THE COMMUNITY

Middletown is a city of about 43,000, located 15 miles south of Hartford and 24 miles north of New Haven. It lies approximately halfway between New York and Boston in the valley of the Connecticut River and is surrounded by dairy and tobacco farms. The combined residential-manufacturing community is in the middle of a trading area containing more than 100,000 persons. The city and University make up a natural center for cultural events in the heart of the state and host an unusual array of speakers, conferences, musical performances, and theatrical events during the year. Recreational facilities lie close at hand at the shore of Long Island Sound, on the banks of the Connecticut River, and in numerous state parks. Facilities for skating, tennis, swimming, squash, skiing, golf, fencing, judo, rowing, and sailing, as well as such team sports as rugby, soccer, and basketball are provided, either directly on the campus or within the town and environs.

For additional information on Middletown, go to http://www.cityofmiddletown.com/.

Graduate Student Association

If you are a graduate student at Wesleyan University, you are a member of Wesleyan’s Graduate Student Association (GSA). A copy of the GSA constitution, outlining the purpose of the organization, is available online or will be presented at the first GSA meeting. The GSA is your organization, and it is here to help you as a graduate student in any way it can. If you have any problems, questions, or suggestions about graduate student life, attend a GSA meeting or contact your GSA department representative.

In the past, GSA activities have included workshops on student tax liability and on grantsmanship for artists, humanists, and scientists, as well as a range of social events, including concerts, dances, a semester-break film series, and a variety of house parties. Anyone can get involved, bring ideas to the meetings, or simply listen in on the issues that concern graduate students. Contact the OGSS for a list of current officers and department representatives, or keep an eye on your mailbox for upcoming meetings and GSA-sponsored activities, http://www.wesleyan.edu/studenthandbook/3_gsa.html.

The Neighborhood Preschool

The Neighborhood Preschool provides high-quality childcare for children between the ages of four months and kindergarten entrance. Priority for admission is given to families affiliated with Wesleyan, including those in which a parent is a full-time graduate student. The programs are located in campus buildings; children may be registered in a 10-month program or a summer program, or both; a wide variety of part-time options exists in addition to full-time care (8 a.m.–5 p.m., weekdays).
The NPS staff is experienced and skilled and has designed developmentally appropriate programs with favorable teacher-child ratios and high caregiver continuity. Parents and children alike feel welcome and valued. Teachers provide a warm and stable environment and regular consultations with parents. As each child grows, activities designed to stimulate the child’s own curiosity and joy of discovery are offered within the context of a supportive social environment. Space is limited, so early application is advisable. For more information about programs, openings, and fees, contact: Director, The Neighborhood Preschool, 115 High Street, Middletown, CT 06457.