Due to the COVID-19 crisis, the Office of Admission canceled Accepted Student Day events but worked with the campus community to learn new technological platforms and conduct virtual events for its fall 2020 accepted students.
The first initiative was the Virtual Accepted Student Day Program, which launched April 6. This pre-recorded event included welcoming remarks; a campus tour featuring our student tour guides and Nestor; alumni speakers; information about student programs and the next steps to become a Westfield State Owl. This program is still on the WSU Accepted Student webpage, and—to date—more than 500 have visited.
On April 13, a second wave of virtual events kicked off. The WSU Virtual Accepted Student Day department meetings were held April 13–21. Department chairs, along with directors and staff members from Academic Affairs, Student Affairs, Advancement, and Alumni Relations, and Enrollment Management participated in 43, half-hour to one-hour live sessions to welcome accepted students and share more about academic majors, academic support services, student life, athletics, financial aid, Lifetime Owls, and admissions. At the conclusion of each session, faculty and staff answered questions. Over 325 guests visited the sessions.
The Office of Admission will offer “The Owls Chat” sessions with accepted students. These are virtual student panels where accepted students can meet student tour guides and learn more about student life. These sessions will take place April 29, May 6, and May 13. Some academic departments, college deans, and Dining Services continue to reach out to accepted students and offer additional virtual meetings.
This and other information is listed on the Accepted Student website.
The Office of Admission thanks everyone involved to welcome and engage new students to the University.
“We are grateful to be part of such a special campus community,” said Kelly Hart, director of Admission.