Eli Whitney Students Program

The Eli Whitney Students Program (EWSP) is an admissions program of Yale College. It was designed to attract undergraduates from non-traditional backgrounds to Yale College. As such, it is the smallest of the four undergraduate admissions programs, the other three being freshmen, international, and transfer students admissions.
Whereas non-traditional programs at other universities are often separate academic programs that are designed to suit the schedules of older and/or working adults, the Eli Whitney Students Program is unique for being strictly an admissions program of Yale College rather than a separate academic program. They earn their BA or BS from Yale College.
Eli Whitney students are generally older than traditional undergraduates, although this is not a requirement of eligibility. Whitney students may choose to attend Yale on either a full-time or part-time course schedule. They have full access to Yale’s need-based financial aid. Though on-campus housing is not offered, they have complete access to all other Yale College facilities and programs.
The mission of the program
In March 2007, President Levin commented on the mission of the program:

The mission of the Eli Whitney Students Program promotes the mission of Yale College as a whole: the education of leaders in every field who will make contributions to the larger society. As in the past, applicants admitted into Yale College though the Eli Whitney Students program are students of exceptional promise and character.
Residential college affiliation
Yale's residential college system, now more than seventy years old, is one of the College's distinctive features. Eli Whitney students are affiliated with Residential Colleges, are advised by the Residential College Deans, and may participate in the activities that take place in their colleges. However, they are not eligible to live in the residential colleges.
Eli Whitney
Yale named the program in honor of the American inventor and Yale alumnus Eli Whitney, Class of 1792. Yale's choice of name recognizes Eli Whitney's greatness as an inventor, businessman and Yale College alumnus coupled with his admission to Yale as an older student. Eli Whitney graduated from Yale College at the age of twenty-eight years.
Stats
*Number of new Whitney students for the 2008-09 academic year: 5
*Number of Whitney students: 13
*Average age: 29
*Average duration that Whitney students attend Yale (leading to graduation): 3 years
*Acceptance rate: Below 10%
*Financial aid: Yes
The Whitney Students Association (WSA)
All Whitney students are automatically members of the Whitney Students Association (WSA), which serves as the program's student-government and liaison with the Yale College administration. The WSA is an officially registered and recognized Yale undergraduate student organization. Throughout the year, the WSA organizes various social events, calls officer meetings and participates in Yale college advisory committees, all the while pursuing an agenda aimed at expanding the program's value for Yale and also for Whitney students. The organization consists of several officers and a president who meet regularly throughout the course of the year.
Admissions
To be eligible to apply to the Eli Whitney Students Program, candidates must hold a high school diploma or equivalent. In addition to the application, candidates must present official records of all secondary school and college or university study and three letters of recommendation. Results of the Scholastic Assessment Test (SAT) or the American College Testing (ACT) are strongly recommended but not required for admission. An interview is required for admission, and an interview will be offered only to selected candidates after a preliminary review of the application.
In addition to these qualifications, the standards for admission to the Eli Whitney program will be equivalent to those applied to candidates for regular admission to Yale College, which involve expectations of both exceptional achievement and promise. In assessing more mature candidates, the admissions committee will pay very close attention to demonstrated achievement, including engagement with career and community. It is strongly recommended that candidates present recent academic performance with excellent results in demanding college courses.
Applicants are urged to explain why Yale in particular suits their academic needs, and candidates are strongly encouraged to describe how they will contribute as students at Yale.
Controversy
The program was swept up in a national controversy when Sayed Rahmatullah Hashemi, a former envoy for the Taliban, applied for admission to Yale College through the EWSP. His application was denied. At that time of applying, Hashemi was a non-degree student at Yale, although many news outlets incorrectly reported that he was already enrolled in the program. Hashemi's time at Yale was discussed in a cover story appearing in the New York Times Magazine, which triggered the controversy in the first place.

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