Dear Students,
Welcome back to campus for the upcoming 23-24 academic year! I hope that your summer was restful and productive. This letter will serve as the first bi-weekly newsletter with important information for your experience here at Wellesley. I’d like to especially welcome the Yellow Class of 2027! We are so glad that you are here. And let’s cheer for our seniors – the Resilient, Radiant Red Class!
This week we will share reminders as you return to campus and important updates to programs and services.
COVID-19 Protocols
Any student or family member who is experiencing COVID-19 symptoms or who tests positive for COVID-19 should not come to campus and should call Health Services for further instructions. You can find the Fall 2023 COVID Protocols here. Students with COVID-19 related questions should reach out to Health Services.
New staff in Student Life
We are pleased to introduce a number of new Student Life colleagues who are looking forward to getting to know you. Please check out their websites, visit their offices and introduce yourself!
Dr Todd Norgren, Director of LGBTQ+ Programs and Services, OICE
- Dr Todd Norgren, Director of LGBTQ+ Programs and Services, OICE
Ana Luisa McCullough’22, Program Coordinator, Office of Intercultural Education (OICE) - Bridget Arrow Baker, Director, Accessibility and Disability Resources(ADR)
- Rachael Torella, Assistant Director, Accessibility and Disability Resources (ADR)
- Ken Walsh, Interim Director, Public Safety
- Ylisse Bess, College Chaplain, Office of Religious and Spiritual Life (ORSL)
- Amber Baush, Community Director, Residential Life
- Silvana Davaiga, Office Manager and Housing Operations Coordinator, Residential Life
New Model in Class Deans Office
By now you have received a letter from the Class Deans office describing the new model for assigning students to a dean. This important change will allow the office to better serve you,as student advising needs depend on where students are in their Wellesley careers.Take advantage of the advising@wellesley.edu central email for all students: This inbox will be staffed by several office staff to answer questions, and a “Dean of the Day”—who may or may not be your assigned Class Dean—to answer more complex or confidential inquiries. Also, make sure to reach out to your faculty advisor for assistance with important academic decisions regarding majors or academic pathways. They want to talk to you!
Also, as a very important reminder: It is your responsibility to be aware of all important dates and deadlines posted on the Registrar’s Office Academic Calendar. Please be sure to bookmark this page and/or subscribe to the Academic Calendar so that it’s embedded in your personal Google Calendar so you never miss an important date or deadline.
It is finally here! The Code of Student Conduct
We talked about this all last year, but our new Code of Student Conduct is being introduced this fall and is available now on the Honor Code website here. This Code of Student Conduct is the result of more than a year of research into best practices, benchmarking with peer institutions, and review with multiple Wellesley student groups. Many thanks to the Honor Code Council and the many students, faculty, and staff who were part of crafting and refining the Code of Student Conduct to reflect the community commitment to our historic Honor Code. The Code of Student Conduct is intended to strengthen and clarify the application of Honor Code; to outline behavioral expectations and what to expect in a hearing process. Students are responsible for reading the Code of Student Conduct, asking questions when they come up, and for living each day with a commitment to the values of honesty, integrity, and respect for self and for others.
Updates on res hall renovations
Those who are returning to campus will notice some sparkle in Severance and Tower this Fall. Get ready to walk through the beautiful, bright and airy front entrance of Sev and a fully renovated building. In Tower, while most of the improvements we made this year might go unseen – like the insulated walls, new heating system, storm windows and energy efficient light fixtures students will definitely feel the impact as their spaces become more comfortable. On the west side, renovated kitchenettes are a particularly exciting feature. Additionally, updated finishes in the corridors made Tower West and updated bathrooms. Get excited for a new dance studio downstairs and a screening room in the future.
Exciting Laundry News
The washers and dryers in all residence halls will no longer charge students. We appreciated the very thoughtful research and information provided by the 2021-22 CG COIL and last year’s CG Bursar and COIL regarding concern about laundry. Keep in mind that while you no longer have to pay for each wash, it is still important to care for the machines so that they do not break down. If you need help with how to work the machines, please ask your RA.
Changes in the use of Punch’s Alley this Fall For the last few years, students have asked to use Punch’s Alley for event space. We decided that this year Punch’s Alley will be moving forward as an event space, to support organizations (students/faculty/staff) as another space to program and engage students. The use of the space will be approved by the office of Student Involvement, and requests can be submitted using 25live. Any organization will need to pay for an OSI student staff member (hired and trained by OSI) to be in attendance to support event logistics and to oversee the space. This process will be explained at student organizations training on September 11th. OSI will be posting the job in the next two weeks and students interested in working at the pub are encouraged to apply. OSI will maintain the commitment to hiring a diverse student staff. We know students are eager to use this space and we are excited to be able to offer it to the campus community this upcoming year. Also, during the lunch hour, Punch’s Alley will be available for students to eat lunch.
Stone Center and Health Services
The Stone Center Counseling Service and Health Services have moved to their new space in the College Club at 727 Washington St. This is a temporary move while a new building is being constructed. All services are the same, only the location has changed. Please go to their websites to get updates on services .
Feeling a little anxious about heading to or back to college? Here are some tips to help.
https://jedfoundation.org/resource/going-to-campus-mindfully-how-to-plan-for-a-supported-connected-less-stressful-year/
Take a walk! The Lake Path will be open on Monday, September 4 from 9am – 6pm. We ask that you please stay on the path. We extend our gratitude to the Hunnewells for allowing our new and returning students to enjoy the experience of walking all the way around. Meet up with an old friend or make a new one and take a walk to enjoy this lovely late summer, early fall weather.
Dean Montagna and I look forward to seeing you around campus,
Sheilah Shaw Horton
Vice President and Dean of Students
