Names on Diplomas for May 2024 Commencement

To: Candidates for Bachelor of Arts Degree

From: Rosie Villard, Administrative Assistant V

To ensure that your full legal name is spelled correctly on your diploma, you must confirm your diploma name. Please confirm your name as soon as possible.

In your WesPortal under ‘My Information’ click on Diploma Name. The name currently on file will be displayed on this page. If your name is correct, please click on Confirm/Update button at the bottom of the page. If your name is not correct, please make any necessary corrections before selecting the Confirm/Update button.

Please note you will only be able to update your name once per day – if you confirm your name in error, you will need to return to the page the following day to make any corrections.

If your name contains special characters or accents, please confirm the spelling of your name without the characters or accents. In order to make sure that the special characters or accents appear correctly on your diploma, you will be asked to link to the Special Character Diploma Name Confirmation form and send it to the Registrar’s Office.

To make a correction to your legal name for all other university records, you will need to bring a form of legal identification (birth certificate, passport, driver’s license, or legal name change document if your name has been legally changed) to the Registrar’s Office.

The diploma name system will close on Fridy, April 19 at 11:59pm. Name changes cannot be accommodated after this deadline.

Please direct any questions to Ms. Rosie Villard at lvillard@wesleyan.edu

CAP & GOWNS for Spring 2024 Graduation!

Caps and Gowns 2024
Commencement: Sunday, May 26, 2024

There are 3 ways to obtain commencement regalia:


1. The preferred method: Purchasing (via credit card) a cap and gown from the following Oak Hall website: https://wesleyan.shopoakhalli.com/purchasewizard/Welcome

The website will go live Monday, January 29, 2024.

Pre-ordering your cap and gown allows you to avoid long lines at the bookstore.

Students will either choose a Bachelor’s Package, Master’s Package, or Doctorate’s Package. The website will guide you to the correct gown size by asking height and weight questions.

All Bachelor Regalia will be shipped to the Wesleyan R J Julia Bookstore and will be available for pick up starting Monday, May 13. Students will have until Wednesday, March 27, to purchase their caps and gowns online.

Masters and PHD candidates will either elect to pick up their package at the Wesleyan R J Julia Bookstore or have it sent to their home address.
Masters and PHD candidates who wish to have their regalia shipped to the Wesleyan RJ Julia Bookstore must order online by Wednesday, March 27. Masters and PHD regalia will be available for pick up at the Wesleyan RJ Julia Bookstore
Masters and PHD candidates who wish to have their caps and gowns shipped to a home address will have until Friday, April 26, to order online.

Please note: There is a $15.95 shipping and handling fee for domestic ship to residence orders.

2. Renting a cap and gown
-Students may rent a gown on our website here, starting Monday January 29, 2024.

How to rent:
-Add size/degree to cart.
-Select “pick up at Campus Store” and use credit/debit to check out (your card will NOT be charged at this time).
-Pick up rental starting May 13th at the Campus Store.
-Return rental after the commencement ceremony by 3:00 PM on Sunday May 26, 2024. Graduates who do not return their rentals within this deadline will be charged $20 ($30 for master’s).

Rentals do not come with a tassel. 2024 tassels may be purchased for $8 at the time of pick up.

Rental sizes are limited. When they run out, students should pre-order through Oak Hall’s website during the pre-order period or purchase directly at RJ Julia in May. Full priced red bachelor’s regalia starts at $40 ($60 for Master’s).

3. Purchasing a cap and gown at the Wesleyan RJ Julia Bookstore.

If you miss the Oak Hall pre-order deadline and the rentals are all booked, you may purchase regalia at the bookstore in person starting May 13.


Wesleyan RJ Julia Bookstore: 413 Main Street, Middletown, CT 06457. (860) 685-3939.
Hours: Sunday through Wednesday 10 a.m. – 6:00 p.m.; Thursday through Saturday 10 a.m. – 8 p.m.

Wesleyan RJ Julia Campus Store: 45 Wyllys Ave., Room 100, Middletown, CT 06457. (860) 685-4400
Hours: Monday-Friday 10:00-5:00 Saturday-Sunday 11:00 – 3:00 (hours will be extended for R&C weekend)


Paula Page
Wesleyan RJ Julia
Licensed Buyer
860-685-3939

Ruckelshaus Fellowship Program

Meridian Institute is pleased to announce the opening of the thirteenth annual application cycle for our Ruckelshaus Fellowship Program!

