Academic Support Services - CSSE

The following programs are offered by the Center of Student Success and Engagement (CSSE).

Office of Academic Advising and Transfer Transition

The Office of Academic Advising and Transfer Transition is a hub for an array of academic advising services as we provide a supportive environment for students to explore academic opportunities. All students are welcome to drop in or schedule an appointment with a professional advisor to receive academic guidance or help with registration. We also have a team of trained peer advisors that provide assistance with course selection and the preregistration process.

Academic Advising plays an integral role in the success of a student’s academic career. The following services are provided to students:

• Assistance with course selection, the preregistration process, and other academic concerns.
• Advice regarding academic progress, degree completion, and graduation requirements.
• Assistance for students who have not declared a major with the process of exploring possible academic majors.
• Opportunities to engage in meaningful conversations about educational and career goals.
• Assistance with the process of returning to Good Academic Standing for students on Academic Warning.
• Assistance with exploring academic success strategies and providing referrals to other student support services.
• Planning for alternative credit-earning opportunities, such as internships or CLEP exams.
• Access to Academic Advisors who serve as a link to various academic departments and campus offices, such as the Registrar or Office of Financial Aid.

Students who wish to change their advisor should see the chairperson of their major department. Students who have not yet declared a major are assigned an advisor in the Office of Academic Advising and Transfer Transition until they are eligible to declare their preferred major.

In addition, staff members of the Office of the Registrar and the Executive Director of the Center for Student Success and Engagement are available to assist students.

Contact the Office of Academic Advising and Transfer Transition
Location: Parenzo Hall Room 163
Email: advising@westfield.ma.edu
Phone: (413) 572-8678
 

Transfer Advising

Transferring from one higher education institution to another can be challenging. The Office of Academic Advising and Transfer Transition assists transfer students by providing pre-admission and advising services. A few examples of the services provided include:

• Assistance with general questions and connecting students with resources and other campus offices;
• Assistance with referrals or connecting transfer students to the appropriate advisors in their chosen major(s);
• Familiarizing transfer students with WSU policies and procedures, as well as general advising information;
• Advocacy for all students seeking the assistance needed to ensure a successful first semester and beyond;
• Advice regarding academic progress and degree completion;
• Planning the undergraduate experience, including student engagement or alternative credit-earning opportunities.

Transfer Advising Contact:
Brittany Garand, Transfer, Evening, and Returning Student Advisor
Location: Parenzo Hall Rm 163
Email: bgarand@westfield.ma.edu
Phone: (413) 572-8172

Banacos Academic Center

The Banacos Academic Center is dedicated to providing opportunities for students to become independent learners and be fully engaged in the University’s academic, residential, and student life programs. The Center is home to Disability Services and the Learning Disabilities Program (LDP) , and provides additional academic support for all students. Individuals who may benefit from our programs and services are encouraged to contact the Center for more information. The Center will be located in Scanlon Hall for Fall 2023 and in Parenzo Hall beginning January 2024.

Contact the Banacos Academic Center
Location: Parenzo Hall 
Email: banacos@westfield.ma.edu
Phone: (413) 572-8789

Services for All Students

The Banacos Academic Center is open to all Westfield State University students. It contains a computer lab and small tutoring rooms that provide a quiet space to study. The Center works in conjunction with other departments across campus to support student athletes, students on academic warning, and students needing professional development points.
 

Services for Students with Disabilities

The Banacos Academic Center’s staff work with students to provide accessible and equal educational opportunities to the University’s academic programs, residential and social programs, and facilities. Students can request and receive reasonable accommodations through their Banacos advisor in Disability Services or the Learning Disabilities Program (described below). Students are expected to provide current documentation of their disabilities from an appropriate practitioner that includes a diagnoses, history of the disability, and recommendations for services and reasonable accommodations. The University continues to work to ensure that facilities and programs are accessible to all students in accordance with the mandates of Section 504 of the Rehabilitation Act of 1973 and Title II of the Americans with Disabilities Act (ADA) of 1990, as amended (ADAAA, 2008).

