August Reflection

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.

Resource Center Summer Hours

The Resource Center (RC) will host summer hours of operation from 12noon-6pm Monday-Friday for students to pick up products from the pantry, use the library, and print as necessary. Community members are encouraged to drop off unopened, unexpired, shelf-stable food items (ramen, pasta kits, etc.) in the RC living room any time that we are open.

Please contact Demetrius Colvin at dcolvin@wesleyan.edu if you have any questions, concerns, or ideas for community engagement on which you would like to collaborate. 

Final Weekly Roundup Email for the 2021-2022 Academic Year

Good morning, Class of 2025 –

I hope this weekly email finds you well. If you can believe it, there are only 6 more days until the last day of classes! For many of us, this year has been filled with lots of excitement and challenges. I am confident you will continue to experience this fluctuation as you progress through your Wesleyan career; however, my hope is that you are now more aware of resources that can help you during any part of your time here at Wesleyan.

Some upcoming dates and/or events that may be of interest to you:

  • Wellness Resources: End of the semester can cause stress as due dates quickly approach. Make yourself aware of both in and out-of-the-classroom resources to finish the semester strong. This includes but is not limited to meeting with your professors, talking with your course assistants, scheduling an appointment with an Academic Peer Advisor, reviewing resources offered through Student Academic Resources (SAR), meeting with me, visiting CAPS, WesWell and/or the Office of Religious and Spiritual Life. If you need assistance navigating resources, please do not hesitate to reach out to me.
  • Wes Day (5/5 from 12pm – 5pm): WesDay is a great opportunity to interact with the entire campus community. In addition to free carnival food, we’ll enjoy carnival rides, games, music, therapy dogs, wellness activities and novelties such as stuff-a-bear and pot your own succulent plant. Fried dough, popcorn, ice cream, and cotton candy provided at no charge to the first 1500 attendees. Food Trucks include Los Mariachi’s, Jackie’s Pizza the Pie, and Fryborg. Food truck tickets must be purchased at the Box Office in Usdan for $5 before the event and $10 on the day of the event. More info on Wes Day as well as other end of the year events can be found on WesNest on WesPortal.

You have what it takes to finish this semester strong. Pushing yourself to be successful academically does not have to happen alone. Take stock of the resources shared with you on this weekly email and think about what resources you used this year that worked to your advantage. If you didn’t use any resources, think about ways in which you can utilize resources in the future to get even more out of your courses.

You should be proud of how far you’ve come as you complete your first year of study at Wesleyan. I look forward to supporting you as you continue on this journey. If you’re up to it, feel free to send me an email sharing with me your favorite part about your first year at Wesleyan. I’d be delighted to celebrate with you all of your wins and successes this year.

Take care! Dean Dunn

Fellowships and Scholarships – 4/25

Are you thinking of going to graduate school? Did you know there are fellowships and scholarships that pay for US students to pursue graduate degrees abroad? At this info session, Assistant Director for Fellowships, Dr. Erica Kowsz, will give an overview of the opportunities available, including fellowships for graduate study in the UK, Ireland, China, and more! Students from all class years are welcome to attend. We will meet on Monday April 25 at 4:30pm in Fisk 201 for snacks, a short presentation, and plenty of time for Q&A!

Weekly Roundup – Class of 2025

Greetings, Class of 2025 –

Below are some upcoming events and important dates to keep in mind:

Adjustment (through 4/19): Now that preregistration is over, we enter the Adjustment period for Fall 2022 course selection. For helpful hints on how to approach adjustment, utilize this guide here. Still have questions? Be sure to chat with your premajor advisor – they can offer a wealth of knowledge on many of the questions associated with course selection. You can also reach out to an Academic Peer Advisor or schedule an appointment with me.

Course Withdrawal Deadline (4/27): Wednesday, April 27 is the last day to withdraw from full semester and 4th quarter classes.

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.

Athletic Events: Many of our spring athletic teams are rounding out their seasons – be sure to catch a home game! Click here for schedules.

WesNest: As I often share, there are so many events, programs, plays, and opportunities to take advantage of posted on our WesNest engagement platform here. I challenge you to take a peek at some of the events offered in the next few weeks and attend something you’ve never participated in before – who knows, you might find a new interest with this small action!

Keep up the great work in and out of the classroom – if you need anything, don’t hesitate reach out (kmdunn@wesleyan.edu).

Weekly Roundup – Class of 2025

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-RegistrationPre-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

Well-Being Wednesday

Looking for ways to support your well-being?  Attend Well-Being Wednesday!  

Well-Being Wednesday (WBW) is a weekly virtual workshop on various Well-Being topics.  Each workshop will involve a combination of elements including:  Presentation/Lecture, Videos/TedTalks, Do-It-Yourself Activities, and even Trivia.  During the Spring Semester, WBW will run from April 06 – May 04.  Register HERE to receive the virtual link for each of these Well-Being Wednesday sessions.  Sessions are open to students, staff, and faculty.  Sponsored by WesWell.

Resource Center Programs

Friday 2/25 – Regeneration: A Global Eco Drag Show. This event is made in partnership with SmokeFree Music Cities, Tufts LBGT Center, the Wesleyan  University Student Resource Center, Vassar College, Oberlin College GSF Department, Bard College, University of Toronto Scarborough Women’s & Trans Center, Design Science Studio, Women’s March Taiwan, Trove, and The Community Cooperative. You can join this vibrant international community of drag performers and fans for FREE by registering here.

Virtual Financial Literacy Program: Want to learn about investing? Confused about taxes? What to own your financial future? Scan the QR code in the flyer below to learn more.