Academic Regulations

Notes from the Class Dean – 7/22

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Dear members of the Class of 2021,

I hope you are doing well as you consider your plans for the fall semester. I also want to take this time to draw your attention to information and resources that may be helpful.

WEBINARS

The university will host several webinars and town halls before the start of the fall semester. Several of you have asked me about testing, and a webinar is scheduled to address your questions and concerns on Thursday, July 23rd (see details below). A webinar for the arts at Wesleyan is scheduled for today, July 22nd at 2:00pm, EST.

Thursday, July 23, 2020

Testing
2 p.m. ET
Webinar ID: 939 7310 4846
Password: 222623
Find your local number

You may find a complete list of the webinars on the Town Halls/Webinars page of the Reactivating Campus website.

COURSE ANNOUNCEMENT

Prof. Kolcio announced a new course that may be of interest as you contemplate modifications to your Fall 2020 schedule.

“CSPL/CGST480 ENGAGED PROJECTS is  a 1-credit course in which students design a semester-long project around a topic of their choice that engages the broader public. EPs respond to this critical moment in history by empowering students to connect their academic pursuits to what is happening in the world around them; they deepen student learning and self-reflection, ease the undeniable challenges of online and hybrid learning, and introduce students to their own agency and positionality in society.”

More background is here and here.

GRADING MODES FOR FALL 2020

Students have asked me about grading modes and whether the full range of grading options will be available for their courses this fall. Currently, grading modes for courses are not based upon the format(s) in which they are offered and they are up to the discretion of each instructor. Some courses are still letter graded only, credit/no credit only (CR/U), or students have the option to choose between the two by the posted deadline (i.e. student option). It’s my understanding that the deadline to choose a mode (with the student option) will not be the end of classes as it was for the spring, but the change of grading mode deadline, which is usually two weeks after the end of the drop/add period.

I do know there are ongoing conversations within our division of Academic Affairs about grading modes for the fall, but I have not been apprised of any modifications to the policy as of now. Additionally, changes will most likely still be up to the discretion of instructors, but there is a push to encourage them to offer letter grading and the CR/U option to students. Unfortunately, this does not guarantee that each instructor will adopt the full range of grading options for each course. More definitive details are forthcoming.

LEAVES OF ABSENCE VS. DEFERRALS

This is a quick reminder that returning students (i.e. sophomores, juniors, and seniors) are not eligible for deferrals as the university currently defines them. Incoming first-year students may request deferrals for their enrollment at Wesleyan. Returning students may request leaves of absence. This may seem like the university is splitting hairs, but clarifying the terminology will help minimize confusion, especially as it relates to how we process these requests.

Returning students may request to take a leave of absence (which effectively terminates course registration and housing assignments) by August 30th to avoid prorated charges for the Fall 2020 semester; these charges (i.e. tuition, room, board, fees) commence on August 31st. Requests to take a leave of absence are not official unless you submit them through the appropriate form in WesPortal. F-1 visa holders should also consult with my colleagues in the Office of International Student Affairs (OISA) if you plan to take a leave of absence to discuss the potential impact on your visa status, eligibility for CPT/OPT, etc.

Students may access more information about taking a leave of absence here.

BILLING QUESTIONS & FINANCIAL AID

Admissions, Financial Aid, and Student Accounts offered a joint webinar earlier this week to discuss questions that students and their families have about financial aid packages, costs for the Fall 2020 semester (and beyond), and financial aid. I’ve also fielded questions about billing, costs, and financial aid packages, and I will do my best to provide support where I can to help you address your concerns. However, I’m limited in how (and if) I can address specific questions about billing and financial aid packaging for any given semester. I don’t have access to information on each student’s account (e.g. balances, credits), and I can’t confirm whether a student will receive a material refund given their financial aid packaging for this academic year. The last thing I want to do is create or add to any confusion, and it’s important that I defer to my colleagues in the appropriate finance units to work with you to resolve issues/concerns in these areas.

Alyssa Corvi is the Financial Aid liaison for the Class of 2021 and can assist you in answering specific questions about your aid. However, I encourage you to allow at least a couple of business days for her to respond as the volume of inquiries has increased dramatically since the end of last semester.

