Western New England College

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Western New England College
Latin: Collegium Occidentius Novo Anglia
Motto: Scientia-Integritas-Servitium. "Exceed Your Expectations"
Established: 1919
Type: Private
President: Anthony S. Caprio
Faculty: 345
Undergraduates: 2,813
Postgraduates: 847 (593 law students)
Location: Springfield, Massachusetts, USA
Campus: Suburban, 215 acres (0.9 km²)
Athletics: 19 varsity teams
Mascot: Golden Bear
Website: www.wnec.edu

Western New England College is a private, independent, coeducational college founded in 1919. Located on a classical 215-acre (0.87 km²) suburban campus in Springfield, Massachusetts, it serves approximately 4,000 students on its main campus and at six satellite sites within Massachusetts. Undergraduate and graduate programs are offered through the Schools of Arts and Sciences, Business, Engineering, and Law. It is commonly known by its acronym, WNEC.

In its America's Best Colleges rankings released August 18, 2007, U.S. News and World Report lists Western New England College in the top tier of its "North" category among colleges and universities that provide a full range of undergraduate and master's programs.

Western New England College is one of 258 colleges featured in Student Horizons' Colleges of Distinction guide, profiling American colleges that are the "best places to learn, to grow, and to succeed".

Contents

[edit] History

The Springfield Division of Northeastern College, known as Springfield-Northeastern, was established in 1919. Evening classes, held in the YMCA building on Chestnut Street in Springfield for students studying part-time, were offered in law, business, and accounting. The first 13 graduates were recognized in 1922 with the degree of Bachelor of Commercial Science. In 1923 the first seven law graduates were recognized. In 1951 the Springfield Division of Northeastern University became Western New England College. Western New England College was chartered on July 17, 1951.

On April 26, 1956, 34 acres for the current Wilbraham Road campus were purchased. In that same year the first day program was started; it was in engineering, with 53 students enrolled. The first building, originally known as East Building and later renamed Emerson Hall in recognition of Western New England College’s first trustees chairman, opened in 1959.

The charter was expanded in 1959 to permit the college to grant the bachelor’s degree in any field of business administration, science, engineering, education, and law, and certain master’s degrees. The School of Arts and Sciences was established in 1967, and the college received accreditation as a general purpose institution in 1972.

The college flourished on its new campus with its academic programs expanding, its student body growing, and the addition of many new buildings. The original campus of 34 acres has grown to 215 acres (0.9 km²) of contiguous property located four miles (6 km) from downtown Springfield. The first plot of land was the former Ingalls Farm. Later land was procured from a variety of sources, including an arrangement with the Commonwealth of Massachusetts.

Undergraduate and graduate programs are offered in the Schools of Arts and Sciences, Business, Engineering, and Law. The college enrolls approximately 3,660 students: 2,400 full-time undergraduates, 590 in full and part-time programs in the School of Law, and approximately 660 in part-time undergraduate and graduate programs offered on campus and at locations throughout the Commonwealth. Western New England College has over 37,000 alumni around the world.

[edit] Potential name change

The Westerner student newspaper has quoted both the college's provost and its president as suggesting that the doctoral programs are prerequisites to a possible name change from "college" to "university".[1] These college leaders stated that, of all New England colleges considering or recently adopting university status, Western New England College had among the most pronounced academic characteristics of a university. The administrators noted that many of Western New England College's peers, such as Quinnipiac University, have changed their names to "university" under lax naming regulations in other northeastern states.[2] While Western New England College already has the structure and programs of a university[citation needed], the college must meet Massachusetts' "two doctorate" academic standard in order to name itself a university.[3].

It is unclear whether a name change would require an act of the Massachusetts legislature (Massachusetts General Court) to alter the college's charter.

[edit] Campus and facilities

Western New England College's 215-acre (0.9 km²) main campus, in Springfield's suburban Sixteen Acres neighborhood, consists of 27 buildings. The architectural mores run the gamut from neo-classical to post-modern (most notably, Sleith Hall), with a modified Georgian theme prevailing -- particularly on the central campus. The older buildings most closely resemble the New England College Style prevalent at other smaller private institutions.

