WHAT’S NEW? 2019–2020
WNE students studying in Sorrento, Italy
WNE: A GREAT UNIVERSITY WITH A GREAT RETURN ON INVESTMENT Students and their families want an education that offers real value—both now and in the future. A new report from Zippia finds Western New England University #5 in the nation and #1 in Massachusetts when it comes to preparing graduates for the job market! The analysis by the career-focused site utilized data from the federal government’s College Scorecard, looking at employment rates 10 years after students graduated. Western New England University’s employment rate is 95.56%, placing it ahead of all but four institutions in the U.S.—including both public and private colleges and universities. The University has also been ranked in the Top 3% as a best value by The Economist magazine, as a U.S. News and World Report 2019 Best Value and among its Best Undergraduate Engineering Programs, and is now classified among Doctoral/ Professional Universities by Carnegie Classification of Institutions of Higher Education.
Many students choose to study at Western New England University because of the support they receive from professors and coaches in balancing academics with the opportunity to continue to play the sport they love at the collegiate level. With the introduction of a Division III Women’s Ice Hockey program in 2020, students will have even more reasons to proudly wear WNE Blue and Gold. Katie S. Zimmerman has been named head coach for the new team. Zimmerman spent the past five years as an assistant coach at Amherst College. She also has coaching experience with USA Hockey and SUNY Cortland.
AT WNE OPEN HOUSES ARE JUST THE BEGINNING Named among the Top 30 Most Beautiful Campuses to Visit in the Fall (onlineschoolcenter.com), Western New England University truly shines in autumn. But our beautiful 215-acre campus is equally impressive year round when we are happy to welcome visitors for more personal group tours. Our Accepted Students Days held each spring are among our most attended campus events, offering students and families the opportunity to take a deeper look at our offerings, facilities, the financial aid process, and get to know our faculty, staff, coaches—and students. Golden Bear for a Day provides students an authentic opportunity to sit in on a class. Other visiting opportunities offered in the summer include Spirit Days and Business is Hot. The School Counselor Luncheon in November introduces high school college counselors to key administrators and offers an overview of WNE student support, the admissions process, and financial aid. To visit our campus go to visit.wne.edu.
THE BUZZ ON CAMPUS
WOMEN’S ICE HOCKEY COMING IN 2020!
MORE HIGH ACHIEVERS RISING TO THE CHALLENGE OF HONORS PROGRAMS Interest in Honors Programs is at an all-time high at Western New England University as it continues to attract high achieving students. Our Colleges of Arts and Sciences, Business, and Engineering each offer Honors Programs, which present opportunities to take fascinating courses with some of the University’s most innovative professors, connect with equally ambitious peers, and conduct indepth research in a Senior Honors Project. Students may also study global issues or travel through membership in the Global Scholars or Grand Challenge (engineering) programs. The Honors distinction on a student’s academic record is a powerful indicator to graduate schools and potential employers that these students are ambitious, hard working, and eager to take on new challenges.
NEW HOUSING OPTIONS INCLUDE HONORS AND PREMIUM SINGLES Due to popular demand, incoming freshmen invited to participate in our Honors Programs can now live among like-minded students in suite-style Honors Learning Interest Communities at the LaRiviere Living and Learning Center. This unique facility includes both residential suites and multimedia classrooms and is also home to the popular Rising Business Leaders community. Other Learning Interest Communities available include STEM; Next Generation Leaders, Learning Today, Shaping Tomorrow; and Healthy Choices, Creative Living. We are also making available a limited number of Premium Single rooms for first-year students. Learn more about all of our housing options at wne.edu/student-lefe/housing.
COMPREHENSIVE ADVISEMENT PROGRAM SURROUNDS STUDENTS WITH TEAM OF SUPPORT As part of a Comprehensive Advisement Program launching in fall 2020, incoming students will be supported by a team of four advisors: a faculty advisor, career advisor, peer advisor, and a new addition— a professional advisor. Formally uniting these advisors under a comprehensive program will help students develop an educational plan consistent with their life goals and objectives. The professional advisor will stay with advisees throughout their four years, whether they change majors or to a different one of our Colleges. They will help students connect to resources and campus and community activities that broaden and complement their academic experience as well as offer guidance to stay on track to graduate in four years.
CENTENNIAL YEAR SEES HISTORIC WINS IN ATHLETICS Junior John Boyle (Electrical Engineering) made University history in March when he captured the 184-pound National Wrestling Title at the NCAA Division III Championships. With this historic victory, Boyle becomes Western New England’s first national champion in any sport. In February, Women’s Basketball won its first Commonwealth Coast Conference (CCC) title in University history. Last fall, the Football Team secured its fourth consecutive conference championship. The Men’s Lacrosse team earned its second consecutive CCC title. WNE teams enjoy tremendous support from Golden Bear student, alumni, and faculty/staff fans. The University offers thriving intramural programs for non-varsity athletes as well as clubs sports, including our popular and successful Rugby Team.
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NCAA DIVISION III TOURNAMENT APPEARANCES SINCE 1999
FACULTY-LED TRAVEL PROGRAMS INSPIRE MEMORABLE SUMMER STUDY Short travel courses (typically 7-10 days) can be an eye-opening, career building experience. Each summer faculty-led travel courses provide opportunities for students to gain firsthand insight into other cultures in discipline-specific courses. This summer saw our students study in the cities of London and Paris, and at destinations in South Africa, Cuba, Guatemala, and China. For Summer of 2020, two travel opportunities are available in Italy: one at The Accademia Europea di Firenze, an International School of Italian Arts, Language and Culture, and the other at the Sant’Anna Institute. Through the Center for International Sport Business, students study the business of the Olympic Games and FIFA World Cup. In fact, we are the only University in the world to offer a travel course at the Olympics. Visit wne.edu/academics/ study-abroad for the latest travel news.
