Class Dean

Class of 2025 Graduation – 424 days to go!

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Greetings, Class of 2025

If you can believe it, you will soon select courses for your senior fall semester! Fall 2024 course registration begins 4/2.

For some of you, the fall is your last semester at Wes; for others, you have two more semesters to go. Regardless of your graduation date, you must complete Wesleyan’s graduation requirements to earn your degree. To ensure you will complete graduation requirements, you must be familiar with your major certification form(s) and your credit analysis report – both found on WesPortal. 

The credit analysis report will outline your progress towards completion of Wesleyan’s four graduation requirements, which are as follows:

  • Completion of a major (managed through your major certification form)
  • Minimum cumulative GPA of 74.00
  • Minimum number of semesters in residence (six semesters for most students, four or five if a junior or sophomore transfer)
  • 32 earned credits without oversubscription

What is oversubscription? Though Wesleyan has few graduation requirements, one requires students to earn 32 useable credits. Some credits earned are unusable if they do not fall within Wesleyan’s academic regulations, resulting in what is called oversubscription. Your credit analysis will tell you if you are oversubscribed in any category. 

I cannot stress enough how important it is for you to know and understand these regulations. You are responsible for ensuring you complete all graduation requirements prior to your graduation date. Prior to course registration next week, you should look at your major certification form(s) and credit analysis report to ensure 1) you are taking the correct courses to complete your major(s) and 2) you are enrolling in credits that will count towards your degree (and not enrolling in credits that will violate oversubscription rules). 

If you have any questions or concerns about this email or anything related to your academic career at Wesleyan, please talk directly with your faculty advisor or schedule an appointment with me as soon as possible. 

I am so excited to see you folks walk across the stage at graduation next year – you are so close. Keep up the amazing work!

Class of 2025 – Summer Reflection

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I am in my office in North College overlooking Andrus field where our commencement activities take place this weekend. I get excited knowing this is the same place where many of you will walk across the stage in two years. It’s wild to think you are halfway – and for some of you, even more than halfway – through your Wesleyan career. 

I’ve had conversations with many of you about your summer plans. Your plans run the gamut: you are volunteering, working to earn more for school, taking courses, doing internships, and conducting research, among other activities. No matter what your summer plans look like, I encourage you to take a moment to pause and reflect on just how much you have accomplished in the past couple of years. 

In that pause and reflection, consider setting your sights towards the future. What goals do you have for yourself this summer? For your junior and senior years? For post-graduation? You do not need to have the next few years of your life completely mapped out; however, setting SMART goals now can help confirm or refocus your trajectory. Minimally I encourage you to set a goal to become familiar with the Major Certification form – this tool will display your progression through a declared major so if you have not accessed it yet, please do so today. If you ever want to talk about your goals, please book an appointment with me. I love hearing student goals because it helps me keep you in mind when experiences related to your goals come across my desk. 

These last few years have come and gone fast – the next couple will feel even faster. Cherish each moment, seek knowledge in every experience, and recognize that you can stay the course you had planned or change direction. You are midway through your studies at Wesleyan; you have lots of time to continue to learn and grow.  

You’ve accomplished so much – I am beyond excited to see what will come.

A special shout out to those who are studying abroad between now and next summer. Be intentional about what you hope to do, learn, see, and experience while away. Take lots of pictures – in fact, I think it’s a riot when students take a printout or stuffed animal of their university mascot to include in photos. I’d love to see some of your travels via social media – y’all are way better at social media than I am, but may I suggest the hashtag #Wes2025CardsAbroad?

Sending you and your loved ones a happy and healthy summer ahead – see you in the fall if not sooner!

Take care,
Dean Dunn

Major Open House Schedule (10/3 – 10/14)

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Happy Friday, Class of 2025 – 

As promised, I’m sending along the most up to date Open House schedule for the next two weeks. To see the full schedule, please visit the Major Open House website here.

Even if you have the slightest interest in a department, I encourage you to attend. Some Open Houses offer refreshments/lunch and it’s a great way to get to know other community members at Wes. I look forward to seeing you at some of these Open Houses.

DepartmentDateStartEndLocationNotes
Romance Studies10/5/202212:00 PM1:00 PM300 High Street MiddletownFood/refreshments
Feminist, Gender, & Sexuality Studies10/6/202212:00 PM1:00 PMAllbritton 311
College of Integrative Sciences10/7/20222:30 PM3:30 PMLabyrinth TentIce cream sundaes
College of Letters10/10/202212:15 PM1:15 PMBoger 114
Psychology10/10/202212:20 PM1:10 PMJudd Hall Rm. 116
Philosophy10/10/202212:00 PM1:00 PMLabyrinth TentPizza
Latin American Studies10/12/202212:10 PM1:00 PMRomance Languages 300 High St.Pizza
Religion10/12/20224:30 PM5:30 PMWoodhead LoungeCider/donuts/fall treats
American Studies10/12/202212:00 PM1:00 PMAmerican Studies  255 High StreetRefreshments
Physics10/13/202211:50 AM1:10 PMExley 058Lunch
History10/13/202212:00 PM1:00 PMLabyrinth TentPizza
Data Analysis10/13/202212:00 PM1:00 PMAllbritton 103Refreshments
Molecular Biology & Biochemistry10/13/202212:00 PM1:00 PMWoodhead LoungeLunch
History10/13/202212:00 PM1:00 PMLabyrinth Tent

Class of 2025 – First Week of Classes

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Greetings, Members of the Class of 2025!

