New Student Information

Senior Interviewer Application Extension until 5/11

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Dear Class of 2021,

Greetings from the New Normal.

I hope that everyone is safe, healthy, and relatively sane.  In light of the challenges of learning and working remotely, and the ever-changing circumstances both broadly and on campus, I’m writing with some updates about the hiring process and beyond.  Please bear with me, there’s a lot to cover.

You may have heard that the University has just determined there will be no campus programming or housing this summer, which effectively means no on campus summer jobs.  While campus may reopen at some point, given the nature of our work it would be irresponsible to hold information sessions numbering in the hundreds, and to hold interviews in offices with students visiting from around the country and the world.  This decision by the University, announced yesterday, was the confirmation we needed to alter and update our plans.

We are extending the deadline to accommodate anyone who was unable to file an application as a result of Covid complications, and moving the interview process to the last two weeks of May, after finals.  We will do some online training (paid) during the first week of June.  Because there will be no on-campus programming and no housing, we are not hiring summer SI’s, and are pivoting to a new model to engage with students.  Rather than hire 6 SI’s to live and work on campus, we hope to have a cohort of summer SIs, which can be much larger, to co-host virtual information sessions with deans and conduct informational conversations (as opposed to evaluative interviews) with prospective students via Skype/Zoom/Slate (our multi-faceted database).  This would obviously be remote, virtual, and paid at the SI rate, and will allow all interested SIs to participate.

When we return to campus in the fall (frankly I’m not emotionally ready to consider an alternative, and I’m working remotely from the beach…) we will complete our training, focusing on the actual on-campus interview and office responsibilities, and hopefully be in a position to welcome visitors at that point.  If not, you will continue to co-host virtual info sessions and do evaluative interviews by Skype et al.

The new deadline for the Senior Interviewer application is Monday, May 11, at 8am. I hope the extended deadline and better understanding of how we plan to utilize the Senior Interviewer corps during the crisis provides the opportunity and information you need to apply.  Here is the link once again:  https://forms.gle/MZPN2rXNE7mMDSza8

I appreciate your flexibility, patience and interest (and peace, love and understanding) as we adapt on the fly.  Please feel free to reach out directly if you have any questions or concerns, and be well.

Chris

CHRISTIAN LANSER
ASSOCIATE DEAN OF ADMISSION
Wesleyan University | Office of Admission
70 Wyllys Avenue | Middletown, CT 06459
P. 860 685-2983
facebook | website

“What a lucky man, to see the earth before it touched his hand.” – Neil Young

 

Career Carnival Friday, Sept. 13th

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CAREER CARNIVAL – FRIDAY 9/13, 12-3PM

Join us for the Gordon Career Center’s Career Carnival on Friday from 12-3pm. Stop by to meet the GCC staff, including peer career advisors, get more familiar with the center’s services and resources, and learn about exciting career programs and opportunities such as fall career treks, summer grant funding, WEShadow externships, employer information sessions, and more.

Enjoy popcorn and cotton candy, play carnival games to win prizes, and enter into our raffle for a chance to win a basket of Wesleyan swag. 

RSVP (optional) on Handshake. Share this event with your friends on Facebook.

Shapiro Center for Writing Reception & Open House

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 On Monday, Sept. 9th from 11:30 – 1:00, the Shapiro Center for Writing is having a reception to introduce/remind students about our services. We’ll also be signing students up for a Writing Workshop account so that they can access the tutors’ schedule once it comes out.

 

We encourage you to attend and have a pizza lunch on us!

 

Join the Resource Center for Its End-of-Summer Potluck & Open House

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Friday, September 6th @ 4:30pm

End of Summer Potluck (facebook):

The Resource Center and Long Lane Farm are collaborating to host an end of summer potluck on Friday September 6th from 4:30pm to 7:30pm at Long Lane Farm (243 Long Lane, Middletown, CT 06457). The student staff of Long Lane will host farm hours. Feel free to bring your own bags to harvest vegetables on the farm during the potluck!

During every break, the Resource Center holds a community potluck for faculty, staff, and students who are on campus to share food and good company. You don’t need to bring a dish, but anything you could contribute would be welcome. Feel free to bring family and friends!

 

Saturday, September 7th @ 12noon,

Resource Center Open House (facebook)

Come by the Resource Center (167 High Street) on Saturday, September 7th from 12noon to 2pm for free bbq (vegan options will also be available), buttons, games, stickers, and t-shirts (shirts provided while supplies last). Learn more about the resources in the RC and how the RC can support any diversity and inclusion initiatives that you may be interested in!

$ Waste Not Sale $ – Stock Your Dorm Room While Helping Local Charities: Aug 31 & Sep 1

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Get ready for the sale of the year! Come to WASTE NOT to buy affordable items for your dorm!

Waste Not is an eco-friendly tag sale for charity!

You can find electronics, kitchen appliances, dorm decorations, lamps, fans, fridges, microwaves, printers, rugs, furniture, and much more!

Dates & Times:

Saturday 8/31:  12pm – 3pm

@ 44 Brainerd garage – Fridges, mirrors, lamps, electronics, and more!

@ 56 Fountain garage – Couches and furniture

Sunday 9/1:  10am – 1pm 

@ 44 Brainerd ONLY – Everything that’s left!

