Academic Resources

Apply for Fulbright and Other National Fellowships – Info Sessions 6/1 – 8/24

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Dear Class of 2021,

Congratulations on your upcoming graduation! As you plan for the future, please consider applying for national fellowships. They are fully funded, usually year-long programs that support a range of global experiences, from research to graduate study to English teaching.

I especially encourage you to consider the Fulbright Study/Research or English Teaching Assistant grants, which allow you to spend a year in one of 100+ participating countries, pursuing independent research or graduate study or teaching English in the classroom. They are open to graduating seniors and recent alumni who are U.S. citizens, and they don’t have a minimum GPA requirement.

If you have clearly defined professional interests supported by experience, consider the Luce Scholarship, which provides a year-long professional placement at an organization in Asia.

Explore our website to learn about other fellowship opportunities and watch short video testimonials from recent applicants.

Application cycles for fellowships are almost a year long to allow for several stages of application review. Apply this fall for programs that take place in 2022-23. See campus deadlines on our website.

To learn more about applying for fellowships, please watch this recording. Fellowships Assistant Genesis Garcia ’22 and I talk about what fellowships are, what experiences they fund, who can apply, and why you should be thinking about them. I also encourage you to watch this recording, in which recent fellowship applicants from Wesleyan share their experiences and advice.

You’re also welcome to sign up for a video appointment on my calendar to talk about choosing the right program and planning the application process.

Finally, if you plan to apply for a national fellowship, either in this application cycle or in the future, you’re warmly invited to participate in the virtual summer application writing sessions. Research shows that writers who write with others are happier, more productive, and more successful.

The virtual application writing sessions will be held every other Tuesday from 7:30 to 9pm ET at the following Zoom link:  

https://wesleyan.zoom.us/j/97807415070?pwd=b0sxb1Yxc0tNaC9qU1ZaOStaeGNtZz09

Meeting ID: 978 0741 5070

Passcode  529431

The session dates are as follows:

June 1

June 15

June 29

July 13

July 27

August 10

August 24

Each session will start with goal setting and end with reflection on the work you’ve done. For best results, I encourage you to commit to a set number of sessions. We may talk a little in the beginning, in person or in the chat, then mute ourselves and write. Cameras are always optional.

I’m looking forward to talking to you!

Best wishes,

Magda

Magdalena Zapędowska, Ph.D. [za-pen-doff-ska]

Assistant Director, Fellowships | Fries Center for Global Studies

Pronouns: she/her/hers

Wesleyan University

201D Fisk Hall, 262 High St. | Middletown, CT 06459, USA

 

Finals Write-In + Study Space! – 5/16

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Join the Writing Workshop for our first ever Finals Write-In + Study Space! On Sunday, May 16th we’ll be in Tischler Hall (Exley 150) between 2-8pm. Stop by for the most productive afternoon of your finals season–and to make all this work a little less lonely. Writing Tutors will be available for drop-in sessions, and we’ll have plenty of free snacks and stationery to go around. Be one of the first 5 to RSVP and we’ll have a goodie bag for you to pick up on the day-of!

If you can’t come on Sunday, we hope you’ll still make a Writing Workshop appointment this Reading Period. Visit your Writing Workshop Account (WesPortal > Academics) for more details. Email writingworks@wesleyan.edu with any questions.

Finals Write-in Flyer May 16

Notes from the Class Dean – 4/15

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Dear members of the class of 2021,

I hope this message finds you doing well. We’re entering the final month of the semester, and I know many of you are anxious for more information to help you prepare for what is to come. The following information should help you finish up required paperwork as we look towards the end of May. I anticipate that you will receive more announcements about commencement from university leadership sometime next week.

Major/Minor/Certificate Certification Forms

This is a final reminder to complete your major/minor/certificate certification forms if you haven’t already done so. You may access instructions here. Class Deans and the Registrar’s Office staff use information provided on these forms to help confirm whether graduation candidates will be cleared for their degrees at the end of the semester.

Honors Thesis Registration/Uploads

Honors candidates may upload their thesis submissions starting at 8:00am, EST on April 20th; the link for thesis submissions will close at 4:00pm, EST on April 21st.

Diploma Name and Address

This Sunday, April 18th is the deadline to submit the name that should be reflected on your diploma. Also submit the correct mailing address for the Registrar to send your diploma when it’s ready; you may submit this information through the Diploma Name and Address link in WesPortal as well. Note: undergraduate students will not receive their diplomas at commencement. The Registrar will mail diplomas for students who have completed all degree requirements and have been cleared to receive their diplomas (i.e. do not have any holds).

Diploma Holds

Students planning to graduate in May must have a student account in good standing to receive their diploma. Please contact the Student Accounts Office with questions. Additionally, eligible graduates with disciplinary holds will not receive their diplomas until those holds are removed. You may contact the Dean of Students Office with any questions.

Upon Completion Policy

I only had two students attend the Upon Completion Q & A I hosted on April 8th, and I didn’t receive many questions for the session. I’ll take that to mean that my clarifying email about the upon completion policy was helpful! You may access the content from that email here.

Change of Grading Mode

The Registrar sent out confirmation that the change of grading mode deadline is 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 by 5pm EST is the deadline to withdraw from full semester and/or 4th quarter courses. Check with your faculty advisor(s), Credit Analysis Report, and Gen Ed Report (where applicable) before you request to withdraw from any courses.

