GLSP
Student Handbook
2008-2009

Graduate Liberal Studies Program
284 High Street
Middletown, CT  06457
Phone (860) 685-2900
Fax (860) 685-2901

 

 


 
TABLE OF CONTENTS
INTRODUCTION
  About This Handbook
Student Responsibilities
Wesleyan Email
Student Electronic Portfolios
ADMISSION INFORMATION FOR NEW STUDENTS
  Open Enrollment
Eligibility Requirements
Non-Degree Students
New Student Orientation and Technology Workshop
Admission to the Degree Program
Timeline for Application to Degree Candidacy
How to Apply for Admission
Student Essay
Review of Applications for Admission
Transferring Credits from Another Institution
International Transcripts
Non-native English Speakers
Information for Wesleyan Staff
Information for Undergraduates
ENROLLMENT AND ACADEMIC STANDING
  Registration for Courses
How to Register Online
Registration Confirmation
Registration Deadlines
Alternate Course Selection
Adding and Dropping Courses
Course Cancellations
Auditing Courses
Switching from Credit to Audit
Withdrawal Policy
  How to Withdraw
Withdrawal Deadlines
  Schedule of Tuition Liability and Transcript Record for Withdrawals
Enrollment and Active Status
Graduate Tutorials (Independent Study)
Tuition and Fees for Summer 2008 - Spring 2009
Tuition Payments
Financial Aid
Grades
Enrollment Status
Student Privileges
ACADEMIC PROGRESS AND COMPLETION
  Degrees and Certificates
Requirements Specific to the Certificate of Advanced Study
Program Completion Charts
Timeline to Complete Degree or Certificate
Liberal Studies Curriculum
Maximum Courses with One Instructor
Areas of Academic Concentration
Master's Essay/Project
Advising and Administrative Services
Student Responsibilities
  Course Load
Class Attendance
Required Withdrawal

Completion of Coursework
  Student Petitions
  Types of Petitions
Petition Deadlines
  Completion, Diplomas, and Commencement
Letter of Completion
Transcripts
Academic Prizes
ACADEMIC STANDING AND ADVANCEMENT
WESLEYAN UNIVERSITY POLICIES
RESOURCES
  Directory
Writing Preceptor
Wesleyan University Writing Workshop
Photo Identification Card
Library Facilities
Student Email and Network Accounts
Student Electronic Portfolios
ITS Helpdesk
Resetting Student Password
Computer Labs
Wesleyan Campus Computer Store and Service Center
Resources for Students with Learning and Physical Disabilities
Parking
Winter Parking Bans
Severe Weather Class Cancellations
GLSP Events
Campus Events and Activities
Center for the Arts (CFA)

Freeman Athletic Facilties
Davison Art Center
Russell House
Mansfield Freeman Center for East Asian Studies
Campus Safety Information
Equal Opportunity and Nondiscrimination Statements
Important Links

INTRODUCTION

About This Handbook
The Student Handbook (Handbook) is your guide to the Graduate Liberal Studies Program (GLSP) and Wesleyan University. Whether you are a new student thinking about taking your first GLSP course, or a student working toward degree, this Handbook is your reference tool for a wide range of student concerns, from admission and academic requirements to registration and financial matters. This Handbook is an expression of our commitment to supporting your studies at Wesleyan University. We hope it will help you plan your studies effectively, provide you with useful information, and direct you to the resources you need. If, after consulting the Handbook, you still have questions, or unresolved issues, please do not hesitate to contact the GLSP office at glsinquire@wesleyan.edu or 860-685-2900.

This Handbook is published only on the GLSP website so that every student will always have access to the most current version.

Student Responsibilities
The policies and procedures described in this Handbook apply to all GLSP students, whether seeking a degree or not.  It is each student's responsibility to read this Handbook thoroughly and to understand the policies and procedures described.  Failure to read the Handbook, negligence, personal factors, or contradictory information from any source are not acceptable grounds for seeking exemption from these policies and procedures.

Wesleyan Email
All GLSP students are given Wesleyan email accounts. As a new student, you will receive a letter from Wesleyan's Information Technology Services (ITS), informing you of your email username and the default method of constructing your password.

Email is an official form of communication to you from Wesleyan University. Official communications (including financial notices) will be sent to your Wesleyan email address, and you are responsible for reading these messages. Your instructors will see only your Wesleyan email address in their class rosters. You may read your Wesleyan email on the web at webmail.wesleyan.edu, or you may have your Wesleyan email automatically forwarded to another address by visiting the Email Redirect Request System. The GLSP will ask you to provide a preferred email address, which we will use as a back-up address. You may update your preferred email address in your Wesleyan e-portfolio, in the online registration section.  For more information about Wesleyan email visit the WebMail section of the ITS website.

Student Electronic Portfolios
Once a student's email and network accounts are established, the student will have access to his or her electronic portfolio, accessible from the main page of the Wesleyan University website. The e-portfolio is the method through which students are billed for their tuition, so it is important for students to check their e-portfolio on a regular basis.  Through the e-portfolio students may register for courses online, update address and preferred email information, view current classes, schedules, and classroom locations, as well as academic history including grades.  Students' grades for current courses will appear in their e-portfolios within 48 hours after the grades have been submitted.

To log in to your e-portfolio visit https://www.wesleyan.edu/portfolio

 ADMISSION INFORMATION FOR NEW STUDENTS

The GLSP offers two forms of admission: open enrollment as a non-degree student or admission to degree candidacy.  

Open Enrollment
Any student who has already completed a bachelors degree is welcome to register for GLSP courses as a non-degree student through open enrollment.  New students may enroll beginning in any term:  fall, spring, or summer. 

Eligibility Requirements
To be eligible to register for a GLSP course through open enrollment, a student must meet the following criteria:
 

  • Student has already earned a bachelors degree or equivalent at a fully accredited institution of higher education; and
     
  • Student has demonstrated compliance with the State of Connecticut's criteria for immunity to measles and rubella (see section below on State Immunization Laws).

We recognize that students may learn of the GLSP too late to ensure that all of these forms are on file at the GLSP office prior to the first day of class.  Students may enroll and begin their first course in the GLSP prior to the delivery of these documents to the GLSP office.  This grace period will not extend to a second term.  If any of these documents have not been received by the completion of the student's first course, the student will not be eligible to register for a second term until the documents have been received.

Non-Degree Students
Students may continue taking courses through open enrollment as long they like, or they may apply for admission to degree candidacy.  Only four courses taken prior to admission to degree candidacy will count toward the degree or certificate.  Students who remain in non-degree status are not eligible to graduate. 

New Student Orientation and Technology Workshop
The GLSP holds a New Student Orientation and Library Research Workshop during the week before classes begin each term.  This orientation provides an opportunity for students to meet some of the administrators of the program as well as some of their new fellow students.  The orientation will cover some of the basic information about the degree program and how to log in to the e-portfolio and will provide ample time for questions and answers.  The library research workshop will provide an overview of the resources available at the library, and how to access them.  We recommend that new students attend this orientation and workshop prior to their first class.

Admission to the Degree Program
Students who wish to become candidates for the MALS degree or the CAS must apply for admission.  The application may be submitted either prior to taking GLSP courses, or after taking a few.  Students taking GLSP courses who have not applied for admission are not eligible to receive a degree. Application materials are available below.

Timeline for Application to Degree Candidacy
The GLSP's open enrollment policy provides students with the opportunity to either apply for admission to degree candidacy prior to beginning coursework, or to apply for admission after taking a few courses.  Students who are certain they wish to seek a degree, and who have a recent, strong academic background are encouraged to apply prior to registering for their first course.  Students who would prefer to try out a course or two as a non-degree student may do so, then prior to completing a maximum of four courses, may choose whether or not to apply for degree candidacy.

Students who have been out of school for a while, or whose undergraduate record is not strong are encouraged to complete two GLSP courses (6 units of credit), with two different instructors before applying for degree candidacy.  At least one of these courses must be in the student's proposed area of concentration. To be considered for admission to degree candidacy, the student must have received grades of B or better in both courses, although grades of B or better do not guarantee admission to degree candidacy, and students working toward a degree are expected to earn higher grades overall.  No more than four courses (12 credits) completed prior to acceptance to degree candidacy may be counted toward the degree.  If a student has completed more than four courses when the student is admitted to degree candidacy, only the four most recent courses will be eligible to count toward the degree.

