Post-Commencement ITS Resources

Now that you are on to the next phase of your life, please be aware of the Wesleyan account access changes that are in store.

What Stays the Same

  • You retain your Wesleyan.edu account and it will stay on Google as long as we continue to use their services.  You may continue to use your Gmail, Google Drive and OneDrive space. Be sure to login to your email at least once a year to keep it active.  For security purposes, we disable email accounts inactive for more than one year. You will receive advance notification if that gets close.
  • You retain access to WesPortal where you can access resources such as JSTOR, HathiTrust, Project Muse, SensusAccess, Mango Languages, transcripts, and student information.
  • Should you need support regarding your account or alum access, you can continue to request support in your WesPortal ITS Help > Report an Issue.
  • Additional information about alumni resources are available here: https://www.wesleyan.edu/alumni/resources.html

What Changes 

  • June 15, 2020

    • Wireless Access changes.  Your wireless network access changes to WesGuest unless you are continuing on in a staff capacity or Graduate student here at Wes.  If so, your access would adjust with your new role.  If you will still be at Wesleyan in another capacity and lose any of the access mentioned above, please open an incident at ServiceNow.
    • Library database access ends except for JSTOR, Project Muse, HathiTrust, and SensusAccess. Alumni may access these library resources through WesPortal.
    • VPN access ends
    • Note on Research. Occasionally there are individuals who are neither continuing studies at Wesleyan nor formally employed, however are doing ongoing research that requires extended access.  If you need this access, create an incident at ServiceNow.  Please include the faculty for whom you are working and for how long you need to retain your access.
  • July 31, 2020

    • LinkedIn Learning access ends.  LinkedIn Learning access will no longer work through your Wesleyan login.  However, alum can convert to a consumer subscription or access content via a LinkedIn Professional subscription.  As long as you have your LinkedIn Learning account associated with your LinkedIn profile, all of your completed course history will be maintained.  You can connect your LinkedIn profile at any time. From any course, click the Q&A tab for step by step instructions.
    • WesCreates Access ends.  WesCreates is NOT available after July 31.  If you would like to migrate your website to a full hosting account, please visit Migration Information to determine options to have your domain and website content automatically migrated to a full hosting account at Reclaim Hosting.
    • WesFiles Access ends.  WesFiles is NOT available after July 31.  You must download and move any data you wish to keep prior to this date.  As of August 15, your files will be purged from the system and will no longer be recoverable.If you require an extension, please submit an incident via ServiceNow, provide your username and be sure to provide the date you are requesting to retain access.  You must do this prior to July 31.
    • Microsoft Office Pro Plus installations retired.  Wesleyan’s Microsoft Office licensing for local installations on student computers does not persist beyond graduation. Once you become an alumnus, your access to Microsoft Office continues with the online version only. Your version of Office installed on your computer will give you 30 days notification before it will no longer be available to you. You will continue to be able to log into the Office 365 online portal.
    • Zoom Professional licenses end.  Students who have a professional version of Zoom will revert back to the Basic version.

Commencement Cap and Gown Update

Here is the latest information on cap and gown orders
  • All commencement regalia that was designated to be shipped to the Wesleyan RJ Julia Bookstore has been cancelled.
  • All questions regarding reimbursement for these cancelled gowns should be directed to Oak Hall, our commencement regalia resource. They may either contact customer service at 800/456-7623 or customerservice@oakhalli.comStudents must make sure Oak Hall understands they’re talking about a cancelled gown from Wesleyan University in Middletown, CT.
  • Students who want a cap and gown as a souvenir can still order one from the Oak Hall website and have it shipped to their home. They have until Friday, May 22nd, to order a cap and gown package. Please note, however, that gowns purchased after Friday, May 15th, might not make it to their homes in time for the virtual graduation on Sunday, May 24th….Here is the link to the Oak Hall websitehttps://wesleyan.shopoakhalli.com/purchasewizard/SelectEvent
  • The Wesleyan RJ Julia Bookstore will not sell or loan caps and gowns this year.
  • Students can order an $8 tassel from our Wesleyan RJ Julia website.
For more information, please contact:
Paula Page
Wesleyan RJ Julia
ppage@wesleyan.edu
860-685-3939

Verify your Diploma Address

Dear Seniors,

Congratulations on finishing your final classes during these unusual times!  I know this has been a huge adjustment for all of us.  Since we will not be able to personally distribute diplomas to the Class of 2020, we plan to mail them instead.  In preparation for this, I ask you to verify your diploma address in WesPortal.  The diploma address is your home address by default, but you can opt to have your diploma sent elsewhere.  Please take a moment before May 25 to review and/or update this address.  There is an alert box in your WesPortal that links to the diploma address application or it can be found in the “My Information” bucket.

Congratulations again!

Sincerely,

Anna C. G. van der Burg
University Registrar
avanderburg@wesleyan.edu

Middletown Cash Refunds

Any student who wishes to request a refund from their Middletown Cash account should contact Cathy-Lee Rizza in the WesCard Office at crizza@wesleyan.edu.  Before a refund is issued, the credit will need to first be reconciled with any outstanding student account balances.

Course Withdrawal Deadline Wednesday 4/29

The last day to withdraw from full-semester and second-quarter classes for the Fall 2018 semester is Wednesday, April 29 at 5:00 p.m EDT.  If you need to withdraw from a course, please send a group email by the deadline to the instructor, your faculty advisor, and your class dean, and attach a withdrawal form.

