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Departmental Honors Information and Important Deadlines

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If you plan to be a candidate for Honors in your senior year, it is important to know the following:

  1. Know your department’s policy regarding thesis tutorials; most require two consecutive semesters of thesis tutorial. Be sure that you register for the tutorial that your department requires of Honors candidates; for most students this will be DEPT409 in Fall 2021 and DEPT410 in Spring 2022.You must add the tutorial online during the Drop/Add period each semester. If you intend to submit your thesis for honors consideration in more than one department, indicate that on your tutorial enrollment request form.
  2. Once confirmed by your department(s), each candidate registered for the appropriate tutorial is considered an Honors candidate by the Honors Committee. Students who are confirmed will be notified in early October.

Special Cases: Those who will complete course work in December 2021, candidates for Honors in General Scholarship, and University majors must contact Susan Krajewski. Students who complete their studies in December are now required to submit their honors thesis on the first day of classes in the following spring semester. So December completions who are members of the Class of 2022 must register their thesis by 4pm on January 20, 2022. For students interested in pursuing Honors in General Scholarship, a comprehensive application process must be followed. Complete information about this process is available at https://www.wesleyan.edu/registrar/honors/general_scholarship.html. Spring applications for General Scholarship were due Friday, April 30, 2021. The late submission application deadline to pursue Honors in General Scholarship is 4pm on Friday, September 17, 2021.

Departmental Honors: To receive Honors upon graduation, all candidates must fulfill the Honors requirements of the major department. Be sure that you know what your department requires. Criteria for supervising and evaluating candidates rests solely with the academic department. Follow your department’s procedure to obtain a tutor. If you are pursuing honors in more than one department, the honors decisions are made independently so you may receive honors from one department and credit only from the other.

The Jellybean Papers: Further considerations on writing the senior thesis and answers to many questions are available in the Jellybean Papers (known as such because they were once printed on brightly-colored paper). Copies of the 2021/2022 version may be found online at: http://www.wesleyan.edu/registrar/honors/jelly_bean_papers/index.html#jelly

Note: All honors theses are now bound double-sided. Please make sure to pay special attention to the new margin requirements and other formatting instructions in the Jellybean Papers to ensure your final thesis PDF adheres to all standards and expectations for double-sided manuscripts.

Thesis Carrels: This year the Library is returning to a shared thesis carrel process. Seniors who intend to write an honors thesis are invited to apply for a thesis carrel. The carrel application will open September 6th in WesPortal and will close on September 17th. You must be enrolled in a thesis tutorial or other course designated for honors in order to retain any thesis carrel you are assigned to. A list of confirmed honors candidates will be provided to Olin after drop/add closes and students who are not enrolled in the necessary course work, will be asked to vacate their carrel space. Contact Jessica Steele in Olin Library for more information about their process.

Important deadlines for 2022 Honors candidates

  • September 6, 2021: Thesis Carrel Applications open in WesPortal. The application link is in theLibrary bucket.
  • September 17, 2021: Final day of Drop/Add registration for the Fall tutorial. Register online inFall 2021 during Drop/Add for the first half of your thesis (DEPT409).
  • September 17, 2021: Study carrel applications due by 4pm. Contact Jessie Steele in Olin Library for more information.
  • October 12, 2021: Students can check their WesPortal to see what partner and carrel assignment they received if they applied.
  • October 15, 2021: Students must pick up their thesis carrel keys by 4pm at the Olin Library  Reserve Desk. Last day to pick up carrel keys is October 22, 2021.
  • January 20, 2022: Early thesis registration deadline for December Completions.
  • February 2, 2022: Final day of Drop/Add registration for the Spring tutorial. Register online in Spring2022 during Drop/Add for the second half of your thesis (DEPT410).
  • April 14, 2022: Theses due by 4pm (no extensions possible)
  • April 28, 2022: Department recommendations due. All performances and exhibitions completed

Keasbey Scholarship for Postgraduate Study in the UK

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The Keasbey Scholarship, which supports two years of postgraduate study in the UK for two years, either for a second undergraduate degree or for a graduate degree in any program offered at the University of Oxford, Cambridge, or Edinburgh.

This scholarship is open to Wesleyan every three years. Members of the Class of 2022 are eligible to apply this coming Fall 2021. Successful applicants would begin their studies in the UK in Fall 2022.

Wesleyan may nominate two candidates, following a campus selection process. The campus application deadline is Oct. 3. Applicants must show leadership, high academic achievement, and extracurricular involvement. This program is only open to U.S. citizens.

If you have leadership experience and a strong academic record, please (1) fill out a short interest form in ViaTRM by May 31 and (2) get in touch with Magdalena Zapędowska, assistant director of fellowships, to discuss your interest, program fit, and the application process.

