Note from Dean Brown: Senior Speaker/NameCoach Recording/Diploma Name

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Hey 2017’ers, 

SENIOR SPEAKER

On behalf of the Senior Speaker Selection Committee, I am happy to announce that Lizzie Shackney will be the senior speaker at the 2017 Commencement.  Thank you to all of the amazing applicants who submitted excellent essays and made this decision a very hard one for the Committee.  Please join me in congratulating Lizzie and thanking the committee members, especially the Senior Class Officers, for their great work.      

NAMECOACH RECORDING

Check your email for the “INVITATION” email.  There is a link in the email to record your name so that it is pronounced correctly when read during the Commencement ceremony. 

DIPLOMA NAME

The Registrar’s Office has asked me to remind you that when you click on the link in your portfolio (Enrollment Status>Diploma Name) to confirm the name that will be on your diploma, it must be your LEGAL name, not your preferred name.   

WITHDRAWAL DEADLINE

The last day to withdraw from a full-semester or fourth-quarter course is Wednesday, May 3.  If you are planning on withdrawing from a course, make sure that you do not need it for your major or to reach 32.00 credits with no oversubscription.  The last day of classes is in three weeks–Wednesday, May 10!! 

If you have any questions or concerns or if I can be of any help as you approach the end of the semester, please do not hesitate to contact me, come by for drop-in, or call x2758 to schedule an appointment.  

Best, Dean Brown

 

 

Caps & Gowns for Commencement Ceremony!

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Hey 2017’ers,

Here is information regarding the purchase of caps and gowns from Broad Street Books and information about the loaner cap and gown program at Usdan.   All Wesleyan undergraduates wear red, as you may already know from seeing the commencement photos over the years!

For those who purchase their caps and gowns, we encourage you to donate them to the loaner program for next year’s graduates.  More information about collection bins forthcoming.

Best, Dean Brown

From Shelby Choiniere, Store Manager of Broad Street Books:

Congratulations on your achievements!  The 2017 Commencement season is approaching soon, and it is time to start thinking about purchasing your graduation regalia.  All items can be purchased through Broad Street Books. Class rings can be obtained separately through the Jostens.com website where you can design your own ring in a style that best suits you.

You can now purchase your cap and gown.  If you are unable to pick up your regalia at the bookstore, we will be glad to ship it to you.  Contact Broad Street Books to place your order and provide shipping information.  Payment will be due at the time of ordering.  A shipping and handling fee will be applied to your purchase total.

Graduation regalia items are listed below.  Prices do not reflect sales tax.  All graduation regalia items are non-refundable. 

  • Undergrad/Bachelor Cap & Gown:  $39
  • Tassel:  $7
  • Caps:  $12
  • Caps and Tassels can be purchased separately.  Contact store personnel.

If you have any questions, please feel free to contact us at (860) 685-7323 and ask for Erin Ricker.  Store hours are Monday–Friday 9 a.m.-8 p.m., and Saturday-Sunday 9 a.m.-5 p.m.

 

From Michelle Myers-Brown, Director of Usdan University Center:

Congratulations to all soon-to-be graduates!

Seniors who do not want to purchase the cap and gown through the bookstore can come to the Usdan Administration Office on the dates below and borrow a set with a $40 deposit.  Cash or checks will be accepted for the deposit.

Loaners are available for pick up on May 8, 9, 10 from 9a.m. – 2p.m.

Supplies are limited, so be aware that the availability of the correct size of a cap and a gown for each student is not guaranteed.  It will need to be determined on a student-by-student basis.  If available, then seniors will complete a form acknowledging both the loan and the return deadline in order to get their deposit refunded.

Caps and gowns must be returned either on the day of commencement, May 28, by 3p.m. or the following business day, Tuesday, May 30 between 9a.m.-3p.m. (the office will not be open on Monday, May 29).   Seniors must still purchase their tassel ($7) from the bookstore since those are year specific.  If the caps supply is depleted, seniors can purchase them separately from the bookstore.

 

Name Pronunciation for Name Reading at Commencement Ceremony

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To:   Candidates for Bachelor of Arts Degree From:  Rosie Villard, Administrative Assistant V

To ensure that your full legal name is spelled correctly on your diploma, we are asking you to confirm your diploma name.  Please confirm your name as soon as possible.

In your portfolio under Enrollment Status click on Diploma Names.  The name that we currently have on file will be displayed on this page.  If your name is correct, please click on Confirm/Update button at the bottom of the page.  If your name is not correct, please make any necessary corrections before selecting the Confirm/Update button.

Please note that you will only be able to update your name once per day – if you confirm your name in error, you will need to return to the page the following day to make any corrections.

