Planning Your Weekend
Jump to information about…
- Questions? Telephone numbers and contacts
- Registration and information
- Form of payment
- Bottled water
- Meals
- Meals requiring advance purchase
- Campus parking and student-run campus shuttle
- Shuttle hours
- Shuttle hotline
- Parking locations
- Shuttle pick-up and drop-off Locations
- Area transportation
- Area attractions
- Car rental companies
- Box Office
- Accommodations
- Photos and videos
- Wireless access on campus
- Refunds
- Accessibility for Persons with Disabilities
- Sustainability
Questions? Telephone Numbers and Contacts
Parents and families of current students should contact Jeanne McNeff in University Relations at (860) 685-3933 or parents@wesleyan.edu.
Alumni and other guests should contact the Office of Alumni and Parent Relations at (860) 685-2116 or hcfw@wesleyan.edu.
During the weekend, please contact the student interns in the Office of Alumni and Parent Relations at (860) 685-2802 or aprinterns@wesleyan.edu
Registration and Information
To ensure adequate facilities and the availability of meals, we ask that all attendees register advance of the weekend. If you miss the pre-registration deadline (Friday, October 20, at midnight EST), there's still time to join us. You can register onsite when you arrive for the weekend. Meals and T-shirts are available at an additional charge. When you arrive on campus, please visit the Usdan University Center for a final schedule with locations and event updates, a welcome packet, nametags, T-shirts, and other important information.
Check in hours are:
- Friday 10 a.m.–9 p.m.
- Saturday 8 a.m.–7 p.m.
- Sunday 9 a.m.–2 p.m.
Form of Payment
Online we accept Visa, Mastercard, American Express, and Discover.
On campus we accept Visa, Matercard, American Express, Discover, and checks made out to Wesleyan University.
Cash is accepted at the Usdan Cafe, Usdan University Center and the Pi Cafe, Exley Science Center.
Bottled Water
Wesleyan is striving to become a bottled water-free campus. Bottled water is no longer sold in campus dining facilities or vending machines. We ask that you help us in maintaining our bottled water-free campus and bring a reusable bottle to Family Weekend, which you can fill at one of the many water fountains and bottle filling stations on campus. More information about sustainability efforts during the weekend...
Meals
Wesleyan’s on campus student dining options will be open to parents, alumni, and families during /Family Weekend, or you can choose to dine at one of the many restaurants in downtown Middletown. A vegetarian or vegan alternative is provided at every meal. A complete list of on-campus dining options and hours of operation will be available when you arrive on campus and check in at the Usdan University Center.
Meals Requiring Advance Purchase
Please register register these meals by October 20. Meal tickets will not be mailed to you in advance; they will be included in your welcome packet at the Usdan University Center.
- Friday All College Dinner*
- $20 adults and children over age 12 (except Wesleyan students using their meal plan onsite)
- $10 children 12 and under
- Friday Shabbat Dinner*
- $20 adults and children over age 12 (except Wesleyan students using their meal plan onsite)
- $10 children 12 and under
- Saturday Homecoming Day Lunch*
- $15 adults and children over age 12 (except Wesleyan students using their meal plan onsite)
- $5 children 12 and under
- Sunday Fall Harvest Brunch*
- $15 adults and children over age 12 (except Wesleyan students using their meal plan onsite)
- $5 children 12 and under
If you miss the online October 20, registration deadline, you may still purchase meal tickets on campus. Please stop by the registration site in the Usdan University Center to purchase your tickets and register for the weekend.
The Usdan Café (Usdan University Center) and the Pi Café (Exley Science Center) will be open for a la carte breakfast, lunch, and snacks Friday through Sunday for limited hours. These dining options do not require advance purchase.
Campus Parking and Student-Run Campus Shuttle
We do our best to accommodate the larger crowds on campus during the weekend, but please expect delays and plan accordingly. Parking is available along the street in designated parking spaces, various lots on campus and at the Vine Street parking lot (adjacent to the tennis courts), and the Freeman Athletic Center parking lots (Cross Street and Pine Street). Student-operated shuttles (mini-vans) will run regularly between these lots and all sites on campus. You can flag down a shuttle anywhere on campus, or call (860) 685-2418 to arrange an on campus ride in advance. Please allow at least one half-hour for all requests during the weekend.
Shuttle Hours
- Friday, 10 a.m. – 8 p.m.
- Saturday, 8 a.m. – 8 p.m.