2021 Commencement Regalia Updates

  • Pre-ordered caps and gowns will not be delivered to the WRJJ Bookstore until mid-May.
  • You must call Oak Hall (not the bookstore) if you wish to make a change to your order: 800-456-7623. Please tell Oak Hall that you are a Wesleyan University student from Middletown, CT and need to make a change. You’ll need to give them your order number.

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

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

Take gentle care,
Dean Leathers

Info Session for Christopher Brodigan Award – 4/9

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The Christopher Brodigan Fund was established in memory of Christopher Brodigan, a Wesleyan student who died in an accident in his frosh year. The Fund pays tribute to Christopher’s deep interest in Africa and to the public service he provided through teaching in Botswana prior to entering Wesleyan. Awards will be made to graduating Wesleyan seniors (first priority) and recent Wesleyan graduates who plan to pursue public service or research (in that order of preference) on the African continent.

Students from any discipline are encouraged to submit applications proposing a public service or research project in Africa.  Students may propose an individually designed project, or to provide service in an educational institution, development organization, grassroots group, or non-governmental organization pursuing service work.  Research projects will be supported especially if they state the potential significance for the public interest in the country where the project will be carried out.

Recipients receive awards of up to approximately $3,000 each. Applicants are strongly encouraged to consult with a member of the African Studies faculty (see Faculty listing on this website) while formulating their proposals. More information about the application process can be found on the African Studies website.

Info Session: Friday, April 9th at Noon (EST)

https://wesleyan.zoom.us/j/93349566057  (Use your Wesleyan credentials to log on)

The deadline for applications is Sunday, May 2nd by 11:55pm EST.

Questions? Contact Prof. Laura Ann Twagira

Upon Completion Policy Clarification

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Greetings!

I want to provide a point of clarification about the upon completion policy in advance of the Q & A session tomorrow.

The upon completion policy does not exempt students from meeting the university requirement to earn at least 32 applicable, cumulative credits for a degree from Wesleyan. To reiterate, every student still needs to earn at least 32, useable credits for their degrees. Remember, credits attributed to oversubscription will not count. The upon completion policy gives students flexibility to post the necessary credit for the May 2021 degree after the faculty vote on conferrals next month.

For example, if a student has completed all of the requirements for at least one major, has earned at least 16.00 credits on campus (remote study at Wesleyan counts), and still needs up to an additional two (2.00) credits, they may post that credit at a later time and still earn the degree for May 2021 once the university confirms they have completed all requirements for their diploma.

Also note, students who are “upon completion” will not receive their diplomas and the degree will not appear on their transcripts until the remaining credits are posted to their Wesleyan academic histories.  Students with this “upon completion” classification will remain in the class of 2021 but the conferral date on their transcripts will be the date that the additional credits are posted.  Note: this may be an issue for international students on F-1 visas. F-1 visa students will need to consult with OISA before pursuing this option to make sure they will be in compliance with current visa requirements.

Hopefully, this information offers more clarity, but don’t hesitate to reach out with additional questions. I encourage you to bring them to the session tomorrow evening!

Take care for now,

Dean Leathers

 

Muslim Studies Open House on 4/7: “Queer in Translation: Sexual Politics under Neoliberal Islam”

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Wednesday 7 April 2021

4pm: Come to the open house for the Muslim studies minor;

4:30pm: Stay on for this year’s Muslim Studies talk by Prof. Evren Savci on:

“QUEER IN TRANSLATION: SEXUAL POLITICS UNDER NEOLIBERAL ISLAM.”

Join us here: https://wesleyan.zoom.us/j/95228139620

Contact Typhaine Leservot tleservot@wesleyan.edu for any questions.

 

A Note from Your Academic Peer Advisors

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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

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

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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

Senior Thesis Writing Retreat – 3/21

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Join the Writing Workshop and fellow senior thesis writers at our final Senior Thesis Writing Retreat this Sunday, March 21! Pop into the Shapiro Center (116 Mt. Vernon St.) or Zoom (via our Slack) anytime between 1-4pm eastern for an afternoon of productivity, support, and snacks. We’ll treat the first five writers who RSVP to a smoothie/coffee on Sunday!
March Senior Thesis Retreat Flyer for event on March 21st

Bologna Program: ECCo Day! – 3/27

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Dear students:

If you studied abroad in Bologna, Italy, if you plan to study abroad in Bologna, or if you are interested in studying abroad in Bologna, please come to our virtual ECCo Day, March 27!

Students can start Italian at Wesleyan and meet the language prerequisite for Bologna. The University of Bologna has courses available for every major, and the Accademia di Belle Arti has courses especially for Art Studio in the spring. Advance registration is kindly requested: https://vassar.zoom.us/meeting/register/tJYtfuuprz4oGNVGYOVlGEK5_MVEIaPP9-YP

Sincerely,

The Office of Study Abroad

Emily Gorlewski, Ed.D.
Director, Study Abroad
Fries Center for Global Studies

Wesleyan University
+1 (860) 685-3007
201A Fisk Hall, 262 High St.
Middletown, CT 06459
USA
wesleyan.edu/studyabroad