Renee Johnson-Thornton, Ph.D.

Excerpt from Preparing for Graduation Website (Under Repair):

This website will contain important information about the graduation process and Wesleyan’s graduation requirements. As you choose courses and build a program of study for your senior year, it is essential that you know exactly where you stand in terms of fulfilling Wesleyan’s graduation requirements so that everything goes smoothly when degree certification takes place in the Spring. Please review the contents carefully and contact Dean Thornton immediately (217 North College, 860.685.2765, rjohnson01@wesleyan.edu), if you have any questions or concerns.

Graduation does not just happen; you must make it happen! It is important that you fully understand Wesleyan’s graduation requirements (completion of a major, 32 credits without oversubscription, GPA of at least 74.00, residency) and that you are able to interpret your academic record in light of these requirements. Remember, you are responsible for your own graduation and must fulfill all graduation requirements by the end of the Spring 2018 semester in order to participate in the Commencement ceremony in May 2018.

• Academic History: Can be found in your WesPortal in the “Student Toolbox—Academics” bucket.
• Major Certification Form: Used to identify and track the courses you have taken and will be taking to complete your major. The form, which can be accessed through your WesPortal, must be approved by an authorized advisor in your major department.
• Credit Analysis Report: Reviews your academic record in light of oversubscription and monitors your progress towards meeting graduation requirements.  The link to this report can be found in the “Student Toolbox—Academics” bucket in your WesPortal.
• Honors and Thesis Information: Deadlines and other important information for students undertaking honors theses.

 

Honors Thesis Carrel Application Process for Fall 2017

Monday, September 4:  Online carrel applications for Olin Library are available in your student portfolio by clicking on the Honors Carrel Application link in the Library bucket. The Science Library has a separate assignment process using paper applications, which are available at the SciLi circulation desk.

Friday, September 15, 4:00 pm:  Deadline for submitting your application (both Olin electronic application and Science Library paper application).  Carrels will be assigned to applicants by lottery; applicants who are not assigned a carrel will be placed on a waiting list.  Applications submitted after the deadline are added to the end of the waiting list in the order they are received.

Friday, September 22: Science Library carrel students will be notified via email or telephone of their carrel assignments.

Monday, September 25:  The list of Olin carrel assignments and the waiting list will be posted on the door of the Olin Library Office. (Note: Olin carrels students are not notified via email or telephone of their carrel assignments.)

Friday, September 29, 4:00 pm: Olin carrel keys must be picked up in the Library Office by this deadline.  If a carrel key is not picked up by then, the carrel will be issued to the next person on the waiting list.

Friday, September 29:  Science Library carrel keys will become available for pickup. Please see Linda Hurteau, behind the circulation desk in the Science Library.

Friday, October 6, 4:00 pm: Science Library carrel keys must be picked up by this deadline, or the carrel will be reassigned.

Please note:  Because of number of carrels and applicants, it is not possible for students to choose a carrel or for students to switch carrels.  If a student is assigned a carrel and chooses not to accept it, their name will be added to the bottom of the waiting list and the student at the top of the list will be offered the carrel.

In order to retain a carrel, a student must remain on the list of Honors candidates.  The list is regularly re-issued throughout the academic year, and students with carrels who are not on the current Honors list will be required to vacate their carrel so it may be assigned to someone else.

All students must surrender their carrels as soon as they complete their theses. Keys must be returned by Tuesday, April 24^th 2017, by 4:00 pm. Failure to return your key on time will result in an $85 charge to your student account for a lock change.

 

There’s a great opportunity in the upcoming semester (F 2017) for students interested in making musical theater. 

Tony and Obie Award Winner, Greg Kotis (Urinetown) will be teaching the Music Theater Workshop, THEA 279. 

The course is described here. 

https://iasext.wesleyan.edu/regprod/!wesmaps_page.html?stuid=&facid=NONE&crse=014313&term=1179

There are prerequisites, but, as ever, there are also prerequisite over-rides for students who have the appropriate skill set. 

Greg Kotis’s webpage lists this for info about him: 

Greg Kotis is the author of many plays and musicals including Michael von Siebenburg Melts Through the Floorboards, Yeast Nation (Book/Lyrics), The Unhappiness Plays, The Boring-est Poem in the World, The Truth About Santa, Pig Farm, Eat the Taste, Urinetown (Book/Lyrics, for which he won an Obie Award and two Tony® Awards), and Jobey and Katherine.  His work has been produced and developed in theaters across the country and around the world, including Actors Theatre of Louisville, American Conservatory Theater, American Theater Company, Henry Miller’s Theatre, Manhattan Theatre Club, New York Stage and Film, Perseverance Theatre, Roundabout Theatre Company, Soho Rep, South Coast Rep, and The Old Globe, among others.  Greg is a member of the Neo-Futurists, the Cardiff Giant Theater Company, ASCAP, the Dramatists Guild, and is a 2010-11 Lark Play Development Center Playwrights Workshop Fellow.  He grew up in Wellfleet, Massachusetts and now lives in Brooklyn with his wife Ayun Halliday, his daughter India, and his son Milo.

