Fisk Hall, Room 105
262 High Street
Middletown, CT 06459
oisa@wesleyan.edu
OISA Facebookr OISA Facebookr

Events and Programs

Collage of 4 photos: 1) 3 students displaying their tote-bags at DYI Tote-Bag Workshop during Orientation; 2) a big group of students singing at Karaoke night in Beckham Hall; 3) a group of students sitting in a circle on Foss Hill; 4) three students playing Twister

OISA hosts events and programs throughout the year to help students make the most of their time at Wesleyan and prepare for life after university. Mark your calendars with important dates of sessions focused on choosing the right majors, employment (CPT, OPT, STEM OPT Extension, career planning), and other topics that will help you take advantage of the opportunities available to you and plan for the future.

Consider opportunities to get involved in campus-wide internationalization programming, such as International Education Week (IEW) in the fall and Power of Language Week in the spring, and participate in OISA programs such as International Student Orientation (ISO), International Buddy Program (IBP), Wesleyan Africans Thriving Together (WATT) peer mentorship program, and the Wesleyan International Speakers Program (WISP) that offer unique student leadership opportunities!   

Events and Programs - Spring 2026

 

  • Power of Language Week

    Wesleyan’s 4th Annual Power of Language (POL) Week will take place from Wednesday, February 18th through Saturday, February 28th. POL is organized around the observance of International Mother Language Day (Feb 21st) and seeks to highlight bilingualism, multilingualism, second language acquisition, and linguistic and cultural diversity within the Wesleyan community and beyond. 

    The POL Committee welcomes event submissions that relate to these themes, which may include showcasing different forms of cross-lingual communication and highlighting the importance of linguistic empathy in our increasingly multicultural and interconnected community. 

    The submission form is now open and will close on Friday, February 6th! For questions about Power of Language Week, please email Global Language and Outreach Fellow Amalie Little ’25 at alittle@wesleyan.edu.

    2026 Power of Language Week logo

  • Optional Practical Training (OPT) Workshops

    We will offer 2 in-person OPT workshops during the Spring 2026 Semester. Both sessions will cover the same content. If you cannot attend one of the workshops, please watch the workshop recording and thoroughly read the guidance on our Post-Completion OPT webpage and contact us if you have any questions or concerns.  

     

    Intended Audience: F-1 international students graduating in Spring or Fall 2026 who wish to work in the United States after graduation

    Session Description: In this workshop, OISA staff will provide an overview of OPT eligibility, the application process and timeline, and requirements for maintaining your F-1 visa status during your post-completion employment. Please carefully read through OISA’s Post-Completion OPT guidance prior to attending this workshop. There will be time for Q&A at the end of the session. 

  • Curricular Practical Training (CPT) Workshops

    We will offer 2 in-person CPT workshops during the Spring 2026 Semester. Both sessions will cover the same content. If you cannot attend one of the workshops, please thoroughly read the guidance on our CPT webpage and contact us if you have any questions or concerns.  

     

    Intended Audience: F-1 status international students who have already completed two semesters of full-time study and declared a major, or will have fulfilled these requirements by the end of the Spring 2026 Semester, and who are considering an off-campus practical training opportunity 

    Session Description: In this workshop, OISA staff will provide an overview of CPT eligibility, the application process, and requirements for maintaining your F-1 visa status while engaging in this type of off-campus employment during your degree program. Please carefully read through OISA’s Curricular Practical Training (CPT) guidance prior to attending this workshop. 

  • STEM OPT Extension Workshop

    Virtual Workshop: Tuesday, March 17, 12pm-1pm EST on Zoom: https://wesleyan.zoom.us/j/93594505795?from=addon  

    Register here on Handshake: https://wesleyan.joinhandshake.com/edu/events/1888923

    Intended Audience: F-1 international students considering applying for the 24-Month STEM OPT Extension, especially alumni who are currently on post-completion OPT and qualify for the Extension 

    Session Description: In this workshop, OISA staff will provide an overview of STEM OPT Extension eligibility, the application process, and requirements for maintaining your F-1 visa status while engaging in this type of post-completion employment in the U.S. Please carefully read through OISA’s STEM OPT Extension guidance prior to attending this workshop. There will be time for Q&A at the end of the session. The session will be recorded and shared afterward. 

  • Travel Signature Clinics in Usdan

    OISA is offering in-person Travel Signature Clinics on the first floor of Usdan University Center at the base of the stairs leading up to Marketplace on the following dates and times during the Spring 2026 Semester: 

    • Friday, March 6: 10:30 a.m. - 12:00 p.m. (noon)
    • Thursday, April 30: 2:30 p.m. - 4:00 p.m.
    • Wednesday, May 6: 12:00 p.m. - 1:30 p.m.
    • Tuesday, May 12: 11:30 a.m. - 1:00 p.m.
    • Friday, May 15: 3:00 p.m. - 4:30 p.m. 

     

    Please bring a printed paper copy of all three pages of your current I-20 and a photo ID to receive a travel signature from an OISA staff member.

    If you are not able to come to one of these clinics, please see the guidance on our Visa & Travel page for instructions on how to submit a Travel Signature Request in the ISS Portal.  

  • Monthly Birthday Celebrations for Wesleyan International Students

    OISA hosts monthly birthday celebrations for Wesleyan international students. International students whose birthdays coincide with the month are invited to that month's celebration.  

    These informal gatherings celebrate the birthdays of international students in a welcoming and supportive environment with their peers and members of the OISA staff. At the celebrations, attendees will enjoy cake and other refreshments, sing "Happy Birthday" and participate in fun, community-building activities. 

    Through these monthly celebrations, OISA aims to foster trust and rapport with and among Wesleyan's international student community and help them feel more integrated and supported on campus, especially as they adjust to life far from home.

    The dates and times for the Spring 2026 Semester birthday celebrations are: 

    • Thursday, January 29: 1:30pm-3:00pm
    • Thursday, February 19: 3:30pm-5:00pm
    • Monday, March 16: 3:30pm-5:00pm
    • Thursday, April 16: 3:30pm-5:00pm
    • Thursday, May 14: 3:30pm-5:00pm 

    The celebrations are hosted by OISA in Fisk 201 (Fries Center Global Commons) unless noted otherwise. For questions about these events, please email oisa@wesleyan.edu.