Throughout this past academic year, a committee of Student Affairs and Academic Affairs administrators, and student representatives from the academic colleges, has been working on finalizing ideas for the Westfield State Experience – a signature commitment from the University to provide a cohesive variety and depth of offerings to encourage students to engage fully in their academic and student life at the University. The first and second year of this Westfield State Experience will be implemented in the fall with a full promotional launch at June’s new student orientation.
First-year students will be introduced to opportunities available through the Westfield State Experience and encouraged to actively engage in and take ownership of their University education. We will launch the “Go-2” initiative, pairing each first-year only student with an administrative Go-2 who will provide an immediate connection and access to resources.
The new “Emerging Leaders” program will offers workshops focused on skills development and personal growth. Three faculty-in-residence members will join the residence hall community by living in halls and providing out-of-classroom evening activities and office hours for first-year and second-year students.
Academic advising and career readiness planning will begin early in the first-year, supplementing the establishment in spring 2019 of a chapter of Alpha Lambda Delta Honor Society, which recognizes the academic achievement of first-year students. At orientation, students and their champions will receive information full six-week calendar of activities to promote participation in all of the Westfield State Experience offerings.
Sophomore year of the Westfield State Experience will begin with an all-sophomore class meeting to define the goals of sophomore year and build upon first-year progress. The Emerging Leaders program will continue to build upon skills learned in the first-year and include student induction into the National Student Success in Leadership society. Both the honors and leadership society will be guided by student executive officers who will focus on programs and community service.
The Career Center and faculty will partner together to engage students in exploring careers within different majors. Micro-internships (short term experiences) and a Professional Readiness Conference will be the capstone of the second year of the Westfield State Experience. Sophomores will be invited back early from winter break to participate in a conference on leadership and professional readiness skills and explore topics within their College and major – facilitated by the Career Center and College deans.
The Westfield State Experience encourages students to fully engage in academic and student life. Third and fourth years will include opportunities for continued community and civic service, undergraduate research, internships, Study Abroad, field experiences and more to build upon this progressive four-year Experience.
Please join us to encourage and promote the Westfield State Experience for all students.