If you are thinking about withdrawing from a course:

  • Do use this time to talk to your professors, your advisors, and me about your concerns. Please email me at dphillips@wesleyan.edu to schedule an appointment.
  • Do make sure you are taking advantage of all the resources available to you.
  • Do not wait until Wednesday at 4:00 p.m. to contact me or you may find yourself waiting a long time to hear back from me.

Cap and Gown Refund Update

Due to Oak Hall’s reduced hours and staffing, refunds for “ship to bookstore” orders will not show up on credit cards until approximately May 1st. We apologize for the delay. Please be assured that you will be refunded for your original purchase.

For more information, please contact

Paula Page
Wesleyan RJ Julia
ppage@wesleyan.edu
860-685-3939

Apply for the Christopher Brodigan Award

Given the current global health crisis related to Covid-19, applications must be sensitive to health and safety protocols, including travel restrictions and public health guidelines.  The award committee encourages the submission of digital project proposals and those designed with physical distancing in mind or that include a flexible timeline during the award year (2020-2021).  See the CDC website for specific global travel guidelines (https://www.cdc.gov/coronavirus/2019-ncov/travelers/map-and-travel-notices.html).

African Studies is now accepting submissions from graduating seniors for the Brodigan Award, awarded every year in honor of Christopher Brodigan.  More information about the origin of the award is listed on the African Studies website:https://www.wesleyan.edu/africanstudies/brodigan/index.html.

Students from any discipline are encouraged to submit applications proposing a public service or research project in Africa.  Students may propose an individually designed project or to provide service in an educational institution, development organization, grassroots group, or non-governmental organization pursuing service work.  Research projects will be supported especially if they state the potential significance for the public interest in the country where the project will be carried out.

Several awards of up to approximately $3,000 each will be offered.  Recipients are required to submit reports on their projects once they are completed.

The deadline for applications is Tuesday, April 28th by 11:55pm EST.

Interested students should contact Prof. Laura Ann Twagira at ltwagira@wesleyan.edu or Prof. Alice Hadler at ahadler@wesleyan.edu.

Application Instructions

Applications should include:

  1. A proposal (2 pages) which includes the following information:

    • Description of project

    • Detailed plan for carrying out the project

    • Identification and description of any sponsoring organization

    • The proposal should address concerns regarding health, safety, or any political sensitivity

  1. A detailed budget, including airfare and room and board costs (1 page)

  2. A resume, including a listing and description of relevant Wesleyan coursework or other experiences

  3. The name of one faculty member who can serve as a reference for you and for your project

Applications should be submitted by email to Professor Laura Ann Twagira in the Department of History (ltwagira@wesleyan.edu).

Commencement Regalia Update

Please note that all students (Bachelor, Masters, PHD) will be able to order a “Ship to Home” package until May 15th. Oak Hall will make the ordering change to their website by Thursday, April 9th. The same rules will apply regarding returns: Students may open the box the the order came in but CAN NOT open the individual cap and gown packaging if they want the option to return the regalia. Students have 30 days to return the regalia from the day the package was shipped from Oak Hall. Students must take note of the shipping date from Oak Hall.

For more information, please contact Paula Page at Wesleyan RJ Julia at ppage@wesleyan.edu or 860.685.3939.

Upcoming OISA Virtual Programs for International Students

CPT, OPT and Employment Related Q&A with OISA

Thursday, April 9, 12:15-1:15 p.m. Eastern Time
Zoom link: https://wesleyan.zoom.us/j/429235923

Many things have changed since the start of the COVID-19 outbreak, including the employment opportunities in the United States for F-1 visa holders. Come to this virtual session and ask all your questions about Curricular Practical Training (CPT) during Summer 2020, and Optional Practical Training (OPT) after graduation. Learn the latest USCIS updates about employment policies and the recommended best practices.

Due to the open and online nature of this space, the session is not private nor confidential. If you have private legal questions about your immigration status/employment situation, please email oisa@wesleyan.edu for a one-on-one session.

Friday Lunch Chat for International Students

Friday, April 10, 12:00-1:00 p.m. Eastern Time
Zoom link: https://wesleyan.zoom.us/j/172596759

This is a drop-in online community space for Wesleyan international students who are on campus. International students who are located elsewhere are welcome to join (although it may not be lunch time for you).

Come eat with one another, just like the old days at Usdan, except that this is a virtual session! Enjoy an informal and social lunch with the international community at Wes. Don’t eat alone, come sit with us, chat, laugh and connect!

Alone Together: Coping with Boredom, Isolation, and Stress for International Students

Wednesday, April 15, 12:15-1:15 p.m. Eastern Time
Zoom link: https://wesleyan.zoom.us/j/405814599

 Join the Office of International Student Affairs staff and members of the International Student Advisory Board (ISAB) for a space to share and connect! We will talk about what matters most to you at the moment — whether it is homesickness, immigration/visa concerns, isolation, stress or others. This is a space to honor your feelings, enjoy one another’s company and share helpful tips for maintaining physical and emotional health if you are up for it. The first half of the session will be facilitated by a professional staff. Members of ISAB will host the second half of the session for authentic student-to-student connections.

Due to the open and online nature of this space, the session is not private nor confidential, though participants are encouraged to be respectful and mindful of each other and to practice discretion. For a one-on-one session with an OISA staff, email oisa@wesleyan.edu.