Subscribe to Wes and the World Newsletter

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Starting from this Thursday, August 20, the Fries Center for Global Studies will send out the Wes and the World Newsletter every other week. The newsletter features a wide range of global or international opportunities, information and resources. While physical distance is required during this unprecedented time, please stay connected and subscribe, so you can keep up-to-date on virtual intercultural events and programs, fellowships as well as language resources and opportunities.
Past content that was published through the newsletter can be found on our blog here. For additional information and questions, please contact Zijia Guo, Global Marketing Specialist, at zguo@wesleyan.edu.

Getting and Giving Good Advice: A Conversation between Dean Phillips and the Academic Peer Advisors

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This Friday, August 21, from 12:00 noon to 1:00 p.m. EDT, Dean Phillips and the Academic Peer Advisors will be hosting a Zoom panel on the topic of “Getting and Giving Good Advice.”

Life at Wesleyan, as with life in general, is full of ups and downs, which is why every Wesleyan student needs to know where to find help on campus, whether for themselves or for a friend.  During this Zoom session, Dean Phillips and APAs Darshana Banka ‘22, Anya Kisicki ‘22, Chaiyeon Lee ‘22, and Andi Wiley ‘22 will discuss the variety of academic and personal support services that are available to students, and will give advice on how to recognize when you or a friend could benefit from asking for help.

The recorded session can be viewed through this link:

https://wesleyan.zoom.us/rec/share/_-pTK5TL1ztLTI3G90r2VaonP42-eaa81HdP-PcJmEvm2gfnTzX2eiZ03qmT3-O0

Academic and Personal Support Resources

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Wesleyan offers a variety of academic and personal support services for students. With the semester about to begin, you should familiarize yourself with these resources so that you will know where to go when you or someone you know needs to ask for help.

Student Academic Resources
Student Academic Resources (SAR) coordinates programs for intellectual enrichment and academic support.  SAR staff members are available to meet with any student individually throughout the year. Staff members can assist students in developing academic skills or connecting with other resources on campus.

Academic Peer Advisors
The APA Program provides students with a well-informed resource about the course registration process and academic resources beginning with New Student Orientation and continuing throughout the year. Peer advisors are juniors and seniors who work during New Student Orientation (NSO) and throughout the academic year to enhance student access to academic resources.

Deans Peer Tutoring Program
Peer tutors provide supplementary course-content instruction for students who request them. Peer tutoring is provided free of charge; students can receive up to two hours of tutoring each week per course for which they are matched with a tutor. Peer tutors are employed by the University, and paid by the Deans’ Office.  Tutor-tutee matches are made as quickly as possible. While students may be referred to use the Deans’ Peer Tutoring Program, tutees are self-identified, and must complete a request for tutoring in order to be matched with a tutor.

Math Workshop
The Math Workshop is open Sunday through Thursday from 7-10pm. The staff members on duty are either experienced undergraduates or math graduate students. The staff offers a drop-in tutoring service, available to all members of the Wesleyan community. Staff members provide a friendly, relaxed atmosphere while answering questions about mathematics.

Writing Workshop
The Writing Workshop supports Wesleyan students in all aspects of their academic writing. Writing tutors strive to meet writers where they are in the writing process.  That may mean brainstorming a new assignment, reviewing the structure of a draft, tinkering with the details of an essay before it is submitted to an instructor, or mastering important skills. The Writing Workshop supports students with particular writing tasks while also cultivating spaces on campus for students to develop their voice, perspective, and values as writers.

The Resource Center
The Resource Center (RC) seeks to support, empower, and engage students with underrepresented and marginalized identities at Wesleyan University. The center’s areas of focus include promoting dialogue and coalition building around the intersections of race, ethnicity, nationality, socioeconomic status, disability, gender, sexuality, sustainability, spirituality, and social and political activism.  Whether you want to reserve one of our homey meeting spaces, need help with a personal or organizational issue related to social differences, looking for employment opportunities, have a great program idea, want to promote some of the great work that you are already doing in the community, or just want to know what is happening in the center, please reach out to the Resource Center.

Counseling and Psychological Services (CAPS)
CAPS provides comprehensive short-term mental health services through multidisciplinary integration with Davison Health Center and WesWell. Students who utilize CAPS psychotherapy services may discuss in confidence any worries, distressing feelings, or difficult situations they are currently experiencing. The goal of CAPS is to assist students as they navigate through life’s challenges within the context of a highly rigorous and demanding academic environment.

Office of Religious and Spiritual Life
The Chaplains from Wesleyan’s Office of Religious and Spiritual Life have been appointed by the University to ensure and promote the spiritual and religious well-being of the campus community. We do this by providing leadership, counseling, and programming that promotes holistic student development and by nurturing many diverse and vibrant religious communities at Wesleyan. The Chaplains are committed to welcoming students of all genders and sexual identities, of all secular and religious traditions, and from all cultural backgrounds. Please feel free to e-mail/call us to schedule a visit or attend one of our programs.