I’ve also received specific questions about billing and the Residential Comprehensive Fee (RCF), and the information provided by my colleague in Student Accounts may offer more clarity:

Residential Comprehensive Fee

  • On-Campus (…the full RCF will be charged whether your courses are in-person, online or a hybrid.)
  • Off campus/Commuter (…if approved [by Res Life] to be off-campus, a 60% credit will be applied to your student account for the housing portion of the RCF. A request for a meal plan exemption must be submitted to Michelle Myers-Brown in dining services.
  • Remote (…fully remote, from home, no on-campus services utilized, no RCF charges)

Questions about your bill can be addressed to Student Accounts, but I encourage you to check your student account online for updates before any outreach. As Student Accounts and Financial Aid learn of official changes in the statuses of student plans (e.g. transitions to remote learning or off-campus status; leaves of absence), accounts will be adjusted accordingly. It could take 3-5 business days from the time a student submits a request to change their status for their account/financial aid package to reflect the change. I know this entire process can be stressful and frustrating, but I encourage you to be patient and to keep checking your student account online for updates.

My apologies for the length of this email, but hopefully, the information provided above is helpful. As always, don’t hesitate to reach out with any questions or concerns.

Wishing you and your families good health,

Dean Leathers

OISA Drop-in Hours for F-1 Visa Students – 7/21- 7/24

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The following message is from Chia-Ying Pan of the Office of International Student Affairs (OISA).

Dear International Students,

Thank you for attending the Zoom FAQ sessions last week. For those who were not able to attend, below are the links and passwords to the recorded sessions:

Zoom Session #1:
https://wesleyan.zoom.us/rec/share/3pcqCbKr_VtJSJHu4x2HXYQGBYP6aaa8gCAd_fAKn0-AX0AFge0dIKjBm9Yvsptv
Password: 3i&mu!9+

Zoom Session #2:
https://wesleyan.zoom.us/rec/share/4exFKaitxkpOac_B2m7QW74NWY_qaaa80yVM-aEIzE1_fPdmOlWTv1Bo0ZuYmrxq
Password: 4p#5@3hZ

The slides used in the Zoom sessions are attached in this email. Also, the most updated FAQs for new and returning F-1 visa holders are now published on the re-activating campus page for your reference.

Many of you asked if you can meet with me to talk further about your specific situations, below are the date/time/Zoom links for the upcoming drop-in hours. You do not need to sign up in advance. Just show up at one of the drop-in hours at the time indicated below. Please note that the time slots listed below are in Eastern Daylight Time (EDT). If you are in a different time zone, find out what time it is for you using a time zone convertor. Middletown, CT is in the same time zoom as New York, NY. You can put in New York in the time zone convertor since they website does not recognize Middletown, CT.

Tuesday, July 21, 2:00-3:00 pm EDT
Zoom link: https://wesleyan.zoom.us/j/97487831814?pwd=anJUbWVxN1ZmUWFyQkRzWUNlRy9yQT09
Meeting ID: 974 8783 1814
Passcode: 782959

Wednesday, July 22, 12:00 noon-1:00 pm EDT
Zoom link: https://wesleyan.zoom.us/j/97485159409?pwd=ZGlySk9RVlc4QWlPdGZvdHFRZjN0UT09
Meeting ID: 974 8515 9409
Passcode: 945433

Thursday, July 23, 2:00-3:00 pm EDT
Zoom link: https://wesleyan.zoom.us/j/98223226246?pwd=azEzSEU3blpublhLMUdUMDVTTE9zQT09
Meeting ID: 982 2322 6246
Passcode: 853096

Friday, July 24, 10:00-11:00 am EDT
Zoom link: https://wesleyan.zoom.us/j/93026947462?pwd=ZTVyRDJYamQrLy93TFdnOUVsTmNOQT09
Meeting ID: 930 2694 7462
Passcode: 819832

If we have overflow from these four group advising sessions, I will add more time slots. Both new and returning international students are welcome to attend these drop-in hours. I am committed to answer all your questions and help you make a decision that works the best for you.

Take care,
Chia-Ying

Chia-Ying Sophia Pan, M.S. Ed. | Director, International Student Services
Office of International Student Affairs | Wesleyan University
Room 024, North College | 237 High Street, Middletown, CT 06459
P. (860) 685-3031 | OISA Facebook

Reactivating Campus in Fall – A Message from President Michael Roth

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President Roth sent the following message to the campus community on July 8, 2020. I have posted it on our class blog for your convenience.