Disability Services

Disability Services provides a wide array of reasonable and appropriate accommodations for undergraduate and graduate students with physical, psychological, medical, or learning disabilities. The Access Advisor works with students to determine reasonable accommodations and negotiate situations that arise due to a student’s disability. The Access Advisor assists students with acclimating to the university environment and refers students to appropriate resources on campus. Disability Services welcomes all students, at any point in their academic career, to register and request reasonable accommodations.

The Learning Disabilities Program

The Learning Disabilities Program has a long and vibrant history of success working with University students with learning disorders and ADHD. Since 1979, the Learning Disabilities Program has committed to providing a fulfilling educational experience to students. We provide academic support to students with learning disorders and ADHD as they transition to university and become independent learners. Students must apply to this program through the Admissions Office as an entering first-year student in the Fall semester.

Students accepted into this program are assigned a program advisor who remains dedicated to them for the duration of their undergraduate university experience. Program advisors reach out to students regularly and monitor their academic progress throughout their time at Westfield State University. Students work with program advisors to determine what reasonable accommodations, services, and resources will best meet their learning needs. Every student is unique and every student should advocate for the resources they need to be successful. Students determine their level of involvement in the program.

Telecommunications for the Deaf, Hard of Hearing, and those with Speech Disabilities

The University community has several modes of communication. The University accepts phone calls through relay services, email is an official form of communication on campus, and University office phones can be amplified.

Course Achievement, Retention, and Engagement Center (CARE Center)

The Course Achievement, Retention, and Engagement Center (CARE Center) supports students struggling with the rigors of academic life at any point during their time at Westfield State, providing one-on-one support from staff or their peers. Our mission is to ensure that all students have a place they can turn to when they may need assistance or extra support to be successful.

Contact the CARE Center
Location: Ely Library, Second Floor
Email: care@westfield.ma.edu
Phone: (413) 572-5273

FACES - Fostering a Culture of Empowerment and Success

The Westfield State University FACES Program is committed to supporting and empowering current/former foster youth, youth who have experienced other forms of substitute care, students experiencing housing insecurity, and food insecurity. FACES provides necessary resources to enrich the college experience of our students and eliminate barriers that may be preventing their academic success. The FACES program will provide supports to stabilize housing, food insecurity and other basic needs while connecting students to financial, academic, and social emotional supports.

Tutoring & Learning Collaborative (TLC)

As a part of the CARE Center, the Tutoring & Learning Center (TLC) offers extensive content area tutoring for our students and is provided at no extra cost. TLC works with faculty and staff to help identify students who would make a good tutor for specific courses offered here at WSU. Using faculty referrals and self-identification, students can access a tutor for their classes in a quick and efficient manner via WSU360. On average, 73% of students who access a tutor will have a successful course outcome (a grade of C or better) at the end of the academic term. For any questions or inquiries on tutoring, please contact the Tutoring & Learning Center using the contact information below.

CARE Packages

The CARE Center, in collaboration with the the campus community offers Academic Strategies workshops to help students who may need extra support with skill building. At any stage of a student’s college career, it may be necessary to learn new skills, and we are here to assist them in gaining those skills. This service is provided at no extra cost to students, is useful in all our courses, and can be offered in individualized sessions. Some of the topics students can receive assistance with are: financial support, spirituality, stress management, relationship building, academic success, understanding a syllabus, time management, tackling assignments, and exam preparation. Sessions are available throughout the Fall and Spring semesters. For more information, please contact the CARE Center using the information below.

Academic Strategies Workshops

The CARE Center, in collaboration with the Banacos Academic Center and other areas of the CSSE, also offers Academic Strategies workshops to help students who may need extra support with skill building. At any stage of a student’s college career, it may be necessary to learn new skills, and we are here to assist them in gaining those skills. This service is provided at no extra cost to students, is useful in all of our courses, and can be offered in individualized sessions. Some of the topics students can receive assistance with are: understanding a syllabus, time management, tackling assignments, and exam preparation. Sessions are available throughout the Fall and Spring semesters. For more information, please contact the CARE Center using the information below.