Students are expected to complete all degree requirements within six years of their first GLSP course.  If circumstances arise that prevent a student from completing the degree within six years, students may petition for an extension of one or two years.  Eight years is the maximum amount of time students may take to complete degree requirements.  

How to Apply for Admission
There are two times when students may apply for admission to degree candidacy: (1) prior to registering for GLSP courses, or (2) after completing two, three, or four GLSP courses. The application process differs slightly in that students who apply prior to completing GLSP courses must also submit letters of recommendation.
 
  Applications prior to registering for courses:
Students who apply for degree candidacy prior to registering for GLSP courses must submit the following to the GLSP office:

  • A completed application for admission, identifying the degree or certificate for which the student seeks candidacy, and the student's area of concentration;
  • The admission essay, which is a four-page paper demonstrating that the student is able to write with the complexity and clarity necessary to succeed at the graduate level; 
  • Official transcripts of the student's undergraduate and (if applicable) graduate degrees, obtained from fully accredited colleges or universities, and sent directly by the degree-granting institution to the GLSP office; 
  • Two letters of recommendation that shed light on the candidate's academic ability, promise, and motivation, ideally from people who have taught the applicant and are thus able to comment directly on his or her intellectual capacity and academic potential;
  • Demonstration of compliance with the State of Connecticut's criteria for immunization against measles and rubella.
      
  Applications submitted after completion of at least two GLSP courses:
Students who apply for degree candidacy after completing two, three, or four GLSP courses must submit the following to the GLSP office:
  • A completed application for admission, identifying the degree or certificate for which the student seeks candidacy, and the student's area of concentration;
  • The student essay, which is a four-page paper demonstrating that the student is able to write with the complexity and clarity necessary to succeed at the graduate level;
  • Official transcripts of the student's undergraduate and (if applicable) graduate degrees, obtained from fully accredited colleges or universities, and sent directly by the degree-granting institution to the GLSP office (this should already be on file at the GLSP office); 
  • Demonstration of compliance with the State of Connecticut's criteria for immunization against measles and rubella (this should already be on file at the GLSP office).  

Admission Essay
To apply for admission to degree candidacy, students must submit a four-page essay addressing the applicant's intellectual interests.  It must be typed, double-spaced with one-inch margins, and must demonstrate the student's ability to formulate complex ideas and write at the graduate level.  This paper will be read by the members of the GLSP admission committee and will remain in the student's file.

The GLSP is a writing-intensive program.  The essay is intended to help the admission committee assess the applicant's writing ability and educational objectives, estimate the applicant's ability for academic success, and determine whether or not admission to degree candidacy is appropriate.

Essay Topic  In an essay of no m - Wesleyan University

Essay Topic
In an essay of approximately four pages, applicants should address both of the following questions. This essay should demonstrate the applicant's ability to engage in critical thinking and to formulate complex ideas.

Part 1: Please discuss your experience in one or two courses you have taken previously, either through the GLSP or another program. How have these courses changed the way you think? What connections have you made between what you learned in the courses and the knowledge you brought to the courses? Describe your intellectual development in the academic classroom.

Part 2: Please analyze an intellectual question that motivates you, academically. What about this question do you ponder while staring into space? How has your thought about this question changed as you mature and see the world change? How does your analysis of this question engage and challenge the work of other scholars, artists, or scientists as they have grappled with this question?

This part of the application allows you to demonstrate the depth and complexity of your critical thinking - your ability to write at the graduate level. Examples of "an intellectual question" might be:

  • "Why does the American electoral college persist despite being antithetical to popular democracy?"

  • "Does the intention and life history of an author or artist matter when interpreting a work?

  • "What chemical measurements can predict long-term global warming/cooling and why?"

  • "What makes a work of art intellectually important, and does that make it valuable?"

  • "Why do people perpetuate conditions that result in their own oppression?"

These are examples of questions that can be analyzed and explored across differing strands of thought. Those strands can be woven into a complex argument. These questions do not have yes or no answers, and they do not have right or wrong answers.

Please ask and analyze your own such question.

Sample Student Essays
Click here to view examples of student admission essays that engage in the kind of discussion the admission committee is looking for.

Optional additional essay:
If there is additional information an applicant would like the admission committee to know about him or her, applicants may provide a brief second essay of 1 – 2 pages.  This optional essay is intended for applicants who would otherwise feel that something significant was missing from their application.  For example, an applicant who has had poor grades in the past, or whose GLSP grades have averaged B or lower, should use this essay to address how the applicant plans to enhance his or her academic performance in the future.  Or if an applicant has a unique background that the applicant feels will significantly add to the variety of points of view in the classroom, the applicant may address that in this optional additional essay.

Application Materials

Application for Admission (Degree Status and Non-Degree Status)

Immunization Documentation Form

Essay Form and Instructions

Letter of Recommendation Form

Review of Applications for Admission to Degree Candidacy
Applications for admission to degree candidacy are reviewed three times each year.  Students who wish to be admitted the following term, or who wish to take their fifth course in the following term, must submit their completed application to the GLSP office prior to the deadline for admission for that term. 

When evaluating matriculation requests, the admission committee will carefully review each of the following documents to determine the applicant’s ability to succeed in the program:

  • Undergraduate record;
  • Graduate record, if one exists;
  • Admission essay;
  • Optional additional essay if student submits one;
  • For students who have already taken GLSP courses: grades from the two or more GLSP courses the applicant has taken; and
  • For students who have not taken any GLSP courses: two letters of recommendation.

Applicants whose grades in GLSP courses average B or lower should submit the optional additional essay to address how they plan to enhance their academic performance in future GLSP courses.  They are also encouraged to supplement the matriculation essay with a short (3–4 page) paper from a GLSP course that the student feels best represents his or her writing skills.   

When the application has been reviewed by the admissions committee, the student will receive a letter notifying him or her of the committee's decision.

Any student who is not admitted to degree candidacy may register for additional GLSP courses only by approval of the GLSP admission committee. (This does not apply to students who declare that they do not intend to seek degree candidacy—those students need only maintain good academic standing to continue taking courses).

Transferring Credits from another Institution
Students may petition the GLSP to accept credit for graduate level courses taken at other universities.  Such courses must make a logical contribution to the student's program and must clearly parallel GLSP courses in content, standards, and approach.  If approved, a maximum of six units of transfer credit may be counted toward the MALS.  No transfer credits are accepted toward the CAS. 

Students who wish to transfer credits must do so at the time of admission to degree candidacy; the GLSP will not consider petitions to transfer credits after a student has been admitted.  

A fee is assessed for each transfer course accepted into a student's program.  Courses accepted for transfer credit are listed on the Wesleyan transcript with credit (CR), but no grade.  When a course is transferred for credit, the term in which that course was taken marks the beginning of the six-year time period during which the MALS degree should be completed; if the student does not graduate within six years of the time the transferred course began, the transferred course will not count toward degree unless the student petitions for, and is granted an extension (see Timeline for Admission above).  In no case may GLSP or transferred credits taken more than eight years prior to graduation count toward the degree.  If GLSP credits are transferred to other degree programs, they will no longer count toward a Wesleyan degree.

Eligibility Requirements
In order to be considered for transfer of credit, courses must meet all of the following criteria:

  • Courses must be from a fully accredited college or university and must bear the equivalent of three graduate-level credits;
  • Courses must have been acceptable to apply toward a graduate degree at the institution at which the courses were taken;
  • Courses must have been part of the regular curriculum at the institution; independent studies conducted at other institutions are not eligible for transfer;
  • Courses must have been completed within five years prior to the start of a student's course of study in the GLSP (courses taken elsewhere after a student has begun taking GLSP courses are not eligible for transfer);
  • The grade awarded for a course must be a minimum of B-; and
  • Courses have not been (and will not be) applied toward another degree.

How to Petition for a Transfer of Credit
Students who wish to transfer credit toward the MALS must submit a petition for transfer of credit at the same time that the student submits the petition to matriculate. 

Students requesting the acceptance of transfer credits must submit: 

  • A petition form;
  • Course descriptions for the courses to be considered for transfer;
  • Syllabi for courses to be considered;
  • The final paper or project from the courses to be considered; and
  • Official transcripts, sent directly to the GLSP office by the college or university where the courses were taken, listing those courses to be considered. 