If your name contains special characters or accents, please confirm the spelling of your name without the characters or accents.  In order to make sure that the special characters or accents appear correctly on your diploma, you will be asked to link to the Special Character Diploma Name Confirmation form and send it to the Registrar’s Office.

To make a correction to your legal name for all other university records, you will need to bring a form of legal identification (birth certificate, passport, driver’s license, or legal name change document if your name has been legally changed) to the Registrar’s Office.

The diploma name system will close on Sunday, April 23 at 11:59pm.

GCC’s Presentation Skills for Students — April 6

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Presentation Skills Workshop for Students

Thursday, April 6, 12-1pm      Gordon Career Center 

Are you interested in what it will take to get on the fast track in the new economy, and even to get a foot on the ladder out of school?  Kirt Mead ‘65, who has spent his career in small consulting and research firms, will discuss the skills that new age firms interviewing at Wes will be looking for.  We will address not only the “left brain” skills of developing and delivering a drop dead presentation, but also the “right brain skills associated with interviewing and unstructured conversations.    

 

Writing Prep and Best Practices for Fellowships for Post-Wes

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Fulbright Information Session —  Tuesday April 25th @ 12PM | Usdan 110
 All students are invited to attend an information session to learn about Fulbright grants – the many options, best practices in preparing your application and a timeline. Great opportunity for juniors and graduating seniors to learn about Fulbright and consider planning an application for the upcoming October 2017!

For more on the on campus application process: http://www.wesleyan.edu/cgs/fellowship/fulbright.html

Fellowship Writing Workshop (1) — Tuesday April 25th @ 6-7PM | Center for Global Studies (Fisk Hall)

Please join Kate, Associate Director of Fellowships, Internships & Exchanges to start your fellowship or scholarship application for fall. Understand the application process and what application materials are required. Bring a laptop for notes and to start working on your personal statement.

The workshop will be an hour and food will be provided. Students must register for this event online: https://goo.gl/forms/fm2B8bxKHElobuuu2 (you will need to be logged onto WesPortal to access this form!). Please note that there is a limited number of spaces. Registration operate on a rolling basis and capped at 20 participants.

Fellowship Writing Workshop (2) — Wednesday April 26th @ 12-1PM | Center for Global Studies (Fisk Hall)

Please join Kate, Associate Director of Fellowships, Internships & Exchanges to start your fellowship or scholarship application for fall. Understand the application process and what application materials are required. Bring a laptop for notes and to start working on your personal statement.

The workshop will be an hour and food will be provided. Students must register for this event online: https://goo.gl/forms/fm2B8bxKHElobuuu2 (you will need to be logged onto WesPortal to access this form!). Please note that there is a limited number of spaces. Registration operate on a rolling basis and capped at 10 participants.

—If you are unable to attend any sessions, and have questions, please visit: http://www.wesleyan.edu/cgs/fellowship/nomination.html for more information on fellowships or to set-up an individual appointment. 

 

fellowship best practices

Note from Dean Brown

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2017’ers, 

Welcome back to the start of your last 6.5 weeks of classes!  Time really flies, doesn’t it?  Lots to both reflect upon and celebrate! 

MEETING DEGREE REQUIREMENTS

It is more crucial than ever to make sure that you are on target to graduate with 32.00 credits with no oversubscription, 16.00 Wesleyan credits, the completion of at least one major, and a minimum G.P.A. of 74.00.  In addition, you need to have met your residency requirement (six semesters for first-year entrants, five for sophomore transfers, and four for second-semester sophomore or junior transfer).  Check your credit analysis and major cert form.  You must meet all degree requirements to be eligible to participate in the graduation ceremony. 

Now is the time to add credits if you are below 32.00 (due to a plain credit deficit or because of oversubscription) or below 16.00 Wesleyan credits.  Please add the necessary credit this Monday or Tuesday, although you do have five days from the first class to add or drop a 4th quarter course.  Make sure that this credit will not oversubscribe you. 

If you are thinking about withdrawing from a course (May 3 deadline), make sure that you will not need it to complete your major or that it will not put you below 32.00 useable credits or 16.00 Wesleyan credits.  (Add some partial credit now if that would make a difference for your credit total if you withdrew.)   

ACADEMIC & COMMENCEMENT CALENDAR  (so far)

April 5 at noon – Senior Speaker essay due to Dean Brown

April 19 at 4:30 p.m. – deadline to submit honors theses and essays

May 3 – last day to withdraw from classes

May 10 – last day of classes

May 11-15 – Reading Period

May 16-19 – Final Exams

May 25-28 – Reunion/Commencement activities, 185th Commencement on the 28th

May 29 at 4:30 p.m. – deadline to move out of housing 

Information about “Name Coach” (for name reading at graduation) and Caps & Gowns will be forthcoming in the next few weeks. 