WSU360

WSU360 is an online retention tool that Westfield State has been using since the Fall of 2014. Through WSU360, instructors complete progress reports during the academic term, which then notifies staff in the CARE Center, CSSE, and Athletics. This allows for the staff in such offices to provide appropriate follow-up and assistance for students who may need help to stay on-track in their academic endeavors. WSU360 also works as a type of electronic service catalog that allows students to access support services in a quick and easy manner. Within this online space, students can book appointments, find contact information for faculty and staff, and receive feedback from their instructors. For questions about WSU360, please use the contact information listed below.

Reading and Writing Center

The Westfield State University Reading and Writing Center is dedicated to supporting and encouraging all students, faculty, and staff as they write to communicate their ideas and discover new ones. Acting as an engaged audience, we seek to assist writers on any type of project-academic, professional, or creative-in any discipline or field, at any stage of the writing process. Our approach values intellectual inquiry, rhetorical flexibility, and reflective practice and recognizes power dynamics inherent in literacy. While we do share strategies for planning, drafting, and revising so that writers may internalize the writing process and grow increasingly independent, we also acknowledge that writing is not a solitary endeavor and that all writers benefit from collaboration.  

To achieve our mission: 

• We offer one-on-one sessions with professional and peer tutors. 

• We offer workshops on a variety of writing-focused topics. 

• We tailor our one-on-one sessions to meet individual needs. 

• We offer a broad range of hours to accommodate busy schedules. 

• We maintain the high quality of our services by requiring peer tutors to undergo rigorous training, by reading current scholarship in the field, and by participating in conferences. 

• We assist writers with all aspects of the process, such as outlining, freewriting, note-taking, summarizing, understanding the assignment, using models, posing questions, organizing, developing arguments, working with sources, revising, editing, and proofreading.  

• We help writers examine the expectations of particular genres and disciplines and empower them to question these expectations and make deliberate choices in their writing. 

• We value difference, and we strive to enable students to enter new discourse communities while preserving their voices. 

• We encourage writers to own their writing by wrestling with meaningful problems and pursuing genuine questions. 

• We support students in advocating for themselves within the larger university community. 

To make an in-person or virtual appointment, please use the online reservation system on our webpage listed below. The Center also accepts appointment inquiries via email, phone, or in person. 

Contact the Reading and Writing Center
Location: CARE Center, Ely Library (2nd floor/mezzanine level)
Email: csavini@westfield.ma.edu
Phone: (413) 572-5569
Webpage: www.westfield.ma.edu/reading

TRIO Student Support Services Program (SSSP)

The TRIO Student Support Services Program 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.

TRIO 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; designated computer labs; preliminary academic advising; and coaching on study skills, learning strategies, and graduate school.
• Personal Support: Coaching around issues affecting academic performance, adjusting to college, stress management, and life after graduation. Peer support, guidance, and community building with TRIO student leaders.
• Financial  Support: Free Application for Federal Student Aid (FAFSA) filing assistance, assistance with scholarship research and application, support reviewing and understanding student loans and repayment options.
• Cultural & Social Activities: Community building and cultural event programming, student leadership development opportunities.

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/trio.

Contact the TRIO Program
Location: Parenzo Hall
Email: trio@westfield.ma.edu
Phone: (413) 572-5462

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.
 

LEAD Scholars Program (LEAD) 

The LEAD Scholars Program (LEAD) formally the Urban Education Program is an academic success and leadership program that provides ongoing academic and social support for first-generation, historically underrepresented, and/or financial aid eligible college students from diverse socioeconomic, linguistic, ethnic, religious, and cultural backgrounds. The LEAD Scholars Program is an admission-based program, with a five-week college readiness Summer Bridge Program available to qualified applicants at no additional cost. Students accepted into the program must participate and successfully complete the Summer Bridge Program to gain matriculation into the University. After the successful completion of the Summer Bridge Program, program scholars receive: 

• Ongoing personal, academic advising, and advocacy through the promotion of academic excellence; 
• Assistance with the financial aid process through collaborating with the Office of Financial Aid; 
• Networking opportunities, career development, and graduate school advising; 
• Priority course registration; 
• Leadership development opportunities. 

