Westfield State College Skill Enhancement Program

Program Goal and Objectives

WSCSEP is an academic and counseling support program designed for 9th through 12th grade students who are enrolled in the Springfield school district and who have expressed a desire to obtain a college degree. WSCSEP's primary goal is to assist students to develop and/or enhance the skills, attitudes and behaviors needed for successful matriculation within a collegiate environment. To achieve this goal, the following instructional objectives have been identified:

• To provide basic skills and tutorial assistance to participants as individual needs warrant;
• To provide a means to continue development of potential career and college academic interests of students;
• To provide enrichment opportunities to the students in areas that would improve students' career and academic opportunities at the college level
• To provide students with small group and individual guidance support for motivational, personal and academic concerns, information about career opportunities in various fields and WSC entry requirements; and
• To provide on-going evaluation of student performance with program adjustments as appropriate to meet individual student needs.

Program Activities

WSCSEP activities will run from October to May of the 2005/2006 academic school year. These activities (implemented after school and on Saturdays at WSC) will include:

• Core Subject Review. A review of selected topics in students mathematics, science and English courses.
• MCAS Preparation.
• Study Skills. Focus will be on outlining, summarizing, note and test taking.
• Micro Computing.
• Career Awareness. Designed to provide students with an opportunity to explore the dynamics of the job market and to develop an understanding of those factors that impact career choices.
• The College Admission Process. WSCSEP staff will provide information and instruction pertaining to the college application and enrollment process. Selecting and applying to a college (focusing on institutional requirements, e.g., high school performance, SAT scores, admission forms and time tables for submission), developing a financial aid strategy and applying for financial aid will be covered.
• Self-Esteem. Seminar will focus on developing an understanding of, and appreciation for, the role positive self-concept plays in achieving one's career/life goals.
• Critical Thinking. This course is designed to assist students in developing and utilizing strategies that will assist them in thinking in a fashion that is clear, imaginative and critical.
• Field Trips.

WSCSEP Participant Profile

Potential WSCSEP participant should be a minority and/or disadvantaged and low-income student (9th through 12th grade) who will be among the first in his/her immediate family to attend college. Participant must be enrolled in the Springfield school district (maintaining at least a C grade point average), should be highly motivated, and willing to abide by WSCSEP rules and regulations.

Westfield State College

Westfield State College (WSC) began in 1839 as the oldest public, coeducational institution for teacher education in the United States. Located in one of the most attractive suburban sections of the city of Westfield, the campus is approximately 20 minutes from downtown Springfield, Massachusetts, and 30 minutes from downtown Holyoke, Massachusetts. The College is nationally accredited and has 166 full time faculty members. The College offers a full range of liberal arts and professional programs leading to the bachelor's and master's degrees. There are 24 undergraduate majors with possibilities for supplementary study in more than 60 areas of concentrations.

For more information contact:

Plato Tutorials

• The steps to logging into Vista 4

MEOP Support Team at WSC 

LOGIN or TECHNICAL ISSUES

COURSE INFORMATION AND REGISTRATION:

Lynn Zayac, Director
Center for Instructional Technology
Westfield State College
413-572-8130