International Transcripts
Students who completed their undergraduate or previous graduate studies at a foreign institution are expected to provide an official transcript, and, if the transcript is written in a language other than English, a certified translation. 

In certain cases, if the student can show that it would be impossible to provide an official transcript from the student's foreign university, the GLSP may accept (a) scores from the GRE (Graduate Record Exam) or MAT (Miller Analogies Test), (b) three letters of recommendation (written or translated in English), and (c) a writing sample.  For more information, please contact the Associate Director for Academic Services at 860-685-3008.

Non-native English Speakers
Students whose native language is not English are expected to take either the TOEFL (Test of English as a Foreign Language) or the IELTS (International English Language Testing System) exam and to present a writing sample.  To be eligible to matriculate, students must present a TOEFL score of at least 250 out of 300 on the computer test or 600 out of 677 on the paper test, or a score of at least 7 out of 9 on the academic module of the IELTS.  The TOEFL or IELTS test must have been taken within two years of the time of application for admission, and the score must be sent directly to the GLSP from the testing agency. The writing sample should be an academic paper 3 - 5 pages in length.

Information for Wesleyan Staff
Enrollment is open to Wesleyan University faculty, administrators, staff, and their spouses/domestic partners.  Students receiving the faculty/staff tuition benefit may register for courses one week after general registration begins.  For more information about tuition benefits, please visit Human Resources.

A member of the Wesleyan University faculty or staff who lacks an undergraduate degree may enroll in those GLSP courses for which the student is academically prepared to succeed.  The GLSP will process the enrollment request, but the student will be enrolled as an undergraduate and will earn undergraduate-level credit.  This credit will not be applicable to a graduate degree.  Students without undergraduate degrees are not eligible for admission to degree candidacy for the MALS or CAS, but their credits may be transferred to an undergraduate degree program at another institution.

It is expected that spouses/domestic partners of Wesleyan University faculty or staff who lack a bachelors degree and wish to enroll in GLSP courses will have approximately two years of college courses.  Such students shall apply for eligibility to enroll by submitting a general petition form, at least three weeks prior to the beginning of the first term of enrollment, which requests eligibility to enroll without a bachelors degree; this petition shall be accompanied by a writing sample of 5 - 7 pages.  Prior to submitting the petition, the applicant should interview in person with the GLSP director.  If accepted, the GLSP will process the enrollment request, but the student will be enrolled as an undergraduate and will earn undergraduate-level credit.  This credit will not be applicable to a graduate degree.  Students without undergraduate degrees are not eligible for admission to degree candidacy for the MALS or CAS, but their credits may be transferred to an undergraduate degree program at another institution.

Information for Wesleyan Undergraduates
Wesleyan University undergraduates in their junior or senior years, and 12-college consortium juniors and seniors enrolled at Wesleyan, may apply for approval to register for GLSP courses using the Wesleyan Undergraduate Approval form.  The student must obtain approval signatures from the instructor, major advisor, class dean, and the GLSP director.

To register, undergraduates must submit a completed Wesleyan Undergraduate Approval form to the GLSP office along with a regular GLSP registration form. Undergraduate registrations are processed at the end of the GLSP registration period; graduate students taking courses for graduate credit have priority over undergraduates.

Any Wesleyan student who registers for GLSP courses who has not yet been awarded the B.A. degree (even if all requirements for the B.A. degree have been met) will be subject to the jurisdiction of both undergraduate and graduate honor boards and judicial boards. Violations of the honor code in GLSP courses and the code of non-academic conduct will be adjudicated by the graduate judicial board; if that board finds that a violation occurred, it will determine the sanctions as they pertain to the student's grade in the course and standing in the graduate program.  Based upon the Graduate Judicial Board finding and sanction, the student's undergraduate academic standing and eligibility to earn the B.A. degree will be subject to review by the undergraduate honor board or student judicial board.

 

ENROLLMENT AND ACADEMIC STANDING

Registration for Courses
New students may register for courses by submitting an admission application and registration form to the GLSP office by mail, fax, or in person.  GLSP students who have previously taken courses are encouraged to register online through their e-portfolio.  For information about billing, see the Student Billing section below.

Students may register for courses for credit toward the degree or certificate, for non-degree credit, or—if the course is designated as open to auditors in the course description—to audit for personal enrichment but no academic credit.  The prerequisites, if any, are identified in the course description.  Classroom locations, reading lists, and other important information will be made available on the GLSP website approximately one month prior to the start of the term.  Classroom locations and reading lists are subject to change up until the start of classes.  Please visit the course description page on the website to confirm your classroom location prior to the first class meeting.

Students receiving the faculty/staff tuition benefit may register for courses one week after general registration begins.

How to Register Online
To register online, log in to your e-portfolio and click "GLSP online registration" under the "My Wesleyan Courses" header at the left.  You will be guided through this sequence:

  • Update your home and business address, phone, and email
  • View your enrollment holds, if any
  • Select GLSP courses
  • Make alternate selections for those courses
  • Acknowledge that you agree to abide by enrollment policies
  • Pay your fees & tuition by e-check or credit card
  • Print a confirmation of your registration
  • You may also come back later to add a course

After registering online, you may return to the "course selection" page within online registration.  On that page, you will see "enrollment pending" or "enrollment successful" for the courses you selected previously.

Registration Confirmation
Upon processing a student's registration, the GLSP will mail a confirmation of registration; if you do not receive such a confirmation form, please contact the GLSP office.  Incomplete registrations will be placed on hold until all paperwork and necessary payments are received. 

Registration Deadlines
The registration period begins approximately five weeks before the beginning of the term.  A late registration period, requiring a late registration fee, begins approximately two weeks before the first day of the term, and ends for each class before that class begins meeting, unless otherwise stated.  Online registration closes on Sunday at 5:00 pm the day before the term begins; students may register in person at the GLSP office until one hour before an available class begins meeting.  Registration for a course that has already met will only be accepted by instructor permission and will be subject to a higher in-term registration fee.  See the Academic Calendar for exact dates for each term.

Alternate Course Selection
Some GLSP courses fill quickly.  Students are strongly encouraged to register early and to identify alternate course selections when registering.  Courses may be full and closed to registration, in which case students will be enrolled in their alternate selections (if possible).  If enrollment in a course is low, the course may be cancelled (this decision will be made at the end of the regular registration period, before the term begins), in which case students will be enrolled in their alternate selections (if possible). 

Adding and Dropping Courses
Registration for each course officially closes one hour prior to the first class meeting.  GLSP courses are academically rigorous and demand the student's full participation beginning with the first class, which may require advance reading.  Every class meeting constitutes a substantial and crucial part of the complete course, and students are expected to attend every class meeting.  For these reasons, any registrations after the first class meeting require instructor permission, and are subject to an in-term registration fee.

If, during the first week of the term, a student wishes to withdraw from one course and register for another course that has not yet met, the GLSP will accommodate this subject to course availability. For more information about withdrawing from a course, see the Withdrawal Policy section below.

Students who are unsure about whether to register for a particular course are encouraged to look for more information about the course and about the curricular requirements of the Graduate Liberal Studies Program:  review course information given in the course catalog and on the GLSP website, make an appointment with Naomi Kamins, the program advisor (nkamins@wesleyan.edu or call 860-685-3345), or send an email to the course instructor to ask for more information about the themes and readings of the course. 

Course Cancellations
If a course is cancelled for any reason, registered students will be notified immediately.  GLSP staff will contact students by email and phone.  Late fees are not assessed when a student switches courses due to a course being cancelled by the GLSP.  If the student does not wish to enroll in another course, the program will refund the course tuition, registration fee, and any other fees paid for the cancelled course.

Auditing Courses
Auditors must meet the same eligibility requirements as students who register for credit: their official transcripts and immunization documentation must be on file. Courses considered appropriate for auditing are designated as such in the online course catalog. Courses in which work for the course is produced in the class (such as studio arts and creative writing courses, and sciences courses involving lab or field work) are not open to auditors. A limited number of spaces for auditors are available; students registering for credit have priority in registration, and auditor registrations are processed at the end of the registration period in order of receipt for available courses.  Audited courses may never be accepted for credit toward a degree at a later date. The audit designation (AU) will appear as the grade on the student's transcript. Auditors should prepare thoroughly for class discussion and attend every class. They may not, however, present work for the instructor to review or grade. Students may not register to audit courses after the class has begun meeting.