Contact the LEAD Scholars Program
Location: Parenzo Hall, Suite155
Email: urbaned@westfield.ma.edu
Phone: (413) 572-5391

Veteran and Military Services

Westfield State University utilizes the Office of Veteran and Military Services to assist our military-connected students by providing the support, resources, and information necessary to meet personal and academic needs. Military-connected students are Active Military, Guard, Reserve, Veterans, and their spouses/children. We are proud to have you here at WSU and we are here to assist you with your transition from high school, from another college, or the military… whether you are using benefits or not. 

Contact the Office of Veteran and Military Services at  

the Military Community Excellence Center (MCEC) 

Location: Bates Hall, Room 15 

mail: rvigneault@westfield.ma.edu 

Phone: (413) 572-8370 

Website: www.westfield.ma.edu/offices/veteran-and-military-services 

Tuition, Fees, & Payment for Veterans and Military

Westfield State University adheres to the requirements of, and complies with, S2248 PL 115-407, Section 103. All students using Chapter 31 Veteran Readiness and Employment benefits must ensure the Office of Veteran & Military Services has received the Tungsten authorization from their Veteran Readiness and Employment Counselor by the first day of classes. Students using Chapter 33 VA Education Benefits are required to submit their Certificate of Eligibility or Statement of Benefits by the first day of classes. All students using National Guard or VA Education Benefits are required to submit a written request to confirm they want to use benefits for each semester of attendance. All of the above must be submitted to the Office of Veteran & Military Services. 

Out-of-State Students: Westfield State University strives to ensure that our recently discharged Veterans and their eligible family members will not have to bear the cost of out-of-state charges while using their Post-9/11 GI Bill® education benefits. 

The Veterans Access, Choice, and Accountability Act of 2014, as amended by PL 116-315 §​ 1005, Isakson and Roe Veterans Health Care and Benefits Improvement Act of 2020:  

For courses, semesters, or terms beginning after August 1, 2021, public institutions of higher education must charge qualifying Veterans, dependents, and eligible individuals’ tuition and fees at the rate for in-state residents. Any institution not meeting this requirement will be disapproved by the US Department of Veterans Affairs (VA) for the Post-9/11 G.I. Bill® and the Montgomery G.I. Bill®. As amended, 38 USC 3679(c) requires that the following individuals be charged the in-state resident rate: 

• A Veteran using educational assistance under either Chapter 30 (Montgomery G.I. Bill® - Active Duty Program), Chapter 31 (Veteran Readiness & Employment), or Chapter 33 (Post-9/11 G.I. Bill®) of 38 USC who lives in the state in which the institution is located (regardless of their formal state of residence). 

• Anyone using transferred Post-9/11 G.I. Bill® benefits (38 USC § 3319) who lives in the state where the institution is located (regardless of their formal state of residence). 

• Anyone using benefits under the Marine Gunnery Sargeant John David Fry Scholarship (38 USC § 3311 (b)(9)) who lives in the state in which the institution is located (regardless of their formal state of residence). 

• Anyone using Chapter 35 (Survivors’ and Dependents’ Educational Assistance Program) benefits who lives in the state in which the institution is located (regardless of their formal state of residence). 

• Anyone described above who remains continuously enrolled (other than during regularly scheduled breaks between courses, semesters, or terms) at the same institution. The person must be using educational benefits under Chapter 30, Chapter 31, or Chapter 33 of 38 USC. 

Students Called to Active Military Duty

Students currently enrolled in and attending class(es), who receive Active Duty orders need to provide a copy to the Office of Veteran and Military Services. Under the Valor Act, students have the option to complete the course when they return from Active Duty without penalty. Students who receive Active Duty orders also have the option to withdraw from the course with a full refund of fees and tuition paid. 

• If the academic course is no longer available upon the student’s return from active duty, the student shall be permitted to complete a replacement course for equivalent credit without penalty. 

