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 Connecticuts 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 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.
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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.
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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).
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Student 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
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’ve 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
Applications for admission are reviewed three times each year. Students who
wish to begin 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 in 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;
- Student
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
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 (1) scores from the GRE (Graduate Record Exam)
or MAT (Miller Analogies Test), (2) three letters of recommendation (written or
translated in English), and (3) 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
Stafff
Enrollment is open to
Wesleyan University faculty, administrators, staff, and their spouses/domestic
partners. For 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 a new student 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 by the code AU in the catalog—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 GLSP website to confirm your classroom location prior to the first class
meeting.
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.
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 course catalog by the note (AU). 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. Students must register for courses they wish to audit using the same process they use to register for any other GLSP course, but 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 by either withdrawing online through the e-portfolio, or by submiting a completed, dated, and signed copy of the official withdrawal form to the GLSP
office. 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 must submit a signed, dated copy of the
official
withdrawal form to the GLSP office by fax, mail, or in person;
withdrawal is not accepted by telephone or email. A student incurs tuition
liability 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 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 eleventh 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.
Fall 2007 Withdrawal Deadlines
Prior to 5 pm September 14: full refund of tuition paid
(registration fees are non-refundable), no record of course on academic
transcript
September 15 - November 26: 100% liability for tuition and fees, W on
transcript
After November 26: 100% liability for tuition and fees, F on
transcript
Spring 2008 Withdrawal Deadlines
Prior to 5 pm February 1: full refund of tuition paid
(registration fees are non-refundable), no record of course on academic
transcript
February 2 - April 21: 100% liability for tuition and fees, W on
transcript
After April 21: 100% liability for tuition and fees, F on transcript
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 27: full refund of tuition paid (registration fees
are non-refundable), no record of course on academic transcript
June 28 - 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 27: full refund of tuition paid (registration fees
are non-refundable), no record of course on academic transcript
June 28 - 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 27: full refund of tuition paid
(registration fees are non-refundable), no record of course on academic
transcript
June 28 - 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 27: full refund of tuition paid
(registration fees are non-refundable), no record of course on academic
transcript
June 28 - 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 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
Enrollment and Active Status
To remain active as degree candidates, students must complete a minimum of one
course each academic year, 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. 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 admissions committee
at the same time admission applications are considered.
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.
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 in each term’s course catalog. The tuition and fee schedule
below is subject to change. Students are required to pay all tuition and fees
at registration. See the section in the Student Handbook on
Withdrawals for
information on tuition refunds.
|
Tuition for
Summer 2008 - Spring 2009
|
|
| Each three-unit course |
$1,926 |
| Final Essay/Project course |
$3,852 |
| Audited course (not for credit)
|
$642 |
| |
|
| Fees for Summer
2008–Spring 2009 |
|
Registration fee, due at time of registration
(nonrefundable, not part of tuition) |
$100 |
| Late Registration fee
(registrations received after deadline)
|
$150 |
| In-term Registration fee (during first
week of classes) |
$200 |
| Essay/Project registration fee (charged
per term)
|
$100 |
| Additional course fees
|
as applicable |
Course transfer fee (per course transferred in from
another institution; approval required) |
$642 |
| 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.
General Financial Aid
Graduate Liberal Studies Program administers two types of financial aid: need-based scholarships available to degree candidates and community support scholarships.
Need-based Scholarships:
These scholarships are available only to students
admitted to degree candidacy (matriculated).
-
Director's Scholarship: a limited amount of GLSP financial aid is
available each term in the form of a tuition discount. This discount
only applies to tuition, not to registration, course fees or other charges.
Aid is awarded on the basis of financial need.
- Samuel Hugh Brockunier Scholarship:
a scholarship established by Mrs. Eloise Brockunier to honor her husband,
who taught American History and social studies at Wesleyan from 1930 until
1981. Any student who teaches or plans to teach pre-collegiate social
studies and demonstrates financial need is encouraged to apply. This
scholarship is awarded in addition to any other financial aid the student
receives.
- Daltry-Kaemmerling Endowed Scholarship:
awarded to students who are beginning the program and who demonstrate
financial need.
- GLSP Alumni Scholarship: established through the generosity of GLSP
alumni and awarded to GLSP students who demonstrate financial need.
