Westfield State University

Last updated
Westfield State University
Seal of Westfield State University.svg
Former names
List
    • Barre Normal School (1839–1844)
    • Westfield Normal School (1844–1932)
    • Westfield State Teachers College (1932–1960)
    • Massachusetts State College at Westfield (1960–1967)
    • Westfield State College (1967–2010) [1]
Type Public university
EstablishedSeptember 4, 1839;185 years ago (1839-09-04)
Accreditation NECHE
Endowment $20,002,999 (2020) [2]
President Linda Thompson [3]
Students4,702 [4] (fall 2022)
Undergraduates 4,630 (2020) [5]
Postgraduates 766 (2020) [5]
Location
Westfield
,
Massachusetts
,
United States

42°07′53″N72°47′46″W / 42.131392°N 72.796005°W / 42.131392; -72.796005
CampusResidential, 256 acres (104 ha)
Colors Blue, White and Gold
   
Nickname Owls
Affiliations Cooperating Colleges of Greater Springfield
MascotNestor
Website westfield.ma.edu
Logo of Westfield State University.svg

Westfield State University (commonly known as Westfield State) is a public university in Westfield, Massachusetts. It was founded in 1839 by Horace Mann as the first public coeducational college in America.

Contents

History

In 1839, Horace Mann founded a state normal school in Barre, Massachusetts. It offered entry regardless of race, gender, or economic class. Samuel P. Newman, a professor and administrator at Bowdoin College, was the school's first principal. [6] It was the second normal school in Massachusetts after the Lexington Normal School, which was founded earlier in the year. [7] The Barre Normal School was suspended following Newman's death and moved to Westfield in 1844, where it became the Westfield Normal School. Rev. Emerson Davis, head of the Westfield Academy was placed in charge of the new school. [8] The Westfield Normal School was later known as Westfield State Teachers College. In 1960, Governor Foster Furcolo signed a bill that would transition the state's nine teachers colleges, including Westfield State, into general state colleges and Westfield State Teachers College became Westfield State College the following year. [9] The institution adopted its current name in 2010 as part of a statewide change. [10]

Principals/presidents

[11]

Rankings

Academic rankings
Regional
U.S. News & World Report [12] 94

In 2013, WSU was ranked fourth nationally by US News in their Best Online Programs Honor Roll. [13] WSU was also ranked first in the country for "Faculty Credentials & Training" and eleventh in "Student Services & Technology". [13]

Athletics

Westfield State athletics teams are nicknamed the Owls. The university competes in the Massachusetts State Collegiate Athletic Conference of NCAA Division III

Varsity teams

Men's sportsWomen's sports
BaseballBasketball
BasketballCross country
Cross countryField hockey
Football Golf
GolfLacrosse
Ice hockeySoccer
SoccerSoftball
Track and fieldSwimming
Track and field
Volleyball

Notable alumni

References

  1. ↑ "Catalog: About the University". catalog.westfield.ma.edu. Westfield State University. Retrieved 24 December 2023.
  2. ↑ "FINANCIAL STATEMENTS AND MANAGEMENT'S DISCUSSION AND ANALYSIS" (PDF). Retrieved 2023-10-28.
  3. ↑ "Westfield State University Board of Trustees votes to appoint Dr. Linda Thompson as 21st president". Westfield State University (Press release). April 28, 2021. Retrieved 5 August 2021.
  4. ↑ "College Navigator - Westfield State University". National Center for Education Statistics . Retrieved 2024-07-24.
  5. 1 2 "GENERAL INFORMATION" . Retrieved 2023-10-28.
  6. ↑ Hewett, Beth (2020). A Scholarly Edition of Samuel P. Newman’s A Practical System of Rhetoric. Brill. p. 7. Retrieved 1 April 2025.
  7. ↑ Pugach, Marleen (2009). Because Teaching Matters: An Introduction to the Profession. John Wiley & Sons. p. 68. Retrieved 1 April 2025.
  8. ↑ "Literary Intelligence". Christian Examiner and Theological Review: 288. September 1844. Retrieved 1 April 2025.
  9. ↑ Forman, Ian (April 10, 1960). "State to Drop Name Of 'Teacher College'". The Boston Globe.
  10. ↑ "A Brief History of Westfield State University". Westfield State University. Westfield State University. Retrieved 1 April 2025.
  11. ↑ "Westfield State University Historical Timeline: 1839-2024". Academia. Retrieved 1 April 2025.
  12. ↑ "2024-2025 Best Regional Universities Rankings". U.S. News & World Report . September 23, 2024. Retrieved November 22, 2024.
  13. 1 2 "Best Online Bachelor's Programs". U.S.News Education. U.S. News & World Report LP. 2012. Archived from the original on April 4, 2013.
  14. ↑ Cooney, Beth; Mooney, Jeanne (1986-03-03). "Mullins honored by many". Holyoke Transcript-Telegram . pp. 1, 8. Retrieved 2023-01-03.
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