Governance and Accreditation

The Graduate Education Council

Constituted in accordance with the Agreement between the Massachusetts Board of Higher Education and The Massachusetts Teachers Association/Massachusetts State College Association, the Graduate Education Council serves the college as the governance body charged with oversight of graduate programs and graduate curricula. The Graduate Education Council of Westfield State University reviews programs and proposals, reports and recommends changes of course requirements, addition of new courses, and the revision or retirement of existing courses within the graduate curricula. The Council is comprised of five faculty members, three administrators and one graduate student. Council members listed below are continued in service through the current Massachusetts State College Association contract.

Accreditation

Westfield State University is accredited by the New England Association of Schools and Colleges. Westfield’s teacher licensure programs are accredited by the State Department of Education, Bureau of Teacher Certification and initial licensure programs are accredited by the National Council for Accreditation of Teacher Education (NCATE). Graduate teacher education programs hold provisional accreditation by NCATE. Massachusetts is a member of the Interstate Certification Compact.

Memberships

Northeastern Association of Graduate Schools, Association of Graduate Deans of Northeastern State Colleges, American Association of Colleges of Teacher Education, New England Conference on Graduate Education, The Council of Graduate Schools in the United States, the Association for Continuing Higher Education, Learning Resource Network, College Board Adult Learning Network and the Council on Adult and Experiential Learning.

Visit our web site @ http://www.westfield.ma.edu/dgce

Governance

Division of Graduate and Continuing Education students are invited to participate in the governance process of the College through the following organizations: the Campus Center Board of Governors, the Parking Appeals Board, the Affirmative Action Advisory Board, the Judicial Board, and the Graduate Education Council. Usually appointments are made in the beginning of the fall semester. We need volunteers for these organizations. If you are interested, please contact our office at 572-8020, and leave your name and telephone number. The only general requirement is that you be enrolled in a degree or certification program and that you be available days for the meetings. Participation as a member of the Graduate Education Council or any other governance committee requires that you be enrolled as a matriculated graduate student in good standing.