The campus is modern (all facilities constructed in the post-World War II era) and there is no deferred maintenance. Expansion and renewal of the physical plant is ongoing under the institution's Master Plan. Unlike larger institutions, the campus is built on a "human scale" where all facilities can be reached by foot in a few minutes.[citation needed] The area of the campus has expanded significantly over the last quarter-century.[citation needed]

Since 1999, seven new buildings have opened or undergone major renovations including the LaRiviere Residential Living and Learning Center, Evergreen Village Townhouse Complex, Kevin S. Delbridge Welcome Center, Golden Bear Stadium, George E. Trelease Memorial Baseball Park, DJ St. Germain Campus Center, and D’Amour Library. Site preparations are underway for a $5.5 million expansion of the School of Law's S. Prestley Blake Law Center, which will drastically increase the size of the building.

[edit] Campus Safety

Prior to 2006, Western New England College had an open-access policy for vehicles. Existing concerns about automobile thefts were magnified after several violent incidents on campus. An effort to restrict vehicle access began in earnest with a gate on a service road. After positive results, this project eventually expanded to include Gateway Village and is currently being implemented campus-wide. For the first time in its history, Western New England College has installed gates at all secondary entrances to the campus which will be secured during evenings and weekends. Unlike the gated entrance to Gateway Village, these gates will not be credential-based, and will force all vehicular traffic through the College's main entrance and School of Law entrance during all non-academic hours. Pedestrians will still be able to enter and exit campus without security credentials.

On Feb. 5, 2007, Western New England College installed gates at four secondary entrances to the campus which are secured between 12:15 a.m. and 5:30 a.m. Unlike the gated entrance to Gateway Village, these gates will not be credential-based, and will force all vehicular traffic through the College's main entrance during these hours. Pedestrians will still be able to enter and exit campus without security credentials.

Location of the gates:

  • Bradley Road and Campus Drive
  • The one way road near Herman Hall
  • The East Parking Lot and Wilbraham Road
  • Evergreen Road

An editorial in The Westerner student newspaper has compared the plan to turning the institution into a prison. The newspaper has also asserted that there was no student input into the new security plans. The newspaper asserts that the administration's plan is an unnecessary overreaction which unfairly penalizes the resident students who live on the campus.

[edit] Academics

Western New England College offers its 3,400 undergraduate students 34 bachelors programs through its schools of Arts and Sciences, Business, and Engineering. Its graduate programs (described below) range from certificates to masters degrees and advanced law degrees. A six-year Doctor of Pharmacy (Pharm.D.) program will begin in 2009.

[edit] School of Arts and Sciences

[edit] Undergraduate

[edit] Graduate and Dual-Degree

[edit] School of Business

[edit] Undergraduate

[edit] Graduate and Dual-Degree

[edit] School of Engineering

[edit] Undergraduate

[edit] Graduate and Dual-Degree

[edit] School of Pharmacy

May 2007 marked the announcement that Western New England College would establish a School of Pharmacy. The program will take six years to complete. Students will enroll in the Pre-pharmacy major in the School of Arts and Sciences for the first two years beginning in the fall of 2009. In the fall of 2011, the fist class will enter the Professional phase in the School of Pharmacy (pending required approvals). Students will graduate with a Doctor of Pharmacy (PharmD.) degree. A new academic building and one new residence hall are slated for construction in conjunction with this project. In the past, Western New England College has offered a pharmacy program through cooperative programs with other institutions.

[edit] Satellite Sites

The college's small, non-residential satellite sites are located in Devens, Bedford, Braintree, Malden, New Bedford, and Norwood, Massachusetts.

[edit] School of Law

The School of Law offers full- and part-time J.D. programs as well as a part-time LL.M. program in Estate Planning. Founded in 1919, the law school has produced over 6,000 alumni who live and practice in all fifty states. An ABA-accredited institution and a member of the AALS, it is the only law school in western Massachusetts, and is acclaimed for its small sections of students and dynamic faculty.[citation needed] Its recent graduates currently practice as federal attorneys, corporate executives, and in-house counsel to Paramount Pictures, Praxair, Otis Elevator Company, General Electric, MassMutual, and the CVS Corporation. It is the only ABA-accredited Massachusetts law school outside Greater Boston.

The facilities and technology available to law students are undergoing constant improvement. Most recently, high-speed wireless internet access became available throughout most of the School of Law.

