How Do I? - Student Support Resources

Your A# is your University ID number. You can find your A# in your degree audit, also known as a degree evaluation, on MyWestfield. 

All course descriptions are available in the University Catalog under course descriptions. Scroll down until you get to the “Course filter,” under prefixes, select the department, then click on filter. You will then see all of the courses for the academic department. Click on the course name to see the description and the prerequisites for that course. 

Students can view course offerings, including days, times, and locations, through the Registrar's Office course offerings section.

To view your schedule, log into MyWestfield and click on the Academics tab at the top. Within the Academics tab, you'll find a box on the right-hand side labeled Academic Records. Click on 'Student Schedule' in that box to see your course schedule for the semester.

If your class is on PLATO, you'll receive an email from CIT (Center for Instructional Technology) explaining how to start the course. For classes on other platforms, your professor will email you the necessary information. Make sure to check your Westfield State University email regularly.

Students will be enrolled in the PLATO system the Friday before classes start, including Winter and Summer sessions. Initially, you'll only have access to a 'Student Overview' tutorial course on PLATO. Your specific courses will be accessible by 8 AM on the first day of classes. Please note that you won't be able to see your course before this time.

Contact your instructor as soon as possible and make sure to attend the next class meeting. It's important to note that all students, whether in remote synchronous or in-person classes, are expected to attend class at the assigned times. Students who miss the first sessions of a class may be administratively removed from the class. If you need to drop the class before the end of the drop-add period, you can do so through the Registration tab in MyWestfield. Do not simply stop attending the course.

If you're enrolled in a fully online course, be sure to sign in and actively participate so your professor knows you're engaged.

Also referred to as the degree audit, this document provides a comprehensive list of the degree requirements for your major and core courses. It serves as a checklist, marking off the courses you've finished and the grades you've received, as well as outlining what's left for you to complete. Additionally, it includes your A# (University ID), your advisor's name, your GPA, and the total number of credits you've earned, including courses currently in progress. You can access this through myWestfield.

Your college dean is assigned based on your major. New Exploratory students will be assigned a college when they meet with advising. For more information, you can visit our Colleges and Departments page.

You can access your grades through MyWestfield. Please note that the appearance may differ between your phone and computer.

Here's how:

1. Log into MyWestfield.
2. Click on the Academics Tab.
3. Look for the section titled 'Academic Records.'
4. Under My Student Profile, click on 'Grades.'
5. Your grades will also be listed in your Degree Evaluation and the Unofficial Transcript, both available under My Student Profile.

Your first step should be to reach out to your professor. They typically list their office hours and how to contact them on the class syllabus. Additionally, you can visit the Academic Support page to explore various academic support programs. Feel free to reach out to the program that seems most relevant to your concern. The staff there will be happy to assist you and point you in the right direction.

Most forms will indicate how you are supposed to “sign” them at the top or the bottom.  Many forms are fillable .pdfs (fill in form or fillable pdf). Others have moved to online forms that you fill out and submit.  If you have a question about how to sign a document, contact the office and get confirmation.  

If you can print the form but not scan it, try using a scanning app.  If you are using a mac and the Mac pages word processing software, you must EXPORT and save your document before sending it to others.   

Send the document from your Westfield State University email address as that helps to confirm your identity.  

Students can access information about the PVTA on their website, including details about their app. PVTA provides transportation services with stops both on campus and in the center of Westfield. Additionally, Westfield State offers an on-campus shuttle service.

You may contact the Dean of Students, your College Dean, FACES, or the CARE Center to begin inquiries as to how to address housing insecurities.  

 Legal name changes and gender updates must be submitted to the Registrar's Office with the appropriate documentation.  Acceptable forms of documentation for a legal name or gender update include, a driver's license, court order, divorce papers, Social Security card, state ID and a passport. 

To update the preferred/chosen first name only a form can be submitted. Please contact the Registrar at 413-579-3200 with any questions.

Students can add or drop classes through the Registration tab in MyWestfield. First-time First-Year students should work with the Registrar’s Office for assistance with adding and dropping classes. You can contact the Registrar’s Office by email at registrar@westfield.ma.edu or call 413-579-3200. Alternatively, you can email Academic Advising for registration assistance. Make sure to include your complete A# in your email.

It's important for all students to consult with their academic advisor before making changes to their schedule. Your advisor can help you understand how adding or dropping classes might impact your academic standing, progress towards completing your major, graduation requirements, and financial aid.

Students can find add/drop information for current and upcoming semesters on the Registrar's Office website.

Students can locate their advisor by accessing their degree audit in MyWestfield. The advisor's name will be listed towards the top-left of the page. You can click on the advisor’s name to start an email. If you are an Exploratory, First-Year Criminal Justice major, on Academic Warning, or do not have an advisor listed on the degree audit, please make an appointment to visit the Office of Advising and Transfer Transitions. If you are in a major, you can contact the Academic Department of your major and inquire about your advisor.

DGCE students who are unsure of their academic advisor should visit the DGCE Advising website.

Students can access their degree audit through MyWestfield.  Click on the Academics tab and you should find it on that page.  If you have difficulty accessing the degree audit (you click on it and nothing happens or it just refuses access), make sure that you have allowed pop-ups.  Most just need to click on the lock icon in the url box at the top of the browser page.  Others might need to go into settings within their browser and allow the page.   

Students should contact their advisor whenever they want to register for courses, change courses, drop or withdraw from a course, declare a concentration, or seek academic advice. It's crucial to receive advisor approval to determine if it's appropriate to drop or add a course and to understand any implications for financial aid, major requirements, or graduation.

