August 2022
Dear Parents and Families of students in the Class of 2026,
Welcome to Wesleyan! This is the first of many letters I will send you over the next four years in which I will share my perspectives on student life at Wesleyan and offer suggestions on how you can support your student as they navigate the many academic opportunities and personal challenges they will face between now and graduation.
As the Dean for the Class of 2026, my job is to provide information, advice, and support to the students in my class. While my primary concern is with student academic growth and intellectual development, this concern naturally extends to personal growth and development within the context of the residential liberal arts environment that is at the heart of the Wesleyan educational experience. If you sense that your student has academic concerns or may be in need of personal advice or support, please encourage them to see me. While I cannot always be of direct assistance, I can always connect a student to someone who can assist.
As your student embarks on their Wesleyan journey, there are three individuals on campus with whom you should encourage them to develop a strong working relationship: their faculty advisor, academic peer advisors, and their resident advisor. Faculty advisors provide guidance regarding academic planning and course selection. Peer advisors are fellow students who are knowledgeable of academic support resources who can also help navigate the Wesleyan “system.” Resident advisors are fellow students who are knowledgeable of Wesleyan’s co-curricular resources and whose job is to provide students with opportunities for personal growth and community engagement.
As for the questions that you as a parent or guardian may have, many answers can be found on the Parent Programs website. Another good resource is Parents’ Questions for Students, which provides an overview of the kinds of academic, co-curricular, and personal challenges that students typically face during their time at Wesleyan. Also, I encourage you to subscribe to the Class of 2026 Blog which provides a student-centered perspective on day-to day life at Wesleyan. The blog also serves as the main channel of communication through which I let students know about campus events, upcoming deadlines, internships, and career opportunities.
Arrival Day for new students is Wednesday, August 31, and classes will begin the following Monday, September 5. The course Drop/Add period for fall 2022 begins on Monday, August 29 and ends on Friday, September 16. During this time, students can add and drop courses on their schedule. Please note that students must be enrolled in a minimum of three credits to be considered full-time at Wesleyan. Other important dates to note this fall, include: Fall Break which begins at the end of the day on Friday, October 21, and extends through the following Tuesday, October 25. Homecoming/Family Weekend is Friday, November 4, through Sunday, November 6. If you are able to make it to campus that weekend, please stop in to say hello.
Please enjoy these final few days of summer before packing your student off for college and do not hesitate to get in touch if you have any questions or concerns.
Best wishes,
Michael L. Guerrero
Dean for the Class of 2026
T. (860) 685-2757 | mlguerrero@wesleyan.edu
Class of 2026 Blog
Office of Student Affairs
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