For more information, please contact:

Magdalena Zapędowska, Ph.D. [za-pen-doff-ska]
Assistant Director, Fellowships | Fries Center for Global Studies
mzapedowska@wesleyan.edu
+1-860-685-3928

Classes to Consider for Fall 2021

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Attention rising seniors! Are you interested in applied, experiential, and engaged learning? Have you decided not to pursue a thesis but you want to have a meaningful capstone experience during your last year at Wes? You might consider these classes for Fall 2021:

CSPL239 Startup Incubator: The Art and Science of Launching Your Idea
Tu 8:50-11:40

A one-semester, experiential learning program designed to teach and enable student entrepreneurs to develop sustainable business models from their ideas. The program will bring together an ambitious, committed, and diverse group of individuals from all classes and majors who are passionate about developing successful solutions to challenges; identify as entrepreneurs, disruptors, and thought leaders; and have the tenacity, work ethic, and ability to succeed. It is completely fine if you have not yet launched your own business / non-profit etc. You will learn mindsets, critical thinking skills, and practical skills that you can use in any part of your life.

If you would like to enroll in CSPL 239, complete this form- https://forms.gle/V2c7KP4au9rMCrux6. Questions can be emailed to Rosemary Ostfeld (rostfeld@wesleyan.edu)

CSPL262 Patricelli Center Fellowship
Tu/Th 10:20-11:40

In this project-based, cohort-style class, students will learn strategies for understanding social and environmental problems, and they will design interventions to create impact. Each student will select a topic to work on individually or as part of a team throughout the semester. Topics will include root cause analysis, ecosystem mapping, theory of change, human-centered design, business models, leadership and teamwork, impact metrics, storytelling, and more. Some students will develop entrepreneurial projects and ventures while others will find pathways to impact as activists, community organizers, coalition builders, artists, or researchers.

To be considered for this course, meet with the instructor (http://calendly.com/mjkingsley) to discuss the enrollment process, course content, expectations, and learning goals.

CSPL480 Engaged Projects
Asynchronous / No mandatory class time

EPs are one-semester, 1.0-credit, mostly-independent educational endeavors. Students who enroll will start with a topic or question that has some connection to their academic pursuits and to the world at large. They will recruit a “Sponsor” with lived or scholarly expertise related to their topic, and they will be matched with two other EP students (their “Cohort”) who will provide peer advising and accountability. Over the course of one semester, EP students will research and analyze their topic, produce a project intended for a public (not academic) audience, and complete reflection essays to document their learning along the way.

Details are at https://engagedprojects.site.wesleyan.edu/

Senior Interviewer Info Session 4/13

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As you may be aware, the application to become a Senior Interviewer is now available to all current Wesleyan juniors.  In order to provide more information about the position, especially since it has changed as we’ve responded to the pandemic, we are offering an information session to learn more, ask questions, and hear from current SIs about their experiences and takeaways.

The information session will be at 7pm on Tuesday, April 13th.  The application is due at noon on Monday, April 19, and interviews commence the following week.  This position is a great chance to share your Wesleyan experience, develop valuable skills, become a better interviewee as you prepare to graduate, influence who applies to Wesleyan and have a voice in the admission process.

The application is available on Handshake and here: https://docs.google.com/forms/d/1Iz3k30nBo65HdW4kJU5Nf1D-EdY8gGJMS_VirNjbz9Q/edit

The Zoom link for the information session is https://wesleyan.zoom.us/j/3565494885

All questions can be directed to Chris Lanser, Associate Dean of Admission, at clanser@wesleyan.edu

We look forward to seeing you next week and, hopefully, reading your application soon.

Apply to be an Admissions Senior Interviewer

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The Office of Admission is pleased to announce the application to be a Senior Interviewer for the 2021-22 academic year is now open. The Senior Interviewer position is a professional appointment in the Office of Admission interacting with and informing a range of constituents about Wesleyan University, and evaluating prospective students through personal interviews.  One of the unseen benefits to the Covid-19 pandemic was a reevaluation of the Senior Interviewer program as a virtual enterprise, which led to significant changes that have improved its efficacy and reach.  SIs now spend the majority of their time working virtually, meeting high school students where they are, doing WesChats, information sessions, and interviews on evenings and weekends.  As campus life returns to normal next fall, some on campus, in-person aspects of the program will continue to be important: Saturday morning interviews, information sessions, and Open House programming in the fall, and of course a return to a WesFest, Live! Format next spring.  A more comprehensive job description is available on Handshake and in the application itself.

The application is available on Handshake and here:

https://docs.google.com/forms/d/1Iz3k30nBo65HdW4kJU5Nf1D-EdY8gGJMS_VirNjbz9Q/edit

The reach of the Senior Interviewer program has never been broader, providing equity and access in the process to students from all backgrounds, regardless of their ability to visit campus, and we are excited for this coming year as we continue to leverage opportunities to meet more students than ever before.  Please consider applying for this important position, educating and influencing the applicant pool and participating in the evaluate of prospective students.

Any and all questions can be directed to Chris Lanser, Associate Dean of Admission, clanser@wesleyan.edu

Honors Thesis Information Session 4/6

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Tuesday, April 6, 4:30-5:30 p.m. EDT
via Zoom

Thinking about writing a senior thesis?  This session will provide information on dates, deadlines, paperwork, and logistics for all students who are interested in pursuing an honors thesis. Panelists will also provide advice on how to decide whether a thesis is right for you, and on how to build a strong working relationship with your thesis advisor.

