July/August 2024

From the President

Dear Parents, 

This month Lisa and I will be back at Oxford. I say “back” because we spent three very happy years at the University when I was completing my doctorate there in historical theology.

Wheaton has many Oxford connections—everything from our precious C.S. Lewis and J.R.R. Tolkien manuscript holdings to our semi-annual stays at the University with our Wheaton-in-England students. Wheaton students also participate annually in a semester abroad program hosted at Oxford by the Council for Christian Colleges and Universities.

This summer, three of our scientists are there too: Katie Maneiro, Francis Umesiri, and Kevin Valson. Lisa and I will be joining them to get updates on their research projects, to attend lectures together on faith and science, and to strategize about ways to encourage younger scholars in their scientific research.

Our trip to Oxford serves as a reminder that Wheaton students are not the only members of our community who spend their summer in useful and hopefully restful ways. Our faculty too are seeking renewal as they get ready for another God-honoring year of Christ-centered higher education.

As we pray for our students over the summer, please remember also to pray for our faithful, dedicated, world-class faculty members.

In Christ’s service,

Philip Ryken
President 

Virtual Parent Town Hall

Parents often have questions at the beginning of the academic year and President Ryken and our Senior Administrative Cabinet will do their best to answer them! You are warmly invited to participate in our annual Virtual Parent Town Hall on Thursday, September 5 from 4:00 – 5:00 p.m. CDT.

You will have the opportunity to ask questions during the Town Hall via Slido, or you can submit questions ahead of time to parents@wheaton.edu. Watch your email for the Zoom link and Slido information to be sent closer to the date.

If you are not available to join us live, the session will be recorded and made available following the Town Hall.

First-Year Parents: An Important Note from the Registrar

The transition from high school to college is an adjustment for both parents and students. Many parents are accustomed to school portals that let them track their student’s daily assignments and grades. In college, however, the responsibility shifts to the students and many parents find this shift to be a stretching experience. Here are guidelines about student records:

• FERPA (the Federal Education Records Privacy Act) limits what information the College can share with parents of an enrolled student.  The College cannot share grades, attendance or progress, change a student’s schedule or give registration information to parents without the student’s express written permission. This permission is set-up through an Authorization for Release of Information Form. Students will get information about this form and its use during New Student Orientation in August.
• It does not hurt to start practicing empowering your student to seek assistance from College personnel when there are questions or needs. Before they move to campus, encourage your student to contact the appropriate office whose staff can answer their questions directly.
• Students may invite parents to access certain portions of their record online (final grades, transcript, financial aid award, etc.) by completing the Proxy process in the Student Portal Banner Self-Service menu.  This sharing allows parents to view student records online.  The instructions for setting up proxy rights will be sent to new students in early July via their my.wheaton.edu email address.

Passage – The Orientation Program of Wheaton College

The campus community looks forward to welcoming new Wheaton College students in August. If your student is not yet registered for a Passage option, please urge them to do so as soon as possible using this link.

 As you and your student plan for Passage, you are encouraged to review the following information to help you better prepare for your student’s arrival and Passage trip:

• Passage FAQ
• Passage Packing Lists
• Arrival and Move-in Information

As part of Passage, your student will take the “Core 131: Holistic Human Flourishing” course.  As a reminder, this one-credit course is required for all first year and transfer Wheaton College students. Please watch the Wheaton College Bookstore’s course area to purchase the required reading materials when they become available.

To best prepare for their Passage experience, your student is strongly encouraged to purchase the Passage Course Reader and read the content before their arrival to Wheaton College. If they are unable to read the content prior to the start of Passage, there will be time available on-site for reading.

Finally, parents are invited to download the Wheaton College Passage 2024 App via the Apple Store and Google.  The app contains the most up-to-date information about Orientation so downloading it (no need to create a login) is the best way to stay informed. Please note: schedules in the app will localize to the time zone your phone is in and not local Wheaton time, unless you are in the Central Time Zone.

We look forward to seeing your student flourish as they start their Wheaton College journey.

Questions can be directed to the Wheaton Passage Team at passage@wheaton.edu.

Campus Housing

The Residence Life team is thrilled to welcome your student to campus in the fall!

Arrival Times

New Students

Campus housing opens to new students when they arrive for the Passage experience they selected. Specific times can be found here.

Continuing students

Continuing students are invited to return to campus beginning on Sunday, August 25 through Tuesday, August 27, between the hours of 2 p.m. -5 p.m. each day. Consideration for arrival without charge, prior to August 25, is given only to continuing students who are sponsored by a faculty or staff member and who are a required participant in activities which necessitate being on campus. Examples are fall athletes, student teachers, and members of student leadership teams.

