Summer 2018

Message from the Dean

This will be my last issue of the Get Ready for Wes! Newsletter, but I will continue to communicate with you throughout the year using the Class of 2022 blog and emails. Now that the time for preparation is coming to an end and you are embarking on “experiencing Wes,”  there remains one central piece of information that you need to know. As a Wesleyan student, it is your responsibility to become familiar with the university’s academic expectations, procedures, and consequences specified in the Academic Regulations. I am pointing out a few aspects of those regulations in the Academic Highlights section to get you started. Feel free to come to my drop-in hours (see blog) when you get settled on campus to discuss any concerns or questions you might have about the academic regulations or any other issues.

As a member of the Class of 2022, be sure to check the Class of 2022 blog regularly. To get you started, check out “Thoughts from a Peer Advisor: Tips and Tricks for NSO” written last year by former Academic Peer Advisor Elisa Greenberg ’18. She offers some good advice.

I wish you safe travels to Middletown, and a productive and enjoyable orientation experience.

Sincerely,

Dean Thornton

Academic Highlights

THE ACADEMIC REGULATIONS

As you begin your first year at Wesleyan, you should review the academic regulations because they will help you successfully navigate Wesleyan and inform your decision-making. Check out the degree requirements and review the information about academic standing, and academic review and promotion. It is also important that you explore the general regulations because they discuss course enrollment, attendance, and grading. Lastly, you should know that professors are expected to notify the class dean when a student is doing unsatisfactory work or there is a student conduct issue.

As with all guidelines at the university, the academic regulations are intended to foster a community of care and accountability. Be sure to come in to meet with me, your faculty advisor or, your professor, if you have any questions about the regulations and other issues.

Message from the Orientation Interns

With Orientation coming up next week, we have a few things that we wanted to remind you about so you’re ready to go once you step on campus.

First, make sure to look at the required forms on WesPortal under the New Student Checklist.  Have them filled out and ready to turn in once you get to campus. These include the direct deposit form, your employment eligibility verification, and your W4 forms. These are crucial if you want to get a job on campus.

Second, get familiar with Guidebook. This is the service used to stay connected with all things happening during Orientation. You can access it through an app on your smartphone or on the web browser of any web-connected device. You can look at the schedule, meet the Orientation Leaders, and see a schedule of events during “WesWOW” – Wesleyan’s Week of Welcome.

Two things you really should know about Guidebook are how to find your small group and how to build your own schedule. Under the groups tab, you can find your group number based on where you will be living on campus. This will also tell you who your OL and RA is and where you’ll be meeting. Additionally, when you go into the orientation schedule, tapping the plus icon next to any event or “Add to My Schedule” when you’re viewing an event’s details, allows you to add it to your personal schedule. You can even set a reminder to let you know when those events are coming up.

While building your schedule, please remember that all Orientation events are required, except for events that happen at the same time as others. With those, you get to choose which to attend.

We cannot wait to see you all soon!

GO WES!

The Orientation Interns
Maximilien Chong Lee Shin ‘21
Caridad Cruz ‘21
Christopher Jackson ‘20
Virginia Sciolino ‘21
orientation@wesleyan.edu
(860) 685-5666

A Message From Your Dean

In a short while, you will arrive at Wes, and you still need to complete the items listed on the checklist in your WesPortal. These items include:

• Honor Code and the Code of Non-Academic Conduct (by August 24)
• Religious and Spiritual Life Survey (by August 24)
• Emergency Contact information (by August 30)

Now that you are a little closer to being a college student, it is a good time to review communication etiquette and to learn about the ways that you can forge positive relationships with faculty and staff at Wes. To get started, read the blog post about email etiquette written by former academic peer advisor, Faisal Kirdar ’14. Then checkout the Academic Highlights Section of this week’s newsletter for insights into preparing for productive academic advising meetings with your faculty advisor.

I will send out my final Get Ready for Wes! Newsletter to you next week. Check it out for some pointers on making good use of the New Student Orientation program. After you arrive at Wes, be sure to continue to visit the Class of 2022 blog weekly to learn about upcoming due dates, advice, and opportunities.

Have a terrific week,
Dean Thornton

Academic Highlights

PREPARING TO MEET WITH YOUR PRE-MAJOR FACULTY ADVISOR

As the Faculty and Student Advising Handbook states:

The objective of the pre-major advising program is to help first-year students and sophomores think seriously about their educational objectives in the context of the liberal arts education offered at Wesleyan.

