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Wesleyan University

Latin: Universitas Wesleiana
Type	Private university
Established	1831; 194 years ago (1831)
Accreditation	NECHE
Academic affiliations	Annapolis Group CLAC COFHE NAICU Oberlin Group Space-grant
Endowment	$1.55 billion (2023)
President	Michael S. Roth
Provost	Nicole Stanton
Academic staff	430 (fall 2020)
Students	3,053 (fall 2020)
Undergraduates	2,852 (fall 2020)
Postgraduates	201 (fall 2020)
Location	Middletown, Connecticut , United States 41°33′20″N 72°39′21″W / 41.5556°N 72.6558°W / 41.5556; -72.6558
Campus	Small city, 360 acres (150 ha)
Student newspaper	The Wesleyan Argus
Colors	Cardinal and black
Nickname	Cardinals
Sporting affiliations	NCAA Division III - NESCAC NEISA

Wesleyan University is a private university in Middletown, Connecticut, United States. It was started in 1831 as a college for men. It was supported by the Methodist Episcopal Church and important people in Middletown. Today, it is a non-religious school.

Wesleyan accepted female students from 1872 to 1909. It became fully co-educational, meaning both male and female students, in 1970. Before this, supporters of women's education from Wesleyan helped create Connecticut College in 1912. Wesleyan is part of "The Little Three" with Amherst College and Williams College. Its sports teams are called the Cardinals and play in NCAA Division III.

Discovering Wesleyan's Past

The Samuel Wadsworth Russell House, home to the Philosophy department.

Before Wesleyan University began, a military school was on its land. In 1831, Methodists from New England bought this land. They started an all-male college. Wilbur Fisk was the first president. Even though it had "Wesleyan" in its name, it was not an official church school. However, Methodist ideas did influence its classes and campus life. In 1909, the university built Judd Hall. This was one of the first buildings in America made just for science classes for college students.

In 1910, about 300 students attended Wesleyan. By 1960, this number grew to 800 students. Wesleyan is part of the "Little Three" group of colleges. It started as the smallest of these three schools. Over time, it grew and added more programs, becoming a university. It also became larger than the other two schools.

College Row at Wesleyan University.

In 1872, Wesleyan was one of the first U.S. colleges to try educating both men and women. This was called the "Wesleyan Experiment." But in 1909, the school decided to stop admitting women. They worried the school was losing its male image. They also thought women would not help the college financially after graduating as much as men. From 1912 to 1970, Wesleyan was again a college only for men.

Wesleyan became fully independent from the Methodist church in 1937. In 2000, the university was named a historic Methodist site.

In the late 1950s, President Victor L. Butterfield started a new plan. He wanted to divide the college into smaller living and learning groups, like a house system. This plan also included new programs for advanced studies.

New buildings were constructed for this plan. These included dorms on Foss Hill and the Butterfield Colleges. Only some of the planned academic programs started. Two of them, the College of Letters and the College of Social Studies, still exist today. President Butterfield was very good at raising money. By 1960, Wesleyan had a lot of money per student. It also had a great student-to-teacher ratio of 7 to 1.

Later presidents continued these changes. They brought women back to the university in equal numbers to men. They also greatly increased the space for labs, art studios, and performance areas. The school also became much more diverse, with students from many different backgrounds.

In 2007, Michael S. Roth, a Wesleyan graduate, became the university's 16th president.

Exploring the Campus

The view from Foss Hill, including Olin Memorial Library.

Wesleyan University has a large campus of 360 acres. It has over 340 buildings. These include the five buildings of College Row, Olin Memorial Library, and the Exley Science Center. Other notable buildings are the Van Vleck Observatory and Russell House. Russell House is a National Historic Landmark. The campus also has an 11-building Center for the Arts complex.

When Wesleyan University started in 1831, it took over a campus with two buildings. These were North College and South College, built in 1825. They were first used by a military academy. After that academy moved, Wesleyan bought the buildings.

Clark Hall, a freshman dormitory.

The first North College building was destroyed by a fire in 1906. The current North College replaced it. South College is the only original building left from the beginning of the college. It was changed into offices in 1906.

The northern part of High Street has several large buildings that used to be private homes. Some of these are beautiful examples of old architecture. These include Russell House and two Alsop family houses. High Street, the old center of campus, was once called "the most beautiful street in America" by Charles Dickens.

The Allbritton Center building.

New buildings and renovations have been added recently. These include the Freeman Athletic Center and the Center for Film Studies. A project also created a Humanities District on the east side of High Street. The Allbritton Center opened in 2009. It houses several important centers and programs.

Learning at Wesleyan

Wesleyan offers many courses and programs for college students. There are 46 academic departments with over 900 courses each semester. Students can choose from 45 main areas of study to earn a Bachelor of Arts degree. Wesleyan also offers 11 minor subjects and 11 certificates. Many students choose to study two or even three main subjects. About 40% of graduates have double majors. Students can also create their own special major.