Wishing you good health,

Dean Leathers

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Dear friends,

As promised in my June message, I am writing now with more specificity concerning our plans to reactivate campus in late August. Since our first priority is the health and safety of our community members, these plans may have to be adjusted in response to changing public health conditions. Whatever these challenging conditions may be, we intend to provide an excellent educational experience (on campus or remotely).

We have developed a robust set of resources on our website about our campus reactivation, including information on instruction and campus life, health and safety, and returning to work on campus. Here are some highlights:

We will begin fall classes on August 31 (one week earlier than initially scheduled), with the possibility of finishing the semester online after Thanksgiving (there will be no traditional fall break). Students will be asked to avoid large gatherings in the weeks before coming to campus and to take increasing precautions, in addition to wearing masks and social distancing. Students who are able to get tested will be encouraged to determine that they are negative for Covid-19 within 48 hours of traveling to campus. Everyone on campus will be tested shortly after arrival, and there will be frequent testing on a regular basis thereafter. Those on campus who test positive for Covid-19 will be provided with supportive isolation until they are no longer contagious. Students who test positive will be able to continue their coursework remotely.

Faculty have been given the choice as to whether they will teach their classes in person, remotely, or in some combination. It is likely that many students will have a portion of their instruction online, whether they return to campus or not. While some staff members will continue to work remotely, there will be a presence of staff on campus.  Apart from the commuting of employees (who will be tested for the virus), we expect little travel to campus.  There will be no program of intercollegiate sports or club sports, but we do plan to have safe athletic training on campus.

Despite the economic challenges we are all contending with, Wesleyan remains firmly committed to both enrolling a socio-economically diverse student body and meeting the full demonstrated need of our financial aid students. Given new regulations from Washington, Wesleyan is particularly concerned about our international students, and we are committed to doing all we can to ensure that they can continue to make academic progress in Fall 2020.

Please consult the website for detailed information most relevant to your own circumstances, and feel free to reach out to the appropriate department with your questions. We will continually update this site with more information as it becomes available. We will send out another community message in August, or sooner depending on the public health trajectory. Obviously, we are very concerned about the recent surge in cases in the South and West and are monitoring the situation closely. Our plans may have to change.

We believe in the value of an on-campus education, and the basic steps we need to take are clear. The simple act of wearing a mask consistently reduces the likelihood of transmission. Masks combined with rigorous testing, tracing and supportive isolation will make our campus safer. I look forward to a fall semester in which we take good care of one another and continue to excel in learning together.

Sincerely,

Michael S. Roth

President

Preparing for Your Thesis Virtual Info Session – This Friday (4/3/20)

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Preparing for Your Thesis Virtual Info Session

Friday, April 3, 2020, 3pm – 4pm, EST

Join representatives from the faculty, Office of the Registrar, Olin Library, the Institutional Review Board (IRB), and the Office of Academic Advancement/Class Deans to discuss how to prepare for pursuing a thesis next academic year.

The info session will be offered online through Zoom, and you will be emailed the session access information after you submit your RSVP: https://tinyurl.com/westhesis.

We understand not every student interested in the session will be available to participate at the designated time. The session will be recorded and posted online for students to access before the end of the semester.

You may contact Dean Leathers at tleathers@wesleyan.edu if you have any questions or concerns about your RSVP and/or the scheduled session.

We look forward to hosting you on April 3rd!

Dean Leathers

 

Notes from Your Class Dean – 3/26/20

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Good evening,

I hope you and your loved ones are doing well. I also wanted to take this time to check in, especially since we’re rounding the bases on our first week of distance learning and virtual Wesleyan life.

Some of you have reached out already with concerns about navigating challenging dynamics at home. Others have contacted me with requests to modify their class schedules. And a few of you have expressed concerns about completing the semester while navigating an unfamiliar, virtual landscape. No matter what, keep reaching out! None of us signed on for this, but I want to encourage you as I encourage myself to take things step-by-step and day-by-day.

While many of us no longer have unfettered access to all the people and communities we hold dear, that doesn’t mean we can’t continue to make important connections. FaceTime and Netflix/Amazon/Hulu/Peacock/YouTube/Disney+ (lest I leave out any streaming giant), or pick up the phone and call/text someone. Find new ways to maintain the networks that have been your support. I’m happy to speak with anyone about what I’ve been doing to live beyond my keyboard and touchscreens. None of my approaches are groundbreaking, and most of them don’t feel as satisfying or as cathartic as giving my little sister a hug or eating out with one of my closest friends. Even so, they’re getting me through this.