Anyone more interested in Kotis could check him out here: http://gregkotis.com/

Apply for New POI Course for Fall 2017: “The Art of Doing: Creative Project Production and Making It Happen”

Title: “The Art of Doing: Creative Project Production and Making It Happen”

Instructors: Michael Pope with Amanda Palmer

https://iasext.wesleyan.edu/regprod/!wesmaps_page.html?stuid=&facid=NONE&crse=015041&term=1179

Description:

Students learn collaborative creative super filmmaking powers before being dropped off on a metaphoric desert island with nothing but a camera phone and a song. Beauty Ensues.  This studio class will focus on non-traditional video production techniques towards a final project of a class-created music video featuring music and performance by Amanda Palmer. Students will co-create every aspect of this video, from conceptualization to editing to screening, with the final product being released to her Patreon community.

The course seeks to illuminate the creative process by way of mindful reflection, and physical training to promote creative cooperation between various artistic mediums. Students are expected to participate in team building physical exercises inspired by physical theater, Butoh and some physical meditations. Meaning:  Students will be expected to participate in physical activity that includes jumping, running, yelling, and the like.

The course will allow us to sketch answers to questions like these, among others: How do you forge creative collaborations that allow you to realize your projects and that create the best conditions for your creative work? How do you raise awareness about your creative projects?

Taught by director Michael Pope who has shot, cut and directed the music videos for The Dresden Dolls and Amanda Palmer’s first solo album (Who Killed Amanda Palmer), in collaboration with Amanda Palmer as visiting co-creator, the course will culminate in a screening of the class-created video that will be part of a Wesleyan-hosted Amanda Palmer concert on Dec 9.

No prior film or video-making experience required, though all students seeking admission to the course are required to submit an application.

Only serious, fully engaged and enthusiastic students should apply. Students must commit to shooting the weekend of Nov 17-18-19 and must be available all day Sat and Sun Nov 18 and 19.

Students will be required to apply for this course by August 15. They will be notified of admission to the course by August 31.

Course enrollment limit: 15 (all class years allowed)

Grading mode: Cr/U for final grades. Students will be given an indication of whether they are passing the course by midterm.

Major Readings: Course Reader.

Other readings may include: “The Five Rings” Myamoto Musashi; “50 Secrets of Magic Craftsmanship”, Salvadore Dali; ”Giovanni’s Room”, James Baldwin;

“Just Kids”, Patti Smith; “The Power of Movies”, Colin McGinn.

Assignments: Weekly assignments from individual students, collaborative assignments, final reflective essay of 5 pp.

Class meetings: W and F 2:40-4:10 pm

Additional information:

No prior film or video-making experience required, though all students seeking admission to the course are required to submit an application.

Only serious, fully engaged and enthusiastic students should apply. Students must commit to shooting the weekend of Nov 17-18-19 and must be available all day Sat and Sun Nov 18 and 19.

Students will be required to apply for this course by August 15. They will be notified of admission to the course by August 31.

Application to the “The Art of Doing”

Students are invited to submit this creative challenge for consideration for admission to “The Art of Doing”.

Applications should be submitted to this email address: artofdoingapplication@gmail.com

Only applications sent from wesleyan.edu email addresses will be considered.

There are two required parts to the application. Please make sure each part the application clearly indicates your name.

Part I. Create a digital still-image Self Portrait (photograph, collage, rendering).

Choose and incorporate three items into your self-portrait.

One item to represent who you have been.
One item to represent who you are now.
One item to represent who you imagine yourself to be in the future.
Applicants are invited to interpret this exercise as best suits their creative strengths.

Part II. Please submit only one document that contains all the required elements A-D (detailed below). Please make sure this document clearly identifies you as the author.

A. In 200 words or less, explain the significance of each item in Part A.

B.  In 200 words or less, explain why your interested in taking the course “The Art of Doing: Creative Project Production and Making It Happen”.

C.  In 100 words, or less, describe your experience with Cr/U courses and your attitude toward Cr/U courses.

D.  Applications should include

List of current creative skills
List of additional interests
E. Optional

Applicants are invited to submit up to three samples of creative work jpeg and mov files.

Note: mov files may be no longer than 180 seconds.

Please do not purchase any books until you have been notified about admission to the course.

Are you considering applying for a fellowship or scholarship this fall? Now is the time to prepare! There are early on campus deadlines and important facts to be aware of now. Please note that to access many materials and links on the Fellowships webpage, you must be logged into your Wesleyan University Portal.

Thursday, July 6^th @ 12:15 PM EST | Live Facebook feed with Q&A to address “First Steps for Fellowships” – a short introduction to fellowships, online resources, and a few tips as you begin to prepare your application(s). Join the conversation on Facebook here: @wesfellowships

A few major fellowships & scholarships to consider as a senior:

Fulbright Grants

For graduate study, independent research and to teach English. Eligible to apply unless you hold a PhD. On campus priority deadline: July 12. Final campus deadline: September 12. Interested in Fulbright? Sign up for email reminders here: http://www.wesleyan.edu/cgs/fie/fellowships/nomination.html (scroll down to Fulbright and the drop-down will open with a link for you!)

Marshall Scholarship

For graduate study in the UK. Eligible to apply up to age 24. On campus deadline: August 31.

Mitchell Scholarship

For graduate study in Ireland. Eligible to apply up to age 30. On campus deadline: August 31.

Rhodes Scholarship

For graduate study at Oxford University. Eligible to apply up to 2 years after graduation. On campus deadline: August 31.

Watson Fellowship

Allows you to pursue an independent project around the world. Senior year is the only time you are eligible to apply! On campus deadline: September 15.

For more about each of these fellowships and scholarships, please visit: http://www.wesleyan.edu/cgs/fie/fellowships/nomination.html. You can also make appointments online for advising! Questions? Please email: fellowships@wesleyan.edu

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