WesWell
WesWell, the Office of Health Education, is an integral part of Wesleyan University’s Health Services. WesWell understands the impact of student health on academic performance and is committed to providing services that are designed to develop healthy behaviors and prevent health concerns that may interfere with academic and personal success.  Health initiatives are evidence-informed, based on Standards of Practice for Health Promotion in Higher Education and data collected from Wesleyan University students.

SHAPE
The Office of Support, Healing, Activism, and Prevention Education (SHAPE) is dedicated to reimagining a world without interpersonal violence, through supportive resources for those who have experienced harm, trauma-informed, healing-centered prevention education programming and trainings, self-care and wellness workshops, and supporting student activism within the Wesleyan University community.  This mission is in service of a larger vision to dismantle intersecting systems of oppression which create conditions for interpersonal violence to occur, and to educate the greater Wesleyan University community about these acts of violence and responding to them in a healing-centered way.  This vision is realized through courageous actions of self-reflection, intervention, and empathetic action.

Finding Balance as a Student-Athlete

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By Aidan Winn ‘18, Peer Advisor

One of the most common questions peer advisors get asked is simply, “Will I have time to get all my school work done if I’m also an athlete?” Being a student-athlete at Wesleyan is an incredibly rewarding and fulfilling way to spend you’re time here, but it can also be stressful. But not to worry! There are tons of resources at your fingertips to help you stay on top of your responsibilities on and off the field (or, for me, in and out of the pool).

Going into my freshman year, my greatest anxiety about starting school came from my fear that I simply would not have the time to finish homework or study for tests while swimming nearly year-round. I quickly realized that the key to balancing my time was to make a detailed schedule at the start of every week and stick to it. I would write out everything that needed to be done for each of my classes at the start of the week, include all the time I had committed to training, and make sure I had time to myself to have fun and relax. You would be surprised at how helpful laying out your schedule can be, especially when it feels like there aren’t enough hours in the day to get everything done.

But not everything has to be done on your own. I asked my swim coach if he had any advice or if he could help me stay on top of everything. Communication was key. Not only did he assure me that I was capable of completing everything and achieving goals in the pool, he made it clear that he was as committed to my success in the classroom as he was to my success as a swimmer. He would have my support if I needed extra time to study and had to sit out a practice or if I needed to leave practice early in order to make it to Biology lab. Though it may not even be necessary to have to miss a practice, it is comforting to know that your professors and coaches are not fighting for your time – they are fighting for your success.

But perhaps you are worried less about staying on top of schoolwork and more worried about having some time to yourself outside of the library or the gym. As I’m sure you know, Wesleyan is full of opportunities to have fun and be free outside of both of those venues.  I strongly encourage every student-athlete to try something new! Between theater, music, dance, clubs, and many others, there are definitely ways to divide your time and have fun away from a sports team.

There is no doubt that student-athletes have busy lives. There are times when we have to make sacrifices, but it is always worth it. Not only do we get to be proud of our success in school, but we also have a whole separate part of our life, with a second family, that has our backs. Though having two demanding commitments can be stressful, we (the peer advisors), class deans, our professors, coaches, and are all here to offer support. Our number one goals are to see you achieve and to make sure you’re happy during your time at Wes. I am confident you will do great things as a student and as an athlete!

Final Newsletter

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The last “Get Ready for Wes” newsletter will be published on August 19. Future communications will take place through the Class of 2024 blog and the Class of 2020 email list.

Before the semester gets underway, please be sure to login to WesPortal to complete the Academic Integrity and Code of Conduct Moodle course (due August 21), and submit the Religious & Spiritual Life Survey (due August 28).

As you begin your first year at Wesleyan, you should review the academic regulations and the Student Handbook, because they will help you successfully navigate Wesleyan and inform your decision-making. Look over the degree requirements and review the information about academic standing as well as academic review and promotion. It is also important that you explore the general regulations because they discuss course enrollment, attendance, and grading. The student handbook features information and policies concerning student conduct. As these are the university’s regulations and expectations, you are responsible for knowing them as you enter into this community.

Tips for Transfers from Jane Herz ’20, Peer Advisor

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I transferred to Wesleyan as a sophomore in 2017, from Wake Forest University. I knew that transferring out of Wake would be the right decision for me, but I had no idea if Wesleyan would be the right fit. I knew that I wanted to come back to the Northeast (I’m originally from NYC!) and go to a smaller school, and while I was interested in Wesleyan, I didn’t know what kind of experience I would have there. Ultimately, I decided to accept my offer because of Wesleyan’s super-strong English and creative writing program. Transferring can be unsettling and a little bit intimidating, because, like most schools, you can’t really tell what it’ll be like until you get there!