What follows is a short listing of important academic updates and resources for your review. I’ve provided a link to the Spring 2020-specific  Student Academic Resources (SAR) website where there is useful information to help you complete the semester successfully. Please note, peer advisors, course tutors, and Accessibility Services are still available to work with you.

Additionally, I invite you to keep the lines of communication open with me and your professors. Don’t hesitate to schedule a half-hour appointment or a 20-minute drop-in with me to discuss any issues or concerns; you may do so through the following link: https://tinyurl.com/deanleathers.

IMPORTANT UPDATES/RESOURCES

Credit/No Credit (CR/U) Process

Students will be allowed to move from letter grades to CR/U grading simply by notifying their professors by the last day of classes, Wednesday, May 6. Please note: all departments and minors will accept CR/U credits this semester towards their majors/minors.

Revised Timeline for Spring 2020 Pre-Registration

The university has revised the timeline for pre-registration for the Fall 2020 semester:

Planning: April 7 – 20
Scheduling: April 21
Adjustment:  April 22 – 28

The new dates for the planning period overlap with Passover. Please let me know if you have concerns about your ability to participate in academic planning during that time frame.

Fourth (4th) Quarter Drop/Add Process

The deadline to add or drop a fourth (4th) quarter course is five (5) business days from the first class meeting. You may access the 2nd/4th quarter drop/add form through the following link: https://www.wesleyan.edu/registrar/forms/DropAddForm_2nd4thQuarter.pdf

To submit your request, download the form and complete the top portion digitally (you may do this without access to a scanner as the form is now writeable). Once you have done so, forward the form to me, your course instructor, and your faculty advisor(s). If you cannot download the form, please email me (tleathers@wesleyan.edu), and I will walk you through an alternative process to submit your request.

A full listing of current, 4th quarter classes can be accessed here.

Tips for Learning in a Digital Environment

The following link provides access to resources to help you with the transition to distance learning: https://www.wesleyan.edu/sar/Spring2020.html.

Many thanks to those of you who have reached out for support and those who have given their peers support as well. I also want to give a big thank you to those of you who have wished me and my family well. Please continue to look after each other.

 

Take gentle care,
Dean Leathers

 

 

Drop/Add Deadline–5 p.m. today // Change in Friday’s Drop-in Hours

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Just a reminder that today at 5 p.m. is the deadline for drop/add.  After that you may withdraw from a course up through December 1, and it will be recorded on your transcript with a W.

The deadline to change grading modes (in courses that have a choice) is Friday, September 29 at 5 p.m.

Dean Brown’s drop-in hours are from 2-2:30 p.m. and from 4-5 p.m. today.

 

Remain in Good Academic Standing: Know the Academic Standing Criteria

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“Whaaat?” you ask, thinking that you haven’t even landed on campus and yet you are being advised to check out the criteria for academic review, promotion, and discipline.  I know—it may seem premature and irrelevant, especially since the Class of 2021 is a class of stellar, high-achieving students, but it doesn’t hurt to be aware of Wesleyan’s expectations for your progress towards the degree (see 8/2 blog posting) and what that means.

Information about Academic Standing and the conditions for Warning, Probation, Strict Probation, Required Resignation, and Separation can be found in the Academic Review and Promotion section of the academic regulations.  It is wise (and your responsibility) to know them, so check out that section (and while you’re at it, the other academic regulations too).

Keep your academics front and center, and use the many resources on campus available to support your success so that you are always in Good Standing and engaged with your work!

What You Need to Do to Earn the B.A. or…Wesleyan’s Degree Requirements!!

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You’re thinking, “What??  Why do I need to know about requirements for the degree now?  I haven’t even started and have four years to get on this stuff.”  Well, this is on of those “it’s-never-too- early truisms” needed to get a handle on what you have to accomplish to graduate and walk across the podium on Andrus Field to receive your diploma in May of 2021 (which is eons away).

So that there are no questions or issues as you make decisions along the way, the following is the bottom line needed to earn the Bachelor of Arts at Wesleyan:

  • 32.00 credits with no oversubscription
  • 16.00 Wesleyan-specific credits
  • six semesters in residence
  • G.P.A. of 74.00
  • completion of one major

Check out the Faculty & Student Advising Handbook’s Academic Regulations and Degree Requirements and also its Common Advising Questions section for more information.  Contact Dean Brown if you have questions.