Switching from Credit to Audit
Changing a course's registration status from credit to audit counts as a withdrawal from the course with any attending tuition liability, and a new registration as an auditor of the course, with any applicable late fees. Students who wish to change registration status from audit to credit or credit to audit must do so before the end of the first week of the term. Requests for exceptions to this policy are reviewed at the discretion of the director.

Withdrawal Policy
Registration for GLSP courses is open and flexible and offers students the opportunity to take individual courses without committing to a long-term sequence of enrollment.  The withdrawal policy is constrained by the unique nature of this program.  Registration for any course constitutes an obligation to pay tuition and fees for that course and to complete the academic requirements of that course.  To obtain relief from academic penalty and tuition liability, a student must withdraw within the specified deadlines.  A student is not relieved of the obligation to pay tuition or to complete the academic requirements of a course simply by informing the instructor of a decision to withdraw or simply by not attending classes.  Once registered, a student may not withdraw from a graduate tutorial course or from the final essay/project course.

How to Withdraw
To withdraw from a course, a student may submit a withdrawal request through the student's e-portfolio; submit a signed, dated copy of the official withdrawal form to the GLSP office by fax, mail, or in person; or make a withdrawal request through email or over the phone. A student incurs tuition liability (including liability for additional course fees) and academic penalty according to the date by which the completed form is received by the GLSP office (postmark date or date/time mark on fax, voicemail, email is not sufficient). A student is not relieved of the obligation to pay tuition and fees or to complete the academic requirements of a course by simply informing the instructor of the decision to withdraw, by simply not attending class, or by sending email or leaving voice mail about an intention to withdraw.

Withdrawal Deadlines
Withdrawal will result in a notation of "W" on the official transcript if the completed form is received prior to the academic withdrawal deadline posted in the academic calendar.  Withdrawal will result in a grade of F after the tenth week of a 13 week fall or spring course, after the fifth week of a six week summer course, after the tenth meeting of a three-week summer intensive, and after the fourth day of a one-week immersion course. The deadlines, liability, and academic penalties for withdrawal are published in the academic calendar for each term. The schedule of tuition liability for withdrawal is detailed below.  The first week of the term is defined as the first week in which regularly scheduled (not specially scheduled) classes are scheduled to begin meeting.  

Schedule of Tuition Liability and Transcript Record for Withdrawals
The schedule of tuition liability and transcript record for withdrawals follows.  Please note that registration for any course constitutes an obligation to pay tuition and fees for that course and to complete the academic requirements for that course.  To obtain relief from academic penalty and tuition liability, a student must submit a completed, dated, and signed copy of the official withdrawal form to the GLSP office within the specified deadlines.  A student is not relieved of the obligation to pay tuition and fees or to complete the academic requirements simply by informing the instructor of a decision to withdraw or simply by not attending class.

Summer 2008 Withdrawal Deadlines

June 16 - 20 immersion session:
Prior to 5 pm June 6
: full refund of tuition paid (registration fees are non-refundable), no record of course on academic transcript
June 7 - June 19: 100% liability for tuition and fees, W on transcript
After June 19: 100% liability for tuition and fees, F on transcript

Three week intensives, June 23 - July 10:
Prior to June 25:
full refund of tuition paid (registration fees are non-refundable), no record of course on academic transcript
June 26 - July 8
: 100% liability for tuition and fees, W on transcript
After July 8: 100% liability for tuition and fees, F on transcript

Six week session, June 23 - August 7:
Prior to June 25:
full refund of tuition paid (registration fees are non-refundable), no record of course on academic transcript
June 26 - July 21
: 100% liability for tuition and fees, W on transcript
After July 21: 100% liability for tuition and fees, F on transcript

August 4 - 8 immersion session:
Prior to 5 pm June 25
: full refund of tuition paid (registration fees are non-refundable), no record of course on academic transcript
June 26 - August 7: 100% liability for tuition and fees, W on transcript
After August 7: 100% liability for tuition and fees, F on transcript

August 11 - 15 immersion session:
Prior to 5 pm June 25
: full refund of tuition paid (registration fees are non-refundable), no record of course on academic transcript
June 26 - August 14: 100% liability for tuition and fees, W on transcript
After August 14: 100% liability for tuition and fees, F on transcript

Fall 2008 Withdrawal Deadlines

Prior to 5 pm September 12: full refund of tuition and additional course fees paid (registration fees are non-refundable), no record of course on academic transcript
September 13 - November 17: 100% liability for tuition and fees, W on transcript
After November 17: 100% liability for tuition and fees, F on transcript

Spring 2009 Withdrawal Deadlines

Prior to 5 pm January 30: full refund of tuition paid (registration fees are non-refundable), no record of course on academic transcript
January 31 - April 17: 100% liability for tuition and fees, W on transcript
After April 17: 100% liability for tuition and fees, F on transcript

Enrollment and Active Status
To remain active as degree candidates, students must complete a minimum of one course for credit each academic year (three consecutive terms), or be actively working on the final essay or project.  If circumstances arise that require a student to not take classes for a full academic year, the student must submit a petition requesting that degree candidacy be extended until the term in which the student states that he or she will be able to return to the program.  Unless an extension has been granted by petition, admission to degree candidacy will lapse after one full academic year in which no courses are completed for credit.  If a student wishes to be readmitted to degree candidacy after it has lapsed, the student will need to re-apply by submitting an essay that discusses the student's reasons for taking time off as well as what the student hopes to gain by re-entering the program.  Such re-applications will be considered once a term by the admission committee at the same time admission applications are considered.

Graduate Tutorials (Independent Study)
GLSP graduate tutorial (independent study) courses provide matriculated students with the opportunity to develop their own courses of study on advanced topics of specialized interest in subjects not taught in the GLSP course offerings but appropriate to the GLSP curriculum.  The student takes the initiative to develop a tutorial topic in consultation with a faculty advisor. The student designs the tutorial as a complete course, with a clear theme, a coherent range of sources to be studied (texts, archival materials, images, etc.), and a progression of study that culminates in a written or creative project. 

Graduate Tutorial Course Expectations

  • Students:  only matriculated students may apply for a graduate tutorial course.
  • Rigor:  a tutorial should be a rigorous, advanced study, as appropriate to an upper level graduate course.
  • Topics: a tutorial should engage research and analysis of a specialized topic not offered for study in the course listings during the recent, current, or future posted academic terms.
  • Liberal arts focus:  the topic, method of study, and coursework must be appropriate to the Wesleyan University liberal arts curriculum.
  • Faculty:  the tutorial (independent study) must be supervised by a faculty advisor who is a member of the Wesleyan University faculty or has been a visiting lecturer in liberal studies with the GLSP within the past year.

How to Petition for a Tutorial Course
To prepare the tutorial application, the student will first propose the course to a faculty advisor and work with the advisor to clarify the topic of study; define the method of analysis; identify the resources that will be studied; determine all required coursework; specify all assignments; identify the basis of the final grade; and select a schedule of meetings and communications for the student and faculty advisor.  After the student and faculty advisor have defined these components of the course, the student will submit an application for a graduate tutorial to the GLSP.  

How to Submit the Tutorial Application
Submit the Graduate Tutorial Application form with the following required documents, at least three weeks prior to the first day of the term:

  • a one-page course description describing the themes of the course, the methods of analysis, and progression of study through the term;
  • a course syllabus which includes the calendar of study, the calendar of reading and writing/creative assignments, a description of the final paper/project, and the calendar of meetings with the faculty advisor;
  • a complete bibliography of sources of study for the course;
  • a proposed bibliography for the final paper/project; and
  • a GLSP course registration form.

The Petition Review Committee will review Tutorial Applications before each term and notify the student and faculty advisor of the outcome in a letter.  If the application is approved, the student's registration form will be processed, and the student will also be sent a confirmation of registration.

Enrollment in a Tutorial Course
Registration for a tutorial is processed upon the committee's approval of the proposed tutorial.  Tuition and fees for a tutorial are the same as those for a regular GLSP course.  Once a student has registered for a tutorial (independent study), he or she may not withdraw except in the case of medical emergency.

Tutorial Grades and Credit Policies
Tutorials will be graded on an A-F basis.The official transcript will show the course title as "Graduate Tutorial" and the course number will be its area of study plus the number 692 (i.e., ARTS 692, HUMS 692, etc.). Only one tutorial (independent study) course shall be counted toward the degree or certificate.

