Planning Your Time

Keeping Wes Safe

We are delighted to invite Wesleyan alumni and families to an in-person Homecoming/Family Weekend. Things will look a little different this year so that we can protect the on-campus experience for our students along with the local community. Our public health experts have advised us to move most events outside, limit the time when guests are in high-density settings, and welcome vaccinated visitors only.

All visitors must adhere to and follow the University COVID-19 safety guidelines for Homecoming/Family Weekend:

• Wesleyan requires all visitors to be fully vaccinated.
• All visitors will be asked to complete an attestation form confirming their vaccination status.
• Advance registration will be required.
• Masks are required in all University buildings regardless of vaccination status. This includes all speakers/performers.
• Indoor events will be limited. 
• Food and beverage consumption will be limited to outdoor venues.
• Children aged 12 and under will receive a special exception to attend the weekend but will need to be masked at all times and will be asked to limit attendance to outdoor events only.
• Tailgating will not be permitted on Andrus Field.  Guests will be able to park cars but we can't allow tents, grills, etc. For more details please visit the Wesleyan Athletics Spectator Policy.
• Guests will not be allowed in residence halls or be able to attend a class.

Thank you for your flexibility and understanding!

For more details on other safety guidelines that our campus community will continue to follow, please visit Keep Wes Safe.

*Following current CDC and Connecticut Department of Public Health Guidelines and with everyone’s safety in mind, these plans are subject to change if conditions necessitate.  

**If you are making travel arrangements, we advise all guests to please be aware of all cancellation policies before finalizing your plans.

WESeminars and other Indoor Events

Attendance is first-come, first-served for indoor events during Homecoming/Family Weekend.  Once room capacity has been reached, we are unable to allow for additional seating.  All guests will be asked to check-in with a staff person upon entering an indoor event and will be required to be masked at all times.  Anyone who has not registered and/or attested to their vaccination status will be asked to do so.  Please plan accordingly and register in advance.  Stop by the Homecoming/Family Weekend check-in tent (location to be announced) when you arrive on campus to obtain your Wesleyan badge which will allow access to attend indoor events.

Questions?

Parents and families of current students as well as Alumni and other guests should contact hcfw@wesleyan.edu.

Registration and Information

Registration is required and free for alumni and parents who want to attend Homecoming/Family Weekend events (except where noted). All visitors will be asked to complete an attestation form confirming their vaccination status.

Please check in at the Registration tent locacted behind South College/Memorial Chapel (behind the visitors bleachers on Andrus Field) when you arrive on campus. Check-in hours are:

• Friday, October 29: 10:00 a.m.–4:00 p.m.
• Saturday, October 30: 9:00 a.m.–3:00 p.m.

Pets on Campus

Pets are not allowed in any University building, however service dogs are exempt from the restrictions of this policy. Pets must be on a leash and under control at all times when on campus. Pets shall not be tied to trees or signposts. Pets are not allowed on athletic fields or in gardens at any time, even if leashed. Pets are allowed in the parking/fan area on Andrus Field but are not permitted in the bleacher area. Owners must remove all waste. Owners are responsible for any property damage or injury to others.

Bottled Water

Wesleyan is a bottled water-free campus. Bottled water is not 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 Homecoming/Family Weekend, which you can fill at one of the many water fountains and bottle filling stations on campus. More information about sustainability at Wesleyan...

Meals

Meal options will be limited during Homecoming/Family Weekend this year in order to keep the Wes community safe. Indoor dining will not be available. You can choose to dine at one of the many restaurants in downtown Middletown. Bon Appetit, Wesleyan's Campus Dining Service will sell concessions on Saturday, October 30 from 11 a.m. - 3 p.m.  

Tailgating

Fans will be able to park their cars on Andrus Field, but in order to maintain the safety of our campus community we are not permitting tailgating on the field this year.  

These policies are subject to change and protocol violators will lose parking privileges.
- Parking opens at 12 noon
- Grills and pop-up tents are not permitted in the parking area 
- Vehicles must exit the parking area no later than one hour after the conclusion of the game 
- Alcoholic beverages are not permitted in the bleachers or areas surrounding the game field 
- Avoid large gatherings
- Place trash in proper bins before leaving the parking area 

Please visit the Wesleyan Athletics Spectator Policy for additional details and what to expect on game day. 

Campus Parking

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.

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…

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.  Please make sure you are aware of all cancellation policies before making your travel arrangements.

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. 

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 & Parent Relations at 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.