In the News

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This Master’s in AI Program Is a Cross-University Collaboration. Here’s How Students Will Learn.

Elke Rundensteiner, the William Smith Dean's Professor of Computer Science and founding head of the WPI data science program, spoke with BestColleges about the university's new master's degree in artificial intelligence

The Chronicle of Higher Education

The Chronicle of Higher Education spoke with Vice President of  Enrollment Management Andrew Palumbo about the university’s admissions process since making the decision to go test blind.

The Washington Post

The Washington Post spoke with Vice President of Enrollment Management Andrew Palumbo about WPI’s test-blind policy, after MIT announced its decision to start accepting standardized test scores again.

NBC News

NBC News spoke with Vice President of Enrollment Management Andrew Palumbo about WPI’s decision to go test-blind in the admissions process, after MIT announced it would once again require standardized tests.

 

The New York Times

Vice President of Enrollment Management Andrew Palumbo spoke with The New York Times about MIT’s decision to reinstate its standardized testing requirement. He also spoke about WPI’s move to become a fully test-blind institution.

NBC Boston

NBC Boston spoke with Andrew Palumbo, Vice President of Enrollment Management, about the College Board’s decision to make the SAT an all-digital test. This story was also featured in Higher Ed Dive

University World News

University World News spoke with Vice President of Enrollment Management Andrew Palumbo about WPI’s test blind admissions policy, which eliminates SAT and ACT scores from the admissions process, after the University of California system took a similar step.

The Hechinger Report

The Hechinger Report published an opinion piece by Andrew Palumbo, Assistant Vice President for Enrollment Management & Dean of Admissions & Financial Aid. “If universities care about all students, they must better align admissions processes with their distinctive missions, values and goals while also eliminating the inequities that standardized test scores reinforce,” he wrote. “In March, faculty at WPI overwhelmingly adopted an eight-year test-blind pilot, transitioning from 13 years of test-optional admissions to a process that will not consider test scores for admission or financial aid. Importantly, this vote eliminated the antiquated use of SAT and ACT test scores because faculty recognize that they are poor predictors of college success, and they introduce and reinforce inequities that our university is committed to eliminating.”

Worcester Business Journal

The Worcester Business Journal noted WPI in their article on WPI’s move to change to fully “test-blind” admissions, which will begin with the Fall 2021 application cycle and supports WPI’s mission of expanding access to a high-quality STEM education to all students.

Telegram.com

A story on WPI’s move to no longer consider SAT or ACT scores in its admission process was included in The Telegram & Gazette.  The change to fully “test-blind” admissions will begin with the Fall 2021 application cycle and supports WPI’s mission of expanding access to a high-quality STEM education to all students.

The Chronicle of Higher Education

The Chronicle of Higher Education interviewed Andrew B. Palumbo, assistant vice president for enrollment management and dean of admissions and financial aid, for an article on WPI’s move to no longer consider SAT or ACT scores in its admission process.

The Hechinger Report

Andrew Palumbo, assistant vice president for Enrollment Management  & Dean of Admissions & Financial Aid, appeared in a story in about the impact of test-optional admissions processes on creating a more diverse campus. In the story, Palumbo noted that WPI has stopped awarding financial aid based on student test scores and has withdrawn from the National Merit Scholarship program. “We redirected those dollars to go back to need-based aid,” Palumbo said. (Note: Story also appeared in PBS NewsHour.)

Telegram.com

Andrew Palumbo, assistant vice president for enrollment management & dean of admissions & financial aid, was quoted in The Telegram & Gazette article, “Pandemic Enrollment Effect a Mixed Bag for Central Mass. Colleges".

Telegram.com

The Telegram and Gazette reported in its College Town section on WPI eliminating its undergraduate application fee, supporting its mission of expanding access to a high-quality Science, Technology, Engineering, and Math (STEM) education.

Worcester Business Journal

The Worcester Business Journal was the latest to report on WPI eliminating its undergraduate application fee, supporting its mission of expanding access to a high-quality Science, Technology, Engineering, and Math (STEM) education.

The Chronicle of Higher Education

Andrew B. Palumbo, dean of admissions and financial aid, was interviewed for The Chronicle of Higher Education article. “The playbook goes out the window,” he said. “It’s a scary thing on one hand, but it’s also somewhat refreshing. It opens us up to innovate.”

The Washington Post

The Washington Post included comments from Andrew Palumbo, dean of admissions and financial aid, regarding AP exams in this article (12th graph).

Boston Globe

The Boston Globe interviewed Dean of Admissions Andy Palumbo for an article. (12th graph) “Admissions offices do not need standardized test scores to make sound admissions decisions,” he said.

The Washington Post

The Washington Post’s education writer included an open letter to high school juniors by Andrew Palumbo, dean of admissions and financial aid.

Diverse Issues in Higher Education

Dean of Admissions and Financial Aid Andrew Palumbo was quoted in a Diverse Issues in Higher Education article. “Test scores have a problematic correlation with family income, with sex and with race and ethnicity. Period,” he said. “As someone who’s led admissions teams at a range of different institutions, admissions officers do not need a single high-stakes test score to make solid admissions decisions.”

Worcester Business Journal

The Worcester Business Journal spoke with Andy Palumbo, dean of admissions and enrollment, about how the COVID-19 pandemic might affect college admissions for the next academic year (pg. 12).