I am writing to ask students to submit items for the class blog. Did you have a great internship over the summer? Are you participating in good research that you want to share? Did you receive awards or become published? It’s time to celebrate your accomplishments and show Wesleyan how strong you are as a class!

Please send me your narratives along with a picture that can be posted on the blog.

I also will be sending an email soon once the details have been finalized for a class event to be held in November. RSVPs will be required, so keep an eye on the blog for announcements.

I hope your fifth semester is off to a great start! I have regular office hours again, so stop by if you have questions, concerns, or just to say “hi!”

Welcome back!

Dean Garrett

Guest of Honor:
Professor Mary-Jane Rubenstein
Assistant Professor of Religion
Assistant Professor of Feminist, Gender, and Sexuality Studies

Come and enjoy a three-course meal and talk with Professor Rubenstein about her research in Religion and FGSS, her teaching, and why she loves what she does. Hosted by Dean Garrett and the Office of Residential Life.

When: Thursday, February 26, 6:00 – 7:30 p.m.

First-come, first-served.

Sign up soon!!

RSVP by February 23 to Susan Kulesza at skulesza@wesleyan.edu, or x2758.

Now that Drop/Add is over, we are asking you to confirm what happened during Drop/Add. Please log on to your portfolio and navigate to “Current Classes & Schedule” under “Wesleyan Career” or simply click on the quick link in the alert box at the top of the page.

Please make sure that you complete one of the following actions:

If you agree that our records correctly show the courses that you registered for during Drop/Add, click on “Schedule is Correct”.

If your schedule is not correct (for example, a course is missing from your schedule or an additional course is appearing) click on “Schedule is Incorrect” and you’ll be given further instructions and a link to the petition form.

Later, if your petition is successful and your schedule is corrected, you should return to your schedule page and click “Schedule is Correct”. The schedule confirmation buttons will remain on the page until you click the “Schedule is Correct” button.

Please indicate whether or not your schedule is correct no later than Thursday, February 12, 2009. The sooner you let us know that your schedule is not correct, the sooner any issues can be resolved. If you fail to indicate whether or not your schedule is correct, you risk not being allowed to participate in April pre-registration for Fall 2009 courses.

Grading mode and cross-listing changes must have been made before the end of the Drop/Add period.

If you have any questions, please contact the Registrar’s Office at x2810.

Note from Dean Garrett: Major Declaration

Major Declaration Website
(www.wesleyan.edu/deans/major_declaration/)
Visit this site for information about choosing and declaring a major. Use The Guide for major exploration exercises and links to campus resources.

February 2009 Open House Schedule
In February, departments and programs host Open Houses for prospective majors and interested students. This schedule provides date, time and location information for these events. They are a great opportunity to meet faculty and current majors.

Departments/Programs
Review entry and major requirements of different departments and programs in the undergraduate section of their websites. Faculty bios and personal web pages are often available as well as useful guidelines on transfer credit policies, study abroad information, and research opportunities.

Department Chairs
Department and Program Experts for Advising
Have questions about a particular major and its requirements? Want to know more about opportunities available in different undergraduate major programs? Go straight to the source and talk with faculty members who have been designated to help you work toward major declaration.

Other Important Links

• Major Deferral form
• The University Major
• Office of International Studies
• Career Resource Center

Declaring your major is an exciting time in the sophomore year. Faculty regulations require that Wesleyan sophomores declare a major in a department or program in order to be eligible for promotion to the junior year. To receive major preference in the next Planning, Scheduling, and Adjustment period (April 3-21), you must have an approved major by Friday, March 6. This letter contains important information that will help you navigate your way to major declaration, so keep reading!

Although departments and programs vary slightly in the process by which students are accepted into the major, the following steps are applicable to all of you:

• Visit the Major Declaration Website (www.wesleyan.edu/deans/major_declaration/) for helpful links and information.
• Familiarize yourself with department and program major requirements by reviewing the description in WesMaps and on the department or program’s website, which also can be accessed from the major declaration homepage.
• Consult with a member of the faculty in the department or program in which you hope to major. If you are not sure to whom you should speak, see the list of department and program experts for advising and the Department Chairs on the major declaration website. You also can consult with the departmental administrative assistant (AA). AAs are knowledgeable and can be very helpful.
• Attend the Open House of the major(s) you are considering. Many departments and programs have scheduled Open Houses between February 11 and February 27. Faculty members will be available to answer your questions and address concerns you have about major requirements, and other issues.
  Click here for a schedule of these Open Houses (listed by major). Also, the schedule will be posted on the major declaration website and on the class blog.

