History and Impact of the Washington D.C. Project Center

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Authors

Alex J. Avakian, Evan B. Frost, Libertad P. Escobar, Justin P. Seeley

Sponsor

Worcester Polytechnic Institute

Advisors

Scott Jiusto, James Hanlan

Term

October – December 2017

Project Outcomes

Final Report

Abstract

The Washington, D.C. Project Center (WPC) was established in 1974 by WPI as part of an educational change. There has not been a systematic effort to document the history of the WPC nor any thorough investigations into the impacts of the projects completed. Interviews and surveys of alumni, advisors, and sponsors were conducted to provide a sound, data based analysis of the WPC and its programs since inception. A website and database were created to display the past work done at the project center. The surveys and interviews show that the greatest impact of past projects is the effect on the students and the sponsors and that most have a strong positive experience. These methods also produced recommendations for program improvement at the WPC and WPI’s Global Projects Program overall.