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The Owls have flown home to the Nest! And some have done so literally, flying onto the Campus Green on the zipline installed for the first official night of Welcome Week 2024. 

Westfield State opened its doors to new and transfer students on Sunday, September 1, welcoming a class that is larger than the previous year and boasts approximately 150 more Massachusetts residents. Orientation leaders, residential advisors, and student athletes helped incoming students and their families move into the halls while staff from offices across campus answered questions and handled last-minute questions about ID cards, financial aid, and student accounts. Even President Linda Thompson got involved welcoming students with Westfield State t-shirts so everyone can sport their Owl pride.

During the Westfield Welcome Sunday afternoon, administrators and staff officially kicked off orientation and honored the work of families who provide critical support to students. After inspirational words and celebrations, families joined campus leaders for a reception while students enjoyed a street fair style dinner on the Green. They had time to meet with roommates and others before the first social event with carnival games, movies, and s’mores.

On Monday, September 2, new students were busy with a scavenger hunt that taught them where to find key campus locations and training on campus technology, community expectations and values, and Title IX regulations. The evening brought more fun with the annual glow/paint dance party which is always a highlight of the year and feature on many students’ Instagram accounts.

The campus returned to its tradition of holding Opening Day activities on the first Tuesday after Labor Day with a Parliament, or gathering of Owls, for faculty, staff, and librarians where President Thompson gave an overview of recent university accomplishments and upcoming plans. She set the tone for the year with words of encouragement for everyone to stretch themselves just a little bit more to make this the best academic year ever. New students continued their orientation training on alcohol and substance abuse prevention and bystander intervention while returning students moved into their residence halls and took care of any outstanding tasks. Faculty spent much of the day in opening meetings with their schools, departments, and committees before joining with new students for Convocation. 

The Fall 2024 Convocation gave new students the opportunity to hear from academic leaders, including Interim Deans Sabine Klein and Ziblim Abukari.  Lynn Shelley, member of the University’s SCORE committee, encouraged students to get involved with their classes and ask questions of their professors, reminding them that Westfield faculty love to teach and want them to succeed. After brief meetings in academic majors, students and faculty came together for a University dinner on the Green and another night of games including bumper cars, inflatable surfing, and a dunk tank.

Classes kicked off on Wednesday, September 4, many of which were held outside due to the perfect seasonal weather. Anyone needing a little extra kickstart to the year could help themselves to the grab and go stations of energy drinks and snacks while those who needed to calm their nerves could participate in Zens-day Wednesday with massage chairs, bamboo plants, and of course, more snacks. Rounding out the week of social activities, campus welcomed a comedian on Wednesday night and held the “HOOT Scoot n’ Boogie” on Thursday, bringing a mechanical bull and axe throwing to the Dining Commons during a late-night pancake breakfast.  

As the first week of academic activity comes to a close, the campus community still has the opportunity to come together with Welcome Week activities, including the first home football game on Friday, September 6 followed by late night bingo and nachos, Wet and Wild Westie with water attractions on the Green on Saturday followed by Neon Nights with blacklight roller skating and glow games, and concluding with Sunday Swagger, an opportunity to pick up Westfield State swag at several residence halls.

While show lots of smiles and fun, the events, trainings, and informal gatherings also are a critical chance for new and returning students to cement friendships, connect to the Westfield State community, and learn about supports that will be vital to their future success. If the energy on campus is an indication of how the 2024-2025 academic year will go, President Thompson’s goal of making it the best year ever will likely be met!