From: Michael S. Roth and Rob Rosenthal
Subject: Zoom Forum with President Roth for International Students
Date: April 29, 2020
Dear international students,
Greetings from Middletown. Wherever you are in the world, we hope that this finds you safe and well.
First, we’d like to invite you to join us for a Zoom forum on Friday, May 1 at 11 a.m. Eastern time (see Time Zone Converter), where any questions you have will be addressed. Please feel free to email questions in advance to presoffice@wesleyan.edu.
This is a time of great stress and uncertainty for everyone, but we know that as international students, you may be dealing with distinct challenges—whether it’s being separated from loved ones due to travel restrictions, trying to keep up with online learning from a different time zone or, for seniors, seeking employment in the U.S. and around the world. We understand that tensions between the United States and other countries might also increase anxiety and uncertainty.
All of this is a lot for anyone to handle, and we encourage you to reach out and seek support. There are many people here at Wesleyan who stand ready to help you, whether you remain on campus or are currently elsewhere in the world. Here are just some of the people you may consider contacting:
- Faculty: Don’t be afraid to let your professors know what challenges you’re facing. They can help find a solution that facilitates ongoing learning and growth.
- Class Deans: Your class dean can serve as a sounding board, and can help you work through challenges and navigate resources available at the University.
- Counseling & Psychological Services (CAPS): Students who are on campus or residing elsewhere in Connecticut may request online therapy by calling the CAPS main line, (860) 685-2910, or by emailing counseling@wesleyan.edu . Students residing outside the state may call (860) 685-2910, 24/7, to reach the on-call clinician, or can call or email to request a phone consult with a CAPS clinician in order to receive assistance accessing mental health resources in their local communities.
- Gordon Career Center (GCC): The GCC continues to provide services remotely; you can schedule one-on-one career advising appointments hosted on Zoom, register for online events, access subscription-only resources, and search for jobs and internships via Handshake. In addition, the GCC recently partnered with Interstride, an interactive career platform designed to enhance the career exploration and job-search experience for international students. You can find a helpful Interstride user guide here.
- Office of International Student Affairs (OISA): OISA staff are available to assist with all immigration matters. They can help you think through the most appropriate immigration options, given your unique situation, and answer questions about maintaining legal status in the U.S., international travel, and internships and employment in the U.S.
Finally, we encourage you to stay in touch with your peers for support and camaraderie. Though connecting with other students is more challenging when we are not all on campus together, it is more important than ever.
We miss having all our students on campus, especially those who come to Middletown from all over the world. We look forward to all being together again when it is safe to do so.
Best wishes,
Michael S. Roth
President
Rob Rosenthal
Interim Provost and Senior Vice President for Academic Affairs