Academic Support Services

The Division of Academic Affairs provides primary support for the mission of the University - emphasizing teaching, advising and student engagement in the life of the University and the community.

The Division serves as the umbrella for 24 academic departments and a wealth of resources and programs that enhance the academic experience, including the Academic Achievement Department (Academic Advising, Banacos Academic Center, Reading and Writing Center, TRiO Student Support Services and Urban Education), International Programs, and the Honors Program.

Accreditation, the Bookstore, Center for Instructional Technology, Center for Teaching and Learning, the Faculty Center, Graduate and Continuing Studies, Grants and Sponsored Research, Information Technology, Institutional Research and Assessment, Library, Registrar/Academic Records are all important components of the work of the Division.

The Division also oversees Commencement, Convocation, Dean’s List, Academic Probation and Retention, Academic Conduct, FERPA, First-year initiatives and related areas.

Department of Academic Achievement

The Department of Academic Achievement is comprised of several academic support programs and services: the Academic Advising Center, Learning Disabilities Program, Disability Services, TRIO Student Support Services Program, the Tutoring Center, the Reading and Writing Center, the Urban Education Program and First-year initiatives. The main office for the Department of Academic Achievement is located in Parenzo Room 101, Maureen  McCartney, Associate Dean, telephone (413) 572-5561.

Academic Advising Center (AAC)

Academic advising is integral to student success. The Academic Advising Center provides a warm and supportive environment for students to explore academic opportunities as well as to plot strategies for continued academic growth and development.

Academic advising is provided to all students to assist them in understanding and interpreting college academic policies and requirements, major requirements, course selection and registration, and related academic opportunities and objectives. This service, however, does not remove the obligation from students to be knowledgeable and responsible about the academic requirements they have to meet.

Day Division students are assigned faculty advisors by the chairperson of their major department. The Director of the Academic Advising Center assigns advisors to undeclared students until they declare a major.

The following services are provided to Day Division students:

• Assist students who have not declared a major with course selection, the registration process, and other academic concerns.
• Assist students with the exploration of academic majors.
• Advise students who are pursuing a double major in both Education and Liberal Studies.
• Assist students who are returning/re-enrolling to the University, on Academic Probation, and Transfer students.
• Assist students in exploring strategies for academic success.
• Review with students their academic progress and course needs.
• Determine course equivalence for courses students want to transfer to the University.

Students who wish to change their advisor should see the chairperson of their major department. Students who have not yet declared their major should see the Director of the Academic Advising Center.

In addition, staff members of the Office of the Registrar, the Division of Graduate and Continuing Education, the Associate Dean of Academic Achievement as well as the Dean of Undergraduate Studies are available to assist students. Contact: Laurie Simpson, Director, Parenzo Hall, Room K, advising@westfield.ma.edu Web address: westfield.ma.edu/Academics/Academic_Advising_Center/index.html

Advising Expectations For Advisors

The role of the advisor is to:

• Serve as student advocates, providing accurate and up to date information about requirements and expectations within the major field, the core requirements, college policy and college procedures.
• Introduce students to possibilities and expectations within their discipline, both during and beyond the baccalaureate program.
• Provide assistance to students in tracking their academic progress (i.e., review audit and departmental program sheets regularly with students).
• Assist students to develop strategies and individual plans which will maintain good academic standing.
• Introduce students to academic opportunities (internships, coop, honors, exchange programs, etc.) available through the institution or through the discipline.
• Provide students with useful and accessible referrals to other courses of information and assistance as necessary.

The advising expectations for advisors were developed by a subcommittee of department chairpersons and then accepted by all department chairpersons. They serve as a guideline for all who serve as advisors.

Students’ Academic Advising Responsibilities

It is strongly recommended that:

• Students know the requirements and expectations within their major field, core requirements, college policies and procedures.
• Students meet early in their academic career with their advisor to develop an academic plan which will guide the completion of their baccalaureate degree.
• Students meet regularly with their department advisor to update their progress within the program.
• Students be responsible for maintaining an academic file (i.e., College Bulletin, academic audit sheets, grade reports, registration records, change of grade/change of major forms, etc.).
• Students consider keeping an academic portfolio for their benefit in employment and professional interviews.
• Students know what it means to maintain satisfactory academic standing (i.e., satisfactory GPA by attempted credits) by reviewing the Academic Standing Policy  .

• Students explore with their advisor various academic opportunities (internships, co-ops, honors, exchange programs, etc.) available through the institution or through their discipline.
• Students speak with their advisor to learn about the various academic resources available (tutorial services, study skills workshops, etc.) to support their success.

Transfer Transition Office (TTO)

Transferring from one higher education institution to another can be challenging in many ways. Changes in schedule processing, working with new advisors, becoming familiar with a new campus culture, are all adjustments transfer students must make. The Transfer Transition Office (TTO) assists students in making a seamless transition for a more successful Westfield State experience. TTO provides pre-admission and transition advising and connections to the campus community. The TTO also provides the additional information, support and advocacy needed to ensure a successful first semester and beyond.