Email questions about the sale to the Waste Not coordinators at wesustainability@gmail.com.

Hello and Welcome Back!

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Dear Class of 2021,

Let me start with an introduction: my name is Tanesha Leathers, and I’m excited to serve as your new class dean! During my academic and professional career, I’ve been a Pioneer, Eph, Terp, Blue Jay, and now I am proud to be a Cardinal. There are a few other key things you need to know about me, apart from the fact I come to you with almost 20 years of experience in higher education. The following are in no particular order:

  • There’s nothing like a New York slice, and I’ve met few cupcakes (or other carbs for that matter) I didn’t like.
  • Sadly, I still root for the Mets, Jets, and Knicks, but don’t judge me if I go to a Nets game sometime before the year is out.
  • I love to bake and create all manner of things, and I believe laughter is the best medicine for much of what ails us.
  • I’m happy to wax (not so poetically) about a host of random things.
  • And, I would love to get to know more about you!

Do not hesitate to stop by to say hello and/or discuss any questions or concerns you may have moving forward. Starting September 2nd, I’m available for 10-minute sessions during fall drop-in advising hours: Mon. 2-3 p.m., Tues. 3-4 p.m., Wed. 4-6 p.m., Thurs. 11 a.m.-noon, and Fri. 2-4 p.m. You are also welcome to schedule a longer appointment with me by contacting my assistant, Ms. Joan Chiari, at 860.685.2758 or jchiari@wesleyan.edu. I’m available for appointments before the start of classes and through the fall and spring semesters.

As juniors, it is important to ensure you are abreast of your progress towards completing degree requirements. In service of that, I recommend you review your Credit Analysis Report (CAR) each semester; you may use WesPortal to access it. This report will inform you of the remaining credits you need to satisfy degree requirements, as well as provide guidance concerning where to direct your focus to complete those requirements. Additionally, checking your CAR will enable you to identify any room you may have for other curricular and co-curricular experiences before graduation.

This year is a time to not only experience the depth that pursuing work in your major/minor proffers, but it is a time to continue exploring the breadth of opportunities readily available to you (e.g. studying abroad, academic research, applying to an internship). Please consider the following:

  • Now is the time to prepare for honors theses and capstone projects.
    • Contact your faculty advisor to discuss research opportunities within your department, whether you will be eligible to pursue an honors thesis senior year, and how to select a thesis advisor if you do commit to honors work.
  • Do not let the year go by without meeting with a counselor in the Gordon Career Center to discuss your Summer 2020 plans and career opportunities for after graduation.

I look forward to welcoming you back to campus this fall, but don’t hesitate to contact me if I can be of any help to you before your return.

Enjoy the last week of summer break!

Dean Leathers

Financial Aid Office: Info Session & Money Matters Orientation Workshops

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The Financial Aid Office extends a hearty welcome to the Class of 2021!  Our office is responsible for the administration of scholarships, loans and work-study employment. We offer individual loan counseling and financial literacy workshops to interested students and provide guidance on the financial implications involved with taking a leave of absence or studying abroad.  Our office is located on the 2nd floor of North College.  Please feel free to drop by at anytime!  Our office hours are Monday through Friday from 8:30am – 5pm.  You can also reach us by phone at (860) 685-2800 or by email at finaid@wesleyan.edu.

To help you navigate the financial aid process and gain a better understanding of how financial aid at Wesleyan works, please join us for one of our Financial Aid Information sessions being held during orientation.  The sessions will be offered on Thursday, 8/31 at 3pm and 3:30pm in the Woodhead Lounge (next to the Exley Science Center).  Come meet Michelle Jarvis, the Class of 2021 financial aid director!  Michelle will be working with many of you throughout your years at Wesleyan.

In addition to the information sessions, the Money Matters workshop will be held in Exley 150 on Thursday, 8/31 at 2pm and on Friday, 9/1 at 10am.  The Money Matters program will provide you with valuable information regarding the process for securing a job and getting paid!  The session will also provide an overview of your student account statement, noting important billing deadlines.  A review of the charging privileges offered through your student account will also be included.  Open to all students, the Money Matters session is required of all financial aid recipients.

Should you have any questions concerning your financial aid or experience financial challenges throughout the year, please do not hesitate to contact us.  We look forward to working with you over the next four years!

 

Seats Available in FYS Course: Ethnicity, Race & Religion in the Middle Ages

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Why does some characters’ skin change color in medieval romances? What did Ghenghis Khan’s family think about Europeans? And why do US white supremacist groups wear symbols from the twelfth-century crusade era? These are all different kinds of questions, but we address them in:

English 153, “Ethnicity, Race, and Religion in the Middle Ages.”

Professor Ruth Nisse     MW 1:20-2:40PM

This course concerns the invention of premodern ideas of ethnicity and race. Our focus will be on a selection of medieval texts dealing with the encounters–real and imaginary–of Western European Christians with other cultures, from the Celtic borderlands to the Mongol Empire. The readings will begin historically with the Crusades and the (often grisly) chronicles written by Christian, Muslim, and Jewish authors. Other genres will include religious polemics, autobiographical narratives of religious conversion, and travel accounts by missionaries, spies, and colonial propagandists. We will also read some later “romances” that re-imagine the crusades in terms of exoticized sexuality, racial transformation, cannibalism, and nationalist fantasy.