Whether you already know your topic, or are just beginning to explore the possibility of a thesis, this session will provide all the information you need to get the thesis process started.

Presenters

Jane Alden, Associate Professor of Music and Medieval Studies, Chair of the Honors Committee
Susan Krajewski, Registrar’s Office and Honors Coordinator
David Phillips, Class Dean

Click here to view the recording of the session.

Davenport Study Grants Due March 15

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Limited funds are available to support student research and other student scholarly projects in public affairs to begin this summer. Only current sophomores and juniors are eligible. These funds are made available through a gift to Wesleyan University from the Surdna Foundation in honor of Frederick Morgan Davenport, Wesleyan University Class of 1889, and Edith Jefferson Andrus Davenport, Wesleyan University, Class of 1897. 

In past years, Davenport Scholarships have been awarded to sophomores and juniors who have “demonstrated intellectual and moral excellence and a concern for public affairs” and “who by their personal qualities and vocational and scholarly intentions give greatest promise of leadership in the public service.” It is expected that most of the grants will be concentrated in the social science departments and the CSS, but applications will be accepted from majors in all areas of the University as long as the proposed projects are related to public affairs.  

Each student’s application must be in a single pdf file. The application must contain: (1) a title, (2) a brief description of the proposed project, its objectives and its significance, including a discussion of the relevant scholarly literature; (3) a statement discussing course work relating to the proposed project; (4) an account of the methods for carrying it out; (5) a timetable for completion [a project may continue through the academic year 2021-2022]; (6) a detailed budget (please list any travel expenses separately and be aware that Wesleyan currently can only fund travel expenses if the travel ban is lifted; (7) a copy of the student’s transcript [which you may copy from your portfolio if you wish]; CSS students must include your comprehensive Examination grade. Finally, (8) a separately submitted letter from the faculty member who will supervise the project, carefully assessing its merit and the ability of the applicant to carry it out successfully.

Applications are not to exceed five double-spaced pages (not counting the supervisor’s letter or transcript) and must be electronically submitted AS AN ATTACHMENT (see below). It is the applicant’s responsibility to inform his or her faculty supervisor to submit a letter electronically AS AN ATTACHMENT. Both the application and the faculty member’s letter must contain the student’s name (with the last name listed first) followed by “Davenport Proposal” in the subject line. 

Funds are limited, and we expect competition for the awards to be keen. Applications will be judged by a faculty committee composed of representatives of social science departments and programs. Criteria for judging applications include: the relevance of the project to public affairs; the scholarly value of the proposed research; the clarity and suitability of the project design; the feasibility of the proposed project; the applicant’s past academic record; the evaluation submitted by the faculty member; and the realism of the proposed budget. Senior thesis projects will receive priority. Students should make their proposals as specific and detailed as possible, and support them with evidence of their ability to complete the work according to a realistic schedule. They should prepare the budget with special care, including only essential expenses and showing precisely how the proposed budget supports the work being proposed. Your budget may not include the purchase of capital equipment (i.e., digital recorders, cameras, etc.). Those planning to do research abroad should consult with the Office of Study Abroad in the Center for Global Studies about their plans and budgets. Please direct any questions you may have to kkolcio@wesleyan.edu.

For guidance on writing a successful grant proposal, please consult “The Art of Writing Proposals” on the Social Sciences Research Council website. Students may also consider contacting last year’s Davenport grant recipients listed on the CSPL website to request copies of their proposals and tips on writing an effective proposal. 

Please note that research proposals involving living human subjects who could be individually identified (unless in public office), audio or video recordings of participants, sensitive data, vulnerable populations, or the observation of behavioral tasks in a laboratory will require IRB approval. 

All Davenport Scholars will receive a minimum of $500, as stipulated by the terms of the DavenportBequest. Additional amounts of up to $2500 may be awarded, the amount depending on the availability of funds and project needs. Total awards will generally be limited to $3000, but successful applicants may apply for modest supplements if, during their projects, it appears that the $3000 limit is too restrictive. An interim report, 3-5 pages in length, is to be submitted in September. This report should describe the work done with the grant money over the course of the summer and how this work will advance the student’s thesis or other honors projects during the coming year. Upon completion of the project, each Davenport Scholar must submit a brief report to the Committee on his/her activities, accomplishments, and an accounting of expenditures beyond $500.

All materials including faculty recommendations must be submitted electronically to Davenport grant (davenport@wesleyan.edu), by midnight, Monday, March 15, 2021. On the top of the first page, please include your Name, Major, WES ID, Wesleyan Box No., Email address, Name of faculty advisor who will be submitting a recommendation (if your thesis advisor will be someone else, that person should also be listed here), as well as your citizenship for tax purposes. Applicants will be notified of grant awards as soon as possible, hopefully by first week in April. Titles of successful applications will also be posted on the CSPL website, www.wesleyan.edu/allbritton.