Note: Please visit the Arrival Day Guide for Parents for additional information specifically for new parents and families regarding Arrival Day. Information for students can be found on WesNest.
Welcome to Wesleyan!
This is the first of many letters I will send to you over the next four years. As your student’s class dean, my responsibility is to provide information, guidance, and support to all Class of 2028 students. My primary concern is with student academic growth and intellectual development; however, naturally my intentions also extend to personal growth within the context of the residential liberal arts environment. This is the essence of the Wesleyan educational experience. If you sense that your student has academic concerns or may need personal support, please encourage your student to contact me. Also, please read our Class of 2028 Blog to see all of my communications with students during the year.
The following are four other key resources that can guide your student through the start of classes and getting settled at Wes:
- Liberal Arts advisors are faculty members who provide guidance regarding academic plans and authorize their advisees’ course schedules each semester.
- Academic Peer Advisors are fellow students who have undergone extensive training regarding academic resources and skills (such as time management and test preparation, for example) to help new students navigate the Wesleyan support structures.
- Student Academic Resources (SAR) coordinates programs for intellectual enrichment and academic support, such as peer tutoring and accessibility services, and their site offers valuable information regarding the range of academic resources available on campus.
- There are professional and student staff members in the residence halls who are trained and knowledgeable about Wesleyan’s co-curricular resources and who can provide new students with opportunities for personal growth and community engagement in the residential spaces. Residential Life has put together information for family members of new students.
August 28 is Arrival Day for first-year students and marks the start of the New Student Orientation Program which is designed to equip students with valuable information about academic, health, co-curricular, and community resources that will help them to make a smooth transition to Wesleyan. There will be events and workshops for parents to attend on that day.
Over the summer, your students have pre-registered for fall courses. Each student is slated to meet with their liberal arts faculty advisors to review and confirm their course selections. Adjustments to course schedules may continue to take place within the drop/add period which will begin on August 28, one week before the start of classes, and will end on September 13.
Classes will begin on Monday, September 2. Fall break will take place from October 21-22, while Thanksgiving Break will begin on November 27 and end on December 1. Classes will end for the fall term on December 6 followed by reading period from December 7-10 and final exam period from December 9-14, with housing closing on Sunday, December 15.
College is also a time of transition for parents, as it is reasonable many parents still feel a need to remain involved in the lives of their students while also respecting their agency and autonomy. Below are a few of the resources that have been designed to address the specific concerns of parents:
- The Parent and Families Programs site provides valuable information and a community of support.
- Parents’ Questions for Students is a guide to the kinds of academic, co-curricular, and personal challenges that students typically face during their time at Wesleyan.
- The Class of 2028 Blog features important academic and Wesleyan-focused notifications shared with students about dean’s reflections and recommendations, upcoming deadlines, and opportunities.
- Family Weekend (November 1-3) provides an opportunity for families to experience life at Wes by attending classes and WESeminars, enjoying campus meals, cheering on our teams, and much more. I will be holding drop-in hours for parents, so be on the lookout for the day and time! Feel free to stop by and say hello if you have a chance.
Please remind your students not to make plans for breaks or end of semester travel until they have checked with their professors about exams and finals as faculty are not obligated to accommodate student travel plans. Once schedules are finalized, students should know when their exams will be administered.
Although your student will soon relocate to Middletown, Connecticut, your continued love and encouragement will only further enhance your student’s college experience. We welcome you into the Wesleyan family. If you have any concerns over the semester, please do not hesitate to contact me at wbisese@wesleyan.edu. In the meantime, enjoy the remaining weeks of the summer with your soon-to-be college student!
All my best,
William M. Bisese, Ed.D.
Dean of the Class of 2028
wbisese@wesleyan.edu