Students can contact the Office of Academic Advising and Transfer Transition the following ways:

Telephone: 413-572-8678

Email: advising@westfield.ma.edu

Location: Parenzo Hall 163

Your degree audit, also known as a degree evaluation, lists all the requirements needed to complete your degree, including courses or internships you've already completed that fulfill requirements. It also shows courses you're currently registered for that will fulfill requirements upon completion, labeled as 'in progress' (IP). You can access your degree audit in MyWestfield, and your advisor can help you learn how to use it. Additionally, you can watch a video tutorial to learn how to access and use your degree audit.

A list of Common Core requirements is available in the University Catalog. All students must fulfill the requirement of the Common Core. 

You can purchase your books through the Westfield State University Bookstore webpage. Just click on the Textbooks tab and make sure you have the department, course, and section information ready to enter.

Often professors will provide the texts to you through the PLATO course. If you do not see them listed in the bookstore or in PLATO, then email your professor to ask what texts you will need.    

Visit the 'Sell your Textbooks' webpage for more information.

Any student can go to the Westfield State University Bookstore to see if an electronic text is available (.pdf or .epub). Other resources include Amazon, Chegg, Vitalsource and Redshelf. If an .epub version is available through Vitalsource, it will have a built-in reader. Check the websites to see if they offer both rental and purchase of the book.  

If you have an account with Audible or Learning Ally, you can search for the books on those platforms, too.  

If you have a disability where you need to have electronic texts on your computer, please contact Disability Services to learn more.  

Most word processing software (Microsoft word, google doc, Adobe Reader), has a function to read text. You will find it in the View tab of a document, search for “read” or “text to speech” in their help section or go to their accessibility functions and search.  

If you have a disability where you need to have electronic texts on your computer, please contact Disability Services to learn more.  

For assistance with computer-related issues, you can contact the Support Desk at supportdesk@westfield.ma.edu or call 413-572-HELP (4357). They should be able to assist you directly or guide you to the appropriate office for further assistance. If the issue is related to PLATO, you can submit a ticket through their help desk.

MyWestfield, also known as the 'Portal,' is accessible through the front page of the WSU website. Look for the 'Quick Links" area then 'Logins' section at the very top of the website. Click on MyWestfield and enter your username and password when prompted. Your password is the same as for your WSU email.

The PLATO website offers numerous resources to help students learn how to navigate their classes online. Two key resources are 'Students Getting Started' and 'Steps to Log into PLATO.' If you're facing challenges with PLATO, you can submit your questions to their help desk by creating a ticket.

WSU360 is an online system that helps you track your progress in class and find support resources on campus. Check out the WSU360 Student Guide to learn how to use it.

To reset your password for your WSU account, visit the login page for MyWestfield. You'll find a prompt for 'forgot my password' to guide you through the process. Similarly, for PLATO, there's a 'forgot your password?' link that you can click on. 

To attend or complete classes online, all students will need a device with internet access, a camera, microphone, and audio capabilities. Some students may find it helpful to have headphones with a microphone for better sound quality. Your professors will inform you about any specific software or apps required for accessing the class.

Westfield State University offers various software licenses, including Microsoft Office and SPSS, for students to use at no cost. To access these resources, visit the Technology Support website. From there, you'll find a list of software available for students to download for free.

There could be personal reasons why you need to keep your camera off during class. Check your course syllabus to see if your professor has a specific policy. While many professors may expect cameras to be on for various reasons, such as understanding and participation, it's important to communicate with your instructor if you have concerns. Write to your professor explaining why you might need to keep your camera off and when you might need it off. If you have a medical or mental health reason for needing your camera off, please reach out to Disability Services to discuss your situation.

If you're facing financial challenges that prevent you from accessing your online classes, it's crucial to reach out for support as soon as possible. You can contact the CARE Center, professor, college dean, or the advising office for assistance. They may be able to help you find resources to overcome these obstacles. Additionally, if you're using your phone instead of a larger device to access classes, you should also reach out for support.

We've got you covered with multiple study spaces on campus! Check out our Study Spaces on Campus webpage for all the options.

Remember to Protect the Nest:

• Wipe down spaces before and after you use them
• Follow room capacity limits
• Wash your hands or use hand sanitizer frequently

Absolutely! We get how tough it can be to study from home, especially when you need to switch to a remote class right after being on campus. For more information on spaces available for commuters, please visit our commuter life webpage.

No, only students who live in a residential hall can use its study spaces. Guests are not allowed.

Any student interested in connecting with a counselor can either walk into the Counseling Center main office (located in Lammers Hall Annex) or call the Counseling Center main number 413-572-5790 and leave a voicemail with a good call back number; one of our staff will be in touch. You can also email us for non-urgent questions/scheduling at: counseling@westfield.ma.edu. In the case of a crisis/emergency, the Counseling Center will offer an appointment as soon as possible.

There are several ways you can address anxiety associated with coursework.   

1. The most important place to start is to speak with your professor directly to explain your concerns and see what strategies exist to address your concerns.    
2. Make an appointment with the Counseling Center  
3. Work with Disability Services to see whether there are any accommodations that can be made.  
4. Talk with someone at the Interfaith Center about the anxiety. 
5. Tell your RA or RD to find out about resources available. 

You can meet with an advisor and submit documents by sending an email to the International Programs Office.

There are many and various factors that will determine what steps to take as an international student or student living outside of the country. Similarly, your status will determine whether and how you can take courses at WSU. Please contact the International Programs Office at ipo@westfield.ma.edu or 413-572-8545 with any questions.

At Westfield State University, students have the exciting opportunity to travel to various destinations around the world while earning academic credit. The Study Abroad program offers students from all majors the chance to study abroad for a semester, year, or short-term course during summer, winter, or spring break in over 36 countries. Our dedicated staff will help you choose the right destination, select the best travel option for you, and guide you through all the necessary procedures for studying abroad.