Class of 2020 Celebration

A: All University visitors and attendees at Wesleyan-sponsored events, both on and off-campus, must be fully vaccinated against COVID-19. “Fully vaccinated” means receiving a booster shot within 30 days of CDC eligibility. By registering for or attending this event, you attest to being fully vaccinated. Please visit the Keep Wes Safe website to review safety guidelines. 

A: The deadline for the Class of 2020 BA graduates to request on-campus housing was April 11 and has passed.  If you secured a room prior to the deadline, please note that rooms are for graduates only (no guests); most are not air conditioned and are doubles (or “pass-through” rooms); and there are no private bathrooms. All have twin beds. 

As a guest of these residence halls, graduates agree to respect these facilities and those around them. Non-compliance with requests from Public Safety may result in a restriction of access to facilities or events, or in a report to law enforcement.

Residence Hall Check Out is Sunday, June 5th t 2:00 p.m.
***Please drop access cards and keys in designated boxes no later than 2:00 pm***

If you did not secure a room, you can vist our accommodations page, to view hotel room blocks and other hotels that potentially have availability.

A: If you secure on-campus housing, specific room assignments and keys will be available when you arrive to the registration site on campus for the weekend. 

A: Basic linens, a light blanket, a pillow, and a towel are provided, but please bring whatever else would make you feel more at home, such as an extra blanket, hair dryer, mirror, alarm clock, your favorite pillow, extra clothes hangers, reading light, radio, extra towel, or fan.  

A: Local hotels are listed on the Class of 2020 Celebration accommodations page. Please be sure to make note of your hotel’s cancellation policies.  

A: No. Parents, family members, and other guests are encouraged to reserve rooms at a nearby hotel.

A:   The deadline to reqeust the travel stipend was April 11 and has passed. Only those who filled out the online HEERF certification form can receive the stipend. You must be logged into your Wesleyan Google account and must be able to access your Wesleyan email account (WesPortal) to accept the stipend once issued.

A: Each Wesleyan graduate receives a permanent email account (or keeps their existing one). Email account management is provided through the WesPortal system. To access your Wesleyan email, please sign into WesPortal, click on “communication” and then “WebMail.” Additional information regarding our new WesPortal system is available here . 

A: It is our intention and hope to celebrate Commencement with family and friends. We do not anticipate limitations to the number of guests attending the outdoor ceremony on Andrus Field; however, we will continue to assess conditions of the pandemic and provide updates that could alter current plans. Per COVID campus visitor guidelines, all guests attending Commencement must be fully vaccinated against COVID-19. “Fully vaccinated” means receiving a booster shot within 30 days of CDC eligibility. By attending the Commencement ceremony, you attest to being fully vaccinated. Please continue to make note of safety guidelines outlined within the Keep Wes Safe website. 

A: The Commencement ceremony will begin at 11 a.m. on Sunday, June 5, and last approximately 1.5 hours. 

If you already ordered your regalia through Oak Hall and requested that it be shipped to Wesleyan (not home), please pick up it up at Registration at Exley Science Center (not Wesleyan RJ Julia, as noted when you ordered).  

If you did not pre-order Commencement regalia via the Oak Hall website, you may still order it through the Wesleyan RJ Julia website before you arrive on campus. Please note your height in the web order note section. If you choose this option, pick up your gown at the Wesleyan RJ Julia Bookstore (413 Main Street) starting Thursday, June 2. Store hours: Thursday – Saturday: 10 a.m.– 8 p.m.

If you do not order regalia in advance, you may still come to the Wesleyan RJ Julia Bookstore to purchase a gown when you arrive, but we highly encourage all Class of 2020 alumni to pre-order their regalia to ensure availability and size.

Last, if you would simply like to rent regalia, a limited supply will be available at Cardinal Tech in Usdan. It requires a $20 cash or check deposit, which is fully refunded when you return the rental to Cardinal Tech by 3 p.m. Sunday. Cardinal Tech hours are:

Thursday – Saturday: 9 a.m. – 6 p.m.
Sunday:  8 a.m.– 3 p.m.

