Dear Parents and Families of Students in the Class of 2029,
The Wesleyan campus is busy preparing to welcome our students for the fall 2026 semester. University housing opens for returning students on 9/4 at 10:00 a.m. ET and classes begin 9/7. Homecoming & Family Weekend takes place 10/16 through 10/18 and Fall Break begins at the end of day on 10/23 and runs through 10/27. For additional dates, be sure to consult the academic calendar.
Sophomore year is an interesting time for college students. No longer new to campus, sophomores still have plenty to figure out as they settle into their college identity. Students will soon prepare for the major declaration process, which happens in the spring for most sophomores. Declaring a major means finding an academic home and digging deeper into a field of interest. This fall, academic departments will host open houses where sophomores can meet faculty and learn about requirements and pathways; view last year’s Open House calendar which will be updated by mid-September. In the spring, we’ll host a Chart Your Course(s): Declaring a Major workshop on 2/1/27. I’ll share these opportunities with your student, though a nudge from you can go a long way. If your student could use guidance choosing a major, encourage them to talk with their liberal arts advisor, an academic peer advisor, or with me.
Students interested in studying abroad during their junior year (fall, winter, spring, and/or summer) should start researching programs now, as some programs have early application deadlines. Wesleyan strongly encourages study abroad regardless of major; immersion in a new culture often shapes a student’s intellectual growth in unexpected ways. Foreign language proficiency is required, though options exist for programs where English is the primary language. Encourage your student to visit the Study Abroad Office to learn more.
Reflection on one’s college experience each year can be advantageous. I’ve encouraged members of this class to use the summer to reflect on their academic journey so far. I encourage you to ask your student these same questions.
Our campus has transitioned to a new student system, Workday. Your student was asked to complete several tasks, including updating their account photo and parent/guardian contact info. While a parent/guardian phone number is required, the parent/guardian email is optional. Please confirm with your student that they updated their photo and your email address; this is especially helpful in case my office needs to communicate with you electronically. I appreciate your help with this task.
I will write to you again later this semester. I hope you have the chance to attend Homecoming and Family Weekend. Wishing you and your family a wonderful end to the summer!
Take care,
Kelly Dunn, Ed.D.
Dean for the Class of 2029