President’s Message

Since 1903, Western Connecticut State University’s mission has been to help our students imagine and construct exciting new futures. These students represent the diversity that characterizes public higher education today. Some are traditional college-age students who live on campus and enjoy the complete undergraduate experience; others are working adults who balance their studies with family and employment responsibilities. Some are pursuing broad courses of study that will provide a variety of options. Others are pursuing more specific career goals. No matter their age or major, all Western students receive the attention of faculty and staff mentors committed to helping them achieve their personal and professional goals.

Western is a place where the education of students comes first. Our classes are small, our professors are committed to students, and we provide an impressive array of support services to help you succeed in the classroom. For more than a hundred years, our business has been changing students’ lives, and we take this very seriously.

We have in recent years expanded the physical structure of our campus and that growth continues. Recent additions include a new residence hall on our Westside campus, our prize-winning $49 million Science Building, a new garage on our Midtown campus, and our exciting new Westside Campus Center. Alongside the Campus Center, a magnificent new 130,000-square-foot, state-of the-art Visual and Performing Arts Center is opening in fall 2014.

In our faculty, in our facilities, in our classrooms, laboratories, libraries, playing fields and residence halls and in learning experiences at sites around both the New York metropolitan region and abroad, we pursue a common vision:  to provide high-quality academic programs in professional fields and the fine arts on a solid arts and sciences foundation.  We educate students not only for their first jobs, but for their entire careers.

As we progress through the second century, our commitment remains firm to continue to serve not only our students, but also the residents of Danbury, Fairfield County, the state of Connecticut and the world beyond. Their futures are our business. We look forward to helping you shape yours.

Warmest wishes and welcome to Western!

Sincerely,

James W. Schmotter

President