Month: March 2021

CAPS Presents Adapting to the Transitions of Life: “College to the Real World” – 4/5; 4/12, and 4/19

by

Adapting to the Transitions of Life: “College to the Real World” 

Come join Elena Cela, LPC, NCC, CAPS Advanced Psychology Extern, and Neal Sardana, LPC in a 3-week workshop discussing the How to’s of everyday living, social life, and self-care after college.

Please email Elena Cela, LPC, NCC at ecela@wesleyan.edu to RSVP

When:  April 5th, April 12th, and April 19th 4:00 pm – 5:30 pm

Zoom Information: 

https://wesleyan.zoom.us/j/92060252971?pwd=OHp5SlNjTmJSMkFkc2kwTE8xbEtEUT09 

Meeting ID: 920 6025 2971

Passcode: 179281

A Note from Your Academic Peer Advisors

by

Dear students,

We hope that your semester and classes have been going smoothly this semester! The Academic Peer Advisors are reaching out to offer our support. Even as life seems to be improving around us, we know that classes, homework, papers and tests are still causing stress among our community. APAs are here for one-on-one meetings, to help with various academic skills like time management, organization, study strategies, and reading or note-taking, as well as connecting you with any other resources you might need, but might not know about!

We encourage you to reach out to us with questions or concerns you might have about anything. You can email us at peeradvisors@wesleyan.edu or our personal emails, which are linked to our bios on the Wesleyan website linked here.

Hope to hear from you, please don’t hesitate to ask for help!

Best,

The Academic Peer Advisors

Deadlines to Order Regalia – This Wed, 3/31 for Delivery to WRJJ Bookstore; (New) 4/19 for Home Delivery to Remote Students/December Graduates

by

Dear Members of the Class of 2021:

The Oak Hall website has been updated, giving Bachelor candidates the following options:

  1. March 31st ordering deadline for delivery to the WRJJ Bookstore. March 31st is Wednesday!!!
  2. April 19th deadline for delivery to a home address. 

Masters and PH.D candidate information has not changed.

https://wesleyan.shopoakhalli.com/purchasewizard/Welcome

Please direct any inquiries to Wesleyan RJ Julia Bookstore.

Reminder about Regalia Orders for 2021 Commencement

 

 

4th Quarter Add/Drop Began Today – 3/25

by

Greetings!

The 4th quarter drop/add period began today. You may submit 4th quarter drop/add requests by completing the 2nd/4th Drop/Add Form and emailing it to me, your instructor, and your faculty advisor. Ask your instructor to provide a WesID if they sign off on the form electronically. They also have the option to email me directly with their consent if that is easier for them. Note: I will not send forms to the Registrar for processing without hearing from your faculty advisor and instructor. Additionally, 4th quarter classes may be added or dropped during the five working days following the first class meeting of the specific course(s) you request to add or drop.

Take care for now,

Dean Leathers

Update on Wesleyan’s 189th Commencement

by

Dear friends,

I am pleased to announce new details regarding Wesleyan’s 189th Commencement, which will take place in person on a new date: Wednesday, May 26. This year’s Commencement was previously planned for May 30; however, due to a number of factors, including current pandemic conditions and cancellation of an in-person Reunion weekend, we have decided to move up the date.

The University is hoping that conditions will allow for two guests per graduate to attend the ceremony. We are pursuing plans to accommodate the seniors and other graduates who have been studying remotely to return to campus for Commencement exercises.

As with all of Wesleyan’s COVID-related policies and guidelines, these plans are tentative and subject to change if conditions necessitate. The University will continue to communicate with you regarding more specific details of Commencement in the coming weeks.

I am very much looking forward to seeing our graduates on Andrus Field on May 26, and celebrating the accomplishments of the formidable Class of 2021.

Sincerely,

Michael S. Roth
President

Apply to Be Senior Commencement Speaker!

by

 Would you like to share your Wesleyan experience at graduation?  If so, simply submit a 200-250 word essay answering the following question:

What has your Wesleyan experience meant to you?

The essay should be roughly the equivalent of the speech you wish to deliver at graduation. Completed essays should be submitted to Dean Leathers by 12:00 noon EST on Friday, April 9th; you may access the form here. Contact Dean Leathers with any questions about your submission. 

All essays will be reviewed anonymously by the Senior Commencement Speaker Selection Committee, which will select several finalists for interviews from the pool. Interviews will be conducted in mid-April, after which the speaker will be announced.

Speaking at Commencement is a unique responsibility which should be taken seriously. Keep in mind that your speech should be appropriate for all commencement participants and guests. If you are interested in becoming the senior speaker for Commencement, please don’t hesitate to submit an essay!

