August 2022
Dear Parents and Families of students in the Class of 2023,
It is hard to believe that the senior year is now upon us, as it seems like just yesterday that you were dropping your students off on Arrival Day in September 2019. With summer quickly drawing to a close, we have been busy preparing for students returning to campus as well as for the arrival of new students in the Class of 2026. University housing will open on Saturday, September 3 and classes will start on Monday, September 5. There is a full week of drop/add prior to the start of classes this term, which should prove to be very helpful. Fall Break will take place from October 24 to 25. Homecoming/Family Weekend will take place during the weekend of November 4-6 and I will be holding office hours on that Saturday morning, so please come by.
This is the big year for the Class of 2023. Seniors typically experience a range of emotions, from excitement to trepidation, as they consider their last year at Wesleyan. In terms of the academic experience, seniors will enroll in some of the most intellectually challenging and rewarding courses of their undergraduate careers. To participate in the 191st graduation ceremony on May 28, 2023, seniors must meet all four of Wesleyan’s degree requirements by the end of their last semester:
- Completion of a major.
- A grade point average of at least 74.00.
- Six semesters of residency (four semesters for junior transfers or five semesters for sophomore transfers). Please note that terms in which students were taking Wesleyan courses remotely count toward this total.
- Satisfactory completion of 32.00 course credits, no fewer than 16.00 of which must be earned at Wesleyan.
While most students are well aware of exactly where they stand in relation to these requirements, if your student has any questions, please encourage them to contact me as soon as possible. If you have any questions, you should also feel free to call or write me.
While meeting the graduation requirements is a must, it is nonetheless important for seniors to think beyond simply checking off boxes as they make their plans for the year. By enrolling in high-level seminars in their majors or by undertaking honors thesis tutorials or senior projects, seniors have far more opportunities than other students to work closely—often one-on-one—with faculty members. Seniors should take advantage of these academic opportunities to work on building meaningful relationships with professors, advisors, and mentors. Not only is there an immediate benefit to doing this (i.e. post-graduation recommendations and referrals for jobs and graduate schools), but in many cases these relationships can become long-term friendships and sources of trusted wisdom, counsel, and career advice for many years to come.
The importance of building meaningful relationships during the senior year also extends beyond the classroom. The friends one makes in college are often one’s friends for life. The social networks that they have been building during their time here will continue to serve as a source of personal connection and support long after graduation.
Seniors should also be working closely with the Gordon Career Center, which offers individualized appointments, mock interviews, resumé help, networking techniques and more. There is also an online course “Career Decisions: From Insight to Impact” that might be helpful to your student. Whether or your student has the next ten years planned out or just a vague idea of future possibilities, the Gordon Career Center can be an invaluable resource.
Finally, please know that I’m available for questions or concerns. It’s been an honor to be the dean for the class of 2023 and I look forward to a stellar senior year.
Best wishes,
Jennifer Wood
Dean for the Class of 2023
T. (860) 685-2758 | jpwood@wesleyan.edu
Class of 2023 Blog
Academic Advancement
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Middletown, CT 06459