Submission of Final Work to GLSP Office
In order to have an archival record of tutorials, students will deliver to the GLSP a copy of the final paper or project by the end of the term and it will become part of the student's permanent file. If the final work is a non-written creative project, the student shall submit photos, recordings, video, or other appropriate media to show the work done for the project. The final grade for the tutorial will be posted after this documentation is received. Incomplete grades are not allowed for tutorial (independent study) courses.

Tuition and Fees
GLSP tuition and fees are set for each academic year, beginning with the summer term.  Official costs per term are listed here.  The tuition and fee schedule below is subject to change.  Students are required to pay all tuition and fees at the time of registration.  See the section in the Student Handbook on Withdrawals for information on tuition refunds.

Tuition for Summer 2009 - Spring 2010

 
Each three-unit course $2,022
CAS thesis and MALS essay/project* $2,022
Audited course (not for credit)  $674
* MALS students registering for the essay/project under the pre-2008 guidelines should contact the GLSP office to verify eligibility and cost prior to registering.
   
Fees for Summer 2009 - Spring 2010  
Registration fee, due at time of registration
    (nonrefundable, not part of tuition)
$100
Additional course fees as applicable
Course transfer fee (per course transferred in from
    another institution; approval required)
$674
Transcript fee (contact University Registrar) $5
Check returned fee (billed by University) $25

Tuition Payments
Students must pay the tuition, registration fee, and any applicable course fees at the time of registration. If a student registers online, the student must make an online payment by Visa, MasterCard, or e-check; if a student submits a printed registration form, the form must be accompanied by a check or by Visa or MasterCard payment information.

Tuition Refunds
Please contact the GLSP office for instructions on obtaining a refund of a credit balance on your student account.  Credit balances remain on student accounts and are applied to future registrations unless the student requests a refund from the GLSP office or the University Office of Student Accounts.

Grades
A student's academic performance in individual courses taken at Wesleyan University will be graded by the use of letter grades (A - F). A maximum of six credits graded (CR) will be applied to the MALS degree and none to the Certificate. Withdrawals (W) from courses received after the Friday of the first week of the term but before the last class meeting are listed on the transcript. A student's work in courses using letter grades is evaluated as follows: (A), exceeds requirements; (B), meets minimum requirements; (C) or lower, does not meet requirements. These grades are qualified upward and downward respectively by the use of the plus and minus signs. Only courses with grades of (B-) or above are counted toward the MALS degree or CAS.

A+ = 98.3 B+ = 88.3 C+ = 78.3 F = Below 70%
A = 95 B = 85 C = 75 IN = Incomplete
A- = 91.7 B- = 81.7 C- = 71.7 AU = Audit

Enrollment Status
Any student who registers for a minimum of 3 courses (9 credits) per term during the fall or spring terms, or for 2 courses (6 credits) during the summer term, is defined as a full-time student for that term.  Beginning in the summer 2009 term, a minimum of 3 courses per term will be required for full-time status in the summer as well as the fall and spring terms.  Full-time status is required for international students to maintain a visa, and for students to be eligible for certain private scholarships.

Any student who registers for 2 courses (6 credits) per term during the fall or spring terms, or for 1 course (3 credits) during the summer term, is defined as a part-time student for that term.  Beginning in the summer 2009 term, a minimum of 2 courses per term will be required for part-time status in the summer as well as the fall and spring terms.  Part-time status is required for students to be eligible to receive or defer Stafford loans.

Student Privileges
Enrolled GLSP students are given borrowing privileges at Wesleyan libraries, online access to their Wesleyan e-portfolio and email account, and access to campus athletic facilities and other campus resources.  The GLSP is designed for part-time study, so students do not need to register for a course every term to maintain their access to student privileges.  However, students should be aware that their online student privileges will disappear after three consecutive terms (one full academic year) with no registrations.  Library borrowing privileges and athletics privileges are valid only for the term in which a student is registered for a course; if a student does not register for a course in the following term, that student's borrowing privileges will expire on the first day of the following term.

 

ACADEMIC PROGRESS AND COMPLETION

Degrees and Certificates
The Graduate Liberal Studies Program offers the Master of Arts in Liberal Studies (MALS) degree and the Certificate of Advanced Study (CAS).  A student may meet the requirements for the degree or certificate by completing a program of study with a selection of courses in one area of concentration, complemented by a courses taken across the divisions of study. The requirements below take effect beginning with the summer 2008 term for all students, with the exception of matriculated students who have, by the end of the spring 2008 term, completed 6 courses or 15 units of GLSP credit and who graduate no later than spring 2010.  Those students may opt to complete the degree or certificate according to the requirements in place at the time of matriculation. For more information click here.

Distribution Requirements for the Master of Arts in Liberal Studies
The MALS degree requires 36 units of graduate credit with this distribution of courses:

    6 courses (18 credits) within the area of concentration
    6 courses (18 credits) outside the area of concentration
    Courses must be taken in at least three of the five areas of concentration
    Optional master's essay or project (instead of 6th course within concentration)

Distribution Requirements for the Certificate of Advanced Study
The CAS degree requires 30 units of graduate credit with this distribution:

    5 courses (15 credits) within the area of concentration
    2 courses (6 credits) outside the area of concentration
    2 electives (in or out of the concentration)
    1 thesis
    Courses must be taken in at least three of the five areas of concentration

Requirements Specific to the Certificate of Advanced Study
The Certificate of Advanced Study is a program of study that requires a masters degree or other graduate degree. The CAS culminates in a thesis. All courses leading to the certificate must be taken at Wesleyan University; no transferred credit is accepted toward the certificate.

Program Completion Charts
Program audit charts provide a map of the requirements for the MALS and the CAS  To use them, select the chart appropriate to your program, then write in each course you have taken inside and outside your area of concentration.  Then you will be able to see how many more courses you need to take in order to properly distribute your courses.  When placing your courses on the form, please note that courses graded (C+) or lower do not count toward the degree or certificate, no more than six credits graded (CR) will be applied to the degree and none to the certificate, and only one graduate tutorial course will be applied to the degree or certificate.

MALS Completion Chart
CAS Completion Chart

Timeline to Complete Degree or Certificate
GLSP students are expected to complete all requirements for the degree or certificate within six years of their first course.  Timely completion of an academic program is part of the discipline of education.  The rigor of working on classes within a limited timeframe produces an intensely dynamic academic experience in which the energy and knowledge from one class remains vivid into later classes such that intellectual connections are drawn deeply across coursework.  Although six years is the expected maximum time to completion, because GLSP recognizes that adverse circumstances may obstruct a student's course of study, students may petition for an extension of two additional years.  Under no circumstances will credits older than eight years be applied toward the student's degree or certificate. 

Liberal Studies Curriculum
The GLSP curriculum expresses the breadth of Wesleyan University's model of liberal education.  Courses are offered in five areas of concentration:  arts, humanities, mathematics, sciences, and social sciences.  Many courses within concentrations are themselves quite interdisciplinary, as the GLSP curriculum is designed to encourage students to traverse boldly across academic boundaries so that specialization may be balanced by a breadth of knowledge about plural methods of study and bodies of literature. 

Maximum Courses with One Instructor
In order to experience the breadth and depth of the curriculum, students are expected to study with many instructors, and should not take more than three courses (excluding the final essay or project) with any one instructor, although students may petition for a fourth course. 

Areas of Academic Concentration

Arts
The arts concentration includes courses in studio arts, art history, film, ethnomusicology, and theater. Courses in this concentration offer students the ability to study and produce works of art with extraordinary teachers in a very flexible program. The GLSP arts concentration offers the unusual opportunity to study with immensely talented artists while following a program of the student's own directed interests.

Humanities
Courses in the humanities concentration include creative writing, critical theory, and the study of the literatures and cultures of Western and non-Western societies.  Creative writing courses span the genres of poetry, short fiction, the novel, memoir, biography, and the prose essay.  Courses analyzing literature and culture emphasize a rich array of humanistic themes expressed by historically diverse civilizations and literatures.  Unless otherwise noted, texts are studied in English or English translation.

Mathematics
Courses in the mathematics concentration include theoretical mathematics, computer science, applied mathematics, logic, and statistics.  Course descriptions will define the mathematical skill-level required.  These courses offer the skilled and enthusiastic mathematician the opportunity to explore mathematical concepts and questions in an enthusiastically engaged atmosphere.