My hope is that your first week of classes has been enjoyable and you are excited for the remainder of the semester. As many of you recall from last year, I often send emails with information I believe you will find important (similar to the email I sent last week welcoming you back to campus).

Last year I sent weekly communications; however, during your sophomore year, I will send less frequent emails. You have completed at least one semester navigating Wesleyan and/or the college experience, so I do not want to crowd your inbox with the same type of content shared last year. This is not to say you won’t still need assistance from me or others on campus. In fact, the sophomore year may create even more questions than you’ve asked before; however, I imagine your questions will be more focused on your academic and personal goals. For these types of questions, please schedule a meeting with me or your liberal arts advisor. Additionally, our Academic Peer Advisors are a great resource for conversation.

I want to share with you the link to our university’s academic calendar which outlines important dates for you to mark down (e.g.: drop/add ends 9/16; grading mode deadline closes 9/30, etc.). The Student Academic Resources office created a nicely organized calendar you can download here. You can also access an electronic version you can import into your google calendar here (select ‘add the dates to your Google Calendar’ on the bottom right side of the webpage). If you wish to pick up a physical copy of this calendar, please stop by my office.

Sending you lots of luck as you get settled into the routines of this semester.

Take care! Dean Dunn

August Reflection

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Happy First Day of August, members of the Class of 2025!

My hope is that you are enjoying summer and getting excited to return to campus this fall. I’ve conversed recently with some of your peers about major declaration and career trajectory. If you are a student who knows exactly what you want to major in and what you want to do for a career when you graduate, that’s great! If you are a student who has no idea what you want to major in or what you want to do for a career, that’s great too! Wesleyan’s open-curriculum encourages you to explore courses in many disciplines; this course exploration can often lead students to their passion.

Reflection is an important part of any journey, so I share some questions below you may want to consider now before the hustle and bustle of the fall semester. These questions are intended to evoke personal reflection as you progress through Wesleyan. There are no right or wrong answers; however, take stock of your feelings as you navigate these questions.

Sophomore year can be both exciting and overwhelming as you approach major declaration. I encourage you to share your thoughts with those in available support networks – this may include me, your pre-major liberal arts advisor, a faculty mentor, one of our Academic Peer Advisors, your friends and/or your family.

  1. In what ways have you grown intellectually over the last 12 months?
  2. What are your academic strengths?
  3. Which classes have been most challenging, and how did you handle those challenges?
  4. Are you comfortable sharing your thoughts and ideas with peers in class?
  5. Have you taken advantage of opportunities to learn outside the classroom? What are some examples of this?
  6. Is there a topic on which you might like to do research? How did you become interested in this topic?
  7. What campus resources can you use to navigate the topics addressed in these reflection questions?

If you’d like to chat about these questions with me, I welcome it! Please schedule a zoom meeting with me here to chat more.

Sending you good vibes as we close out the summer – take care! Dean Dunn

Questions borrowed from NACADA, the global community for academic advising.

Weekly Roundup – Class of 2025

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Greetings, Class of 2025!

Who likes a good count down? As of yesterday (4/5), we officially hit the four-week mark until the last day of spring semester classes. Everything you’ve worked so hard on this semester is coming together. Keep up the great work!

Here are some upcoming events/dates that may be of interest:

  • Well Being Wednesday (WBW) – Everyone can benefit from learning about ways to support well-being. Well-Being Wednesday (WBW) is a weekly virtual workshop on various well-being topics. Each workshop will involve a combination of elements including presentation/lectures, videos/TedTalks, Do-It-Yourself activities, and trivia. Register here to receive the virtual link for each Well-Being Wednesday session. 
  • Wes Day (5/5 from 12pm – 5pm) – WesDay is a great opportunity to interact with the entire campus community. In addition to free ice cream and tie dye, we’ll enjoy carnival rides, games, wellness activities and novelties such as stuff-a-bear and pot your own succulent plant. Fried dough, popcorn, and cotton candy provided at no charge to attendees. Students and faculty will perform music all afternoon at the base of Foss Hill. 
  • Pre-Registration: Pre-registration for Fall 2022 course selection began on 3/29 and runs through 4/11. Be sure to visit the Registrar’s page to review resources such as the Student User Guide to Pre-Registration and more to help you maximize course selection. If you haven’t yet, be sure to connect with your pre-major advisor to discuss your anticipated course load.
  • Withdrawal Deadline (4/27) – Last day to withdraw from full semester and 4th quarter classes.