RJ Julia phone:  (860) 685-3939

A: Yes. Wesleyan has partnered with GradImages and professional photographers will be at the ceremony to take a candid photograph. You may pre-register for photos and receive a coupon for 20% off your entire order.

A: There is a seating section for people with accessibility needs. Special accommodation/accessibility requests will be taken when guest registration opens in April. 

A: Yes! Meals throughout the weekend are free for 2020 graduates. Guests accompanying graduates at the Friday afternoon Food & Fun on Foss, Friday night Class Dinner, Saturday Picnic, or Sunday Brunch can purchase tickets in advance. To be guaranteed meals, help keep our catering costs down, and reduce waste, both 2020 graduates and family members should register for meals in advance through the registration site.  

A: We do not send meal tickets through the mail. You will receive the appropriate meal tickets in your Celebration Weekend welcome packet upon checking in at registration.  

A: Vegetarian, vegan, and gluten-free alternatives are offered at every meal. 

A: Cash bars or beer/wine trucks will be available at some select events. Please remember to bring a photo ID. 

A: Anyone planning to attend any portion of the Class of 2020 Celebration Weekend must register in advance. All University visitors and attendees at Wesleyan-sponsored events – both on and off campus – must be fully vaccinated against COVID-19. “Fully vaccinated” means receiving a booster shot within 30 days of CDC eligibility. By registering for this event, you, and additional guests you register, attest to being fully vaccinated.  

Advance registration allows us to reserve meals for you and your family/guests and to ensure that we have enough space for class-specific events.  

A: Class of 2020 graduates received an email with registration instructions and they should only register on that site with their unique registration code. Registration for parents, family members, and guests is now available.

A: The deadline for Class of 2020 alumni to request housing and/or a travel stipend was April 11, 2022. The event registration deadline for Class of 2020 alumni, family members and guests is Friday, May 6, 2022.  

A: If you have questions about your registration, or need to make changes, please contact the Office of Alumni and Parent Relations at grad2020@wesleyan.edu. 

A: Visit the on-campus registration site in Room 189, Exley Science Center. There you will receive a final schedule, meal tickets, if purchased, and other essential information that will help you navigate the weekend. 

A: Registration hours are
Thurs. June 2: 4 p.m. – 9 p.m. Exely
Fri. June 3: 9 a.m. – 9 p.m. Exley
Sat. June 4: 9 a.m. – 9 p.m. Exley
Sun. June 5: 8 a.m. – 2 p.m. Usdan

A: The online schedule of events is always current but subject to change. Everyone should check in at registration to receive their nametag, meal tickets, and other essential information.  

A: As a general policy, fees collected for event registration and other expenses are non-refundable. In most circumstances, these fees cover the cost to reserve a facility or catering needs. However, more importantly, the fees commit and confirm guest attendance which is important when other guests are interested in registering. The staff in the Office of Alumni and Parent Relations understands that unique circumstances do prevent some guests from fulfilling their obligations and accepts written exceptions to the refund policy. Please direct those appeals to the office at 291 Main Street, Middletown, CT 06457 or grad2020@wesleyan.edu. We are not able to process refunds during the weekend. 

A: Yes. There are a limited number of parking lots available that event attendees can use over the weekend. Please check the campus map and look for parking signage once you arrive on campus. The inner lots L, C,T,G,A, and Vine Street will be best for the Class of 2020 activities. Daily parking is also offered at the Middlesex Corporate Center Parking Garage located on Court Street; however, they will be cleaning the garage that weekend, so only the upper level is available.

A: A few smaller lots will be reserved for individuals with disabilities. Please see the Accessibility map of campus for details. Limited parking will be available in E lot on Thursday through Friday for  individuals with special needs. On Sunday, parking will be available in E lot and C lot on a limited basis.

There will be a shuttle offered on campus to and from parking lots and to and from Main Street.  Please call 860 982 8031 to inquire.

Although some hotels provide limited shuttle service (please check with your hotel’s front desk), we encourage you to rent a car, or share a ride with another Wesleyan guest. We do not offer hotel shuttle service.