Westfield State University Supports Inclusive Postsecondary Education Day
WESTFIELD — Westfield State University joined educators, students, and advocates at the Massachusetts State House to mark a historic milestone in inclusive higher education: the Commonwealth’s first official proclamation designating May 1 as Inclusive Postsecondary Education (IPSE) Day.
The proclamation formally recognizes the importance of expanding access to higher education opportunities for students with intellectual and developmental disabilities across Massachusetts. Westfield State’s Inclusive Postsecondary Education (WIPSE) program played a leading role in initiating and advancing the request for the proclamation, helping secure the first formal statewide recognition of IPSE in Massachusetts history.
WIPSE Program Director Lyndsey Nunes said the designation reflects both progress and continued momentum.
“This proclamation marks an important step forward in expanding inclusive higher education across the Commonwealth,” she noted. “We are grateful to [Gov.] Maura Healey for recognizing Inclusive Postsecondary Education Day and reaffirming Massachusetts’ commitment to students with intellectual and developmental disabilities.
“This recognition reflects more than 15 years of progress, strengthened by the 2022 Creating Higher Education Opportunities law,” Nunes continued. “Inclusive higher education benefits not only students, but also campuses, communities, and the workforce. I am especially grateful to have served as program director at Westfield State University for the past 13 years, where sustained institutional support has helped WIPSE students thrive alongside their peers.”
Students from Westfield State’s WIPSE program participated in the State House event, touring the historic building, gathering on the grand staircase for photos with the proclamation, and celebrating alongside representatives from peer institutions across the state.
The event highlighted strong collaboration across Massachusetts’ IPSE community, with institutions coming together to commemorate the designation and reaffirm a shared commitment to expanding inclusive higher education opportunities.
Representatives from Bunker Hill Community College, Middlesex Community College, and UMass Lowell joined the celebration. Mary Price, state director for the Massachusetts Inclusive Concurrent Enrollment Initiative at the Massachusetts Department of Higher Education, and state Rep. Sean Garballey also met with students and provided a tour of the State House.
Westfield State University’s leadership in inclusive postsecondary education reflects its broader institutional mission to create accessible, supportive, and transformative learning opportunities for all students.