In closing, best wishes to all those finishing up their senior thesis, essay, exhibit, performance, research or other capstone experience! 

If you have questions or concerns, or if I can be of help, please do not hesitate to contact me, come to drop-in hours (listed below), or give the office a call (x2758) to schedule an appointment. 

Best, Dean Brown

 

Cultivating Belonging: The Haitian Revolution and Black Struggles Today — An Interdisciplinary Dialogue — April 7, 4:30 p.m.

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Cultivating Belonging:

The Haitian Revolution and Black Struggles Today!

An Interdisciplinary Dialogue 

Friday, April 7th 2017  4:30 p.m.

Russell House

This program will bring together a panel of three scholars from three fields of inquiry to engage in conversation about the Haitian Revolution, (the only successful slave revolution in the history of the West) to assess its complex formations, meanings and gendered representations, as well as its possible implications for Black struggles today. Professors Alex Dupuy (Sociology, Wesleyan), Jeremy M. Glick (English, Hunter College) and Kaiama L. Glover (Africana Studies and French, Barnard) will gather to discuss their specific works, which focus explicitly on the Revolution and its aftermath. The timeliness and timelessness of this conversation could not be more exigent as we contemplate how to best envision new futures with “maximalist” potential when detrimental echoes of the past reverberate in our present.

Panelists:

Alex Dupuy is Professor Emeritus of Sociology at Wesleyan U. He is the author of Haiti in the World Economy: Class, Race, and Underdevelopment Since 1700 (1989); Haiti in the New World Order: The Limits of the Democratic Revolution (1997); The Prophet and Power: Jean-Bertrand Aristide, the International Community, and Haiti (2007); Haiti: From Revolutionary Slaves to Powerless Citizens. Essays on the Politics and Economics of Underdevelopment (2014), and more than three dozen articles in professional journals and anthologies. He is particularly interested in issues of Caribbean political economy and social change. He is a well-known commentator on Haitian affairs.

Jeremy M. Glick is Associate Professor of African Diaspora literature and modern drama at Hunter College, English Department. He is currently working on long-form essays on various topics including Frantz Fanon. His first book, The Black Radical Tragic: Performance, Aesthetics, and the Unfinished Haitian Revolution, is the 2017 recipient of the Nicolás Guillén Outstanding Book Award from the Caribbean Philosophical Association. It was recently reviewed by Slavoj Zizek in the L.A. Review of Books.  His second book project is entitled Coriolanus Against Liberalism/Coriolanus & Pan-Africanist Loss. He is also the Hunter College Chapter Chair of the PSC-CUNY Union.

Kaiama L. Glover is Associate Professor of French and Africana Studies at Barnard College, Columbia University. She is the author of Haiti Unbound: A Spiralist Challenge to the Postcolonial Canon, first editor of Marie Vieux Chauvet: Paradoxes of the Postcolonial Feminine (Yale French Studies 2016), and translator of Frankétienne’s Ready to Burst (Archipelago Books 2014), Marie Vieux-Chauvet’s Dance on the Volcano (Archipelago Books 2016), and René Dépestre’s Hadriana in All My Dreams (Akashic Books 2017). She has received awards and fellowships from the National Endowment for the Humanities, the PEN Foundation, the Mellon Foundation, and the Fulbright Foundation.

The 2017 GLASS Prize — submissions due April 20

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Announcing the 2017 GLASS Prize!

The GLASS (Gay, Lesbian, and Sexuality Studies) Prize is awarded for the best research and writing on a subject in queer, trans*, LGBT, or sexuality studies. The prize is open to Wesleyan undergraduate students in all classes; senior essays and theses are preferred. The award includes no cash benefit, but the winner’s name will be published in the 2017 Commencement booklet.

Entries must be submitted in hard copy by 4pm on Thursday, April 20 to the Center for the Americas (look for the bin labeled “GLASS Prize” in the downstairs hallway).

If you have any questions, please contact the GLASS Prize chair, Prof. Margot Weiss (mdweiss@wesleyan.edu).  More info at: http://www.wesleyan.edu/queerstudies/glass.html

To International Students: Message from Janice Watson and Travel Plans

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To International Students in the Class of 2017:

In anticipation of the bad weather predicted for Friday and the possibility that Ms. Watson may not make it to campus, she will be on campus tonight until 6pm to endorse I-20s and provide travel letters. 

 Please send Ms. Watson an email at jwatson@wesleyan.edu to request your letter.

Janice D. Watson, Coordinator, International Student Services/PDSO