Students seeking aid from these sources must submit a GLSP financial aid application
to the GLSP office by 5:00 pm July 7, 2008. Download
the
GLSP Financial Aid Application here.
Community Support Scholarships:
- Wesleyan University’s
Greater Middletown Area Teachers Scholarship
Wesleyan University offers a
50% tuition discount to full-time contracted teachers, librarians, and
administrators who work in public, parochial, and independent schools in the
greater Middletown area through
the University’s Greater Middletown Area Teachers Scholarship (GMATS). GMATS-eligible
towns include: Cromwell, Durham, East Haddam, East Hampton, Haddam,
Killingworth, Middlefield, Middletown, Moodus, Portland, and Rocky Hill. The
only requirement to receive this scholarship is confirmation of
the student’s employment. This confirmation must be received by the GLSP
office no later than 5 p.m. on the Friday before the first week of classes.
The tuition discount only applies to the course tuition, not to the registration
fee or any other fees. Please click
here for the form.
- Once the application has been submitted and
the scholarship approved, the scholarship will be renewed each term the
student enrolls until the student notifies the GLSP of a change in
employment status. Students do not need to re-apply each term.
- City of Middletown Employee Scholarship
Wesleyan University offers a 50% tuition discount to City of Middletown
employees. Students wishing to receive this scholarship must submit confirmation of
employment to the GLSP using the GLSP Community Scholarship Application at registration. Please click
here for the form.
- Students must re-apply for this scholarship
each term the student enrolls in classes at the GLSP.
Non-Wesleyan Financial Aid
The James Madison Fellowships
The James Madison Fellowships were created to honor Madison's legacy and
Madisonian principles by providing support for graduate study that focuses on
the Constitution--its history and contemporary relevance to the practices and
policies of democratic government. The benefits of the fellowship program
are manifold and lasting. Fellowship recipients have a unique opportunity
to strengthen their research, writing, and analytical skills. In the
process they form professional ties that can significantly influence their
career aspirations. Fellows gain a deeper understanding of the principles
of constitutional government which they in turn transmit to their
students. In this way the James Madison Fellowships ensure that the spirit
and practical wisdom of the Constitution will guide the actions of future
generations of American citizens. For further information, please visit
the James Madison Fellowship Program
website.
Additional Scholarship Information/Links
FastWeb - Search for scholarships for
graduate students
International
Reading Association
The Beinecke Scholarship Program
The Paul and Daisy Soros
Fellowship for New Americans
Knowles Science Teaching
Foundation
National Council of
Teachers of Mathematics
Rockefeller
Brothers Fund Fellowship for Aspiring Teachers of Color
Open Society Institute
Employee Benefits
Many
corporations and agencies offer some form of tuition assistance to employees who
are continuing their education, usually through their Human Resources
departments. Students should ask their employer if tuition assistance is
available to them.
Student Loans
Students may be eligible for
Stafford loans. Students are advised to submit applications for bank loans a
minimum of six to eight weeks prior to the start of a term in order to receive
their loan on time. Please note that matriculation and enrollment for a minimum
of two courses (6 credits) in the fall and spring terms, and one course (3
units) in the summer term is required in order to be eligible to receive a Stafford loan. Interested students should contact the
Wesleyan
University Financial Aid office for information.
Veterans’ Benefits
Veterans should consult the
appropriate Veterans Administration Office for information as to their
eligibility for federal education benefits. At the time of registration,
veterans receiving benefits must present a certificate of eligibility to the
GLSP office.
Grades
A student's academic performance in individual courses taken at Wesleyan University will be graded either by the use of letter grades (A - F) or, for one-credit tutorials, by the designations credit (CR) or unsatisfactory (U). 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. Unsatisfactory credits will not be applied to the MALS degree or to the CAS Grade reports are issued at the end of each term. A students 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+ |
= |
96.7 100% |
B+ |
= |
86.7 89.9% |
C+ |
= |
76.7 79.9% |
F |
= |
Below 70% |
| A |
= |
93.3 96.6% |
B |
= |
83.3 86.6% |
C |
= |
73.3 76.6% |
IN |
= |
Incomplete |
| A- |
= |
90.0 93.2% |
B- |
= |
80.0 83.2% |
C- |
= |
70.0 73.2% |
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. 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. 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 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 the majority of
courses in one area of concentration, complemented by a small number of courses
out of the area of concentration, as well as a limited number of elective
courses in any area of concentration.