[edit] J.D. Program

Western New England College School of Law offers three first year full time sections of 50 students each and one part time section of approximately 50 students. The class sections are amongst the smallest in the country, promoting greater interaction with peers and faculty.[4]

[edit] S. Prestley Blake Law Center

In the early 1970s, the Western New England College Board of Trustees set up the Law School Study Committee to investigate the viability of a full time day program for the School of Law. This program opened in the fall of 1973. Since no proper facility was available on the Western New England College campus the School of Law was housed at the former Our Lady of Lourdes School on Tinkham Road in Springfield. Students referred to this building as "Our Lady of the Law School."

In May 1974, a Building Committee was formed. Blueprints were drawn up in the spring of 1976 and groundbreaking on the facility began on May 2, 1977. The building was opened on August 19, 1978, at a cost of $3.4 million. The building is named after S. Prestley Blake, President and Cofounder of Friendly's Ice Cream after he made a gift of $250,000 to the project.

Groundbreaking on the expansion to the S. Prestley Blake Law Center took place on June 5, 2007. The $5.5 million dollar expansion is part of Transformations: The Campaign for Western New England College. New features include seminar, study, and meeting rooms; an expanded library; and modernization of several classrooms and the Moot Court Room.

[edit] Law and Business Center for Advancing Entrepreneurship

The Western New England College Law and Business Center for Advancing Entrepreneurship was established to offer graduate business and law students an opportunity to provide practical consultation to entrepreneurs starting new and building existing small businesses.

The Small Business Clinic, one of five clinics associated with the School of Law, is the cornerstone program of the Center. The clinic pairs students from the Schools of Law and Business to offer legal and business consultation to small businesses in the area. Areas of expertise include legal advice in corporate and commercial law as well as business advice on marketing, human resources, and competitive analysis.

[edit] Accreditations

Western New England College is accredited by the New England Association of Schools and Colleges. The School of Business is accredited by the Association to Advance Collegiate Schools of Business. Curricula leading to the degrees of Bachelor of Science in Biomedical, Electrical, Industrial, and Mechanical Engineering are accredited by the Engineering Accreditation Commission of the Accreditation Board for Engineering & Technology. The Bachelor of Social Work degree program is accredited by the Council on Social Work Education. The School of Law is fully accredited by the American Bar Association and is a member of the Association of American Law Schools. The college's teacher education programs have been approved by the Massachusetts Board of Education and meet the standards of reciprocity of the Interstate Certification Compact. Western New England College is a member of the Association of American Colleges, the College Entrance Examination Board, the Association of Governing Boards of Universities and Colleges, the National Association of Independent Colleges and Universities, and the Association of Independent Colleges and Universities of Massachusetts.

[edit] Student Life

Residence Halls

Western New England College offers nine residence facilities on campus, in the style of traditional rooms, suites, and apartments. All rooms are equipped with broadband Internet service as well as cable television. Residence halls are located in proximity to other buildings on campus.

  • Berkshire Hall
  • Commonwealth Hall
  • Evergreen Village
  • Franklin Hall
  • Gateway Village
  • Hampden Hall
  • LaRiviere Residential Living and Learning Center
  • Plymouth Complex
  • Windham Hall

[edit] Clubs and Organizations

There are over 60 clubs and organizations available on campus, including honor societies, professional and departmental, media and publications, special interest groups, Student Senate, Residence Hall Association and Campus Ministry.

[edit] Honor Societies

[edit] Professional and Departmental

  • Accounting Association
  • American Society of Mechanical Engineers (ASME)
  • Association for Computing Machinery (ACM)
  • Biology Club
  • Biomedical Engineering Society (BMES)
  • Chemistry Club
  • Communications Association
  • Criminal Justice Association
  • Economics Club
  • Engineering Student Council (ESC)
  • Financial Management Association
  • Historical Society
  • Institute of Electrical and Electronics Engineers (IEEE)
  • Institute of Industrial Engineers (IIE)
  • Management Association
  • Marketing Association
  • Math Club
  • Political Science Club/Model UN
  • Pre-Law Society
  • Pre-Med Club
  • Psychology Club
  • Sign Language Club
  • Social Workers Advocating Together (SWAT)
  • Society of Women Engineers (SWE)
  • Sports Management Club

[edit] Student Senate

  • Campus Activity Board (CAB)
  • Class Officers/Class Councils
  • Freshman Council

[edit] Media and Publications

  • The Cupola (yearbook)
  • The Review of Art & Literature (literary magazine)
  • GB-TV "Golden Bear Television" (Television Station)
  • The Westerner (newspaper)
  • WNEK-FM 105.1 FM (radio station)