Meridian is a mission-driven, non-profit organization that has helped our clients and partners develop and implement solutions to complicated, often controversial problems—big and small, global and local—on issues of climate change, food systems, forests, water, science and technology, and more. Meridian Institute designs, manages and facilitates collaborative processes that bring people together who understand the issues and have a stake in their resolution.

The Ruckelshaus Fellowship is an opportunity for early-career professionals to contribute to Meridian’s mission to help people collaborate to solve complex problems, make informed decisions, and implement solutions that improve lives, the environment, and the economy.

The Fellowship is a two-year, full-time position working in either a hybrid or remote arrangement. Hybrid employees are based in one of Meridian’s two offices – in Dillon, CO or Washington, DC. We strongly encourage hybrid work for Fellows as it provides more opportunities to build relationships within the cohort and leverage the networking benefits of the program. Project Associate and Ruckelshaus Fellows who are selected will begin work in June 2024 or earlier.

Our Ruckelshaus Fellowship Application Guide provides an in-depth look into the fellowship—including position responsibilities, application instructions, FAQs, and insight from current and past fellows. The deadline to submit applications is 10:00 PM EST on Monday, January 29, 2024.

Although we appreciate the interest, no informational interviews will be offered. Meridian Institute will be holding an online informational session on the Fellowship program on January 17th at 2pm EST. Click the link here to register.

Should you have any inquiries, please reach out to hr@merid.org with any further inquiries. For more information about Meridian Institute, please visit www.merid.org.

Johns Hopkins School of Public Health

Johns Hopkins Bloomberg School of Public Health’s Department of International Health. The Health Systems Program area in the Department has two master’s degrees: the Master of Science in Public Health (MSPH) in Health Systems and the Master of Health Science (MHS) in Global Health Economics. These degree programs may be of value to undergraduate students at Wesleyan University who are looking to pursue a full-time master’s degree in the health professions.

We will be hosting a virtual information session on our master’s programs via webinar on December 12 at 12 p.m. Students can sign up for the free webinar here: https://applygrad.jhu.edu/register/?id=94d24660-77ab-4bc1-95ad-1950ec93693a

Both degree programs are STEM designated programs. They are ideal for those who wish to work domestically or internationally on global health issues. I’ve included a blurb below, but students can also read about them here: https://publichealth.jhu.edu/departments/international-health/programs/program-areas/health-systems

About the master’s degree programs:

The MSPH in Health Systems degree is ideal for those who are interested in roles in policy and planning, health financing and management, and monitoring and evaluation of health programs working in low- or middle-income countries. Graduates of the program contribute to strengthening health systems through the implementation of equitable and cost-effective interventions for improving access, quality, and efficiency of health services for underserved populations internationally or domestically. The deadline to apply is January 15, 2024.

The MHS in Global Health Economics is a 9-month degree program that is ideal for those interested in using economic tools to help solve pressing global health problems. Through this degree program, students will learn how health economic principles are used to address global issues such as migration, displaced persons, climate change, and pandemics. Students will have the opportunity to conduct research in health economics and design health policies in relation to a variety of global health issues. The deadline to apply is June 1, 2024.

If you have any questions, please feel free to contact me at melissar@jhu.edu.

Regards,

Melissa Reed
Communications Associate
International Health, Health Systems Program

Johns Hopkins Bloomberg School of Public Health
615 N. Wolfe St., Room E8001
Baltimore, MD USA 21205
melissar@jhu.edu

Scholarship for Graduate Study in Scotland

Scholarship for Graduate Study in Scotland

The SAS Macmillan and the Saint Andrew’s Scholarships provide funds to a total of $35,000 for graduate study in Scotland, to be used initially against tuition, then board, transportation, and other expenses. The SAS Macmillan and the Saint Andrew’s Scholarships provide funds to a total of $35,000 for graduate study in Scotland, to be used initially against tuition, then board, transportation, and other expenses. Only seniors graduating in Spring 2024 are currently eligible to apply.

Candidates should possess qualifications which will enable them to be good ambassadors for the United States while in Scotland. The basis for selection shall include the student’s: (1) academic achievement; (2) extracurricular activities; (3) financial need; (4) clarity of career purpose in pursuing the graduate studies; (5) a statement that sets forth why the applicant wishes to continue his/her education, with clarity around the graduate study objective(s) to be achieved and why he/she wishes to study in Scotland; (6) some Scottish descent; and (7) proof of US Citizenship.

Interested students should read through the eligibility details and scholarship information at the link and then write to fellowships@wesleyan.edu if they are interested in applying. Statements of interest are due November 1, 2023 by email; Associate Director for Fellowships, Dr. Erica Kowsz, will follow up with information about the campus application process after you write about your interest. Only one student per year can apply from Wesleyan, so if there is more than one applicant interested, we will nominate one individual to continue to the full scholarship competition. For those nominated, a final application is due by December 15, 2023, for graduate study commencing in the fall of 2024.

