The Dean's Office: Advising and Academic Support
The Dean's Office is an important academic resource for all students and faculty advisors, offering guidance on any issue that may affect students’ academic progress and well-being.
- Support for Students
Wesleyan’s class deans are assigned to a class for four years, from entry to graduation. They serve as a primary resource for students, providing academic guidance and support, resolving academic issues, and connecting students to appropriate offices and resources. The deans hold regular drop-in hours and are available by appointment as well.
- Support for Advisors
The class deans offer general advising support to all faculty. When an instructor or advisor expresses concern about a student, the class dean will reach out to that student and work closely with the student to resolve the situation. Unsatisfactory Progress Reports (UPRs), which instructors are expected to submit for students not meeting course expectations, are especially helpful for identifying problems before they become unmanageable. When a UPR is submitted, it goes automatically to the appropriate class dean and the faculty advisor, who reach out to the student. If the student is a varsity athlete, the UPR also goes to the Athletic Director, who sends it to the student's coach.
Class deans are responsible for preparing resource materials, providing information to advisors about specialized advising and counseling resources, and collaborating with Academic Affairs on a variety of advising projects.
- Student Academic Resources (SAR)
Through SAR, the Deans’ Office facilitates student access to a range of intellectual enrichment and academic support services. SAR crosses organizational lines in an effort to provide seamless services to all students. Partners in the network include the Writing Workshop, the Math Workshop, and the Peer Tutoring program. SAR works to foster a community culture that recognizes the relationship between intellectual growth and personal development, and to ensure that students know about and are encouraged to seek out appropriate services. See SAR for more information. The academic self-reflection that first-year students complete over the summer will help determine what resources can enhance their academic experience.
- Academic Peer Advisors
- Students can interact directly with SAR through the students employed as peer advisors. Beginning in June and continuing during New Student Orientation and the rest of the academic year, peer advisors are available to help students learn how to plan their schedules, prepare for productive meetings with their faculty advisors, and advise on strategies for effective study and time management strategies. Feel free to contact the peer advisors with any questions or concerns.