Sciences
The sciences concentration focuses especially on the natural sciences, ecology, earth and environmental sciences, the history of science, molecular biology and biochemisty, psychology, and science in society.  Some courses include laboratory analysis and others involve explorations in the field.  Many courses do not require previous coursework in the sciences, and all teach methods of scientific inquiry and analysis.

Social Sciences
The social sciences concentration offers courses that study human society through the methods of sociology, history, psychology, archaeology, government, philosophy, anthropology, religious studies, and political economics.  Many courses study a particular social practice (e.g., communism, slavery), within a particular historical time and place, as a way of examining the broad themes of social inquiry within a specific, compact frame of human experience.  Many courses are thematic and interdisciplinary, studying a particular method of social analysis in relation to multiple exempla of human practices. 

Master's Essay/Project
The master's essay or project offers students the opportunity to pursue in depth a topic, issue, or project of the student's choosing, under the guidance of a faculty member. The essay or project shows that a student can independently produce a scholarly work, performance, or exhibit that synthesizes insight, knowledge, and skills gained through coursework and study. Students should expect to complete the essay or project within one term.  If unexpected circumstances arise and a student is unable to complete the essay or project within one term, the student may petition for an extension into the following term. Master's essays are expected to be 30 pages in length and master's projects must include an analytic paper of at least 20 pages in addition to the project. The master's essay or project must be advised by a member of the Wesleyan faculty or a visiting lecturer in liberal studies who has taught a GLSP course within the past year.  It is not considered complete until both the student's faculty advisor and the GLSP director have approved and accepted it. 

Complete details regarding the master's essay/project may be found in the Guidelines for Final Essays and Projects.

Advising and Administrative Services

Workshops
The GLSP offers an orientation for new students as well as a number of writing workshops to help acquaint students with the resources available at Wesleyan and to make the transition to graduate study. Students are encouraged to attend workshops as they progress through the program. For information about upcoming workshops, please visit the Events page of the GLSP website or give us a call at 860-685-2900.

GLSP Program Advisor
The GLSP program advisor, Naomi Kamins, is available to answer questions about the suitability of enrolling in a particular course, degree requirements, plans of study, and master's projects and essays.  Students are encouraged to speak with the program advisor on a regular basis, and students applying for matriculation are strongly encouraged to schedule an appointment for a telephone, in-person, or email interview.    

Naomi Kamins 860-685-3345

Faculty Advisors
Students who wish to do a tutorial (independent study) or who are planning to complete a master's essay or project will need to arrange for a faculty member to act as an advisor for the project. To arrange for a faculty advisor, a student should speak with one or two of the faculty members with whom the student has taken a class to discuss the student's proposed topic and to ask that faculty member to be an advisor, or to discuss who might be an appropriate advisor for the student's proposed topic.

Student Responsibilities

Course load
Students wishing to register for three or more courses during any term must receive formal approval to do so from the GLSP program advisor. 

Class Attendance
Students are expected to attend class meetings regularly.  Since the faculty intends that class attendance shall be primarily the student's responsibility, no precise limitation of absences has been prescribed for all students.  It is understood, however, that absence from class is regarded as the exception, not the rule.  An instructor should notify the GLSP of any student who is absent from class for one week or three consecutive classes, whichever comes first. 

Instructors are entitled to establish definite and precise rules governing attendance.  Any student who is repeatedly absent without excuse from scheduled academic exercises at which attendance is mandatory may be required to withdraw from the course.

Required Withdrawal
The GLSP reserves the right to refuse to retain any student in any program or course at any time.  An instructor may require a student to withdraw from a course if the student fails to meet the announced conditions of enrollment.  Students are responsible for withdrawing officially even if the instructor has determined that they may not continue in the course.

Completion of Coursework
In case of failure to complete the required work of a course, the grade of IN (incomplete) may be awarded only with the approval of the instructor granting the incomplete.  Grades of incomplete will be accompanied by a provisional grade that will become the final grade if the outstanding work in the course is not submitted by the date required by the instructor, or at the very latest, by the first day of classes of the subsequent semester. Incomplete grades are not available for graduate tutorial or one-week immersion courses.

A student may receive up to two incompletes per term by this method. To receive incompletes in more than two courses in a given term, the student must petition to the GLSP. The petition can be granted only on grounds of illness, family crisis, or other extraordinary circumstances. The GLSP may, on petition, grant a student incompletes for these reasons, whether or not the student has contracted for any incompletes with the instructors.

Student Petitions
Students who have been admitted to degree candidacy may petition for a change of concentration, a variance from the distribution requirements, approval of tutorial courses, to have more than three classes with one instructor count toward the degree or certificate, or to request a seventh or eighth year of degree candidacy. Students must complete the petition form and submit it along with any backup documentation to the GLSP office. The only petition that will be accepted from a non-degree student is the petition to transfer credit (this must be submitted with the application for admission to degree candidacy); all other petitions require prior admission to degree candidacy. Students will receive an acknowledgment after a petition has been received to notify the student either that the petition is complete or that more documentation is required. Petitions will not be reviewed until all relevant paperwork is received. Petitions for requests other than those identified above will be accepted at the discretion of the GLSP director. Petition forms are available on the GLSP website and from the GLSP office.

Petition Deadlines
Petitions may be submitted at any time during the year.  The petition review committee convenes two times per term during the fall and spring terms and once during the summer term, on a schedule set in advance of each academic year.  Please refer to the academic calendar for the petition deadlines during a specific term.  If approval of a petition is required in advance of registration for a specific term, the petition must be submitted in advance of the petition deadline which precedes that term. 

Completion, Diplomas, and Commencement
Upon successful fulfillment of all academic requirements for the degree or certificate, the GLSP will prepare the student's records for graduation. Though the academic requirements for the degree or certificate may be completed at the end of any term, Wesleyan University awards degrees and certificates only once annually during spring commencement.

GLSP degree and certificate candidates who complete all requirements by the end of the spring term are eligible to graduate and take part in Wesleyan University's annual Commencement ceremony in late May.

Early in the spring term, the GLSP director determines which students may be eligible for graduation. The program will then send a letter to each degree candidate outlining any outstanding requirements, and requesting information about the student's intent to complete all requirements by specified deadlines. Students should contact the GLSP office by the end of February if they believe they are eligible to graduate but have not yet received this correspondence.

Upon graduation with an MALS degree or the CAS, one official transcript will be sent to each student after commencement. Diplomas are issued once a year during the annual Commencement in late May.

Students who have already earned a MALS are not eligible to earn a second MALS degree, and students who have already earned a CAS are not eligible to earn a second CAS.

Letter of Completion
Students who have completed the requirements for their programs of study prior to commencement may request a letter of completion from the GLSP office.  Letters of completion may be processed three to four weeks after all grades for the student's final term have been officially recorded, and/or after the GLSP director has officially approved the student's master's essay or project, and after the GLSP has verified that the student's financial obligations to the University have been met.  The letter of completion verifies that a student has met the conditions and requirements for the degree or certificate. 

Transcripts
Official transcripts may be obtained from the Office of the University Registrar for a nominal fee.  Please refer to the Office of the University Registrar's website for instructions on how to order official transcripts or contact the office at (860) 685-2810.  Please note that transcripts are not available to students whose payments to the University are overdue.

Academic Prizes
Faculty can nominate GLSP students for the following academic prizes to be awarded at commencement:

  • The Rulewater Prize is an endowed prize designed to recognize excellence in interdisciplinary reflection and writing produced as the culminating work for the Master of Arts in Liberal Studies or the Certificate of Advanced Studies.
  • The Samuel Hugh Brockunier Prize honors the late Samuel Hugh Brockunier who taught American History and Social Studies at Wesleyan University from 1930-81.  The Brockunier Prize is awarded to a GLSP student who has submitted the best writing and reflection on a Social Studies topic.  Dr. Brockunier served as Armstrong Professor of History from 1950 to 1971, as Emeritus Professor of History from 1971 to 1981, and as a GLSP faculty member.

 

ACADEMIC STANDING AND ADVANCEMENT

The University expects students to make good use of Wesleyan's educational resources. A student is expected to satisfy the requirements for the degree of MALS or CAS within six years, though by petition, students may be granted up to a maximum of eight years to complete all requirements toward the degree. To remain in good academic standing from term to term, a GLSP student is expected to maintain a minimum cumulative grade point average of 3.0 (B). Grades lower than B- will not count toward the degree or certificate.