Questions? Contact fellowships@wesleyan.edu.

Get Ready NOW for Graduation!

Dear Seniors (You’re Seniors!),

Here we are in the middle of summer. It is a great time to start thinking about the last year of your stay at Wesleyan and to clarify exactly what you need to do in order to finish your degree.

There are FIVE MAIN REQUIREMENTS YOU MUST FULFILL TO EARN THE DEGREE:

(1) You must have satisfied the requirements for at least one major. In order to determine where you stand in relation to your major, you must work with your advisor to fill out your “Major Certification Form,” which is available in your WesPortal in the “Academics” bucket.

(2) You must have earned 32.00 credits. The 32.00 course credits can be impacted by oversubscription, which usually means taking more than 16.00 credits in any one subject, bringing in more than 2.00 pre-matriculation credits or taking more than 1.00 full credit of PHED courses, for example. I will be reaching out to students who have oversubscribed or in danger of doing so, but it’s important for you to be aware of these regulations.

(3) You must have earned at least 16.00 of your credits at Wesleyan.

(4) You must have earned a cumulative grade point average of at least 74.00.

(5) You must have a certain number of semesters in residence. If you entered Wesleyan in your first semester, you must have at least six semesters in residence. If you entered Wesleyan as a sophomore, you must have at least five semesters in residence. If you entered Wesleyan as a junior, you must have at least four semesters in residence. We will count semesters in which you were enrolled full-time at Wesleyan but were studying remotely due to COVID as semesters in residence. Study Abroad does not count as a semester in residence for graduation purposes.

For all but the major requirement, your absolute best resource for tracking where you stand with these requirements is your CREDIT ANALYSIS REPORT (also found in your WesPortal “Academics” bucket). It will tell you where you stand with everything but your major(s), which is what your major certification form will do. Please pay very close attention to your TOTAL USABLE GRADUATION CREDITS, as this is made up of the credits you’ve earned and you are enrolled in, minus any oversubscription.

While I will be working to do my absolute best to track where you stand in relation to the degree, please know that this is your responsibility as well. In fact, all of this is completely a student’s responsibility!

Please look over these resources and if you have any questions, please be in touch. You must work with me to assure you are able to meet the requirements successfully.

Well, here you are…heading into your final year! Keep up the good work.

All Best,
Bill

NOT Returning for Fall 2023? IMPORTANT NOTICE

If you are not going to be on campus this fall due to a leave of absence or withdrawal from the university and have not yet notified your class dean, it is extremely important that you do so prior to July 1, 2023.

Notifications received between July 1 and July 31 will result in a $500 charge to your student account, and those received after July 31 will result in a $1000 charge to your student account.

WHAT is a FULLBRIGHT?

What is the Fulbright US Student Program?

The Fulbright Program is the flagship international educational exchange program sponsored by the US government and is designed to increase mutual understanding between the people of the United States and the people of other countries. In partnership with more than 140 countries worldwide, the Fulbright US Student Program offers unparalleled opportunities in all academic disciplines to passionate and accomplished graduating college seniors, graduate students, and young professionals from all backgrounds. Program participants pursue graduate study, conduct research, or teach English abroad.

During their grants, Fulbrighters will meet, work, live with and learn from the people of the host country, sharing daily experiences. The program facilitates cultural exchange through direct interaction on an individual basis in the classroom, field, home, and in routine tasks, allowing the grantee to gain an appreciation of others’ viewpoints and beliefs, the way they do things, and the way they think. Through engagement in the community, individuals will interact with their hosts on a one-to-one basis in an atmosphere of openness, academic integrity, and intellectual freedom, thereby promoting mutual understanding.

To learn more about Fulbright and Wesleyan’s campus process, watch this 30 minute introductory video. Contact fellowships@wesleyan.edu with interest and/or questions.

Join us Wednesday 5/3 in Fisk 201 at 12:15-1:15pm for lunch and a Q&A session with a panel of seniors who were recently awarded the Fulbright grants they applied for in fall 2022. We will have panelists who applied for both the English Teaching Assistantship and Study/Research grant options. Students from all class years are welcome to attend; those who are in the classes of ’23 and ’24 and are US citizens or nationals are eligible to apply in the current Fulbright application cycle.

Register on WesNest. Email fellowships@wesleyan.edu if you’re interested but can’t make it.