Westfield State Expands Hands-On Learning with New Finance and Data Analytics Lab

Westfield State University has expanded its experiential learning opportunities with the addition of a new Finance and Data Analytics Lab in Parenzo Hall. The lab is designed to give students real-world financial and data analysis experience, with 12 computers, 24 seats, and cutting-edge software that simulates stock market trends, portfolio management, and data visualization.

Daniel Currier '25, an accounting and finance major with minors in English and economics, commented on the many benefits of the lab.

“It allows students to apply what they’re learning from a textbook into actual practice,” Currier said. “It’ll help students realize what they can invest in too, as well as help them plan for the future. If they’re going to be personal financial planners, they’ll have to understand risk and return for different clients. All of these things are important for them to know, so grateful to have this lab.”

Dr. Rebecca Morris, Professor of Strategic Management at Westfield State, also commented on the utility of the lab, remarking, “We developed the Finance and Data Analytics Lab to bridge the gap between academia and practice by providing experiential, hands-on learning. Students will have access to software and tools widely used by finance industry professionals to explore theories and models, research market events, and conduct trading games. Experiential learning is considered a high-impact teaching practice that will significantly improve student understanding and better prepare them for their future careers. “

For example, the lab offers Power BI, an interactive tool that converts raw data into spreadsheets, PDFs, and other visualizations. This software is especially useful for students who have previously relied on Excel and textbooks for portfolio management coursework. The space also includes a boardroom where students can practice their presentation skills, which are essential for success in business. Additionally, televisions displaying stock market patterns and economic updates help keep students informed in real-time.

The lab was primarily funded by student initiatives, with support from Dr. Morris. Currier, as the Westfield State University Foundation's student director and student representative on the Board of Trustees, was also instrumental in these efforts. “I was serving as student director of the Westfield State University Foundation at the time, and I worked with the fundraising committee to identify this as a priority to fundraise for. In the end, we raised around $7,000 in Spring 2023, and again the next year too with the help from my successors.”

For students like Currier, who aspire to work in auditing, the lab is an important step toward bridging classroom knowledge and professional application. “Auditing does utilize technology. We use software to organize work, write papers, and perform analyses, so the Data and Analytics Lab will definitely help us. There are also Excel workshops, and since Excel is heavily used by accountants, the lab will enable upper-level students to refine skills that they initially learn in their first year.”