Dear Families of Students in the Class of 2027,
The fall semester is now turning colder as we move closer to the winter season and students are even planning for the spring, as they are engaging in the pre-registration process with their liberal arts advisors. Thanksgiving recess will also be here soon and runs from November 22-26.
Many first-year students have transitioned quite well from high school to Wesleyan, as they are exploring the open curriculum and finding new passions. Others may have experienced small mishaps in their transition, but they have found that there is a plethora of resources available to them to help. Homesickness and loneliness are often part of the first year, so to get a better picture of the co-curricular life of your student, you may want to ask them what kinds of activities they’re involved in and how they feel those are going. Are there other things they’re hoping to do and learn outside the classroom?
As first-year students learn to balance academics and co-curricular activities, they usually begin to understand the importance of time management and self-advocacy. If they’re hoping to utilize the vast array of academic resources on campus, please suggest that they look over the Student Academic Resources site or ask them to be in touch with me, as I will connect them.
The second half of the semester tends to spin into a faster pace, and sometimes the stress level rises. You might want to ask your student what kinds of challenges they’re facing, academically or otherwise, as well as what resources they’re using to address those challenges. Please remind them that I’m available to meet every weekday via Zoom or in-person.
The course withdrawal deadline is coming up on December 1, so students should be talking with their instructors and advisors about whether withdrawing from a course could be helpful and/or advisable. Classes will end on December 8, with reading period running from December 9-12, followed by the final exam period from December 12-16.
So that you can help your student plan, please note that housing closes for the fall semester on December 17 at noon. Housing reopens for all students on Sunday, January 21, 2024, at 10:00 AM. Students who need to remain on campus during the winter break must apply to do so by November 16, 2023. It is important to note that housing is not guaranteed during the winter break, and some university residences will remain closed during that time, which means some approved students will have to relocate to a temporary assignment. More information can be found on the ResLife website.
Please feel free to contact me (or encourage your students to contact me) with any questions and/or concerns. It’s been wonderful coming to know your students since they arrived on campus.
Sincerely,
Jennifer Wood
Dean for the Class of 2027
860.685.2774 | jpwood@wesleyan.edu
https://classof2027.blogs.wesleyan.edu/