The Director of the AAC and staff will:

• Complete unofficial transcript evaluations for common core courses.
• Assist students with general questions and serve as a resource for them.
• Refer and connect transfer students to appropriate advisors in their chosen majors.
• Make appropriate referrals to other campus offices.
• Meet with students in person or by phone.
• Assist transfer students with the transition to Westfield State.

Transfer Transition Advisors located in Parenzo Hall, Room K:
Laurie Simpson, Director of the Academic Advising Center (AAC) & Transfer Transition
(413) 572-5563, lsimpson@westfield.ma.edu

Peer Advising Program

Peer Advisors are a group of highly-trained students who work loosely with the professional staff in the Academic Advising Center (AAC). Peer Advisors assist students in understanding their options for major/minors, common core, and registration procedures. With the guidance of the staff in the AAC, Peer Advisors assist students in becoming grounded during their first year. The goal of the Peer Advising Program is to:

• Foster an educational environment for academic and personal growth
• Empower students to take greater ownership and responsibility for their academic success
• Provide opportunities to understand students’ perspectives on academic policies and procedures
• Maximize Peer Advisors’ lived and learned advising experiences
• To serve as a conduit between the larger student population and the Academic Advising Center (AAC).

First-Year Initiatives

Connections: First Year Forward
Philosophy Statement
Westfield State University sees the first year as a time of transition and growth in which new students find their place as engaged members of the diverse academic, civic and social communities at the University.

During this transition, students’ primary task is to come to understand the process and goals of college education, and to develop the skills and dispositions needed to succeed in college and beyond. Through liberal arts and sciences core curriculum and introductory majors’ courses, students build a broader understanding of different forms of knowledge. They deepen their ability to question their own knowledge and beliefs, becoming more nuanced critical thinkers. They learn to assess their own needs, access resources, and advocate for themselves in overcoming challenges in a new environment.

For many of Westfield’s new students, the transition to college is also a time of increased independence and interaction with people of diverse backgrounds, requiring new levels of personal responsibility, social awareness, and civic engagement. Co-curricular activities and residential experiences support students in strengthening their understanding of their roles in the university community and beyond.

We strive to foster and promote a collaborative and dynamic climate, one that honors and supports the contributions, perspectives, and needs of each first-year student. In this environment, we facilitate the intellectual, social, and ethical development required for successful transition to college by providing the following:

• Sustained and supportive engagement with staff, faculty, advisors and peers
• Intellectually challenging academic programs in the liberal arts and professional disciplines where the relationship between both is honored
• A range of pedagogical approaches to learning including both individual and collaborative strategies
• Academic advising and career guidance that invite students to explore academic and professional opportunities
• A residential program that provides students a safe and independent living experience were civic responsibility and engagement are encouraged and expected
• Student governance organizations, community service and service-learning opportunities that promote civic engagement
• A dynamic and enriching co-curricular environment offering services and programs that invite student engagement as contributors and leaders in a variety of educational, social, and governance activities

First-Year Website: www.westfield.ma.edu/firstyear
First-Year Email: firstyear@westfield.ma.edu
First-Year Hotline: (413) 572-8402

Urban Education Program (UEP)

The retention and recruitment of first-generation college students comprises the primary focus of the Urban Education Program (UEP). While serving the University as a recruiter of high school students from diverse educational, linguistic, ethnic, and cultural backgrounds, the Urban Education Program is designed to provide academic and personal support to program students. First-year students admitted to the Urban Education Program must participate in and successfully complete Westfield State’s summer “bridge” program to gain full matriculation. The “bridge” experience includes intensive academic instruction and leadership development through peer-mentorship. Some important features of the program are course work with a strong emphasis on critical thinking and analytical competencies, academic advising, and leadership development. The program promotes the pursuit of graduate studies or professional school and assists participants with the graduate admission process.

Located in Parenzo Hall room 108, (413) 572-5391.
Joan E. Fuller, Director
(413) 572-5389, e-mail urbaneducation@westfield.ma.edu

Reading and Writing Center

The Reading and Writing Center provides students of all abilities and across all disciplines with academic assistance in reading and writing. While the Center’s professional staff and peer tutors assist students working on particular assignments or in preparing for specific examinations, its primary mission is to help students become more effective readers and writers. More specifically, the Center aims to do the following.

• Help students further develop effective and efficient strategies for reading and learning from textbooks and other academic material.
• Teach students to think and write critically about texts and other sources of information.
• Assist students in writing clearly, precisely, engagingly, and thoughtfully by working with them on the various stages of the writing process, including rhetorical analysis, preparation and invention, research, thesis development, organization, drafting, revision, style, and editing for grammar and punctuation.

The Reading and Writing Center dedicates itself to making Westfield State University a campus committed in principle and in practice to reading and writing in the belief that these abilities are fundamental not only to academic success during college years but also to lifelong learning and achievement.

Students may sign up for an appointment with a professional consultant by using our online reservation system found on our webpage (www.westfield.ma.edu/reading), by calling (413) 572-5569, or by visiting the Center in 218 Parenzo Hall. Students may also drop in for sessions with peer writing tutors in Davis and Dickinson halls and in Ely Library. Reading and Writing Center hours (in 218 Parenzo) and drop-in hours with peer writing tutors are announced at the beginning of each semester. Additional information is available on the Center’s website.

