November 2022
Dear Families and Friends of Students in the Class of 2024:
As the end of the semester approaches and the spectacular fall colors fade to brown, students are starting to make plans for working on final papers, projects and exams. Thanksgiving Break (November 23-27) will soon be upon us, followed by the last day of classes (December 9), and reading week and final exams (December 10-17). Housing will close at 12:00 noon on December 18 and will reopen at 10:00 a.m. on January 23. Spring semester classes begin on January 26.
Now that you have had some time to settle into the community of Wesleyan families and friends, I would encourage you to take a few moments to look back upon the intellectual and personal growth that has taken place in your student since they first arrived on campus in the fall of 2020. Perhaps your student was overwhelmed by workload that first year but has now learned how to manage time and balance responsibilities. Perhaps your student has emerged from their social cocoon and is now developing friendships with students from other parts of the world and from other walks of life. Or perhaps your student has discovered a passion for a field of study that they did not even know existed before coming to Wesleyan.
Looking forward, you are probably also wondering what life has in store for your student after graduation. While encouraging a visit the Gordon Career Center is always a good idea, it is also important to encourage your student to be mindful about cultivating relationships with professors, staff, and fellow students during their remining time at Wesleyan. Seniors often rise to leadership positions in the campus community, which offers important opportunities to enhance the co-curricular side of the Wesleyan experience. The senior year also offers opportunities to deepen personal connections with professors and advisors who might be able to serve as references or write letters of recommendation for whatever jobs or graduate school possibilities may be in the offing.
In other news, I have decided to retire at the end of this semester after serving as a class dean for over twenty years. I have very much enjoyed serving my students during my time at Wesleyan, but it’s time for me to settle down so that I can spend more time with my family and engage in more relaxing pursuits. A search is currently underway to find a new dean, who should be in place by the spring.
Best wishes,
David Phillips
Dean for the Class of 2024
T. (860) 685-2757 | dphillips@wesleyan.edu
Class of 2024 Blog