Wesleyan has programs with the California Institute of Technology and Columbia University. These allow students to earn two degrees in five years. One degree is from Wesleyan and the other from Caltech or Columbia. There is also a program where students can earn a bachelor's and a master's degree in five years. The fifth year of master's study is free.

Most classes at Wesleyan are small, with 10–19 students. The student-to-teacher ratio is 8 to 1. Writing is very important in all subjects. Almost all students take part in Wesleyan's Writing Across the Curriculum program.

Wesleyan does not require students to take specific courses. New students can take special First Year Initiative seminars. In their first two years, students are encouraged to take courses from different subjects.

The most popular majors in 2021 were Economics, Psychology, and Political Science.

The Butterfield Colleges at Wesleyan.

Environmental Studies

The Bailey College of the Environment (COE) started in 2009. It brings together different parts of environmental studies. This includes a major, a certificate, and a final project for seniors. The COE also has a "Think Tank" where professors and students work together. They create research that can help with environmental issues around the world.

Film and Moving Image

Wesleyan's Film Studies program is very famous. It is led by film expert Jeanine Basinger. Vanity Fair magazine said that this small university has produced many important people in Hollywood. The university has the Wesleyan Cinema Archives. These archives have personal papers and film materials from famous people like Ingrid Bergman and Martin Scorsese.

In 2013, Wesleyan created a new College of Film and the Moving Image. This college includes the Film Studies Department and the Cinema Archives.

Science and Research

The College of Integrative Sciences (CIS) started in 2014. It gives students a broad science education. It also focuses on hands-on research skills. Students in CIS study a traditional science or math major. They also have a "linked" major that combines ideas from other subjects.

Wesleyan is known for its strong science and math programs. It ranks first among liberal arts colleges for federal funding for science and math research. It is the only liberal arts college to be named a Molecular Biophysics Predoctoral Research Training Center. This is a special recognition from the National Institutes of Health (NIH). Historically, over 90% of Wesleyan graduates who apply to medical school are accepted. Some years, it's even 100%.

Wesleyan was one of the first colleges to have a separate department for Molecular Biology & Biochemistry.

Astronomy Program

The Astronomy department at Wesleyan graduates more astronomy and astrophysics majors than any other liberal arts college.

Science in Society

Wesleyan's Science in Society Program (SISP) is a unique major. It helps students study science and medicine in a broad way. Students learn about science as a practice, an institution, and an intellectual achievement. The program encourages students to understand how scientific knowledge is used and the issues involved.

Music Programs

Wesleyan's program in World Music is considered one of the best. It has leading teachers and experts in different musical traditions. Students can learn about European, South Indian Classical, Indonesian, East Asian, West African, Caribbean, and African-American music. Wesleyan also has one of the largest collections of world musical instruments among universities. Many of these are in the university's "Virtual Instrument Museum."

Theater and Performance

The '92 Theater.

Wesleyan's theater program has two main facilities. The Theatre in the Center for the Arts is a large space. The '92 Theater is home to Second Stage, which is run entirely by students. Second Stage puts on both dance and theater shows.

Studying Abroad

Wesleyan offers many international programs. Students can study in countries like France, Italy, and Spain. They also have special programs in Japan. Almost 45% of Wesleyan students study abroad. They can choose from 150 programs in 50 countries.

College Exchange Program

Many students take part in the Twelve College Exchange program. This allows them to study for a semester or a year at another college. These colleges include Amherst College, Bowdoin College, Connecticut College, and Dartmouth College.

Advanced Studies

Wesleyan has 11 graduate programs in sciences, math, computer science, psychology, and music. Students can earn a Master of Arts or Doctor of Philosophy degree. Even for science subjects, the degrees are called "of Arts" because of old traditions.

Liberal Studies Program

In 1953, Wesleyan was the first university to offer a Master of Arts in Liberal Studies degree. This program allows for broad study across different subjects. Many teachers from the region attend this program.

Online Courses

Since 2012, Wesleyan has offered free online courses to the public. These are called Massive Open Online Courses (MOOCs). Wesleyan teaches online courses in Math, Computer Science, Law, Psychology, and Literature. By 2015, over 1,000,000 students worldwide had enrolled in Wesleyan's online courses.

University Profile

Admissions

For the Class of 2027, Wesleyan received 14,500 applications and accepted 2,280 students. This means about 15.7% of applicants were accepted. The average SAT scores for admitted students were very high. The average ACT score was 34. Since 2014, Wesleyan has been "test optional." This means students do not have to submit SAT or ACT scores if they don't want to.

Wesleyan is considered "most selective" for admissions. This means it is very hard to get in.

In 2023, Wesleyan announced it would no longer give special preference to applicants with family ties to the school. This ended the practice of legacy admission.

Rankings

U.S. university rankings

USNWR Liberal Arts College	11
Washington Monthly Liberal Arts	3
Forbes	42

In 2024, U.S. News & World Report ranked Wesleyan University 11th among national liberal arts colleges. It was also ranked first for "Best Colleges for Veterans." Wesleyan is officially approved by the New England Commission of Higher Education.

