Dear Parents and Families of Students in the class of 2027,
As you and your students have now settled into the Wesleyan routine, you may want to step back from this experience for a few moments to consider the growth and development that has been taking place in your student. A great deal of learning--academic, social and personal--has taken place in the Class of 2027 since they arrived on campus in the Fall of 2023.
You have probably already noticed signs of this transformation. Perhaps your student was overwhelmed by the workload in the first semester and has now learned how to manage their time and juggle multiple responsibilities. Perhaps your student has developed friendships with students from other parts of the world with diverse interests and backgrounds. Perhaps your student has discovered a passion for learning in a field of study that they did not even know existed while in high school. This point in the college career can be a good time to ask your student to reflect on the changes taking place: “What have you learned about yourself in the past two and one-half years?” “How has Wesleyan helped change your understanding of the world?” “How is Wesleyan helping you shape your future?”
If your student is returning from study abroad, changes may be more readily apparent, as the experience can be quite transformative. Once the initial excitement of returning home has passed, it can take a little while for some students to acclimate back to Wesleyan, as they may have lived in a vastly different environment and met scores of new people while abroad. We’ll be hosting an event for students to discuss their experiences abroad as well as their return to campus.
As we approach the spring term, your student should start planning for their senior year, whether considering the possibility of writing an honors thesis or pursuing a capstone experience, making sure that they will fulfill the degree requirements, developing strong professional relationships with their advisors and instructors, and using the resources available within the Gordon Career Center.
Housing will reopen on January 18. Spring semester courses and drop/add will begin on January 22, with drop/add ending on February 4. Spring break will begin on March 7 and end on March 22.
I will be back in touch a bit later in the spring term, but as always, if you have any questions or concerns, please be in touch.
Sincerely,
Jennifer Wood
Dean for the Class of 2027
860.685.2774
jpwood@wesleyan.edu
https://classof2027.blogs.wesleyan.edu/