All other early arrival requests will be subject to denial or a nightly charge. Approval will be considered, with a nightly charge, for students meeting these criteria:

• Students arriving early to begin a for-credit internship
• International students
• Significant travel hardship

Students requesting early arrival must submit their request here. Questions may be directed to residence.life@wheaton.edu.

Check-In Process

1. Students living in a residence hall who arrive on August 14, 15, or August 25 will first check in at their residence hall. They will complete the check-in paperwork left in their room, give it to their RA, and then head to the residence hall front desk to pick up their ID. Students living in a campus apartment or house, or students arriving outside the three days mentioned above, should first go to Public Safety during their specific check-in time to get their ID, and then go to their residence. Check-in paperwork will be in their room, house or apartment and should be filled out and turned into the RA or the GRA in campus apartments.
2. Unpack and settle into housing.

Meal Plans

Meal plans begin with breakfast on Monday, August 26. If students arrive early and would like to eat in the dining hall prior to that date, they will need to pay for additional meals.

Students arriving early due to athletics or leadership training will receive early arrival meal plan information from their sponsoring departments.

Student Health Services

Student Health Services (SHS) provides primary care services to all current students. Physicals, rapid bacterial/viral testing, allergy injection therapy, ADHD and mental health medication management are some of the many services offered.  The Health & Wellness Fee charged to every degree-seeking undergraduate student at the start of each semester covers the cost of all provider visits at SHS and the Counseling Center. Graduate students can opt-in to the fee or pay per visit. F-1 visa holding students are not charged the fee as they are required to carry the insurance that covers visits at SHS. Any prescriptions, supplies, or lab work may incur additional costs that will be billed directly to the student account.

As a reminder to all new incoming students, all medical entrance paperwork was required to be completed by July 1st. Please reach out to Student Health Services at student.health.services@wheaton.edu with any questions or difficulty submitting paperwork.

Wheaton College strongly recommends that all students are enrolled in a health insurance plan with coverage in Wheaton. International F-1 visa holding students are automatically enrolled and their student account billed for accident and illness coverage through a partnership with LewerMark insurance; the LewerMark plan is optional for qualifying MK/TCK students.  For any insurance related questions or concerns, please email health.insurance@wheaton.edu.

Center for Vocation and Career (CVC)

If your student will be on campus this fall, please encourage them to connect with the CVC through Handshake. Students can use this platform to register for our events, make appointments with career coaches, explore job and internship listings, and more! Your undergraduate or incoming student can complete their profile anytime and explore the events we are planning for this academic year.

If your student will be looking for an on-campus job, make sure they don’t miss our on-campus employment fair on September 3! This fair is for any undergraduate student interested in getting a part-time job on campus. Employers from previous years have included the College Post Office (CPO), the Wheaton College Library, academic departments, Bon Appetit, and more.

International Student Programs

The International Student Programs Office (ISP) aims to meet the unique needs of International F-1/MK/TCK undergraduate students through services and initiatives that develop whole individuals and vibrant communities engaged in, and contributing to, the mission of Wheaton College.  Whether your student is re-entering the U.S. educational system and culture, or joining for the first time, the ISP is here to support them!  

ISP wants all international students to experience belonging on campus, make the most of the rigorous Wheaton education and engage meaningfully through orientation programs, service and leadership opportunities. The ISP office also offers immigration services and education that support F-1 visa students in maintaining their visa status while studying at Wheaton College. 

F-1/MK/TCK students and parents are welcome to reach out to the ISP office with questions as you prepare for and navigate this upcoming transition! Contact us at isp@wheaton.edu or 630.752.5919.

If you are on campus, you are welcome to stop by the ISP office located in the Todd M. Beamer Center, Lower Beamer 045.

Campus Store

The Wheaton College Campus Store offers textbooks and much more. Learn more about what our Campus Store has to offer.

Ways to Pray for Wheaton in July and August

• For incoming first-year and transfer students as they get ready for Wheaton Passage and the beginning of their time at Wheaton;
• For strength and perseverance as students finish internships, jobs, ministry trips, and study- abroad programs;
• For faculty and staff as they prepare for students to return to campus;
• For wisdom and discernment for President Ryken, the Trustees, and the Senior Administrative Cabinet as they guide the College through the 2024-25 academic year.

With thanks for your involvement and prayers, 

The Wheaton College Parent Engagement Team