First Year Matters: “This Changes Everything”

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Each year the First Year Matters (FYM) Committee selects a common reading for the incoming class as an intellectual introduction to Wesleyan. Last fall we solicited from our community suggestions of texts and other media with an environmental theme. I’m pleased to report that the committee has selected the documentary “This Changes Everything”, directed by Avi Lewis and based on the award-winning book of the same title by environmental activist Naomi Klein. We plan to have author Naomi Klein speak during new student orientation.

The film is an unflinching look at the disparate impacts of climate change on various communities around the world and highlights some fundamental conflicts between global economic systems and efforts to combat climate change.

You will be receiving additional information including links that will allow you to access the film.  You will also be given your first homework assignment, which is a response to 3 or 4 questions related to the film that will be shared with your Class Dean and your academic advisor.  Please stay tuned for information about the FYM program.

Academic Interest Questionnaire

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Please submit the Academic Interest Questionnaire by 5 p.m. on Tuesday, July 7.

WesPortal > New Student Checklist & Resources > Fall 2020 Summer Intention Form

This information you provide will help us assign you to a faculty advisor, and will provide valuable information about your academic interests to your class dean.

Based upon your responses, we will do our best to assign you to a faculty advisor who shares an academic interest with you, or who will be teaching one of your courses in the Fall.

If you have any questions, please contact your class dean:

  • First-year students — David Phillips, Dean for the Class of 2024, at dphillips@wesleyan.edu, 860-685-2757.
  • Sophomore transfers —Jennifer Wood, Dean for the Class of 2023, at jpwood@wesleyan.edu, 860-685-2758.
  • Junior transfers — Renée Johnson-Thornton, Dean for the Class of 2022, at rjohnson01@wesleyan.edu, 860-685-2765.

Thinking About the Three-Year Option?

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Are you interested in possibly saving 20 percent or more of the total cost of your Wesleyan education?

It takes hard work and careful planning to graduate in three years, but the reward is a significant reduction in the cost of the degree and a head start on life post-Wesleyan. While the Three-Year Option is not for everyone, this more economical path to graduation may be of genuine interest to students who are willing to earn extra credit during winter or summer sessions, or during the academic year.

There are many ways to navigate the Three-Year Option, but all pathways require a carefully thought out plan for completing one’s major and earning the 8.00 additional credits that are needed to reach 32.00 credits by the end of the sixth semester.

If you are seriously thinking about pursuing the Three-Year Option, please schedule an appointment with Dean David Phillips as soon as possible. Dean Phillips will review your academic record and help you design a personalized plan for navigating the next three years, tailored to your educational goals.

Contact Dean Phillips at dphillips@wesleyan.edu to schedule an appointment.

More information about the Three-Year Option can be found at

https://www.wesleyan.edu/academics/journey/3year.html

Fall 2020 Student Intention Form

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If you have not already done so, please login to WesPortal and submit a response on the Fall 2020 Student Intention Form by June 30.

WesPortal > New Student Checklist & Resources > Fall 2020 Summer Intention Form

Your response is non-binding.  Your response will help the university plan for the opening of campus for the Fall 2020 semester as we re-allocate campus and residential and instructional space resources in compliance with CT state and local COVID-19 mitigation mandates.

Placement Test Information

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All new students who are interested in taking math or language courses should take the appropriate placement exams by July 7.  To access the exams, got to

WesPortal > New Student Checklist & Resources > Placement Test

You will then be redirected to Moodle, where you can choose the exams you wish to take.

This video offers some helpful advice on the placement exam process:

Meet the Orientation Interns

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We are your 2020 Orientation Interns, and we will be in contact with you this summer to ensure that you are prepared for your first year at Wesleyan. We are currently busy planning orientation activities, so stay tuned for more information on upcoming events. Orientation will kick off with virtual events starting Mid-July. Be sure to check your email every Wednesday for more information!

As always, we are available by email at orientation@wesleyan.edu to answer questions or concerns. We are also regularly posting content to our Instagram, so be sure to give us a follow at @wes.orientation. Since these are intense and confusing times, please do not hesitate to contact us and we will get back to you as soon as possible. In addition, to help put faces to names, feel free to check out our “Meet the 2020 Orientation Interns” video on YouTube and learn more about your Orientation Leaders on the Orientation Program Website.

We look forward to meeting you all, hope you are enjoying your summer, and…GO WES!

The Orientation Interns

Jared Christopher ‘22
Haley Fish ‘22
Amy Limtrajiti ‘23
Kimberly Lopez Vasquez ‘21

orientation@wesleyan.edu
@wes.orientation on Instagram

Optional Dental Insurance Information

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Optional Dental insurance is available for Wesleyan Students.  An informational brochure can be found through this link.