- Sunday, 8 a.m. – 2 p.m.
Shuttle Hotline
Parking Locations
- Vine Street Lot
- Freeman Athletic Center Lots
- Along the streets in designated parking spaces
- Various smaller lots on campus
More information about visitor parking…
Shuttle Pick Up & Drop Off Locations
- Wyllys Avenue: Registration, Usdan University Center, College Row, Center for the Arts
- Inn at Middletown: 70 Main Street
- Church Street: Olin Library, Exley Science Center, Public Affairs Center, Clark Hall, Judd Hall
- Freeman Athletic Center: Cross Street Entrance
- Vine Street Parking Lot
- Wesleyan RJ Julia Bookstore, 413 Main Street
The RIDE, Wesleyan's Campus Shuttle service operates 7 nights a week, 7 p.m. to 4 a.m. Two shuttle vans make stops within 15 minutes of each other minimizing delays. The RIDE is free to all members of the Wesleyan Community.
Special Services: Persons with disabilities can access special shuttle services by calling the driver at 860/982-8031 during the following hours:
- Friday: 9 a.m. - 7 p.m.
- Saturday: 9 a.m. - 10 p.m.
- Sunday: 10 a.m. - 2 p.m.
Area Transportation
Transportation to and from campus is available by contacting local taxi and car services. Advanced reservations are strongly encouraged. Contact taxi and car services directly for more information, or to make reservations. For a list of car rental, taxi, and other transportation services, check out the Wesleyan transportation page for details.
Additional helpful information about getting around Middletown and key points in Connecticut may be found on the Wesleying blog. The WSA transportation page provides more details pertaining to bus schedules, off campus shuttles, directions, and more.
Area Attractions
There are many things to do in Middletown and the surrounding towns. If you're schedule allows, take some time and explore the local area. For a listing of attractions, check out the listing on the Welseyan Visitor's Guide.
Box Office
Tickets for Center for the Arts (CFA) events are available online through the University Box Office, on the first floor of the Usdan University Center, and at (860) 685-3355. Each performance requiring tickets through the box office is noted in this schedule. Seating is limited and many performances sell out in advance. All sales are final, and programs, dates, and artists are subject to change. More information about the Wesleyan Box Office…
Lost & Found
The campus-wide Lost & Found is relocated at Public Safety. If you lose an item or come across something that was left behind by someone else, please go to the Public Safety Office at 208 High Street or call (860) 685-2535.
Accommodations
The following hotels and motels are located close to campus:
More information about local accommodations…
Photos and Video
University staff will take photos and video throughout the weekend and may publish them in any format or media without additional permission from the individuals in the photos or videos.
Wireless Access on Campus
Guests may obtain access via a self-registration page that is presented upon connecting to the Wes-Guest network. To use your laptop, tablet, or smartphone on campus, you should open up your web browser. Once connected, a page will request an email address and optional cell phone number where a username and password will be sent. Guest accounts will be valid for 72 hours. Guests on campus longer than that may register as often as needed.
More details can be found here.Refunds
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 University Relations office 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 of Alumni & Parent Relations at 330 High Street Street, Middletown, CT 06459 or hcfw@wesleyan.edu. We are not able to process refunds during the weekend.
Accessibility for Persons with Disabilities
The University is committed to full access and reasonable accommodations for all people. Please let us know by October 20 if you or your guests have any special needs. Requests for sign language interpreters must be made by October 20. Contact the Office of Alumni and Parent Relations at (860) 685-2116 or hcfw@wesleyan.edu to make arrangements. Visitors needing accessible parking may utilize any of the designated spaces on campus with a properly displayed state-issued plate or placard from any state.
Sustainability
Wesleyan cares about what you put into your body and its effect on your well-being. This weekend we will work hard to provide you with food that is fresh, seasonal, and minimally processed. When possible, we will provide you with organic options along with other healthy choices. We understand that the effects of our choices extend well beyond the walls of our cafes at Wesleyan, and we’ve committed to purchasing up to 20 percent of the foods used this weekend from local farmers and other artisans. Recycling is no longer a choice; it’s a necessity, and you will find the opportunity to recycle at most every event this weekend. All of our kitchens are stocked with composting bins and all composting is done at Wesleyan’s Long Lane Farm. Unused food will be donated to organizations for distribution to those in need in the Middletown community, and most disposable ware that you will use this weekend is eco-friendly and either compostable or biodegradable. More information about Sustainability at Wesleyan…