Westfield State College

September 3, 2007

School Description

Provided by Westfield State College

Emphasizing teaching, student advising, and student involvement in the life of the college and the community, Westfield State College's primary mission is to assist its students to develop intellectually and to use their knowledge and skills to improve the social and economic conditions in their communities. The college seeks to instill among members of its community a sense of social responsibility and citizenship.

The college emphasizes the importance of collaborative education, distinguished and strengthened by a general education program which links the arts and sciences with professional studies and by opportunities for experiential and community-based learning. General education courses are developed to respond to stated knowledge and skill objectives and students examine significant academic and social issues through upper-level integrative courses and courses stressing national and global diversity. Community-based learning and other capstone experiences provide significant opportunities to enrich students' understanding of academic principles and concepts, illuminate differences between theory and practice, inculcate habits of mind and work conducive to success, and instill respect for others. Westfield's residential program, the largest of the state college segment, complements the academic program.

The college, from its beginnings, prepared students to serve their communities as teachers, and teacher education remains a central part of the college's programs and a model for engagement with the community that characterizes many of the college's other academic programs as well. Strong professional involvement of its faculty within their disciplines and community support scholarship and learning. Building upon a strong base of graduate programs, Westfield State College intends to strengthen and expand its graduate offerings. The college occupies a leadership position in offering post-baccalaureate and professional development programs for educators and will utilize new technologies to improve upon and expand our delivery of these programs. Collaborative relationships with other colleges and universities will also make possible the efficient development of new programs in other areas marked by strong undergraduate programs. The nationally recognized Criminal Justice Program stands as an example of the college's service, collaboration and outreach to communities, other colleges and state agencies. Technology will continue to be an important priority in the college's future, enhancing the educational experience and creating new opportunities for collaboration with other colleges and universities as well as with local school systems and businesses.

Each of the state system's institutions place a special emphasis on teaching, lifelong learning, and a campus life that fosters intellectual, social and ethical development. The state colleges are committed to excellence in instruction, affordable costs, and to providing responsive, innovative and educational programs of high quality. This is accomplished by developing each student's critical thinking skills, oral and written communication, and a practical appreciation of the arts, sciences, and humanities as they affect good citizenship and an improved quality of life.

The state colleges offer a campus climate that respects the ideas, values, perspectives and contributions of a culturally diverse community. They provide both academic and personal support services to assure that all students have a realistic opportunity to achieve academic and career success. They serve as a leader and resource for the community, identifying opportunities and solutions to community problems, and contributing to the region's cultural, environmental, and economic development.

The state colleges support the public system through their commitment to joint admissions programs, by managing their resources in an efficient and responsible manner, by maintaining high admission standards and career replacement rates, by preventing unnecessary duplication of academic programs, by expanding collaborative efforts with K-12 and other baccalaureate institutions, by providing high quality teacher education programs, and by developing for each college, beyond its core programs, a distinctive academic focus based upon established strengths and regional and state needs.

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Westfield State College

From Wikipedia, The Free Encyclopedia

Westfield State College at 577 Western Avenue, in Westfield, Massachusetts, USA, is a small liberal arts college, located about 20 minutes from Springfield, Massachusetts and about 2 hours from Boston.

WSC was founded in 1838 in Barre, Massachusetts as a normal school. WSC was the first coeducational normal school in the United States. Since the 1970's, the school has expanded its program to include criminal justice, mass communications, regional planning, political science, urban development, business planning, and other programs. The school's mascot is the owl and its colors blue and white. The college is most recognized for its Criminal Justice Program and more State Troopers have graduated from WSC than from any other school.

Notable Alumni

  • Christopher J. Donelan, (B.A.), member of the Mass. House of Representatives (served 2002 - present)
  • George B. Cortelyou, U.S. Secretary of the Treasury 1903 - 1904
  • Nettie Stevens, discovered the X and Y chromosomes
  • Eduardo C. Robreno, the first Cuban-American federal court judge
  • Peter Laviolette, Stanley Cup winning coach of the NHL Carolina Hurricanes and the 2006 U.S. Olympic Men's Hockey Team
  • Derek Conway, Noted Philanthropist and Gardener

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Read the full entry on Wikipedia

Quick Facts

Chance of Admission:
Location:
Northeast
Setting:
Large Town Setting
Type:
Public
Size:
Medium (2,000 to 5,000 Undergrad)
Mascot:
Owls

Students & Campus Life

Undergraduate Enrollment:
4,292
On Campus Housing:
Available
Full Time Students:
99%
Athletic Programs:
Available
> More Students & Campus Life

Expenses

Average Tuition:
$ 12,707
Students Receiving Aid:
71%
> More Expenses & Financial Aid

Admissions

Application Fee:
$ 25
Selectivity:
Selective
> More Admissions

Students

General
Full-Time vs. Part-Time
Full-Time 99%
Part-Time 1%
Men vs. Women
Women 57%
Men 43%
Race/Ethnicity
Caucasian 82%
Other 14%
Hispanic 2%
African-American 2%
Asian 0%
Geography
In State vs. Out-of-State
In-State 92%
Out-of-State 8%
Top States for Incoming Freshman
Massachusetts 92%
Connecticut 4%
Rhode Island 0%
New Hampshire 0%
New York 0%
Percent of Students International: 0%

Housing

On-Campus Housing Available: Yes
Percent of Students Living On-Campus: 55%
Freshman Students Required to Live on Campus: No

Athletics

Member of: NAA, NCAA
Sports Include: Football (New England Football Conference)
Basketball (Massachusetts State College Ath Assoc)
Baseball (Massachusetts State College Ath Assoc)
Track (Massachusetts State College Ath Assoc)
Tuition & Fees (undergraduate) In-State Out-of-State  
Published Tuition and Fees:
$ 5,657 $ 12,707  
Average Tuition for Full-Time Undergrads:
$ 970 $ 7,050  
Required Fees for Full-Time Undergrads:
$ 4,687 $ 4,687  
Financial Aid Avg. Amount Received % of Students Receiving Aid  
Federal Grants:
$ 3,017 19%  
State and Local Grants:
$ 3,820 31%  
Institutional Grants:
$ 1,884 26%  
Student Loans:
$ 2,568 65%  
Any Aid:
  71%  

Selectivity (Undergraduate Only)

Acceptance Rate: 74% (Selective)
Test Scores  
SAT Scores:  
% of Students Submitting SAT Scores: 89%
Bottom 25th Percentile: Verbal: 470, Math: 470
Top 75th Percentile: Verbal: 550, Math: 560

Application Requirements (Undergraduate Only)

Application Fee: $ 25.00
Formal Demonstration of Competencies: Not Required
High School Diploma or Equivalent: Required
High School GPA: Required
High School Rank: Not Required
High School Record: Required
Recommendations: Not Required
TOEFL: Required
Test Scores: Required

Degree Programs at Westfield State College

Bachelor's Level Majors

Photos

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  • September 3, 2007
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