Be sure to end your semester strong by utilizing the many resources available to you as a Wesleyan student. Not sure where to turn? Contact me and I can point you in the right direction. 
Dean Dunn

In-Person Classes Resume; Semester Start Resources

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It has been great seeing so many of you on campus. I hope you have enjoyed your first few class sessions. Sharing with you some information that may be useful as you navigate the beginning of the semester:

  • WSA Text Exchange: The Wesleyan Student Assembly (WSA) has partnered with other colleges to help students purchase textbooks at a discounted rate. For more information, check out the website here.
  • Drop/Add Deadline is Wed 2/9. There are many resources to assist you with drop/add including but not limited to:
    • Your pre-major advisor
    • Academic Peer Advisors (APAs) – in fact our APAs are hosting appointments to assist with drop/add this next week and a half. Email or click on the QR code in the flyer here.  
    • Registrar’s Office website (features FAQs)
  • CSS Info Session 2/1: For more information, visit my blog post here.
  • Enrollment Holds: If you have not already, please be sure to officially enroll for the semester. To do this, visit WesPortal. Click on the “Enroll in the University & Clear Action Items” alert box. Scroll to the bottom of the page and click on the red “Enroll Me” button. You may find other holds here as well – be sure to clear those holds by following the directions listed in the description of the hold.

If you have questions, please don’t hesitate to reach out! Schedule an appt with me here or stop by my office in North College 202 for my daily office hours listed below:

  • Monday 2:00 – 3:00 pm
  • Tuesday 3:00 – 4:00 pm
  • Wednesday 4:00 – 5:00 pm
  • Thursday 10:00 – 11:00 am
  • Friday 9:00 – 10:00 am

Take care,

Dean Dunn

Happy New Year, Class of 2025!

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We are very excited for you to return to campus – please pay close attention to your email and to the Keep Wes Safe website as communications include important information about changes to the spring semester.  

With the adjustment to spring semester courses, I want to share with you dates that you should update on your calendar/organizer: 

DateDeadlines
1/20 – 2/9Drop/Add period | On-campus enrollment period 
(Be sure you select “ENROLL ME” on your WesPortal)
1/27Classes Begin (virtual 1/27 and 1/28; in person starting 1/31)
2/23Grading Mode Option due by 5pm
3/4Last day to withdraw from 3rd quarter classes
3/113rd quarter classes end
3/12 – 3/20Spring break
3/214th quarter classes begin. 4th quarter classes may be added or dropped during the five working days following the first class meeting
4/27Last day to withdraw from full semester and 4th quarter classes
5/5 – 5/9Reading period
5/10 – 5/13Final examinations

As always, please refer to the academic calendar for up to date deadlines. 

Questions? Don’t hesitate to reach out. You can find my contact information by scrolling down to my bio here. I look forward to working with you when you return to campus. Until then, stay safe and be well!

Approaching the End of Fall Semester

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Hello Class of 2025 – 

If you can believe it, we are in the homestretch of the semester with only two more weeks of classes (ending 12/10) and then reading period (12/11 – 12/14) and finals (12/14 – 12/18). If you have questions about specific course finals, be sure to consult your professor and your course syllabus. The general Wesleyan academic calendar can be found here and the university final exam schedule can be found here. 

It is so important that you continue to work hard to push though these next few weeks. You’ve accomplished so much and you are so close to finishing this semester strong. Be sure to consider all the resources I’ve shared with you throughout the year. Those include but are not limited to:

If you are considering withdrawing from a course, please be sure to talk with your professor and your faculty advisor. As a reminder, the course withdrawal deadline is this Friday 12/3/21. The withdrawal form can be found here. 

Questions? Concerns? Simply want to chat? Feel free to reach out. Stop by my office hours (listed below) or schedule an individual appointment with me here.

You got this, Class of 2025; I’m rooting for you! Keep up the great work!
Dean Dunn 

Weekly Office Hours: 

Monday 2:00 – 3:00 pm
Tuesday 3:00 – 4:00 pm
Wednesday 4:00 – 5:00 pm
Thursday 10:00 – 11:00 am
Friday 9:00 – 10:00 am

Getting Excited for Fall Break!

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Fall Break is so close! What a great chance to take a pause and reflect on how much you have accomplished this semester. A few updates to consider as you round out the next few weeks:

  • Winter Session Aid Applications are now open. If you are thinking about taking a Winter Session course, please apply for aid now. Applying for aid does not obligate you to enroll in a class. Applications due 11/3/21.
  • Flu clinics: Wesleyan mandates that all students receive a flu shot by the start of the Spring 2022 semester. Wesleyan offers flu clinics for a limited number of students to schedule an appointment to receive a flu vaccine. If you aren’t able to schedule an appointment on campus, utilize local pharmacies or consider getting a vaccine if you go home for fall break.
  • CAPS Groups: The Office of Counseling & Psychological Support (CAPS) provides lots of support to Wes students. CAPS groups are a great option for students to access therapist support either separately or in addition to individual therapy.

Don’t forget to reach out to me if you need support navigating any part of your Wesleyan experience. If we haven’t met yet, please feel free to send me an email or stop by my office to say hi. I’d love to hear about your journey so far and chat about the future ahead.

Take care!
Dean Dunn