TRiO Student Support Services Program (SSSP)

The TRiO SSSP at Westfield State University empowers first-generation college students, low-income students and students with disabilities to explore and engage with their educational and personal goals. It offers comprehensive academic and personal support designed to assist with persistence to graduation, graduate school, and career preparation. TRiO programs have been established and funded by the U.S. Department of Education in order to promote access to and success in higher education.

The TRiO SSSP serves 160 students from a diverse cross-section of the university student body demonstrating academic need. Program students must meet one or more of the following eligibility criteria: 1. A first-generation college student where neither parent completed a 4-year college degree 2. Demonstrate low-income according to federal guidelines 3. An individual with a documented disability.

A wide-range of academic and personal support services are available to program students:

Academic Support: professional tutoring, 1-credit first-year experience course, computer lab with academic assistive technologies, preliminary academic advising, workshops on topics such as graduate school and financial literacy, and academic resources for loan, such as laptop computers, graphing calculators, Livescribe Smartpens, common core textbooks, and reference books.

Personal Support: 1:1 counseling around issues affecting academic performance, workshops on topics such as adjusting to college, stress management, and life after graduation, and peer support, guidance and community building via TRiO Mentor Program.

Financial  Support: Free Application for Federal Student Aid (FAFSA) filing assistance, Financial Literacy 101 online tutorial, assistance with scholarship application and research.

Cultural & Social Activities: These events provide an opportunity to connect with other TRiO students and build community within the TRiO program and Westfield State University.

Students can apply to the program at any point in their undergraduate career and remain in the program until graduation. For more information or to complete a program application please visit www.westfield.ma.edu/sssp. Contact information: Parenzo Hall, Room 104, (413) 572-5793 – sssp@westfield.ma.edu.

In compliance with the U.S. Department of Education, two-thirds of program participants must be first-generation, low-income college students or students with disabilities. In addition, one-third of participants with disabilities must also be low-income.

Banacos Academic Center

The Banacos Academic Center, located in Parenzo Hall, is home to Disability Services, the Learning Disabilities Program and the University Tutoring Program. The mission of the Center is to provide all students the opportunity to fully engage in the University’s academic, residential and student life programs. Individuals who might benefit from our programs and services are encouraged to contact the Center for more information 413 572-5561 or email banacos@westfield.ma.edu.

Services for Students with Disabilities

Due to the individual nature of disabilities, services are determined on a case by case basis and may include:

• Professional assistance with academic skills, time management, and self-advocacy
• Academic Advisement
• Tutoring
• Assistance in obtaining books on CD
• Access to Assistive Technology
• Test Accommodations including a distraction-free testing environment
• Readers/scribes for examinations
• Notetakers for classes
• Phonic ear

The Tutoring Program

Academic assistance and tutorial support are provided through the Banacos Tutoring Program. The Center is staffed with professional and peer tutors and provides assistance in most areas of the University curriculum. Tutoring is available for all students enrolled at the University and is free of charge.

Telecommunication Devices For the Hearing Impared

The University supports telecommunication devices for the hearing impaired in two locations:

*Office is open during weekday business office hours only.

Library Services And Facility

Ely Library at Westfield State University is a comprehensive information center dedicated to the educational development of students. A knowledgeable staff promotes the interaction between students and resources available to them including easily accessible print and electronic collections. Ely library serves both the undergraduate and graduate programs by providing online access to electronic databases with 25,000+ full text journals complemented by more than 150,000 on-site books (+/-500 electronic books), 1413 current journal subscriptions, local and national newspapers, 1360+ Music CDs, 3569+ videos/DVDs, and other electronic media. The facility has 56 public access PCs, wireless access for laptop users, and a listening lab. A no-fee Interlibrary Loan program enables students to borrow materials not found electronically or in the library. Instruction sessions in a hands-on lab provide everyone with the opportunity to develop foundational skills needed to find, use, and evaluate information effectively and responsibly. Ely Library also features an Educational Resource Center housing curriculum materials to support Pre-K through High School teaching, as well as a University Archives that focuses on protecting and making accessible materials related to the history of the University.

At the time of this printing, the hours of the library during regular academic sessions are:

Holiday and Special Hours are Posted. For more information, see the library web page at http://lib.westfield.ma.edu/ or look for the Library tab in the mywestfield.westfield.ma.edu portal.

Requesting Transcripts

Transcripts are issued by the Office of the Registrar for Day Division students, and by the Division of Graduate and Continuing Education for students registered through that office. Transcripts must be requested in writing by the student. Telephone requests are not accepted. There is a processing fee for each transcript. A printable form is available at westfield.ma.edu/registrar.

Students may request unofficial copies of their transcripts for their own use or sealed, official copies to be hand-delivered by the student. Sealed, official transcripts are stamped “Not valid if seal broken” on both the transcript and envelope.

Note: The wording of the above policy has been modified to provide students with additional information about how the policy is applied and/or procedures to follow when applying the policy. The exact wording of the original policy may be found in the Westfield State University Policies and Procedures Manual.