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 as well as Alumni and other guests should contact (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) 685-2116 or aprinterns@wesleyan.edu

Registration and Information

Registration is free for alumni and parents who want to attend Homecoming/Family Weekend events (except where noted). Meals are available at an additional charge. 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 25, at midnight EST), there's still time to join us. You can register onsite when you arrive for the weekend. When you arrive on campus, please visit the Usdan University Center for a final schedule with locations and event updates, a welcome packet, nametags, and other important information.

Check in hours are:

• Friday 10:00 a.m.–9:00 p.m.
• Saturday 8:00 a.m.–6:00 p.m.
• Sunday 9:00 a.m.–2:00 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 Café, Usdan University Center and the Pi Café, Exley Science Center.

Bottled Water

Wesleyan is 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 are open to parents, alumni, and families during Homecoming/Family Weekend, or you can choose to dine at one of the many restaurants in downtown Middletown.  Vegetarian, vegan, and kosher-style options are 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 for these meals by October 25. Meal tickets will not be mailed to you in advance; they will be available when you pick up 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

$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 25, 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. Several Visitor parking lots are available for those traveling to campus, and street parking is available in selected locations. Additional parking lots may be available for special events: please check the posted “event parking” signs.

Student-Operated Shuttle Hours

• Friday, 10:00 a.m.–7:00 p.m.
• Saturday, 8:00 a.m.–7:00 p.m.
• Sunday, 8:00 a.m.–2:00 p.m.

Shuttle Hotline

(860) 685-2418

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, 7:00 p.m. to 4:00 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: 10:00 a.m.–7:00 p.m.
• Saturday: 8:00 a.m.–7:00 p.m.
• Sunday: 8:00 a.m.–2:00 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.

Middletown Area Transit bus now has an express service (spearheaded by Noah Kahan ’19) linking the Wesleyan campus to the Meriden Train Station, where students and guests can connect to New Haven, Hartford, and Springfield. Buses can be picked up on the corner of William/High Streets (M-Link and C Route) about once an hour.  Rides are $1.75 each way.  M-Link revamped its schedule in 2019 and has coordinated M-Link schedules with CTrail departure times in Meriden for easier transit usage.

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. 

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 Office of Advancement 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 291 Main Street Street, Middletown, CT 06457 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 25 if you or your guests have any special needs. Requests for sign language interpreters must be made by October 25. Contact the Office of Alumni & 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…