Library Reopening

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Library buildings reopen on Monday and students will once again have access to study seats and the collections.

  • The library buildings reopen to campus only 8:30am this Monday, September 7 for normal semester hours – card access is required
  • Seating is limited based on social distancing guidelines – PPE is required
  • Stacks are closed – starting Monday, Sept 7, students can request books via the catalog for contactless pickup in Olin and Science
  • For students studying remotely, we are mailing books upon request
  • Course reserves are fully online
  • For the latest details on library services this semester, go here:  https://www.wesleyan.edu/libr/services.html

For more information, please contact:

Andrew W. White
Caleb T. Winchester University Librarian
awhite02@wesleyan.edu
860-685-2570

Effective Learning in a Digital Environment Webinar 9/9

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Effective Learning in a Digital Environment – Student Academic Resources Webinar
Sep 9, 2020 06:00 PM Eastern Time (US and Canada)

Student Academic Resources understands that digital learning environments can be challenging, and increased screen time can be exhausting, but there are strategies that can help! Laura Patey, Dean for Academic Advancement, and Crystal Rose Hill, Accessibility Specialist, will review strategies, tools, and resources students can use for learning effectively in a digital environment.

ADD TO YOUR GOOGLE CALENDAR!

Please click the link below to join the webinar:
https://wesleyan.zoom.us/j/97917755368?pwd=UjlCL1ZRWkgwWjFOeXJ4QmpIUm1Udz09

Webinar ID: 979 1775 5368
Passcode: 472035

Or iPhone one-tap :
US: +19294362866,,97917755368#  or +13017158592,,97917755368#

Or Telephone:
Dial(for higher quality, dial a number based on your current location):
US: +1 929 436 2866  or +1 301 715 8592  or +1 312 626 6799  or +1 669 900 6833  or +1 253 215 8782  or +1 346 248 7799

International numbers available: https://wesleyan.zoom.us/u/aeIsEdvcfb

Still Need a Class This Semester?

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CSPL/CGST480 ENGAGED PROJECTS is a new 1-credit course in which students study a topic of their choice and produce a final project for a public audience. EPs deepen student learning and self-reflection, ease the undeniable challenges of online learning, and introduce students to their own agency and positionality in society.

Interested students should contact the instructor (Makaela Kingsley, mjkingsley@wesleyan.edu), submit a proposal on Handshake (instructions at https://www.wesleyan.edu/patricelli/engaged-projects.html), and submit an enrollment request in WesPortal.

Two New Courses

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Civil Rights Litigation Since 1978: A Practitioner’s Perspective
CSPL 217        Times: Th 6:00-9PM, Location: ONLINE

This course will examine major themes in modern civil rights litigation in the United States between 1978 and 2020.  The course will review major cases challenging police misconduct, school and housing segregation, including exclusionary land use policies, sexual harassment and bullying as well as cases supporting voting and gay rights. Students will be asked to present argument before their peers regarding the issues raised in and by these cases and will also be presented with imaginary fact patterns and asked to discern the critical legal issues raised and apply both the settled law and aspirational law as we develop it through Socratic method. In addition, students will select an area of civil rights litigation and writing about its evolution.

Understanding the 2020 Presidential Election
CSPL399    Times: M.W. 1:20-2:40PM, Location: ONLINE

In understanding the 2020 Presidential Election, students will learn how to read skeptically the political press and how to write critically about presidential campaign politics. Along the way, the course will touch on electoral history, political and social thought, public policy, media criticism, and much more. Students will read past examples of thought-provoking and influential commentary. They will read current coverage in the legacy press of the 2020 presidential election and come to class prepared to discuss the most important stories and issues of the week. Students will have the opportunity to learn about electoral politics and political writing alongside a veteran journalist. Students who have experience working for political campaigns will have a chance to share their knowledge and help the class incorporate their experience in a larger historical framework. They will have a chance to see their work published in the Editorial Board, the lecturer’s daily politics newsletter. Students will attempt to do what political writers do in real-time: explain what’s happening from a unique, particular, and informed point of view for the benefit of like-minded citizens seeking to achieve the ideal of self-government. In the end, the hope is that students see that campaign politics is simpler and more complex than it appears, but that neither is obvious without study, focus, and understanding.