Students whose academic performance is deficient as determined by their advisor's end of term academic review will be subject to the following forms of academic discipline, according to the seriousness of the deficiencies:

1. Warning  The mildest form of academic discipline, for students whose academic work in one course is B-.   Students who have received a warning are not eligible to register for more than two courses in the following term.

2. Probation  The category of academic discipline used when the academic deficiency is serious, usually involving failure to achieve the requisite cumulative grade point average of 3.0 (B), with either a C+ or lower in one course, or B- grades in two or more courses. A student on probation is required to earn grades of B or higher in all courses. Failure to do so usually results in more serious discipline. A student who receives more than two incompletes and does not submit a petition requesting an exception to the policy regarding completion of coursework may also be placed on probation.  Students on probation are not eligible to register for more than two courses each term, must attend all class meetings, and must complete and submit all course work on time.

3. Strict Probation  The category of discipline used in very serious cases of academic deficiency, usually involving at least one of the following conditions:

a. Grades of C+ or lower in one course and B- work in another, or

b. Grades of B- in three or more courses, or

c. A grade of B- in one or more courses while on probation

Students on strict probation are required to attend all classes, to complete all work on time, and meet regularly with their instructor(s). They also are not permitted to receive an incomplete without official GLSP approval, and they are not eligible to register for more than two courses each term. Two or more terms on strict probation, sequential or not, may require a student to resign from the University.

4. Required Resignation  The category of discipline used when the student's academic performance is so deficient as to warrant the student's departure from the University for the purpose of correcting the deficiencies. The notation resigned will be entered on the student's official transcript. The performance of students who are required to resign will usually involve at least one of the following deficiencies:

a. If a student is in good standing

     (1) The grade C+ or lower in two or more courses, or

     (2) The grade C+ or lower in one course and B- work in two others

b. If a student is on probation

     (1) The grade C+ or lower in one course and B- work in one other, or

     (2) Grades of B- in three or more courses

c. If a student is on strict probation

     (1) The grade C+ or lower in one or more courses, or

     (2) Grades of B- in two or more courses, or

     (3) One or more unapproved incompletes, or

     (4) Failure to earn removal from strict probation, even if there is a period of good standing

Students who are required to resign may not be in University housing, nor may they participate in student activities.

Students who are required to resign may be readmitted by the GLSP after an absence of at least two semesters. The process of application for readmission requires a demonstration of academic preparedness and fulfillment of all the specified requirements for return. Students readmitted after being required to resign will be placed on strict probation.

5. Separation  The category of discipline used when the student's academic deficiencies are so serious as to warrant the student's departure from the University without eligibility for readmission. The notation separated will be entered on the student's official transcript. Separation is imposed if a student's academic performance warrants required resignation for a second time.

6. Appeals  Students who are required to resign or are separated from the University and who have new information about the factors that they believe affected their performance may appeal their status to the petition review committee.  A student may appeal a decision of the petition review committee to the Vice President for Academic Affairs.

 

WESLEYAN UNIVERSITY POLICIES

GLSP students are responsible for complying with Wesleyan University's policies as described in the University Standards and Regulations section of the Wesleyan Student Handbook as well as the policies described in this Handbook. The policies described in this Handbook are specific to the GLSP and will supercede any conflicting policies in the Wesleyan Student Handbook. Failure to read the policies, negligence, personal factors, or contradictory information from any source are not acceptable grounds for seeking exemption from these policies and procedures.

In particular, students should be familiar with the following sections of the University Standards and Regulations:

Standards of Conduct
The Honor System
Plagiarism
The Code of Non-Academic Conduct
University Policies

All complaints regarding alleged violations of the Code of Non-Academic Conduct and the Honor Code by GLSP students will be heard by The Graduate Judicial Board (GJB). The proceedings of the GJB will be carried out in conformity with the Guidelines for University Disciplinary Proceedings.  For more information about the GJB, please visit the GJB's website.

 

RESOURCES

Directory

Administrative Office
Wesleyan University
Graduate Liberal Studies Program
284 High Street
Middletown, CT 06459-0519
Phone:  (860) 685-2900
Fax: (860) 685-2901
Email:  glsinquire@wesleyan.edu
website: 
www.wesleyan.edu/glsp

Graduate Liberal Studies Program Staff

Karen L. Anderson, Ph.D., Associate Dean of Continuing Studies & Director, GLSP
Sheryl Culotta, Associate Director for Academic Services
Mary Kelly,
Associate Director for Finance and Administrative Services
Naomi Kamins, Assistant Director for Student Services
Jennifer Curran, Assistant Director for Admissions and Outreach
Jolene C. Drechsler, Administrative Assistant V/Program Assistant

Writing Preceptor
The GLSP offers the services of a writing preceptor to help students improve their academic writing skills.  The writing preceptor, Marie Clark, offers writing workshops throughout the year that are available to all GLSP students, and she is also available to work one-on-one with students who have been admitted to degree candidacy.  To schedule an appointment, please contact Marie by email.

Wesleyan University Writing Workshop
Open during the fall and spring semesters, the Writing Workshop has a staff of tutors available to work individually with students at any stage of their writing.  Tutors may assist students by discussing their ideas for a paper, editing a rough draft, or reviewing comments on completed work.  The workshop is not a remedial program.  The workshop staff is also available to help students who have learning disabilities.  Students should call ahead to reserve an appointment at the main workshop office on the lower level of Downey House at the corner of Court and High Streets, or use the drop-in hours in the Public Affairs Center.  Call (860) 685-2440 for an appointment or to find out the schedule of drop-in hours.

Photo Identification Card
All GLSP students are expected to have a current Wesleyan photo identification card, called the WesCard. This card provides access to library borrowing privileges and access to other campus facilities such as the athletic center, and some classroom buildings. It also must be presented to obtain student discounts where advertised.

There are three ways to request your card: 1) Online - Submit a digital photo through your e-portfolio; or 2) By mail - Complete the WesCard ID Application form and send it in with a recent, color passport photograph (2”x2”) with white background; or 3) In person - Come to the WesCard office to have your photo taken and your card produced. For more information, visit the WesCard office website.

Library Facilities
GLSP students have borrowing privileges at Wesleyan libraries during each term in which they are registered for a course.  Borrowing privileges do not expire until the first day of the following term, so students who register for consecutive terms will have uninterrupted borrowing privileges. 
GLSP students can borrow books during the term by going to the circulation office to establish a borrower's account.  Extended evening and weekend hours during the fall and spring terms make the libraries accessible to commuting students. Students are encouraged to call ahead for hours of operation when the University is on break and during the summer term.  The main telephone number of the Olin Library is (860) 685-2660; the Science Library is (860) 685-2860; and the Davison Art Center is (860) 685-2500.  Live, online reference help is provided through the library website which also gives information about library services for GLSP students, lists hours of operation, and describes the breadth of the library's collections. 

Student Email and Network Accounts
All GLSP students are given Wesleyan email accounts. As a new student, you will receive a letter from Wesleyan's Information Technology Services, informing you of your email username and the default method of constructing your password. Your username is printed on your confirmation of registration form.

Email is an official form of communication to you from Wesleyan University. Official communications (including financial notices) will be sent to your Wesleyan email address, and you are responsible for reading these messages. Your instructors will see only your Wesleyan email address in their class rosters. You may read your Wesleyan email on the web at webmail.wesleyan.edu, or you may have your Wesleyan email automatically forwarded to another address by setting up email forwarding through your e-portfolio under Tools and Links. For more information about Wesleyan email visit the email section of the ITS website.

GLSP students are also given a network account.  The network account allows students to print to a networked computer and access online library resources and other restricted sites that instructors have set up for their courses.  The University Information Technology Services (ITS) will notify students by letter when their computer accounts have been activated.  Students who have questions about their accounts should contact the ITS Help Desk at (860) 685-4000.

Student Electronic Portfolios
Once a student's email and network accounts are established, the student will have access to his or her electronic portfolio, accessible from the main page of the Wesleyan University website. The e-portfolio is the method through which students
receive all financial bills from the University, so it is important for students to check their e-portfolio on a regular basis. Through the e-portfolio students may view their current classes, schedules, and classroom locations, as well as academic history including grades. Students grades for current courses will appear in their e-portfolios as soon as the grades have been posted.