Good luck and all the best!
The Senior Commencement Speaker Selection Committee

Fitzroy “Pablo” Wickham
Carolina Montano
Jake Kwon
Paulina Veliky
Professor Francis Starr (Faculty Marshal)

Campus COVID Updates and Reminders

by

To the campus community,

We are writing to share a number of important COVID-19 updates, in light of recent changes to the State of Connecticut’s plans.

Effective tomorrow, Connecticut’s governor has relaxed a number of restrictions across the state, including no longer requiring offices to maintain a 50 percent occupancy limit. The University will generally follow the 50 percent occupancy of offices for the time being while cabinet members will continue to guide and direct staffing for their divisions.

In addition, the governor has accelerated the state’s age-based vaccine distribution plan. As of tomorrow, all individuals aged 45 and older may schedule their appointments for COVID-19 vaccinations. Scheduling will open to all individuals aged 16 and older tentatively beginning on April 5. (Please note that this new phase starting April 5 combines the 35 to 44 age range and the 16 to 34 age range, which had previously each been scheduled during separate weeks later in the spring.) The University encourages everyone to get vaccinated when you have the chance to do so.

Even with these positive developments, we must continue to stay focused and vigilant on keeping ourselves and our campus safe. We will continue to follow our COVID-19 testing and contact tracing protocols, including twice-weekly testing for students; wearing face coverings at all times when in public; and adhering to social distancing guidelines. Please make sure you are familiar with the COVID Code of Conduct (for students) and the Community Agreement (for employees). You will find more important information on the Keep Wes Safe website, including the COVID-19 Dashboard and public health updates.

Finally, a sincere thanks to our faculty and staff for their tireless efforts toward making Wesleyan a safe place to be this academic year. Your hard work has been critical, and is very much appreciated.

Sincerely,

Lisa Brommer
Associate Vice President for Human Resources

Rick Culliton

Dean of Students
Chair, Pandemic Planning Committee

Preparing for your Life after Wes as an F-1 Student

by
Dear F-1 Seniors,
Hope you all are doing well and are ready for the last spring break in your college career. To help you get ready for your life after Wes, please consider doing the following:

Review Life after Wes information on the OISA Website

Please visit the Life after Wes page to review your options after graduation. We have information for you about applying for Optional Practical Training (OPT), transferring your SEVIS records to a graduate school and planing your departure from the U.S. If you have questions about any of these options, you are encouraged to come to one of our drop-in hours to discuss your post-graduation plans.

Attend One or More Upcoming Workshops for F-1 Seniors 

OISA is hosting two additional workshops for F-1 seniors. Both workshops will be recorded if you are not able to attend the live sessions. Please email oisa@wesleyan.edu if you need access to the recorded sessions.
Life After Wes: Managing your Immigration Status after Graduation
Wednesday, April 7, 12:00-1:00 p.m. EDTZoom link: https://wesleyan.zoom.us/j/94761418883

OPT STEM Extension Info Session

Thursday, April 15, 12:00-1:00 p.m. EDT

Zoom link: https://wesleyan.zoom.us/j/97614649988

Check your I-20s

​​Check your Major(s) on your I-20: If you do not plan to apply for OPT, please check your current I-20 to make sure that your major(s) are correctly listed on your I-20 for your records. If you plan to apply for OPT, you will receive an OPT recommendation I-20 from OISA. Check your OPT recommendation I-20 to make sure that your major(s) are correctly listed.
Check your Program End Date on your I-20: If you are on track to graduate in May 2021, please check page one of your I-20 to make sure that your program end date says May 2021. If you need an I-20 correction, please email oisa@wesleyan.edu as soon as possible.
 

Review information about Optional Practical Training (OPT)

If you are interested in working in the United States after graduation, you are encouraged to apply for Optional Practical Training (OPT) as soon as possible. The OPT applications are adjudicated by the U.S. Citizenship and Immigration Services (USCIS), not Wesleyan OISA. The process takes at least 3 months and can take much longer during the pandemic. Please review the information listed on the Post-Completion OPT page carefully prior to submitting your OPT request. There are two documents on the page you might find helpful:
OISA will proofread your Form I-765 once for you. Please submit your completed Form I-765 to oisa@wesleyan.edu. You will receive detailed written feedback in 7-10 business days. Remember, you must be physically in the United States to apply for OPT. If you are currently studying remotely outside of the U.S. and are considering coming to the U.S. to apply for OPT, please contact OISA BEFORE you book your flights.

Attending Commencement 2021

Please review the Reunion & Commencement 2021 page for the university-wide announcement about the commencement given the fluid nature of the pandemic. If you are currently outside of the United States and are considering returning to the U.S. to attend the commencement, please contact OISA BEFORE you book your flights.
As always, feel free to reach out if you have questions!
Chia-Ying

 

Chia-Ying S. Pan | Director, International Student Services

Office of International Student Affairs | Wesleyan University
Room 024, North College | 237 High Street, Middletown, CT 06459
Zoom Meeting Room | Schedule an Appointment | Spring 2021 Drop-In Hours

Notes from the Class Dean – 3/17

by

Dear Members of the Class of 2021,

As always, I hope this email finds you doing well. I also want to congratulate you on getting to this point in your college careers. Progress doesn’t always come easy, but it’s definitely hard-fought when a global pandemic is raging in the background. Be proud of your determination and the ways that you have shown care and concern for your studies, each other, the greater Wesleyan community, and the many other communities you love and support. And as challenging as it may be, don’t forget to take a moment to relish this time during your journey.

