Westfield State University will host American writer and civil rights activist Shaun King, on Monday, September 24 at 5:15 p.m. in Scanlon Banquet Hall in its first Higher Ed/Higher Ground speaker series event of the academic year. King will present a lecture titled "Civil Rights Today: The New Civil Rights Movement," unpacking the ways that racism has shape-shifted and evolved since the 1960s and discussing what can be done in the modern movement today to create a more just world.

Westfield State University is ranked among the top 200 colleges nationwide, according to Money magazine's recently released "Best Colleges For Your Money 2018" list. The rankings were determined based on 26 factors in three categories: quality of education, affordability and outcomes. Among the 727 colleges and universities included in the 2018 edition of this annual list, Westfield State is ranked at No. 19 in Massachusetts, No. 33 in New England and No. 184 overall.

Westfield State University will host "Painting with Paper" featuring the art work of Laura Stein, in the Arno Maris Gallery, Ely Campus Center, September 5–October 19, 2018. Special events include an artist's talk on October 2 at 11:30 a.m.

Westfield State University, Holyoke Community College (HCC) and Springfield Public Schools comprise one of the three regional partnership teams that will leverage a $1.5 million award to the Massachusetts Department of Higher Education (DHE) from the National Science Foundation (NSF) to develop MassTeach, a new model for increasing and diversifying the ranks of educators who are prepared to teach science, technology, engineering and math (STEM) in high-need school districts.

Gov. Charlie Baker announced during his visit to Westfield State University's campus today that the University will receive a $21.25 million investment from the Commonwealth of Massachusetts to renovate its oldest building, Parenzo Hall. The funding to Westfield State is made possible by H.4549 An Act providing for capital repairs and improvements for the Commonwealth, a bill ceremonially signed by Gov. Baker during the campus visit.