Requirements Specific to
the Master of Arts in Liberal Studies
Two plans of study lead to the MALS degree: 30 units of graduate credit including a master's essay or project, or 36 units of graduate credit not including a master's essay or project. Students must select one or the other plan when applying for admission to degree candidacy, although they may petition to switch plans at a later date.
The 30-credit plan requires a three-credit master's essay or project, appropriate to the students area of concentration, which is proposed and completed under the advisement of a current member of the Wesleyan faculty or a visiting lecturer in liberal studies who has taught in the GLSP within the past two academic years (six terms). The 30-credit plan requires 10 courses (30 units of credit), comprised of nine courses of study (27 credits) plus the master's essay or project as the 10th course.
Distribution Requirements
Courses taken for the
30-credit plan must meet this distribution:
6 courses (18 credits)
within the area of concentration
2 courses (6 credits)
outside the area of concentration
1 course (3 credits) as an
elective in any area of concentration
1 master's essay or project (3 credits) whose subject is within the area of concentration
The 36-credit plan requires 12 courses of study (36 units of credit), with no master's essay or project, meeting this distribution:
7 courses (21 credits)
within the area of concentration
3 courses (9 credits)
outside the area of concentration
2 courses (6 credits) as
electives in any area 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 further graduate degree. The CAS culminates in a master's essay or project. The requirements for the certificate are met upon successful completion of 30 units of graduate credit comprised of the following: 10 courses (30 units of credit) in which six courses (18 credits) are taken within the area of concentration, two courses (six credits) are taken as electives outside the concentration, one course (three credits) is taken as an elective in any area of concentration (inside or outside of the concentration), and one course (three credits) constitutes the master's essay or project, within the area of concentration. 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 30- and 36-credit MALS plans and the
CAS To use them, select the chart appropriate to your program and plan, 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
30-credit plan of study
MALS Completion Chart 36-credit plan of study
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 students 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 students degree or certificate.
Liberal Studies
Curriculum
The GLSP curriculum
expresses the breadth of Wesleyan Universitys 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. Interdisciplinary courses are listed in the
course catalog under one concentration, with a note at the bottom of the course
description stating that the course may, by petition, count toward one other
concentration. These petitions are always granted, but it is necessary for the
program to have a written record of the request.
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 students 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 the entire process, from proposal preparation to final approval, to take approximately 1215 months. The master's essay or project is not considered complete until both the students faculty advisor and the GLSP director have approved and accepted it.
All CAS students, and MALS students in the 30-credit plan of study, who have completed 27 units of credit (nine courses) that count toward the degree or certificate, will be billed the registration fee for every term in which the master's essay or project remains incomplete. The payment of the registration fee will ensure that students will have uninterrupted access to Wesleyan University student services including library and research database privileges, program advising, email, e-portfolio, and athletic facilities. Students will also be responsible for paying the essay/project tuition in the term in which the student's proposal is approved.
Complete details regarding the master's essay/project, and the associated fees may be found in the Guidelines for Final Essays and Projects. Students must complete all requirements for the master's essay or project within three academic years of completing GLSP courses.
Advising and
Administrative Services
Student 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
Advisors
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 students proposed topic and to ask that faculty member to be an advisor, or to discuss who might be an appropriate advisor for the students 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 their GLSP program
advisor.
Class Attendance
Students are expected to
attend class meetings regularly. Since the faculty intends that class
attendance shall be primarily the students 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 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, change of a plan of study, approval of tutorial courses, to request that a course count toward another concentration as noted in the course listing, 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.
Types of Petitions
Graduate Tutorial
Request to conduct an independent study
Change of program of study
Request to switch from the MALS to the CAS;
the CAS to the MALS;
the MALS 30-unit plan to the 36-unit plan; the
MALS 36-unit plan to the 30-unit plan;
or from one area of concentration to
another
Fourth course with the same instructor
Request to take a fourth course (other than the master's essay or project) with one instructor
Count course toward another concentration
Request to have an interdisciplinary course count toward
a concentration other than the one
in which it was listed
Transfer courses from another institution
Request to transfer credit (must be submitted together with application for admission)
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 students 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 for their plans of study by the
following deadlines are eligible to graduate and take part in Wesleyan
Universitys annual Commencement ceremony in late May:
-
MALS 30-credit plan of study & CAS:All course work completed, the final draft of the essay or project submitted to the GLSP office by March 15, and the final archival copy submitted to the GLSP office for binding by May 1 (Refer to the Guidelines for Final Essays and Projects for more details).
