Introductions

WesPortal and the New Student Checklist

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Black, white, and red image of WesPortal New Student Checklist; Listing of New Student Resources
The New Student Checklist on WesPortal

By now you should have received an email with information about your WesID, username, and login credentials, which will give you access to your Wesleyan email and WesPortal accounts.  WesPortal is your gateway to online tools, information, and resources related to all aspects of your Wesleyan experience.  WesPortal provides access to your academic history, general education report, and course schedule; WesPortal is used to pre-register for courses and apply for study abroad; WesPortal provides student account balance information, and is a place where you can update your personal profile and emergency contact information.  If you haven’t activated your WesPortal login credentials yet, you should do so as soon as possible.

This summer, when you login to WesPortal, you should make a point of frequently checking the New Student Checklist.  The checklist will keep you informed of required upcoming tasks and deadlines that are a necessary part of the process of becoming a Wesleyan student, including submission of the Academic Interest Questionnaire, taking placement tests for math and foreign languages, submitting health forms required by the State of Connecticut, and uploading a photo of yourself for your WesID card. In July you will be using WesPortal to pre-register for Fall courses and indicate your First-Year Seminar preferences.

Watch this helpful training video for more information on how to use WesPortal!

To-Do List

Here is a list of action-items that I recommend you complete before you arrive on campus.  Please be aware that some of these forms may have hard deadlines listed as well. Review your New Student Checklist in WesPortal early and often so you don’t miss any important dates!

  • Requesting Accommodations
  • Building Connections
    • Okay, let’s take a breather, the first four agenda items were a lot! If you have any questions and aren’t sure who to ask, then that’s what the Academic Peer Advisors (APAs) are here for! 
    • Besides faculty and staff, your peers are one of the best resources out there; take a look at the Academic Peer Advisor bios so you can start building more connections!

Important Information for International Students from Your Orientation Interns

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Congratulations Class of 2025!!!

We are your Orientation Interns and we will be working with you to ensure that you are feeling excited and prepared for your first year at Wes! If you have any questions specific to Orientation or student life, feel free to contact us at Orientation@wesleyan.edu. We are currently working remotely from our homes, but will be back on campus in July!  We will be sharing more information on the Orientation Program at that time.  We can’t wait to meet you and learn more about you! If you are interested in learning a bit about us, watch our Meet the Interns video introducing ourselves and parts of campus to you! You can also read more about us and the Orientation Leaders on the Orientation Program Website.

Some important information for international students:

  • Sign up for the International Buddy Program! The sign up form is due by Sunday, June 20 at 11:59 PM EST.
  • Tune in and watch Episode 1 and Episode 2 of our new video series titled “My Wesleyan Journey” that showcases personal, academic, and social experiences of returning international students at Wes! New episodes will be released on a weekly basis on our Facebook page.  
  • Follow the OISA Facebook page for general information, advice, pre-departure orientation sessions, and future videos of the My Wesleyan Journey.
  • Visit the OISA ISO webpage for more information.
  • Questions on immigration and paperwork: oisa@wesleyan.edu 
  • Questions exclusively about ISO (including travel arrangements): iso@wesleyan.edu 

Enjoy your summer and GO WES!
Follow us on Instagram @ wes.orientation

New Student Orientation Interns
Chaiyeon Lee ‘22
Olu Oladitan ‘24
Jose Pagan ‘22
Jade Monique Tate ‘22
orientation@wesleyan.edu

International Student Orientation Intern
Fatoumata Gaye ‘24
iso@wesleyan.edu

Welcome to Wes from Your Class Dean!

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Dear Class of 2025,

Photo of the Dean for the Class of 2025: a smiling woman in a black and white-patterned sweater.
Dr. Tanesha A. Leathers

Let me start with an introduction: my name is Dr. Tanesha Leathers, and I’m excited to serve as your class dean! During my academic and professional career, I’ve been a Pioneer, Eph, Terp, Blue Jay, and now a Cardinal. There are a few other key things you need to know about me, apart from the fact I come to you with over 20 years of experience in higher education. The following are in no particular order:

  • There’s nothing like a New York slice, and I’ve met few cupcakes (or other carbs for that matter) I didn’t like.
  • Sadly, I still root for the Mets, Jets, and Knicks, but don’t judge me if I go to a Nets game sometime in the future.
  • I love to bake and create all manner of things, and I believe laughter is the best medicine for much of what ails us.
  •  I’m happy to wax (not so poetically) about a host of random things.
  •  And, I would love to get to know more about you!

My life’s journey began in Queens, New York, where I was born and raised. I attended public schools for my primary and secondary education, and found myself in the Purple Valley to earn a degree in anthropology at Williams College. I worked in campus life for The Sage Colleges in upstate New York and at my alma mater before I began graduate work at the University of Maryland, College Park, where I earned my doctorate in American Studies. My doctoral work focused on parenting as activism in Baltimore, Maryland and the revolutionary potential of Black love. I’ve had the pleasure of working in residence life and advising at the University of Maryland and as an assistant program manager within the Summer Programs unit of the Center for Talented Youth at Johns Hopkins University. (Here’s a shout out to any incoming student who went through CTY’s programs at Santa Cruz, CA or Chestertown, MD.)

As a class dean, I spend much of my time advising students – discussing academic, social, and personal challenges and how to achieve personal goals. I work with individual students, professors, parents, and other Wesleyan staff to support students in their pursuit of a positive learning experience.

I provide guidance and support to all students in the Class of 2025. I’m a source of information on academic standing, choosing a major, graduation requirements, university policies and procedures, and opportunities and resources available at the university and in the surrounding Middletown community. I may not be aware of every resource that can help my students, but I’m committed to learning about new things that can genuinely support students in my class.

The class dean model enables me to get to know the whole student during their four years here. You don’t attend a university like Wesleyan just to take classes and earn a degree, though that pursuit is paramount. Part of the draw of a place like Wesleyan is to engage with amazing members of our community inside and outside of the classroom, and to embrace the concept of lifelong learning.

Wesleyan has so much in store for you and your classmates, and let me be the first in a long line of people to encourage you on this amazing journey. I look forward to welcoming you to campus this fall, but don’t hesitate to contact me if I can be of any help to you before your arrival.

Enjoy your summer break!

Dean Leathers

classdean2025@wesleyan.edu