Academic Advising and the Advising Relationship

Developing a strong relationship with your faculty advisor is key to taking full advantage of your Wesleyan educational experience. Your advisor, who will be assigned to you prior to your arrival on campus, will serve as your intellectual guide, answering questions about how to best navigate the curriculum. You will be challenged to undertake coursework in disciplines outside your comfort zone so that you may broaden your understanding of yourself and the world. After you arrive on campus, your advisor will point you to additional resources needed to develop your academic plan. When you declare your major, you will be assigned a new faculty advisor in your major department. Your class dean is another source of academic guidance and support during your time at Wesleyan.

Academic Resources

Among the many resources that Wesleyan provides to assist with academic planning, WesMaps (wesleyan.edu/wesmaps), WesPortal (portal.wesleyan.edu), and the Wesleyan University Course Catalog (catalog.wesleyan.edu) are the most important. WesMaps provides complete curricular information for every course taught at the University, including course description, important readings, scheduling information, General Education designations, prerequisites, grading mode, and course format. As a new student, you will utilize WesMaps, Wesvising, the Advising Guidelines, and other resources as you participate in course registration and craft a tentative plan of study to be discussed and approved by your faculty advisor at your orientation meeting.

WesPortal is your online gateway to the University, with important academic processes, including course registration, drop/add, and declaration of your major. WesPortal also helps you monitor progress towards graduation by providing access to your academic history, General Education Report, credit analysis, and major certification form. Beyond these core academic functions, your WesPortal also provides access to your Wesleyan email and Google Docs accounts, class blogs, enrollment and personal data information, and student account balance and payment tools.

Programs for all Students and Parents

Family circumstances vary widely, and so do the means for meeting the cost of a year at Wesleyan. Family resources—including student and parent income, assets, and loans—will most likely be the primary source of financing. Need-based financial aid is available for qualifying students who applied during the application process. Other financial strategies and resources that many families use include the monthly payment plan, outside scholarship support (which initially reduces self-help amounts for financial aid recipients), and supplemental loans.

It is best to inquire about these programs early to understand your options for making Wesleyan affordable. Optional tuition insurance is offered through A.W.G. Dewar, Inc. Application to Dewar must be made prior to the first day of class. For more information, visit collegerefund.com.

How Wesleyan Bills Students

Students are charged one semester at a time for tuition, fees, and the Residential Comprehensive Fee. If a student is receiving financial aid, the pending credits for the financial aid are subtracted from the account total, as long as the student has provided the Office of Financial Aid with all necessary certifications and documents.

The account balance, minus tentative credits for any financial aid not yet posted to the account, is the amount the student is responsible for paying. The full amount due must be paid within 30 days of the billing date. Fall semester charges are posted in July. Spring semester charges are posted to the student account in January. Students are not permitted to enroll unless the full amount due is paid or otherwise satisfied.

Financing Options 

See current financing information.

Some FAQs

When should we make arrangements for a payment program?

Program enrollment can begin when the semester charges are posted to the student account.

When should we apply for an educational loan?

Complete loan processing, including approval, may require several weeks. In order to receive loan proceeds prior to fall enrollment, applications for any educational loan should be in process by January 15.

Are any campus jobs available to students who are not receiving financial aid?

Yes. Preference is given to students who are authorized to work as part of their financial aid awards, but about one-third of the on-campus jobs typically are held by non-financial aid students. Non-university jobs are also available in the local community.

If we did not apply for financial aid but would like to explore this option, what should we do?

For U.S. citizens and permanent residents, please contact the Office of Financial Aid to discuss any special circumstances or changes that may have occurred since your admission to Wesleyan. In general, if you applied to Wesleyan without seeking financial aid, you must be enrolled one year before becoming eligible to receive Wesleyan financial aid.

Who receives student account access?

The student has primary access to their student account. The student can enable guests to view their student account online or make online payments. For more information, visit the Student Accounts website.

What forms of payment are accepted by Wesleyan?

• E-check or paper check
• Wire transfer
• Flywire for international money transfer
• Private educational loan
• Monthly Payment Plan