Together with your faculty advisor, you should develop a challenging and coherent educational plan for the first two years, one that achieves curricular breadth while preparing for the depth that the major will bring in the last two years.

Here are some guidelines for preparing for your first meeting with your advisor:

PREPARING FOR MEETINGS

• Have a plan
• Formulate goals
• Study the curriculum
• Work out alternative course schedules
• Identify specific questions for your advisor
• Be familiar with the basic nuts and bolts of the course registration process

THE ADVISING MEETING

• Discuss course choices and your academic interests in the context of long-range goals
• Be receptive to questions and suggestions
• Share concerns that may affect your success in the upcoming semester
• Ask for any needed referrals
• Discuss any academic regulations that seem confusing
• Arrange additional meetings during the semester

For more information, see the Faculty and Student Advising Handbook

Message From The Orientation Interns

Hey everyone!

Check out the links below to stay in the loop on all Wesleyan Orientation related information. There are only a handful of Orientation emails remaining, as we are nearing the start of the Fall 2018 semester. With this in mind, ensure you are going through these updates thoroughly to have fewer things to worry about before embarking on your college journey! Also, a reminder that while WesAdmits 2022 is a valuable resource, not all of the information posted by students is accurate and the Orientation office can be contacted to confirm anything discussed on this forum via email at orientation@wesleyan.edu.

Arrival Day

Wesleyan Orientation Highlights

Orientation Schedule via Guidebook

Meet Your Orientation Leaders!

Orientation Info for Transfer Students

International Student Orientation

GO WES!

The Orientation Interns
Maximilien Chong Lee Shin ‘21
Caridad Cruz ‘21
Christopher Jackson ‘20
Virginia Sciolino ‘21
orientation@wesleyan.edu
(860) 685-5666

Message from the Dean
As of today, Thursday, August 9, there are only two weeks or so remaining until International Student Orientation and New Student Orientation. We are looking forward to welcoming you to Wesleyan. As you approach your Wesleyan Arrival Day, I thought this would be a good week to share my Top Five Academic Recommendations for the Class of 2022:

1. Ask Questions
2. Go to class
3. Build relationships with faculty
4. Learn from your classmates
5. Locate your resources

For some additional advice from a student perspective, check out an essay that was written by former Wesleyan Academic Peer Advisor, Racheal Earnhardt’17.  Her insights and recommendations are still relevant today for your class.  Imagine–the students (Class of 2020) to whom she addressed her initial remarks will be starting their junior year at Wesleyan. Wow! Time passes quickly, so listen up, work smart, and have a great time.

In this week’s Academic Highlights, you can review the latest recommendations from the current Academic Peer Advisors and explore some of the other resources available at Wesleyan that will help you get off to a great start.

For students who were unable to participate in the August 6 video chat with me, you may register for the August 13 video chat at 12 p.m. EST. You must register by Sunday, August 12 at 12 p.m. EST, then check your Wesleyan email on Monday at 9 a.m. EST to find out how to access the session. I use the GoToMeeting application that allows for easy participation in the conversation by phone or computer.

Have a terrific week,
Dean Thornton

Academic Highlights
ACADEMIC RESOURCES AT WESLEYAN

Besides your professors, academic advisors, and Student Affairs staff, Wesleyan offers a host of academic and personal support. You should familiarize yourself with these and other resources now so that you may begin to strategize how you will include these people and places in your weekly routine when classes begin.

Academic Support Resources Academic Peer Advisors Deans Peer Tutoring Program Librarians

Teaching Assistants STEM Zone Math Workshop Writing Workshop

Message from Orientation Interns
Hello!

Soon, you will be on campus to begin Orientation! Before you arrive, check out the Orientation Schedule available via Guidebook: mobile – desktop. There will NOT be printed handbooks.  If you do not have access to a smart device, computer or tablet, contact orientation@wesleyan.edu to discuss alternatives. Remember that Orientation is required for all students, and Guidebook will help you keep on top of the requisite activities!

Once you download the app onto your mobile device, note that there is no passphrase.  Simply click on the magnifying glass, search “Wesleyan New Student Orientation 2018” then click Guides.

Please feel free to browse, explore and of course send us any feedback you think could make the app better for the Orientation experience.  Note that the Orientation Schedule is subject to change.  Always check Guidebook for the most uptodate information prior to attending an event.