- MALS 36-credit plan of study: All course
requirements successfully completed by the end of the spring term.
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 students 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 a 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 students final term have
been officially recorded, and/or after the GLSP director has officially approved
the students final essay or project, and after the GLSP has verified that the
students 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 Registrars 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 essay 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 written the best
essay on a Social Studies topic. Dr. Brockunier served as Armstrong
Professor of History from 1950-71, as Emeritus Professor of History from
1971-81, 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 deficientas determined by their advisors end of term
academic reviewwill be subject to the following forms of academic discipline,
according to the seriousness of the deficiencies:
1. WarningThe
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.
ProbationThe
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
ProbationThe 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 ResignationThe 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.
SeparationThe 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.
AppealsStudents
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 dean of continuing studies.
WESLEYAN UNIVERSITY
POLICIES
These policies are
applicable to all Wesleyan University students, including GLSP students. All
complaints regarding alleged violations of
the Code of Non-Academic Conduct and the Honor Code by graduate 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.
Honor
System
All
communities exist by virtue of some consensus on values, even though that
consensus may be imprecise and unspoken. In a university, it is essential that
there be universal acceptance of certain enduring and specific standards of
academic conduct. These standards of academic conduct are distinct from the
other values and expectations of the community. Because of their unique
importance, they are set forth as the Honor Code, enforced by the Honor Board.
The Honor System depends upon adherence of all
members of the University to the standards of academic behavior articulated in
the Honor Code. This community embraces a great variety of individuals whose
diversity of thought and lifestyle are wellsprings of the intellectual and
creative life of the University. In this diverse group there are, properly, a
few basic tenets. These include a willingness to adhere to the Honor Code. Any
student wishing to enroll in Wesleyans GLSP should understand and accept this
responsibility as a condition of enrollment. This substantial responsibility is
one aspect of the education offered at Wesleyan.
Violations of the Honor Code
are among the most serious offenses an individual may commit at Wesleyan
University. A student who observes an apparent violation of the Code has the
option of reporting it to the instructor of the course or to the director of the
GLSP, or speaking directly with the student(s) involved to suggest that he/she
make the situation known to the instructor or director. Penalties shall be
invoked up to and including dismissal from the GLSP and the University.
To read the full Honor Code, please visit
the
Honor Code
section of the Standards of Conduct website.
Plagiarism
The Honor Code
to which students subscribe upon entering Wesleyan is merely a special
application of
the unwritten code that governs all academic and scholarly affairs. Scholars on
whatever level must represent their findings
truthfully. This means, first, that they will not tamper with the truth as they
see it. It means, second, that they will not
offer as theirs what others discovered or wrote—will not be guilty of
plagiarism. These responsibilities apply equally to
professor, researcher, and student. Nearly all Wesleyan students mean to
be honest, but some do not appreciate the extent to which plagiarism is
dishonest. It is important to recognize that plagiarism is theft, not of ideas,
which are in a sense the property of everyone, but of the credit for originating
ideas. Plagiarism is also fraud—intentional deception in order to obtain what
does not rightfully belong to one—for a student who plagiarizes attempts to get
from the instructor an unearned grade and from the University an unearned
degree. And, of course, the plagiarist also affronts the rest of the student
body. Plagiarism, finally, is impersonation, since
every piece of written work presents an image of its author.
To read
Wesleyans full statement on plagiarism, please visit
the plagiarism
section of the Standards of Conduct website.
Policy on
Drugs and Alcohol
Wesleyan University believes
that illegal activity involving alcohol or illicit drugs has the potential to
damage the quality of campus life in the following ways:
1. by injuring the
physiological and psychological well-being of individuals,
2. by disrupting and
endangering the welfare of those in the immediate environment of the illegal
activity,
3. by attracting criminal
activity to the campus.
Wesleyan's response to
illegal activity involving alcohol or illicit drugs is through educational and
treatment programs and through the establishment and enforcement of explicit
standards of conduct.
To read Wesleyans full
statement on illegal drugs and alcohol, please visit
the
illegal
drugs and alcohol section of the Standards of Conduct 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.
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