Luckily, transferring to Wesleyan was definitely the right choice for me. I love my major, my friends, the campus, and all of the amazing opportunities that Wes provides, such as the study abroad programs! I’ve grown so much as a person throughout my time here, and learned so much about myself.

However, even though I love Wesleyan, the first few months as a transfer student were a bit of an adjustment, and there were so many things that I wish I had known during my first semester. Looking back on my time here, I’ve gathered my top 6 tips to help navigate being a transfer student:

Tip #1: Things take time. Like anything in life, things take time and it may be a little while before you feel completely settled in at Wes. That’s what happened to me, and it’s so normal! You may feel frustrated that you aren’t making friends quickly enough, or that you still don’t know where the best study spot is, or what to do on a Friday night. Try not to stress about this stuff, because it just simply takes time, as annoying as that may be. The longer you’re at Wes, the more comfortable you’ll feel, the more people you’ll get to know, and the more accustomed to campus you’ll be.

Tip #2: Put yourself out there. This is probably something that people will tell you over and over again, but it’s true! As a new student, it’s important to put yourself out there. Don’t be afraid to ask to grab lunch with people, or invite classmates to study together in Exley. Students at Wesleyan are very open to meeting new people, so don’t be hesitant to initiate that. I met so many of my friends by simply just asking them to grab lunch after we had only met once or twice–it’s totally normal, and will help you meet a ton of new friends and connections on campus!

Tip #3: Go to the pre-planned campus events and activities. As a transfer student, you may feel apprehensive about going to some of the activities or events that are typically advertised to freshmen, such as the clubs fair. However, it turns out that people of all ages and grades go to these events! Don’t be concerned that you’ll be the only sophomore or junior there, because that’s not the case. Joining a club or another on-campus organization is an awesome way to make friends and get involved at Wesleyan. Also, try to go to the events that are planned for transfer students throughout the semester, because it’s a great way to connect with different students in the transfer community.

Tip #4: Figure out how your credits will transfer to Wes. This was one of my biggest mistakes as a transfer student! I had no idea how my credits from Wake were going to transfer to Wesleyan, and I ended up being slightly behind in credit hours when I came in. I had to take a course over winter session, which wasn’t a big deal (it was actually super fun!) but just make sure you know this early so you can plan accordingly. My class dean helped me navigate this, but your advisor will also be able to help.

Tip #5: Try not to compare Wesleyan to your old school. In the beginning, there were times when I found myself comparing certain aspects of Wake to Wesleyan. Instead of doing this, try to embrace Wesleyan as much as you can!

Tip #6: People want to help you. There are so many resources on campus for transfer students, including CAPS, academic peer advisors, your RA, and professors, just to name a few! Don’t be afraid to use these resources, because they are here to make your transition as smooth as possible. People want to help and support you as much as they can!

Preparing to Meet your Faculty Advisor

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The objective of the pre-major advising program is to help first-year students and sophomores think seriously about their educational objectives in the context of the liberal arts education offered at Wesleyan. Together with your faculty advisor, you should develop a challenging and coherent educational plan for the first two years, one that achieves curricular breadth while preparing for the depth that the major will bring in the last two years.

Here are some things to think about as you plan for your first meeting with your faculty advisor:

  • Breaking the ice. A good way to introduce yourself to your advisor is to tell them about your high school experience. A good way to get to know your advisor is to ask them how they became a college professor.
  • Know the curriculum. Familiarize yourself with WesMaps and with the websites of departments in which you plan to pursue coursework. What was the logic behind your course pre-registration strategy?  Be receptive to questions and suggestions.
  • Have goals in mind. What are your academic strengths?  What are your academic weaknesses and how do you plan to address them?  How do you plan to pursue breadth? How do you plan to pursue depth? Share concerns that may affect your success in the upcoming semester.  Be sure to make arrangements to schedule your next meeting.

For more information, please see the Faculty and Student Advising Handbook.

Attention All Pre-health Students and Prospective STEM Majors

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Wesleyan’s chapter of the American Medical Student Association (AMSA) would like to welcome you to Wesleyan. In the upcoming month you all will begin making your schedules for an unprecedented semester, and along with your class dean, Dean Phillips, and your academic advisor, we would like to introduce our student organization to you as a resource as well. We can help answer or find answers to questions specifically about pre-med, pre-dental, or pre-veterinary tracks at Wesleyan, as well as questions about majoring in the sciences in general.

Students who know they would like to follow these paths, along with those who are considering them, are encouraged to contact us before as well as during the semester. You can send a general email to wesleyanuamsa@gmail.com, or contact any of the board members that are listed below. Our Facebook and Instagram pages are also linked below, and they contain information on our goals for the semester and as an organization. We look forward to hearing from you, and hope to see you at our upcoming events!