We also want to bring your attention to upcoming deadlines to watch out for: your Fall Semester Payment and First Year Matters response (due August 10th) and Health Insurance Decision Form (due August 12th). It might make your life easier to get the Required Documents out of the way because, although they’re due August 29th, you will already be on campus by then. As always, try to keep on top of these last checklist items, and reach out to us if you need encouragement, nuggets of wisdom, or answers to pressing questions! GO WES!

The Orientation Interns
Maximilien Chong Lee Shin ‘21
Caridad Cruz ‘21
Christopher Jackson ‘20
Virginia Sciolino ‘21
orientation@wesleyan.edu
(860) 685-5666

Summer Sendoffs  
Thursday, August 9 – Seattle, WA
Saturday, August 4 – Beijing, CH
Monday, August 13 – Chicago, IL
Tuesday, August 14 – Fairfield County, CT
Wednesday, August 15 – Philadelphia, PA

Message from the Dean

We have entered the final few weeks before your arrival at Wesleyan. Please note the arrival days below:

• New International Student Arrival Day:  Sunday, August 26, 2018 (Families depart Monday, August 27 – 8pm)
• New Domestic Student Arrival Day: Wednesday, August 29, 2018 (Families depart on this day – 4:45pm)
  Residence halls open at 9am. You should be moved into your room before noon.

Remember, it is very important that you complete your Common Reading of A Body, Undone: Living on After Great Pain by Wesleyan Professor of English Christina Crosby. Submit your reading response by 5pm on Friday, August 10. This shared experience serves as an introduction to intellectual life at Wesleyan through lectures, group conversations, and an address by the author during orientation followed by a Q&A. Our meaningful dialogue about the memoir has already begun, as evidenced by a recent discussion.

Have a terrific week,
Dean Thornton

Academic Highlights

MEET YOUR CLASS DEAN – Renée Johnson Thornton, Ph.D.

Faculty, staff, and your future peers are excited to welcome you to campus. We all want to help you have an intellectually engaging and enjoyable experience at Wesleyan.

As your class dean, I am particularly excited to welcome you. It has been fun writing to you this summer and I thought it would be useful to provide a general overview of how we will work together over the next four years.

Class deans are responsible for a comprehensive program of academic advising and class management. This includes:

• helping students develop educational goals and complete their graduation requirements
• working with students and their professors to support student success in the classroom
• facilitating access to academic and non-academic support services
• supporting student transitions from high school through the undergraduate years to life post-Wesleyan

At Wesleyan, there are four class deans:  Dean Wood (Class of 2019 – Seniors), Dean Phillips (Class of 2020 – Juniors), Dean Brown (class of 2021 – Sophomores), and me, Dean Thornton (Class of 2022  – First-Years). Class Deans are paired with a first-year cohort and support that class over the next four years until graduation. We are “go to” people and have daily drop-in hours during the week. We are also available for appointments.

I will host a video chat session on Monday, August 6, 2018, from 2pm – 3pm EST. This is open to the first 24 students to register. Signup now to reserve your place. If you cannot make this please don’t hesitate to contact me. I look forward to chatting with you.

Message from Orientation Interns

Hey everyone!

A brief reminder: if you are shipping your belongings to Wesleyan, any packages that arrive before August 10^th will be shipped back because WesStation cannot hold your packages before then. When you do ship things to Wes, you have your own mailing address, which you can find listed under the Student Profile section of your WesPortal. This is the general format of your mailing address, which is just your WesBox five-digit number and the address of Usdan:

Student Name
WesBox XXXXX
45 Wyllys Ave
Middletown, CT 06459

We hope you are excited for move-in day now that you know the residence hall you will be living in! If you are already starting to shop for your dorm room, here is a list of items that ResLife suggests students bring to campus. You do not have to bring all items from home —there will be a Bed, Bath, and Beyond pop-up shop in the Wesleyan RJ Julia Bookstore during Arrival Day, as well as the Waste Not tag sale during the weekend of Orientation where you will be able to buy used items such as furniture, appliances, and room décor for reduced prices. Also, remember to check in with your roommate(s) about splitting the cost of items for your room, and not buying duplicate items of things that can be shared! That being said, note there are things you cannot have in your dorm rooms for fire safety reasons, found here.
We hope you find these tips helpful as you start thinking about your dorm room essentials! GO WES!

The Orientation Interns
Maximilien Chong Lee Shin ‘21
Caridad Cruz ‘21
Christopher Jackson ‘20
Virginia Sciolino ‘21
orientation@wesleyan.edu
(860) 685-5666

Summer Sendoffs  
Thursday, August 2 – Boston, MA
Thursday, August 9 – Seattle, WA
Saturday, August 4 – Beijing, CH
Monday, August 13 – Chicago, IL
Tuesday, August 14 – Fairfield County, CT
Wednesday, August 15 – Philadelphia, PA

Message from the Dean

As we approach the month of August and you make the final preparations to travel to Wesleyan, please keep a few things in mind:

• When you make arrangements to travel to Wesleyan for the start of the semester, please note that students are expected to remain on campus until they have completed all final assignments and exams at the end of each semester. Faculty are not required to accommodate early departure for end of semester travel so you should not confirm transportation until you have confirmed the final exam dates with your professors after classes start.
• Although Pre-Registration Planning ends next week (Tuesday, July 31 at 5:00 PM), you still have time to consult the Advising Guidelines to seek advice about Pre-Registration, building a balanced schedule, and watch advising videos featuring faculty and students.
• Besides exploring the broad curriculum and enrolling in prerequisite courses for specific majors this semester, students who are already planning to study abroad or pursue specific careers paths should review their course selections to see if there are opportunities to include a course in their schedules that could prepare them for either study outside the United States or for post-graduate study at a professional school.
• If you are interested in studying abroad in a country where English is considered a foreign language, you must register for the first half of the appropriate language course. Consult the Fries Center for Global Studies to learn about the language requirements for the study abroad programs that Wesleyan sponsors.
• Students interested in post-graduate studies in the fields of law or medicine should contact the Gordon Career Center for advice on course preparation for these types of advanced programs. In this week’s Academic Highlights, I am pleased to introduce Health Professions Advisor Mildred Rodriguez to shared a few insights about course selection for students interested in medical school or another graduate school in the health professions.

Have a terrific week,
Dean Thornton

Academic Highlights

ADVICE FROM HEALTH PROFESSIONS ADVISOR MILDRED RODRIGUEZ

As you get yourself ready to prepare for your future application to a health professions program such as medicine, dentistry, optometry, physical therapy, veterinary medicine, pharmacy, physician assistant, nursing, occupational therapy, and any other fields, you need to consider the different facets of your preparation and work on a plan.

To start, begin setting goals related to the pre-requisite courses you need to complete alongside the courses for your major. To view a short video on the course selection for health professions go to: http://www.wesleyan.edu/careercenter/students/health/index.html

Here are a few other suggestions:

• Avail yourself to the wonderful and diverse Wesleyan University courses
• Maintaine balance in your life and stay healthy
• Focus on personal growth and becoming more resilient
• Cultivate relationships with faculty and staff
• Hone your skills in critical thinking, ethical responsibility, teamwork, cultural competence and scientific inquiry grounded in research.
• Read the Health Professions Newsletter and attend as many HP Events as you can
• Visit with the Health Professions Advisor at least once per semester
• Explore the particular health profession of interest to you. Conduct online research and volunteer in a clinical setting
• Seek opportunities to shadow a medical provider
• Join a student organization and engage in campus community
• Participate in community service in the City of Middletown or elsewhere

Preparing for the health professions is a long process involving numerous steps requiring early and careful planning. As you move forward and have questions, please come see me. I would be happy to meet with you and help in any way I can. Once you are on campus, you can set up an appointment on HandShake, or call (860) 685-2180 or just drop by the Gordon Career Center and ask at the reception desk.

Information Sessions:

• Friday, August 31 at 10:00AM in PAC, Room 001 – Health Professions Overview for First Years
• Thursday, August 30:
  • 11:00 AM – 12:30 PM – Available at the Academic Forum
  • 1:00 PM – 5:00 PM – 20 minute drop-in appointments in Gordon Career Center (GCC)
• During first two week of classes – Available for 30-minute drop-in appointments in GCC

Enjoy the rest of your summer and I hope to see you this fall!
Mildred Rodríguez, Ph.D., Health Professions Advisor

Message from the Orientation Interns

Hello, folks!

Your meal plan selection deadline – August 1^st – is fast approaching, so now is a good time to learn about the different meal plan options. For first-year students, the default plan is called “Block 140,” which gives you $586.00 worth of points and 140 meal swipes. Part of choosing the best meal plan for you is looking into dining facilities at Wesleyan. Places like Usdan charge both meal swipes and points, while WesWings and other places only charge points. If you like getting a coffee, you might plan to frequent Pi Café. In that case, you might consider choosing a meal plan with more points. It is all up to you! If all else fails, you can’t go wrong with Block 140. For complete information visit the Meal plan link and FAQ page from www.wesleyan.edu/dining

GO WES!

The Orientation Interns
Maximilien Chong Lee Shin ‘21
Caridad Cruz ‘21
Christopher Jackson ‘20
Virginia Sciolino ‘21
orientation@wesleyan.edu
(860) 685-5666

Summer Sendoffs  
Saturday, July 28 – Washington, DC
Thursday, August 2 – Boston, MA
Thursday, August 9 – Seattle, WA
Saturday, August 4 – Beijing, CH
Monday, August 13 – Chicago, IL
Tuesday, August 14 – Fairfield County, CT
Wednesday, August 15 – Philadelphia, PA

Message from the Dean

You have a little over one week left to complete Pre-Registration Planning. This is a good time to review the courses you have bookmarked. The following three questions might guide your course planning:

• Did I select a course about something I love?
• Do I need to add a gateway course for a department or major?
• Do I need to enroll in the first part of a language or science requirement?
• Could I explore something new and interesting?

Course planning involves much more than just the subject matter. You should aim for variety in subject as well as the kind, size, format, and time of day of the courses. I am featuring some of the nuggets of wisdom from one of our Associate Registrars in this week’s Academic Highlights section.

All the best,
Dean Thornton

Academic Highlights

Nuggets of wisdom from the registrar’s office?

Senior Associate Registrar Karri Van Blarcom manages course registration, course catalogs, student information data, grades, and a host of other important aspects of students’ records. She asked me to share the following insights with you about aspects of Pre-Registration Planning:

• Check out the Course Registration website
• You are not actually enrolling in courses until Pre-Registration Adjustment in August after meeting with your faculty advisor, so plan now for a better outcome in August
• The course schedule you submit now, will be run in August and released on August 21^st. Adjustments can be made in August and again during the drop/add period.
• Pre-Registration Override and Permission of Instructor (POI) Requests can be submitted during Pre-Registration Adjustment in August
• Pay special attention to deadlines and make sure you are checking your Wesleyan email frequently for important updates.

Message from the Orientation Interns

Hey, everyone!

A brief reminder: July 29^th is the deadline for international students to register for the International Student Orientation and send their travel information.

If you are deeply entrenched in academic planning, you may want to take a step back to think about the bigger picture. Once you actually get to Wesleyan, you can get acquainted with your new environment by familiarizing yourself with the campus, taking a trip to Goodwill or getting involved with volunteer organizations all over Middletown. If you want to explore the outdoors, you can hike at Wadsworth Falls State Park, take a trip to Lyman Orchards or a dip in Millers Pond. There are many ways to foster a sense of interconnectedness with the world around you, and taking the time now to consider how you want to interact with the community at Wesleyan and in the surrounding areas might be a good way to mellow the anxiety of Pre-Registration.

We cannot wait for you to be members of our community and to see the ways that you all choose to get involved. Until then, GO WES!

The Orientation Interns
Maximilien Chong Lee Shin ‘21
Caridad Cruz ‘21
Christopher Jackson ‘20
Virginia Sciolino ‘21
orientation@wesleyan.edu
(860) 685-5666

Summer Sendoffs
Saturday, July 21 – Los Angeles, CA
Sunday, July 22 – Bay Area, CA
Wednesday, July 25 – Mamaroneck, NY
Wednesday, July 25 – Ridgewood, New Jersey
Saturday, July 28 – Washington, DC
Thursday, August 2 – Boston, MA
Thursday, August 9 – Seattle, WA
Saturday, August 4 – Beijing, CH
Monday, August 13 – Chicago, IL
Tuesday, August 14 – Fairfield County, CT
Wednesday, August 15 – Philadelphia, PA

Message from the Dean

Pre-Registration Planning has begun and will run until 5:00 pm on Tuesday, July 31. It seems that most of you have already taken advantage of the various advising resources available online and I am pleased that several of you have contacted me, other staff members, and the interns by email and phone. Keep it up! We welcome the opportunity to answer your questions and help you feel more confident about your transition to Wesleyan. In this week’s Academics Highlights, I draw special attention to the Academic Peer Advisors (APA), who will help you prepare for your academic journey.  This team of well-informed and supportive students is another good resource to whom  you may direct academic-related questions as you continue your pre-registration planning and exploring course options that both interest and challenge you.

You might want to check out “From Insight to Impact,” an online Coursera course taught by the director of the Gordon Career Center. It aims to help you understand your motivations, strengths, and goals, and appreciate how personal identity affects both academic and career decision-making.  Click here for full instructions to create a Coursera account with your Wes email and enroll in the course.

Academic Highlights

WHAT IS A PEER ADVISOR?

Peer advisors are juniors and seniors who work during New Student Orientation and throughout the academic year to enhance student access to academic resources. During the summer, peer advisors are available online to answer questions students have about academic resources or campus life. Peer advisors are available to connect individually with students to address specific questions about the course registration process. They will also assist in the development of time management, study skills, and exam preparation strategies, and provide academic resources and referrals as needed. You will have an opportunity to meet with a peer advisor during New Student Orientation as you prepare for your individual meeting with your faculty advisor. You can browse through their bios and email any of them directly.

Message from Orientation Interns

Hello Class of 2022!

As returning Wesleyan students, we Interns are also perpetually in the throes of course scheduling, so, to help you plan for registration, we’ve given you some advice below.

If you are a visual learner, you may find it helpful to make a chart of all of the classes you will take in your first year, keeping in mind the General Education Expectations, possible major interests, and new subjects. It helps to keep things balanced; don’t only include reading-heavy or math-intensive classes. Most importantly, craft a schedule that gets you excited to start school.

Just because you can take this time to plan ahead does not mean you should get overwhelmed. Relax and breathe. Don’t be afraid to reach out to professors, and don’t panic if you can’t get into certain classes. There are great courses out there for you to explore, and your first year at Wesleyan is a great time to do just that. Remember that things tend to fall into place. You will see that the beauty of a liberal arts education is in your ability to craft a schedule that is equally unexpected and enlightening.

Good luck! GO WES!

The Orientation Interns
Maximilien Chong Lee Shin ‘21
Caridad Cruz ‘21
Christopher Jackson ‘20
Virginia Sciolino ‘21
orientation@wesleyan.edu
(860) 685-5666

Summer Sendoffs  

Thursday, July 12 – NY, NY
Saturday, July 21 – Los Angeles, CA
Sunday, July 22 – Bay Area, CA
Wednesday, July 25 – Mamaroneck, NY
Wednesday, July 25 – Ridgewood, New Jersey
Saturday, July 28 – Washington, DC
Thursday, August 2 – Boston, MA
Thursday, August 9 – Seattle, WA
Saturday, August 4 – Beijing, CH
Monday, August 13 – Chicago, IL
Tuesday, August 14 – Fairfield County, CT
Wednesday, August 15 – Philadelphia, PA
Thursday, July 19 – Hong Kong, CH
Saturday, August 4 – Mumbai, IN

Message from the Dean

Pre-Registration Planning starts on Monday, July 9 at 9am and will run until 5pm on Tuesday, July 31. Here is a breakdown of the process:

• Use this time to review Wesvising and look over WesMaps
• Go to your WesPortal to access Pre-Registration
  • WesPortal>Student>New Student Checklist & Resources>Pre-Registration
  • Build a ranked course plan of seven courses you would like to take in the Fall. Rank order from first: 1^st choice to 7: last choice
  • Identify and rank seven first year seminar courses if you did not register for a Living & Learning FYS
• If you are a student interested in posting AP, IB, or pre-matriculant credits, please note that individual academic departments have specific guidelines in these matters. Consult the charts available online to get details for your particular situation.

Note: The CSS, COL, and CEAS majors require students to fulfil prerequisites in Fall of their freshman year. This week’s Academic Highlights will focus on these specialized programs.

Academic Highlights

Thinking about Majoring in CSS, COL, or CEAS?

Although most students will have until the second semester of sophomore year to declare a major, students interested in pursuing the College of Social Studies (CSS), the College of Letters (COL), and the College of East Asian Studies (CEAS) must do so in the spring semester of freshman year. While we like to advise students to explore a wide range of classes in their first year of college and hone their interests, if you are thinking about one of these programs, it may affect the decisions that you make during pre-registration. This blog post will provide a description of each of these programs and some suggestions for those who are thinking about choosing one of these majors.

• College of Social Studies is a rigorous, multidisciplinary major focusing in history, government, political and social theory, and economics. CSS is reading and writing intensive, encouraging intellectual independence with weekly essays, small group tutorials, and a vibrant intellectual environment.
• College of Letters is an interdisciplinary major for the study of European literature, history, and philosophy, from antiquity to the present. During these three years, students participate as a cohort in a series of colloquia in which they read and discuss works together (in English), learn to think critically about texts in relation to their contexts and influences—both European and non-European—and in relation to the disciplines that shape and are shaped by those texts. Majors also become proficient in a foreign language and study abroad in order to deepen their knowledge of another culture.
• College of East Asian Studies challenges students to understand China, Japan, and Korea through the rigors of language study and the analytical tools of various academic disciplines. This process demands both broad exposure to different subjects and a focused perspective on a particular feature of the East Asian landscape.

Visit the Orientation website to view for application deadlines, admission requirements, and course prerequisites for the CSS, COL, and CEAS majors.

Message from Orientation Interns

Howdy, incoming Wesleyan students!

Now that Pre-Registration will start on Monday, July 9, begin making use of WesMaps to look into available courses, especially First Year Seminars (FYS), for Fall 2018! As you get acquainted, we suggest looking at our peer advising webpage and contacting peeradvisors@wesleyan.edu with any questions that may arise!

As usual, good luck and GO WES!

The Orientation Interns
Maximilien Chong Lee Shin ‘21
Caridad Cruz ‘21
Christopher Jackson ‘20
Virginia Sciolino ‘21
orientation@wesleyan.edu
(860) 685-5666

Summer Sendoffs  

Thursday, July 12 – NY, NY
Saturday, July 21 – Los Angeles, CA
Sunday, July 22 – Bay Area, CA
Wednesday, July 25 – Mamaroneck, NY
Wednesday, July 25 – New Jersey
Saturday, July 28 – Washington, DC
Thursday, August 2 – Boston, MA
Thursday, August 9 – Seattle, WA
Saturday, August 4 – Beijing
Monday, August 13 – Chicago, IL
Tuesday, August 14 – Fairfield County, CT
Wednesday, August 15 – Philadelphia, PA

Message from the Dean

I hope you were able to complete all the tasks that were due today (June 28, 2018) and that you are preparing for pre-registration coming up in July. In the Academic Highlights section of this week’s newsletter, I describe some of the things that characterize a “balanced schedule.” This will help you to get off to a healthy and strong start to the semester.

 

Remember to begin your Common Reading of A Body Undone: Living on After Great Pain by Christina Crosby. A hard copy of the book should arrive at your home address shortly.

Tomorrow you can participate in a Facebook Live session at 12pm ET. Professor Crosby, a member of the English Department and Feminist, Gender Sexuality Studies Program will be joined by Professor Jennifer Tucker, Chair of Feminist, Gender, and Sexuality Studies and member of the History Department, and by students Caridad Cruz ’21 and Christopher Jackson ’20. If you miss the session, you can watch it on the Wesleyan University Facebook page.

Lastly, beginning tomorrow Friday, June 29^th through August 10^th, most offices at the university will close on Fridays at noon ET. With the upcoming July 4^th national holiday, you may find it difficult to reach various personnel at the university for most of next week.  We will do our best to address any questions or concerns. In the meantime, there is a wealth of information on the Orientation website.

Have a great week and remember this will be the last time we will send information to you using your personal email account. Please use your Wesleyan email account from now on.

Dean Thornton

Academic Highlights

Preparation for Pre-Registration

Last week, I advised you to think in terms of a building manageable course of study that offers challenge as well as flexibility for you to explore the curriculum and discover new interests.  As you pursue your educational goals, keep in mind the idea of constructing a schedule that is balanced, challenging, and interesting. What exactly did I mean?

An academic schedule is balanced when:

• There is a combination of small and large classes, lecture and discussion, and variations in course content and focus (e.g., reading, writing, quantitative work, artistic activity). This can provide breadth and stimulate academic curiosity while keeping a schedule manageable yet challenging.
• There is variation in class days and times. For some students, this is as important a consideration as what courses to choose. Without sacrificing intellectual rigor or interest, students should try to distribute their courses across the week and through the day in the way that works best for them.

Message from Orientation Interns

Hello, incoming students!

This week, we’d suggest getting familiar with some academic resources. In a couple days, you’ll begin selecting courses. To prepare for that moment and avoid the anxiety that sometimes accompanies it, use WesVising to get acquainted with various departments. Additionally, whether you foresee needing advice from the STEM Zone or information about stress relief from WesWell, you will find other resources easily accessible through the Wesleyan University website’s resources page.

