Dear Parents and Families of Students in the Class of 2025:
The Wesleyan campus is gearing up to start the 2023-2024 academic year. University housing opens for returning students at 9:00 a.m. on Friday, 9/1, and classes begin on Monday, 9/4. Fall Break occurs from the end of the day on Friday, 10/20 with classes resuming on Wednesday, 10/25. We celebrate Homecoming & Family Weekend from Friday, 10/27 through Sunday, 10/29.
Juniors are now settled into their new academic homes after declaring their majors last semester; however, before getting too comfortable, I’ve encouraged our juniors to recognize time will pass quickly between now and graduation. The more effort one puts into making plans for graduation and beyond at the beginning of the junior year, the more fruitful one’s senior year will be. If your student plans to undertake an honors thesis next year, it will benefit them to line up an advisor and narrow their research topic before the end of this semester. Students should consider a visit to the Gordon Career Center to contemplate life beyond college whether that includes plans for employment or graduate school. If they have not already done so, juniors should consider reviewing and applying to appropriate fellowships. Encourage them to schedule an appointment with our Fellowships advisor or to attend upcoming Fellowships webinars to learn more.
This fall more than 200 members of the Class of 2025 will participate in study abroad programs in countries including but not limited to Brazil, Denmark, and South Africa. Study Abroad can be a wonderfully transformative experience. For many parents and guardians, having a student enrolled in study abroad provides an opportunity to travel vicariously and share in the joys of discovering the nuances of a foreign culture through their student’s eyes. While most students are well-prepared for their travels, life in a foreign county can present unforeseen challenges which may seem especially daunting to family members who learn about them from half a planet away. Please take comfort knowing that every study abroad program provides support resources to help students meet the cultural and academic challenges they may face while studying in a foreign country. Feel free to take a look at the resources listed for parents and families on our study abroad page.
I will write to you again before the end of the fall semester. If you plan to be on campus for Homecoming & Family Weekend, I will host drop-in hours for families in the morning on Saturday, 10/28, so please drop in if you have the time.
Take care,
Kelly Dunn, EdD
Dean for the Class of 2025
T. (860) 685-2658