Forbes magazine ranked Wesleyan 42nd among all American colleges in 2023. It was 6th among liberal arts colleges. Washington Monthly ranked Wesleyan third among liberal arts colleges in 2022. This ranking looks at how much colleges help the public good.

Wesleyan is known for its success with African American students. It is one of only nine universities where over 90% of black students graduate.

After Graduation

Studies show that Wesleyan graduates are very successful in getting PhDs. From 1999–2008, Wesleyan undergraduates were second among all liberal arts colleges in the nation for receiving PhDs.

About 80% of Wesleyan alumni go to graduate or professional school within five years of graduating. Many Wesleyan graduates receive special scholarships like Fulbright, Goldwater, and Rhodes.

Library Resources

The front of Olin Memorial Library.

Wesleyan University has a very large library collection. Most of it is in Olin Memorial Library. This library has over 1.8 million books and about 10,000 magazine subscriptions. Wesleyan's first library was Rich Hall. Olin Library was built between 1925 and 1927.

The second largest library is the Science Library. It has over 250,000 science books and journals.

There is also an Art Library, a Music Library, and several smaller department libraries.

Davison Art Center

Alsop House, home to the Davison Art Center.

Wesleyan University's Davison Art Center is located in Alsop House. This house is a U.S. National Historic Landmark. The Art Center has a large collection of art, mostly works on paper. This includes 18,000 prints and 6,000 photographs. The print collection is very important. It has works by famous artists like Albrecht Dürer, Goya, and Rembrandt.

The museum offers programs for students, including internships. Students can also help create art exhibitions.

Wesleyan University Press

The Wesleyan University Press is well-known for publishing books. They publish books on poetry, music, dance, American studies, and film.

Student Life

Memorial Chapel, a multi-denominational space.

Cannon Scrap

In the late 1860s, a yearly contest called the "Cannon Scrap" began. Freshmen tried to fire the Douglas cannon on February 22. Sophomores tried to stop them. In 1957, students began to steal the cannon as part of the tradition.

Religious Life

The university has a Jewish rabbi, a Protestant chaplain, and a Muslim chaplain. There are also special housing programs for Buddhist, Muslim, Christian, and Jewish students.

Sports and Athletics

Wesleyan Cardinals logo.

Wesleyan Natatorium.

Wesleyan is part of the NCAA Division III New England Small College Athletic Conference (NESCAC). It has 29 different sports teams. They compete against traditional rivals Amherst and Williams. About 600 students play on sports teams each year. Wesleyan was one of the first 39 members of the NCAA. Wesleyan's football and baseball field, Andrus Field, is the oldest continuously used American football field in the world.

Wesleyan has produced many great football minds, including coaches Bill Belichick and Eric Mangini. In 2018, the Men's Lacrosse team won the Division III NCAA championship. This was the first national championship in the school's history.

Amos Magee helped Wesleyan University win an ECAC Soccer Championship in 1991. He is the Cardinals' all-time leading scorer.

Student Groups

Wesleyan is known for how easy it is for students to get involved. There are around 270 student groups for about 3,148 students.

Student Government

The Wesleyan Student Assembly (WSA) is a group of 38 students. They are elected each year to represent the university's students. They speak for students on topics like student life, classes, and university money.

Debate Society

The Debate Society started in 1903. It was later named after Woodrow Wilson. He was a professor at Wesleyan from 1888 to 1890. He helped students organize debates.

Environmental Groups

The Environmental Organizers' Network (EON) is a student group that works on environmental issues. Wesleyan also owns Long Lane Farm, a 2-acre organic farm run by students.

Student Publications

Some of the oldest student groups are campus publications. These include The Wesleyan Argus, a newspaper published every two weeks. Hermes is the university's oldest student-run magazine. Wesleying is a student-run blog that shares what student life is like at Wesleyan.

Singing Groups

Wesleyan was once known as the "Singing College of New England." This tradition came from the strong Methodist hymn singing. In 1862, a university glee club made the first tour of Wesleyan singers. The glee club was very popular and performed often. They even visited the White House twice. Today, several student-run a cappella groups continue this tradition. The Wesleyan Spirits is the university's oldest a cappella group.

Greek Organizations and Societies

Wesleyan has chapters of several fraternities, including Alpha Delta Phi and Delta Kappa Epsilon (DKE).

In 2014, Wesleyan asked all fraternities with housing on campus to become co-educational. This meant they had to accept both male and female members. In 2015, Wesleyan ordered the DKE fraternity house to close. However, in 2017, DKE won a court case against the university.

Secret societies on campus include Skull & Serpent and Mystical Sevens.

International Students

In 2023, about 10% of the students at Wesleyan were from other countries. Financial aid is available for students from Africa and Asia.

Famous People from Wesleyan

Many famous people have been part of Wesleyan University. Former faculty members V. S. Naipaul, Woodrow Wilson, and T. S. Eliot won Nobel Prizes. Gary Yohe, a current economics professor, won a Nobel Peace Prize in 2007. Satoshi Omura, a chemistry professor, won the Nobel Prize for Medicine in 2015.

Other notable people include: