program. They will contain necessary information about each course.