Declaring majors will now be handled directly through the Student EPortfolio. Beginning on Wednesday, February 18, students will be able to submit electronic major requests to the appropriate departments/programs within EP>Student>Wesleyan Career>Major Declaration (Click Here). Please note that students may still be required to submit additional application information and/or meet in person with department officials. Also, please be aware that submitting a major request allows that department/program access to review the Student Academic History. An important feature of the new online submission system is the Pre-Major Advising Survey. Upon the first declared major, students will be prompted to submit feedback regarding their advising experiences. These confidential answers will later be available to the advisor as a tool to further enhance their advising methods.

You will have successfully declared a major when the department chair or a designated faculty member approves your Major Acceptance completed via your e-portfolio. To determine who your major advisor will be, you should talk with the department chair and/or administrative assistant. Individual departments and programs have different procedures for helping you identify an advisor. Your major advisor will help you design a major program of study and select courses in April for the fall semester.

If you are unable to declare your major by the Friday, March 6 deadline because you are currently completing a prerequisite course, you must complete a Major Deferral form so that the Deans’ Office knows that your entry into a major is in progress. You also must be in touch with the department or program chair about your intent to declare that major so they are aware of your situation. Individual departments and programs will have different policies regarding declaring a major while a prerequisite course is in progress.

IMPORTANT – KEEP READING!

Some of you may be feeling anxious or unsure about making the major declaration deadline in early March. Common concerns I have heard from sophomores in recent weeks include the following:

• I don’t have the entry requirements for the major I want! What will happen to me if I don’t have a major by March 6?
• I have changed my mind about my major and now have to start from the beginning. Will I be too far behind to graduate in ’11?
• I still haven’t decided on a major and I have no idea how to figure out what I should do! Can I get an extension?
• I know what I want to major in, but now I’m worrying about whether it’s the best choice if I want to go to grad school or get on the right career track.

If any of these situations sound familiar, please come to my office so that we can get a handle on your particular situation and work out a plan of action that will get you to where you want to be. While choosing a major is an important landmark in your college career, it is not a decision that will affect all aspects of your future in a profound and irreversible way. That may sound like heresy, but it is true. This is not to say that your major is irrelevant or insignificant, but it is important to know that there are many myths surrounding one’s choice of a major. Often, these myths–for example, that only certain majors lead to certain careers–create a lot of the anxiety and stress some of you may be facing right now.

Please come to my drop-in hours (listed below) or make an appointment (x2774) if you would like to discuss your concerns or plans. You also should discuss any concerns you have with your faculty advisor, departmental and program advising experts, and any other professor or resource person who you think might have some good advice. In addition, refer to the sidebar for a list of resources that includes group sessions, workshops, offices, and websites that should be helpful to you as you plot the course of your remaining semesters at Wesleyan.

All the best for a fabulous semester!

Sincerely,

Noel R. Garrett, Ph.D.
Dean for the Class of 2011
Email me (ngarrett@wesleyan.edu).

Wednesday, February 4:

University of Haifa – Noon-1:00 p.m. -  210 Fisk Hall

General Study Abroad – 4:15-5:15 p.m. – PAC 001

Monday, February 9: IFSA-Butler – Programs in the UK, Australia, New Zealand, Mexico

Two Information Sessions:

Noon-1:00 p.m. – 210 Fisk Hall

4:15-5:15 p.m. – 302 Fisk Hall

Tuesday, February 10: Financial Aid & Study Abroad – Information Session

5:15-6:15 p.m. – PAC 002

Wednesday, February 11: – General Session for Sophomores

Noon – 1:00 p.m. – Shanklin 107

Remember, Drop/Add ends on February 3, so check your schedule to make sure it is correct! Cross-listings and Grade Mode Options cannot be changed after Drop/Add ends, so please make sure the correct options are selected.

Show your class pride by entering the “Musical Madness: Class Competition” to be held on Friday, February 19 (entry deadline is February 12). Click here for more information and access to the entry form.

The blog will be an invaluable source of information for you – especially this semester, so please make sure to visit regularly! Also, please stop by during office hours (listed below) if you have any questions or concerns. If these times do not work for your schedule, please let me know of a few times that do, and we can arrange a time to meet.

Enjoy your semester, and again, welcome back!

Dean Garrett

Noel R. Garrett, Ph.D., Dean for the Class of 2011
Wesleyan University – 203 North College
860.685.2774 (office) 860.685.3940 (fax)
Drop-InHours: M 2-3, T and Th 3-4, W 5-7, F 2-4
Other times by appointment
Email Me
Class of 2011 Blog

A musical competition between the classes will be held on Friday, February 19 at 7:00 p.m. in Crowell Concert Hall.

Entry Deadline is February 12.

Acoustic, Electric and A Capella acts are all welcome!

Ensemble or Solo performances of original or cover work!

Prizes for Best Performance and Best in Class!

Click here for more information.

Click here for entry form!

Get you act together and feel the love!