Drop-In Meetings with Dean Phillips

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When classes are in session, Dean Phillips offers drop-in meetings on a daily basis (Eastern Time):

Mondays, 2:00 p.m. – 3:00 p.m.
Tuesdays, 3:00 p.m. – 4:00 p.m.
Wednesdays, 5:00 p.m. – 6:00 p.m.
Thursday, 11:00 a.m. – 12:00 noon
Fridays, 2:00 p.m. – 4:00 p.m.

Drop-in meetings can be scheduled through this link:

https://calendly.com/dphillips2024

If you need to schedule a meeting outside of drop-in hours, send Dean Phillips an email letting him know your availability and he will get back to you with an appointment.

Tips for Learning in a Digital Environment

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Some students have asked about approaches to managing attending classes remotely during the initial period of quarantine on campus. Specifically, students who share a room with a roommate have asked about how to best approach learning when both roommates have a class at the same time.  Several options exist for students who have these schedule conflicts. Some students will plan to use noise-cancelling headphones while attending classes, while others have asked about alternative spaces that may be available. While we expect students to remain in their residences during the two-week quarantine, you may use lounges or study rooms in your residence, or sit outside your residence by yourself when these conflicts arise.  We understand that this may be challenging during the first week of classes, we are hopeful that as campus opens up following the initial quarantine students will be able to manage these situations more easily.

Student Academic Resources has also put together some resources and tips for students specific to learning in a digital environment. We would like to highlight the recommendation that students pay attention to building a balanced schedule that includes no more than two Zoom lectures in one day. Be sure to be attentive to giving yourself breaks from sitting in front of a screen and build in time to move around.

Check out the Semester Planning Calendars that are available on the Student Academic Resources page

Invitation from the Muslim Students Association

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Welcome to Wes! We hope that everyone is safe and healthy at this time as well as taking the new semester in stride. The Muslim Students Association on campus strives to create a family and a safe place for students from various backgrounds, culturally and religiously. During a normal semester, we host Jummah every Friday as well as study sessions and social events throughout the semester. As you can guess, this semester will look very different. Although we’re not exactly sure how we will operate, we will do our best to keep the community together!

Our first event this fall will be a Zoom dinner held in the second week of quarantine. We are working on the financials and once everything is set, we will confirm on a date. Until then, please join your community and help us grow our family! If you have any questions or concerns about MSA or Wesleyan life, please reach out to us on any social platform!

We’d also like to highlight that all animal meat served as hot food during quarantine is halal! If you have any questions about this, please reach out to the Bon Appetite District Manager Micheal Strumpf at mstrumpf@wesleyan.edu.

If you’d like to join our MSA WhatsApp group, please email us your number at msawesleyan@gmail.com and we will add you! Use this link to be added to the listserv and receive updates on Jummah prayers and what we are up to as a community. Also, follow us on Instagram and Facebook @wesleyanmsa. The current board members and MSA members are all looking forward to meeting you and hope you will reach out if you have any questions!

Fall 2020 Writing Support

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Working on your writing? Don’t go it alone! Instead, make a free one-on-one appointment with peer writing tutors at the Writing Workshop. Trained to help Wesleyan writers at any stage of the writing process, writing tutors are available, by appointment, Sunday -Thursday for online appointments. Make an appointment by going to Wesportal→ Academics→ Writing Workshop Account. You’ll be asked to make an account before being brought to our online scheduler.

Want semester long support? Apply for a writing mentor who will work with you for an hour every week. Earn a .25 credit for working with a peer tutor on writing skills like organization, time management, and concision. Learn more at the Writing Workshop website or email the Ford Fellow at writingworks@wesleyan.edu.

Enrolling in the University and Resolving Action Items

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Starting on Monday, August 24, at 8:30 a.m. EDT you will be required to enroll in the University. To enroll, login to WesPortal, click through the yellow alert banner at the top of the page, then click on the “Enroll Me” button.  Please be aware that you will not be able to participate in drop/add until you have enrolled in the University.  You must enroll in the University by Friday, September 11, at 11:59 p.m.

In addition to enrolling, you must resolve any holds in your list of Action Items.  To access your list, go to:

Portal > Enrollment Checklist & Addresses > Hold/Enroll

Instruction on how to resolve each action item are provided on the page.  Many action items can be resolved with a simple click of the mouse.

All action items must be resolved by Friday, September 4, at 5:00 p.m. EDT.  Please be aware that you will still be able to participate in drop/add even if you have unresolved action items (as long as you have already enrolled in the University using the “Enroll Me” button).