• With respect to any health insurance fee, the refund policy is subject to the carrier’s concurrence. 

• Students who have received any form of financial aid, including a full or partial scholarship or student loan, or those who expect to receive such aid should contact the Financial Aid office to make appropriate arrangements. 

• Students shall receive non-punitive withdrawals in all courses from which they are required to withdraw. 

• Students residing in residence halls shall receive refunds on a pro-rata basis for the remainder of the semester. 

• The call to service must be verified by providing the Veteran Services Director with a copy of the Order to Active Duty within one week of receipt of the order. 

• Also, if the student chooses to withdraw, they will follow the withdrawal procedures. 

In the event of a short notice/no notice deployment, a student can have someone in their family assist the servicemember’s Unit to provide the Office of Veteran & Military Services with a copy of the orders. The University’s President may waive or suspend any institutional policy or regulation that negatively impacts the students’ withdrawal or readmission to the institution due to a call to Active Duty. Any student required to withdraw due to being called to active duty shall be given priority in enrollment in the program of his or her choice upon return to the institution for the two semesters immediately following his or her discharge from Active Duty. 

Credit for Military Experience

Westfield State University offers students with military experience the opportunity to receive graduation credit for this experience. Official documentation of military experience (DD-214) must be submitted to the Office of Veteran & Military Services for processing.  

The Army, Navy, Marines, and Coast Guard have consolidated their respective transcript services. Each of these services uses the Joint Service Transcript (JST) system. This system automatically captures your training, experience, and standardized test scores. To order an official transcript to be sent to Westfield State University, please click the following link: https://jst.doded.mil/jst/. You can register for an account if you don’t have a CAC card, and the transcripts typically take a few days to process before they are sent. 

The Community College of the Air Force (CCAF) is a federal program offered by the United States Air Force and United States Space Force that automatically captures your training, experience, and standardized test scores on your transcript. Go to the CCAF website https://www.airuniversity.af.edu/Barnes/CCAF/ to order transcripts or obtain more information. CCAF transcripts can be ordered as physical or electronic copies. Electronic transcripts are ordered through the Air Force Virtual Education Center: https://afvec.us.af.mil/afvec/public/welcome 

Under most circumstances, Veterans are eligible to use their former service branch’s transcript program. However, if you are not eligible for JST or CCAF system transcripts, you must complete a DD Form 295 and provide your DD-214 Discharge Document to receive credit for your experience. 

The DD Form 295 (Application for the Evaluation of Learning Experiences During Military Service) is the only other military document Westfield State University accepts as an equivalent to an official transcript. The DD Form 295 must be completed and signed by the student’s Commanding Officer in accordance with the course codes and specifications published in the current issue of the American Council on Education’s Guide to the Evaluation of Educational Experiences in the Armed Services. 

Credit for military experience is treated as community college-level coursework. It is subject to all University policies regarding transfer coursework. This includes the policy allowing a maximum of 79 community college credits to be transferred in and a maximum of 90 total transfer credits (which includes state university and non-community college coursework). Academic departments reserve the right to determine if courses can be applied to a student’s major or minor. 

VALOR Act - Academic Credit Evaluation Policy

The Massachusetts Department of Higher Education has found that Westfield State University’s transfer credit policies meet or exceed the criteria established under the VALOR Act Academic Credit Evaluation Policy. The VALOR Act allows for evaluating military experience, training, and/or coursework to be considered for academic credit. Please review the Alternative Academic Credit Policy for more details. 

Please note: [38 CFR 21.4253(D)(3)] An approved institution must maintain a written record of the veteran or eligible person’s previous education and training, which indicates that the school has given appropriate credit for previous education and training, with the training period shortened appropriately. The record must be cumulative in the results of each enrollment period (term, quarter, or semester) and the final result (i.e., passed, failed, incomplete, or withdrawn). 

GI Bill® is a registered trademark of the U.S. Department of Veterans Affairs (VA). More information about education benefits offered by VA is available at the official U.S. government Web site at https://www.benefits.va.gov/gibill.