Many of you still have questions about commencement, among a host of other things, and I will try my best to pass along information as I receive it. What follows are updates and reminders for the next few weeks.

Commencement

As of now, I don’t have any news confirming whether remote students and/or December/January completers will be allowed to participate in any in-person commencement activities . University leadership plans to communicate updates about commencement later this month. Additionally, the 2021 Reunion & Commencement website will be updated with more information as it is made available.

Ordering Regalia Online – New Deadline is March 31st

Students will have until March 31st to place their orders for regalia. You may contact Wesleyan’s RJ Julia’s Bookstore at (860) 685-3939 with any questions about this process, including receiving/picking up your orders.

Major/Minor Certification Forms

The deadline to submit your major/minor certification forms is this Friday, March 19th. You’re welcome to reach out to me, Susan Krajewski, and your faculty advisor with questions. We still have a little time to address errors in the forms after that deadline. 

Spring Break

Spring Break is Tuesday, March 23rd and Wednesday, March 24th. Try to create margin for yourselves now so you can relax a little next week and work to finish up the semester in the weeks to come. Strive for balance as best you can. Of course, many of us will miss having two weeks to catch our breath, but I encourage you to make the very best of those two days off as permitted by our campus protocols. They’re hard-earned!

4th Quarter Drop/Add

The drop/add period for the 4th quarter begins on Thursday, March 25th. However, you may submit 4th quarter drop/add requests in advance by completing the 2nd/4th Drop/Add Form and emailing it to me, your instructor, and your faculty advisor. I will not send forms to the Registrar for processing without hearing from your faculty advisor and instructor. Additionally, 4th quarter classes may be added or dropped during the five working days following the first class meeting.

Honors Thesis Deadline

The honors thesis deadline is 4pm, EST, Wednesday, April 21st. All honors candidates are required to submit their thesis or essay in PDF format for binding, through WesPortal. Please contact your department for additional instructions.

Change of Grading Mode

The Registrar sent out confirmation that the change of grading mode deadline is now 5pm, EST, Thursday, April 28th. Remember, this change only impacts courses with the student option.

Withdrawing from Courses

Some of you have already opted to withdraw from a course with a “W” on your academic history/transcript. A “W” is not punitive in nature; it just means you withdrew from a course after the drop/add deadline.

You may request to withdraw from a course by completing the withdrawal form and emailing it to me, your instructor, and your faculty advisor. I will not send forms to the Registrar for processing without hearing from your faculty advisor and instructor. Wednesday, May 5th is the last day to withdraw from full semester and/or 4th quarter courses.

Finishing Well

We’re all dealing with a tremendous amount of stress right now, and we’re not done. Pace yourself, and remember that you still have access to tools and resources to help you complete your degree. Endeavor to finish well, but at the end of the day it may not matter whether you sprint, skip, walk or crawl over the finish line. Finishing is a win. 😊

Don’t forget the following resources for the final stretch:

Academic Peer Advisors (APAs)

Accessibility Services

CAPS (remember CAPS offers an after-hours service you may access with the same phone number for business hours: 860-685-2910)

Digital Learning Resources

Gordon Career Center (Check out Cardinals Helping Cardinals)

Math Workshop

Office of Religious & Spiritual Life

Peer Tutoring

Scientific Computing and Informatics Center (SCIC)

Student Academic Resources including Academic Support Services

WesNest (see WesPortal)

WesWell

Writing Workshop

Don’t hesitate to reach out with questions or concerns. I may be delayed in my response as we head into the 4th quarter drop/add period,  but I will respond.

 

All my best,

Dean Leathers

Class of 2021 Blog | Appointments

Keep Wes Safe: https://www.wesleyan.edu/keep-wes-safe/

 

Ellie Ga and Flames of My Homeland Exhibitions Open to Public (In Person) Now – 3/21

by

Flames of My Homeland: The Cultural Revolution and Modern Tibet
Works by Tsering Dorje, Tsering Woeser, and Ian Boyden ‘95

Now through Thursday April 1, 2021

Ezra and Cecile Zilkha Gallery, Main Gallery

Ellie Ga: Gyres 1-3

Now through Thursday March 25, 2021

Ezra and Cecile Zilkha Gallery, South Gallery

https://www.wesleyan.edu/cfa/galleries/zilkha-exhibition/