Best Wishes,

AMSA Board
Wesleyan Chapter

President: Tashfia Jilu ‘22 (tjilu@wesleyan.edu)
Vice President: Edrea Jiang ‘23(ejiang@wesleyan.edu)
Treasurer: Neeky Yassari ‘22 (nyassari@wesleyan.edu)
Secretary: Alyssa Cortes ‘23 (acortes@wesleyan.edu)

Instagram: @WesUAMSA
Facebook: Weslayan AMSA (https://www.facebook.com/Wesleyan-AMSA-169527007043185)

A Message from the University Librarian on Library Services for Students, Fall 2020

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With the start of this most unusual semester nearly upon us, I write to let you know you can see full details and connect with library services and people here: https://www.wesleyan.edu/libr/services.html

Changes for the fall semester include:

  • Contactless request and pickup for circulating collections and ILL
  • We can make arrangements to get books to you if you are studying remotely
  • Course reserves fully online
  • Special Collections & Archives open by appointment only
  • Limited individual study seats, group study, and meeting rooms

As of this writing, we are planning on reopening both Olin and Science Libraries on August 24th for limited hours, with regular semester hours scheduled to begin August 31st. You are required to wear your mask and observe all campus social distancing guidelines when visiting or studying in the libraries.

I also invite you to join the library in our on-going work towards building and sustaining an antiracist environment. You can see our action steps here: http://wescollections.blogs.wesleyan.edu/2020/06/16/black-lives-matter-a-message-from-the-wesleyan-university-library/. 

We look forward to seeing you again very soon, both on campus and online.

Andrew White, University Librarian
awhite02@wesleyan.edu

Top Ten Recommendations for the First Year and Beyond

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  1. Make Wesleyan yours: Find or create your spaces at Wesleyan, whether by joining an a cappella group or by loving your Physics lab. We have over two hundred student groups that you can sign up for. There are also jobs on campus.
  2. Build relationships: Seek out your instructors during office hours. This can be intimidating, but it is how you build a relationship and come to understand the course material better. Get to know your faculty advisor, work supervisor, your class dean, etc., as it’s important for you to know people; it’s also very important for them to know you!
  3. Learn from your classmates and try new things: Your peers have had a vast array of experiences, so make sure you’re supporting one another and growing together. Upperclassmen will be an invaluable resource as you transition to Wes. Also, make sure you try new things! Explore a new language, study abroad in a different part of the world, select a course with a topic that is completely new to you.
  4. Don’t be afraid to ask for help: Wesleyan has an abundance of resources, whether the Writing Workshop, Academic Peer Advisors or Peer Tutors, as well as your Faculty Advisor, instructors and teaching assistants. Asking for help is hard, because it means being vulnerable, but it is essential to your success. First-year students sometimes see asking for help as a sign of weakness, but it is not. Asking for help is really a sign that you can make savvy use of your resources that will enable you to thrive.
  5. Wesleyan has its own culture with its own language: I have built a list of acronyms that might be helpful to you.
  6. Use your time wisely: You will suddenly have lots of unstructured time. Given the COVID situation and the need to practice social distancing, it will be challenging to to find ways to manage your time. High school is extremely structured, down to the minute, which is not the case in college. Now it’s up to you to be mindful of how you’re using your time, whether studying for a test, writing a paper, doing homework, getting to class, etc. Most students use a planner, whether electronic or paper. For example, once you have all of your courses set, you should look over all of your syllabi and then plan out all of the assignments across the semester, as you’ll know when your intense weeks will be. If those weeks include papers as well as tests, try to get those papers done earlier so that you can focus on just the tests during that week.
  7. Make sure that you’re having fun! Find ways to connect with friends.  It’s hard to be social when practicing social distancing, but with a little bit of imagination and determination it can be done. Practice mindfulness.
  8. Take care of yourself. Sleeping and eating well, avoiding as much stress as possible, all of these are important aspects of self-care. WesWell offers self-care education, programs and workshops, as does CAPS. We have at Wesleyan the Rule of 7, a guideline that recommends that you can pursue four courses and three activities, but really no more than that.
  9. Don’t let a disappointing grade derail you. If you don’t do as well on something as you had hoped, go see your instructor and discuss where you went wrong in order to improve your performance on the next assignment. A disappointing grade does not mean that you aren’t capable or that the Admissions Office made a mistake (they do not make mistakes!). Make sure that you’re reaching out for help in this moment rather than pulling back, as this has happened to countless students before. Check out the Wesleyan Resilience Project for stories of students who have gained from their moments of challenge.
  10. Your dean is here to help: Dean Phillips is available to you via email or zoom this summer and once the semester is underway.  You can schedule a drop-in appointment with him through his Google Calendar, or you can an email him at dphillips@wesleyan.edu to schedule a meeting if drop-in hours don’t fit your schedule.