[edit] Special Interest Groups

  • Bowling Club
  • Campus Chorus
  • Cheerleading Club
  • Club Lacrosse
  • Concert Band
  • Dance Club
  • Finger-Style Guitar Club
  • Gay/Straight Alliance (GSA)
  • Golden Bear Pep Band
  • Improv on the Rocks (improvisational comedy)
  • Information Technology Club
  • International Student Association
  • Japanese Animation Club (JALOW)
  • Jazz Band
  • Martial Arts Club
  • Outing Club
  • Peer Educators Network (PEN)
  • Racquetball Club
  • Stageless Players (drama club)
  • Step Squad
  • United & Mutually Equal Club (U&ME)
  • Vox Populi (independent newspaper)
  • W.A.R.P. (role-playing)
  • Residence Hall Association (RHA)
  • Berkshire Hall Council
  • Commonwealth Hall Council
  • Evergreen Hall Council
  • Franklin Hall Council
  • Gateway Hall Council
  • Hampden Hall Council
  • LaRiviere Hall Council
  • Plymouth Hall Council
  • Windham Hall Council

[edit] Campus Ministry

  • Interfaith Council
  • Havurah

[edit] Athletics

Western New England College is a member of the National Collegiate Athletic Association Division III. The College supports the Division III philosophy by offering 19 NCAA-sponsored varsity sports.

Men’s Varsity Teams

Women’s Varsity Sports

Non-NCAA varsity sports include Martial Arts and Bowling.

The College's athletic mascot is the Golden Bear.

In the sports of baseball, men's and women's basketball, men's and women's cross country, field hockey, men's and women's lacrosse, men's and women's soccer, softball, women's swimming, men's and women's tennis, and women's volleyball, Western New England College competes in the Commonwealth Coast Conference (TCCC).

The football team competes in the New England Football Conference.

The ice hockey team competes in the Eastern College Athletic Conference Northeast.

The wrestling team competes in the New England College Conference Wrestling Association.

Prior to the 2007-2008 academic year, Western New England College competed in the Great Northeast Athletic Conference (GNAC) for baseball, men's and women's basketball, men's and women's cross country, men's and women's soccer, softball, women's swimming, men's and women's tennis, and women's volleyball; in the North Atlantic Conference (NAC) for field hockey; the Pilgrim League for men's lacrosse; and the New England Women's Lacrosse Alliance (NEWLA) for women's lacrosse.

[edit] Athletic Facilities

[edit] CHAMPS Life Skills Program

Western New England College is among approximately 90 (out of 700) Division III athletics programs that sponsor this program which challenges athlete's minds for personal success while focusing on values and commitments.[citation needed] Only 14 Division III schools were accepted into the program for the 2006-07 school year.

The five commitment areas of the CHAMPS Life Skills Program are Academic Excellence, Athletic Excellence, Personal Development, Career Development and Commitment to Service.

[edit] Western New England College Alma Mater

The alma mater of Western New England College is called "Theme Song for Western New England College." It was written by Eugene Weaver '54 shortly after the founding of the College in 1951.

[edit] Fundraising

On September 19, 2006, Western New England College announced a $20 million development campaign titled Transformations: The Campaign for Western New England College.

Funds from this campaign will support initiatives and programs in four areas:

  • Academic Quality ($8.45 million, of which $5.5 million is slated for the S. Prestley Blake Law Center improvements)
  • Financial Aid Endowment ($5 million)
  • Student Enrichment ($4.05 million)
  • The Fund for Western New England College ($2.5 million)

Trustee giving to the campaign exceeded $5.1 million, providing a substantial leap towards the campaign's highly aggressive financial goals.

Since the Transformations effort has successfully raised over $19.2 million by December 31, 2007, the College will be awarded $800,000 from a Kresge Foundation challenge grant.

During a reception to celebrate the achievements of the Campaign on June 3, 2008, the College announced Transformations had raised over $23 million.[1]

[edit] Notable Alumni

[edit] External links

v • d • e
New England Football Conference
v • d • e
Commonwealth Coast Conference

[edit] References

  1. ^ "Administration Setting Sights on University Status". The Westerner, 5/6/2006, Page 6
  2. ^ "Interview with Dr. Anthony S. Caprio". WNEK 105.1 FM, 2/2005
  3. ^ Massachusetts Department of Education
  4. ^ Western New England College School of Law "Experiential Learning" brochure, 2007, Page 2