Eligibility
Any enrolled student of Wesleyan University is eligible to enroll.

Plan Options
This is a standalone dental plan that utilizes a national network of providers and offers in and out of network benefits.  Please see the attached flyer outlining the High, Medium and Low offered plan options. Pricing is on the flyer as well as a synopsis of the coverage offered. This is dental insurance. It is not a dental discount plan.

Enrollment
Enrollment is open continuously throughout the policy year.  The Wesleyan University policy year is September 1 to September 1.

It’s not too late to enroll!
The plan uses a rolling open enrollment. Enrollments received before the 20th of any month would set the effective date as the 1st of the following month. (I.e. 10/15 enrollment=11/1 effective coverage) The premium cost is prorated based on the effective date selected.

Enrollment is completed on-line at http://Wesleyan.dental-enroll.com.   The system accepts credit card or bank draft information as payment. Please note: there is no early cancellation. Once enrolled each student is committed to the plan through to the end of the current policy period. The student can opt to not renew.

ID Cards/Policy Documents
When the online transaction is finalized a confirmation email will instantly be sent to you. In that email will be included links to printout your ID cards and policy documents. It is important that you save this email confirmation, as this is the only way to access your ID cards.   The email would come from Morgan White Administrators.

The Provider Network
The provider network is United Healthcare.  To search for in-network UHC providers go to: www.mwgdental.com

  1. Select: “Find a Dentist” (right hand side/green tab on screen)
  2. Click: “Find a Dentist” (right hand side orange “Links & Tools”)
  3. Click: “National PPO Options” (center of screen) There is no need to log-in to search for providers.  At this point you can enter your criteria for your search.

It is advised that you follow up with a call to the provider office to confirm that the in-network status is still valid, as contracts are subject to change.

Renewal/Continuous Coverage
Those students that elect to enroll in this student dental insurance plan will be automatically renewed for coverage upon the expiration of the current policy year.  The system is set up to post the renewal premium charge to which ever payment source was used at the time of enrollment, about two weeks before the current policy year expires. Notification will be sent to you via email when this will take place. That notice will include steps to take should you not wish to renew.

As long as the renewal premium has been paid, this dental insurance plan can continue indefinitely.  Even, if you should no longer be connected to Wesleyan University.

For more information, please contact.

Katie Kruszewski
860-430-3338
KKruszewski@SmithBrothersUSA.com
Smith Brothers Insurance
377 Main Street, Niantic CT 06357

Annual Health Insurance Requirement for 2020-2021

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Wesleyan requires all students to have health insurance

  • All students must comply annually to this request.  All students will be charged upfront on July 13 for the school insurance and students with private insurance will have charges reversed once an online waiver form is accepted. An FAQ provides for more specific details of the insurance plan.
  • You must show proof annually of private insurance (waive) or enroll in the university-sponsored plan before August 12, 2020.  The only acceptable way to comply with university insurance requirements is by completing the necessary forms online, through Gallagher Student Health and Special Risk website at www.gallagherstudent.com/wesleyan and the online form is available now.  Please note:  You must use your Wesleyan email credentials to log in and once logged in you will be taken directly to the Gallagher site; no need to create a new user account.
  • If you know you want the university insurance plan please complete the online enrollment form at www.gallagherstudent.com/wesleyan. Enrolling early will ensure there is no delay in coverage, which begins on August 12, and you will have access to your ID card promptly. If you enroll in the university plan, we recommend using your campus address/PO Box to ensure your insurance statements arrive to your campus mailbox.

If you have any questions, please send an email to healthforms@wesleyan.edu.

Summer Course Request Form Now Available

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The Summer Course Request Form is now available through WesPortal.  Courses will take place from Monday, July 6 through Friday, August 14, 2020. Fifteen First-Year Seminars are being offered in addition to one lecture course.

Use the form to indicate your ranked preferences for the courses in which you would like to enroll.  We will do our best to place every student in a course, but due to space limitations we cannot guarantee placement. To access the form, navigate to:

WesPortal > New Student Checklist & Resources > Summer Course Request Form

The form must be submitted by 5:00 p.m. on Sunday, June 21. You may return to the form anytime to adjust your rankings until the deadline.

No additional tuition will be charged for enrolling in a summer course; the cost is included in the regular academic year tuition fee. The course will be added to your academic history and applied towards the 32.00 credits required for graduation when you matriculate as a full-time student in the Fall.

If you have any questions, please contact David Phillips, Dean for the Class of 2024, at dphillips@wesleyan.edu.