As a Wesleyan student, you can use a plethora of resources to expand your virtual library, as your Wesleyan email will grant you access to JSTOR, Lynda.com, the Mango Languages program, and a free New York Times subscription, among many other things you’ll find when exploring your WesPortal in depth.

We hope you find this helpful over the long and exciting summer between high school and college. GO WES!

The Orientation Interns
Maximilien Chong Lee Shin ‘21
Caridad Cruz ‘21
Christopher Jackson ‘20
Virginia Sciolino ‘21
orientation@wesleyan.edu
(860) 685-5666

Summer Sendoffs (as of 6/28) 

Thursday, July 12 – NY, NY
Saturday, July 21—Los Angeles, CA
Sunday, July 22 – Bay Area, CA
Wednesday, July 25— Mamaroneck, NY
Saturday, July 28 – Washington, DC
Thursday, August 2— Boston, MA
Thursday, August 9 – Seattle, WA
Monday, August 13 – Chicago, IL
Tuesday, August 14 – Fairfield County, CT
Wednesday, August 15 – Philadelphia, PA

Message from the Dean

You have several tasks to complete by June 28, a week from today.   We will use the information to learn more about your academic interests, needs and preferences in order to connect you with housing, your faculty advisor, the Learning and Living seminar, and other people and services who will support you at Wesleyan.  Submit these materials now so that you can turn your attention to course selection and registration. For most first-time college students, the large number and variety of course offerings, compared to the pre-determined curriculum in high school, may seem simultaneously exciting and intimidating. Do not worry, however, as there are several useful advising resources to help you through this process. Check out the Academic Highlights section below to learn more about them.

You may  recall that last week I mentioned the Common Reading, The Body, Undone. This week, I am excited to share with you that the author, Professor Christina Crosby, will host an upcoming Facebook Chat next week.  Join us for #Faculty Friday Facebook Live on Friday, June 29 at 12pm ET with Professor Crosby, a member of the English Department and Feminist, Gender Sexuality Studies Program.  She will be joined by Professor Jennifer Tucker, Chair of Feminist, Gender, and Sexuality Studies and member of the History Department, and by students Leslie Maldonado ’19 and Christopher Jackson ’20.  Watch Live on the Wesleyan University Facebook page or at  https://www.facebook.com/wesleyan.university/

Academic Highlights

Preparation for Pre-registration

Students typically welcome Wesleyan’s feast of course offerings with great enthusiasm. Some even imagine a scenario in which they may immerse themselves in the endless study or performance of their scholarly or artistic interests. Your goal should be to create a manageable course of study that offers challenge as well as flexibility for you to explore the curriculum and discover new interests as you pursue your educational goals.

Have you ever heard the phrase, “prior preparation prevents poor performance”? This applies well to selecting courses in college too. Visit the Academic Planning & Course Registration section of the landing page for entering students to get started. The Advising Guidelines, Wesvising, and WesMaps combine  to form a powerful trio of services through video and text that will facilitate your exploration of Wesleyan’s diverse liberal arts curriculum.  You will get advice from faculty and students as they discuss different academic disciplines, pathways, and the General Education Expectations, among many other things so that you can create a balanced, challenging and interesting course of study for your first semester at Wes.

Enjoy!

Message from Orientation Interns

Hello to all incoming Wesleyan students!

This week, you should focus on completing your Orientation Checklist items whose June 28^th deadline looms above you, namely the Academic Interest Questionnaire, Academic Self-Reflection Essay, Emergency Contacts notice, Placement Tests, Transfer Connections Form – and first-years, don’t forget to register for the Learning & Living Seminar, Great Books Unbound: How to Live Forever.

Your Housing Preference Form is also due June 28^th.  Check out the videos of the myriad and wonderful housing options available at Wesleyan!

Good luck with everything! GO WES!

The Orientation Interns
Maximilien Chong Lee Shin ‘21
Caridad Cruz ‘21
Christopher Jackson ‘20
Virginia Sciolino ‘21
orientation@wesleyan.edu
(860) 685-5666

Summer Sendoffs

Summer Sendoff Schedule as of 6/18

Thursday, July 12 – NY, NY
Saturday, July 21—Los Angeles, CA
Sunday, July 22 – Bay Area, CA
Wednesday, July 25— Mamaroneck, NY
Saturday, July 28 – Washington, DC
Thursday, August 2— Boston, MA
Thursday, August 9 – Seattle, WA
Monday, August 13 – Chicago, IL
Tuesday, August 14 – Fairfield County, CT
Wednesday, August 15 – Philadelphia, PA