RPI Becomes Coeducational

Introduction

Rensselaer Polytechnic Institute, initially called The Rensselaer School, is a Polytechnic Institute in Troy NY, established by Stephen Van Rensselaer in 1824. The University only accepted male students until 1942.

Trials

In 1873, Elizabeth R. Buswell became the first woman to formally apply to be a student at RPI. However, via newspaper clipping, RPI's Professor Drowne urged Buswell not to continue her application as he believed "her position as the only lady student would not be pleasant." Buswell consequentially decided not to pursue her application. Later in 1918, once again the attempt for RPI to become coeducational was made. Alfred Renshaw, brother in-law to RPI President Ricketts, and RPI trustee created a motion to allow women to enroll at RPI, largely due to the loss of male students to WW1. However, Renshaw's motion lost and was followed by a counter motion by trustee Henry W. Hodge. Hodge's motion stated "resolved, that at the present time it is not advisable to allow the admission of women students," which was unanimously voted for by everyone but Renshaw.

First Woman Professor

In 1918, the same year the motion for women to join RPI was rejected, the first female professor was appointed. Hazel Brennan was hired as an assistant Chemistry professor. The following year, Marie De Pierpont was hired as French professor, and became the first woman to be a head professor at RPI.

First Women Admitted

In 1942 RPI opened registration to women for the first time. The decision to accept women as students at RPI was in order to replace male students serving in WWII. The first class of women accepted into RPI were Mary Ellen Rathbun in Metallurgical Engineering, Camilla (Trent) Cluett in Architecture, Elizabeth English in Biology, Lois Graham in Mechanical Engineering, and Helen Ketchum in Architecture. Of these women, Graham and Rathbun became the first to graduate in 1945.

Conclusions

As of 2023, RPI continues as a coeducational polytechnic institute. Currently, the University's undergraduate population is made up of 31% women and 69% men with a ~6,000 students total.

Sources

https://archives.rpi.edu/institute-history https://archives.rpi.edu/blog/womens-history-month-those-who-led-the-way https://archives.rpi.edu/blog/2014/03/26/mary-ellen-rathbun-kolb-oral-history https://www.collegefactual.com/colleges/rensselaer-polytechnic-institute/student-life/diversity/#:~:text=The%20full%2Dtime%20RPI%20undergraduate,for%20all%20students%2C%20go%20here. https://info.rpi.edu/quick-facts