To log in to your e-portfolio visit https://www.wesleyan.edu/portfolio.

ITS Helpdesk
The ITS Helpdesk is located on the first floor of the Exley Science Center in room 143.  Student consultants are on duty in the fall and spring Monday through Thursday from 9 am to 10 pm; Fridays from 9 am to 5 pm; and Sundays from 5 to 10 pm, and during the summer on Monday Friday from 9 am to 5 pm (refer to the ITS website for changes in hours).  Consultants can answer all questions regarding computing at Wesleyan and act as a first contact point for any major problems.  The Helpdesk provides disk recovery, as well as basic tutorials on all of Wesleyans computer systems and software.  Questions sent by email to helpdesk@wesleyan.edu are answered within 24 hours.

Resetting Student Password
If a student forgets his or her password, the password will need to be reset.
Students should send an email to operations@wesleyan.edu, or call the ITS Operations office at (860) 685-2132 or (860) 685-2128.  Include your name, address, home phone number, WesID#, birthdate, and the last four digits of your SSN in the email request.  Or go in person to the ITS Helpdesk with your photo ID (WesCard or drivers license), and identify yourself as a GLSP student. 

Computer Labs
ITS operates many public labs equipped with powerful, late-model computers.  In addition to common applications available campus-wide, these regional labs offer access to specialized software in the arts and humanities, social sciences, the sciences, and mathematics.  All of the labs are connected to the campus network and the Internet.  The software for the labs and lab hours can be found at the
Academic Computing Labs section of the ITS website.

Wesleyan Campus Computer Store and Service Center
The Campus Computer Store provides a wide range of computers, printers, peripherals, and software at competitive prices, including software licensing of Microsoft Office.  Some programs may be available for free download through the Campus Computer Store website. Dell, Apple, HP, and Microsoft are just some of the manufacturers whose products are available at the Campus Computer Store. Warranty service is provided by Apple and Dell. Any computer in need of repair is always welcome and will be billed on a time and materials basis. Visit the Campus Computer Store's website to see available products and current specials.

Resources for Students with Learning and Physical Disabilities
Wesleyan University is committed to supporting all students in their academic endeavors.  The University provides services and reasonable accommodations to all students who need and have a legal entitlement to such accommodations.  For more information about resources available, please visit http://www.wesleyan.edu/deans/disabilities.html.

Parking
Free on-street parking is available on Wyllys and Lawn Avenues, and Mount Vernon, College, Court, and High Streets. Please observe all parking regulations or you may receive a ticket from the Middletown police. The campus map shows the locations of these streets, as well as the Universitys visitor parking lot (Lot V on Vine Street), which is available for student use. Other lots on campus are reserved during the day for faculty and staff employed in nearby buildings. Beginning at 4:30 pm, these lots start to empty, freeing up space for commuting students. Lots A and B just below High Street are particularly convenient for students taking classes in the Public Affairs Center and Fisk Hall. All campus parking lots are free and open to the public Monday - Friday after 5 pm, and all day Saturday and Sunday.

Winter Parking Bans
From November through the end of March, the City of Middletown will declare a winter parking ban if snow accumulation is expected.  During the ban, all street parking is prohibited although no signs are posted.  The
GLSP website will be updated to announce parking bans, and the Office of Public Safety will issue email announcements to students.  During such a ban, GLSP students may park in any University parking lot.  Street parking during a ban may result in citations and towing of automobiles.

Severe Weather Class Cancellations
In the case of severe weather, students can find out whether or not classes are being cancelled by checking the Of Note section on the right hand side of the
GLSP home page or by calling (860) 685-2900 and dialing extension 5.

GLSP Events
The GLSP holds a number of social events each year to bring together the GLSP community of students and faculty.  For information about upcoming GLSP events, please visit the
News and Events section of the GLSP website.

Campus Events and Activities
GLSP students are encouraged to spend time on campus beyond their scheduled class hours to take advantage of the numerous and diverse cultural and educational events offered at Wesleyan University.  GLSP students (with student identification) enjoy access to outstanding recreational opportunities including access to squash and tennis courts.  Other resources for students include the Davenport Campus Center, the Davison Art Center, the Center for the Arts, the Freeman Athletic Center, and the Mansfield Freemen Center for East Asian Studies.  For a listing of upcoming campus events please visit Wesleyan's News and Events website.

Center for the Arts (CFA)
The 11-building complex in the northwest section of campus houses the academic departments concerned with the arts.  The CFA sponsors year-round events in its remarkable exhibition, theater, and conference halls.  Wesleyan faculty and student talents are displayed along with those of distinguished visiting performers and artists.  Contact the box office at (860) 685-3355 to have your name added to the mailing list or to order tickets.  For more information visit the Center for the Arts website.

Freeman Athletic Facilities
The Freeman Athletic Center offers indoor and outdoor tracks, a weight-training center and a 50-meter indoor pool and diving area.  For distance runners, the Cardinal Loop offers a convenient trail, and the Middletown City Parks and Recreations Department sponsors an evening program on the Connecticut River where participants learn to row racing shells (summer only).  For more information visit the Facilities website.

Davison Art Center
The Davison Art Center (DAC) houses one of the outstanding university print collections in the country.  The DAC also houses the Art Library.  A number of features of the DACs interior are reproduced in the neo-Classical Gallery in the American Wing of the Metropolitan Museum of Art.  Located at 301 High Street, Davison is both a restored home and a museum for storing and exhibiting Wesleyans extensive collection.  The collection is comprised chiefly of works on paper, including more than 18,000 prints and works by Durer, Goya, Rembrandt, and Manet and more than 5,000 photographs containing works by American and European masters.  The print reference library is an important resource for the international community of print scholars and, of course, for its Wesleyan and Connecticut constituencies.  Gallery talks are sponsored by the Friends of the DAC and are open to the public.  Contact the gallery information desk at (860) 685-2500 for hours.  For more information visit the Davison Art Center website.

Russell House
This beautifully maintained mansion, on the east corner of High and Washington streets, provides an intimate venue for activities that do not require elaborate staging.  Events take place during the fall and spring terms in a gracious parlor setting, free of charge, and open to the public.  It is perfect for small ensemble or solo concerts, poetry and prose readings, informal lectures, and the occasional staged reading or play.  Call (860) 685-2280 to place your name on the mailing list for the Russell House Series.  Visit the Wesleyan's Events website for information about upcoming events.

Mansfield Freeman Center for East Asian Studies
In addition to housing collections of East Asian art and historical archives, the Freeman Center presents several exhibits each year in its gallery.  A special attraction at the Freeman Center is an architectural ensemble consisting of the tatami room in the style of Japanese domestic architecture and an adjoining Japanese-style garden.  The room and garden are actively used for a wide variety of purposes, ranging from class meetings and Japanese tea ceremonies to quiet contemplation and meditation.  Two or three exhibits are presented each year in the centers gallery, frequently incorporating works lent by other institutions and collections beyond campus. During the fall and spring terms, the center hosts tours, gallery talks, music recitals, and lectures.  Telephone (860) 685-2330 to receive advance notice of exhibits and activities.  For more information please visit the Mansfield Freeman Center website.

Campus Safety Information
As required by law, a copy of the Wesleyan University security report is available upon request. This report includes statistics for the three previous years on specific reported crimes that occurred on campus, on property that is owned or controlled by the University, and public property within a reasonably contiguous geographic area to campus. The report may be viewed at http://www.wesleyan.edu/publicsafety/clery.htm.

The report also includes institutional policies concerning campus security, crime prevention, the reporting of crimes, University policy on alcohol and drugs, and many other related matters. Additional information is available on the Public Safety website.

Equal Opportunity and Nondiscrimination Statements
Wesleyan University is fully committed to a policy of equal opportunity and nondiscrimination throughout the University and to this end abides by all applicable federal, state, and local laws pertaining to nondiscrimination and fair employment practices. The University does not discriminate on the basis of race, color, religion, national or ethnic origin, age, disability, veteran status, sex, marital status, sexual orientation, gender identity, or gender expression. For more information about Wesleyans equal opportunity and affirmative action policies visit the Office of Affirmative Action's website.

Important Links
GLSP home
Wesleyan home
Registrar
Libraries
ITS
Calendar