students

October 12, 2020: Update on 2020-21 Winter Sports Season

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To the Wesleyan community,

On October 8, 2020, the NESCAC presidents decided unanimously to cancel NESCAC conference competition, including conference championships, for the winter season. The health and safety of students, faculty, staff, and the broader community, remain the foremost concerns for each institution and for the conference as a whole.

Wesleyan remains closed to outside visitors, and so we are not planning any intercollegiate competitions. We will continue to evaluate the public health situation in this regard. Meanwhile, the faculty and staff of the Department of Athletics have done a great job of providing a robust on-campus experience for our student-athletes this fall. We are committed to continuing these programs with the start of winter practices later this week (October 15).

August 16, 2020: Pre-Arrival Checklist

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Dear students,
We are looking forward to welcoming you back to campus.  As you know, your arrival to campus this year will be quite different than usual. In addition to packing your bags (which we’d advise keeping light), please remember to complete the following steps.

August 3, 2020: Updated State Guidance on Arrival Plans

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Dear students,

In response to Connecticut Governor Ned Lamont’s recent Executive Order/Travel Advisory, Wesleyan has been advised to make changes to our arrival plans. The University is thus updating information we previously provided, and it is possible we will need to make further changes as the public health context or state guidance evolves.

July 17, 2020: Residential Life: Update on Move In Schedule and Plans

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Dear students,

One part of the current testing plan is for all undergraduate students to be tested upon arriving to campus, followed by a self-quarantine in their student residence until they meet the following criteria: Students who are from New York, New Jersey and New England until they receive a negative test result, and all other students, including those coming from another country, until they receive two negative test results (which will likely mean a seven day quarantine). These students can shorten their quarantine period by having a test done on their own within 72 hours prior to coming to campus and bringing proof of the negative result to campus, which will be considered their first of two negative results.

May 9, 2020: Follow-up to International Student Zoom Forum

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From: Mike Whaley Subject: Follow-up to International Student Zoom Forum Date: May 9, 2020 Dear Wesleyan International Students, I hope this email finds you all safe and well! Thank you to those who were able to attend the forum hosted by President Roth on May 1. If you were not able to attend, a recording of … Read more

May 1, 2020: Campus Update

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From: Michael S. Roth
Subject: Campus Update

Dear students,

I hope that you are staying safe and healthy in these challenging times. I write today to share our current thinking on the fall semester and our response to COVID-19.

I want you to know that while we are planning for a number of different scenarios, we remain hopeful that we will return to the full residential experience that we treasure so much this fall. Of course, the welfare of our students, faculty and staff is paramount, and Wesleyan will not resume normal operations until all proper public health precautions have been taken. These include building capacity to test people who study or work on campus, provide supportive isolation to those who fall ill, and minimize opportunities for the spread of any illnesses. 

We are working hard on this now and, rest assured, we will do our utmost to make our campus safe. That said, there are many uncertainties, some of which should be resolved in the next two months or so. For this reason, we will update you all in early June and expect to make a decision about a residential fall term in early July. We hope it will be a traditional semester, but we also expect to offer robust remote alternatives, should they be helpful for some students. When we announce our decision about fall offerings, it will be crucial for our planning to hear quickly from you—within two weeks of our announcement—if  you intend to ask for a leave for any part of the academic year…

April 29, 2020: Zoom Forum with President Roth for International Students

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From: Michael S. Roth and Rob Rosenthal
Subject: Zoom Forum with President Roth for International Students

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…

April 23, 2020: Public Health Update

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From: Tom McLarney, MD
Subject: Public Health Update

To the Wesleyan Community,

Greetings from the Davison Health Center. As of Monday evening, Connecticut Governor Ned Lamont has mandated by executive order that face coverings be worn in public anywhere a 6-foot distance is unavoidable, including in stores, pharmacies, and at grab-and-go restaurants, as well as when using public transportation and in the workplace. Employees working on Wesleyan’s campus are required to wear face coverings while at work and when the 6-foot distancing requirement is unattainable. Employees may have some flexibility when working in offices alone with the door closed, but must have a face covering available. Please see the State of Connecticut’s “Safe Workplace Rules for Essential Employees.”

Wesleyan is offering free face coverings to students, faculty, and staff on campus. Students may pick up masks at a pop-up station on the main floor of Usdan. Staff and faculty masks are available for pick-up at Wes station in the basement of Usdan…

April 16, 2020: HR Update

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From: Lisa Brommer
Subject: HR Update

I hope this finds you well. I write today to share several important updates for faculty and staff as we all navigate the coronavirus pandemic together.

I’m pleased to share that Wesleyan has adopted new provisions in all of its health plans through Cigna to cover testing and treatment for COVID-19. We are also participating in provisions of the CARES Act that will allow eligible employees to access funds through loans or hardship withdrawals from their Supplemental Retirement Accounts. In addition, employees who utilize Dependent Care Flexible Spending accounts may change their annual elections due to …

April 15, 2020: Public Health Update

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From: Tom McLarney, MD
Date: Wednesday, April 15, 2020 at 5:10 PM
Subject: Public Health Update

To the Wesleyan Community,

I trust this note finds everyone in good health. I write today with another public health update on the coronavirus pandemic.

Since my last update, the CDC has announced that there will be antibody testing available within the next few weeks, which will measure two antibodies: Immunoglobulin M (IgM) and Immunoglobulin G (IgG).

Let me offer a quick Immunology 101 lesson: …