SCHOLARSHIP AID HIGHEST PRIORITY OF $35 MILLION CAMPAIGN FOR OUR SECOND CENTURY Launched in the spring of 2019, the number one priority of the $35 million campaign is to increase student financial aid through donorfunded scholarships. Each year, more than 98% of students receive financial aid through scholarships, grants, and loans. Other campaign priorities include building new and enhancing existing campus facilities; creating impactful opportunities for student life; boosting academic initiatives and experiences; and strengthening the President’s Fund for Excellence. Since becoming a University in 2011, Western New England has invested more than $90 million in campus facilities, technology, and infrastructure.
COMPETITION KEY TO DEVELOPING ENGINEERING MINDSET ACTIVE ENGAGEMENT SUPPORTS FIRST YEAR STUDENT TRANSITION With a focus on community, Western New England University offers intentional engagement programming to help students make the important transition from high school to college life. Beyond our highly attended Summer Orientation and Registration sessions, we offer a comprehensive First Year Program designed around mentorship to help students make that adjustment and become integrated into our welcoming community. Other initiatives like our Academic Support Center, free tutoring, the U&ME Connections Mentoring program, CHAMPS Lifeskills for athletes, and Success First program for First Gen college students support students in the first year and beyond. A wide variety of events and more than 70 student clubs and organizations offer endless ways for students to become involved and make personal connections. Visit wne.edu/events for our activities calendar.
With an emphasis on teamwork and the development of an entrepreneurial mindset from day one, engineering students eagerly take on competition both at the College of Engineering and at the regional, national, and international level. This year, our students again partnered with Technological University of Panama to compete in the finals at the U.S. Department of Energy (DOE) Solar Decathlon Design Challenge Weekend April 12-14 in Golden, CO. The team of Emily Fernschild and Brennen Zolnoski took first place honors in the Senior Design Competition at the 45th annual Northeast Bioengineering Conference. Through the WNE Innovation Initiative student teams also compete in the Western Mass Innovation Jam entrepreneurial competition cosponsored by Western New England University. The University’s BlinkTek team won the $500 Innovation Jam award at the Draper Competition for Collegiate Women Entrepreneurs held at Smith College on April 5. This team of engineering and business students went from winning first place at the College of Engineering’s Emerging Engineers Expo, to participating in the Western Mass Innovation Jam, to enrolling in an independent ENTR study, and then entering the Draper Competition. BlinkTek is a Heat Shield that would be attached to a fire helmet and would detect a firefighter’s health vitals.
On March 23 and 24, Western New England welcomed 30 high school teams to campus to compete in the FIRST Robotics Competition (FRC). The event drew 1,500 students, teachers, mentors, sponsors, and family members to the Western New England District Event, one of the largest competitions in the Northeast. The March competition followed the success of the FIRST LEGO League Competition held in December 2018. Hosting these events is part of the WNE FIRST Robotics Initiative, which also includes mentoring regional teams and establishing new teams in local communities. FIRST Robotics participants are eligible for a WNE $1,000 FIRST Scholarship on top of their academic merit scholarship, regardless of which major they choose to enroll in at WNE. Learn more at wne.edu/first-robotics.
PRE-COLLEGE SUMMER ENRICHMENT PROGRAMS PROVIDE A GLIMPSE INTO FUTURE CAREER PATHS Western New England’s Pre-college Programs are unique opportunities for rising sophomore, junior, and senior high school students to explore new ideas that will spark their passion and creativity. In these weeklong August sessions, high school students explore fascinating legal topics and career paths guided by industry experts. This year’s topics included CSI: Western New England, Trial Skills, and Introduction to STEM and Robotics. Visit wne.edu/pre-college-programs to learn about upcoming topics and program dates.
WE’RE 100! WNE BY THE NUMBERS TODAY. With a year of campus-wide Centennial celebrations, Western New England University turned 100 in 2019. The University has come a long way since its modest beginnings in 1919. Here’s a snapshot of the University at 100: 2,600 Undergraduates (domestic and from 30 countries); 46 undergraduate majors and programs; 50 minors; 10 combined bachelor/master’s/law programs; 20 varsity teams; four Colleges plus a School of Law; student-to-faculty ratio of 12:1, 33 master’s, doctoral, and dual degree programs; and 48,000 alumni worldwide.
A YEAR TO REMEMBER
FIRST® ROBOTICS COMPETITION DRAWS 1,500 VISITORS TO CAMPUS
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MERIT SCHOLARSHIPS REDUCE BOTTOM LINE COSTS Western New England University rewards high school students for their academic performance with renewable annual Merit Scholarships ranging from $10,000 to $22,000 a year ($40,000 to $88,000 over four years). Transfer students are elligible for scholarships up to $18,000 (with an associate’s). All students are automatically considered for these scholarships at the time of application. On average 98% of undergraduates receive financial aid.
KEEPING UP WITH THE GOLDEN BEARS To keep up with the latest news and events happening at Western New England University. Bookmark these sites: Events Calendar: wne.edu/calendar WNE News: wne.edu/news Accolades (Faculty, Staff & Student Achievements): wne.edu/academics/accolades Golden Bear Athletics: wnegoldenbears.com Visits and Tours: visit.wne.edu Award-winning WNE Magazine: magazine.wne.edu
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