Parent Newsletter - June, 2021

From the President

Dear Parents,

“Coming out of COVID” is on everyone’s mind as case numbers are dropping dramatically and public health guidance has shifted from masking to vaccinations. A typical Wheaton College summer holds ministry assignments, internships, and jobs. This summer, students will have a priority need for rest and renewal—not a cessation of activity, perhaps, but time to reflect and process all that they have been through—what has changed, and what remains the same.

Wheaton faculty and staff have the same need for rest and renewal this summer as our students do. It is likely that you do as well. This common need should lead to shared experiences and empathy for the difficulties we have all faced in the past fifteen months: a global pandemic, cultural conflicts, and the loss of life, normalcy, and human companionship. On campus, we have suffered our own unique losses as well—of chapel worship, sports seasons, music performances, and more.

 We praise the Lord for preserving Wheaton College over the past 15 months, and for giving us all the will and the ability to persevere. We are grateful for your prayers for us during this time, and for your encouragement.

In Christ’s service,

Philip Ryken
President 

Welcome, New Parents!

The Parent Engagement team looks forward to welcoming you and your student to campus this August. Parent Orientation information will be sent electronically, so keep an eye on your email inbox in the coming weeks.

Parent Orientation begins with student move-in on Thursday, August 19 and Friday, August 20 and will conclude at 2 p.m. on Saturday, August 21. See the 2021 Orientation Schedule for further details. If pandemic restrictions change in Illinois and we need to update our plans, we will let parents know as quickly as possible.

Throughout the year, the Parent Engagement office is here to support you as you get to know Wheaton’s campus and launch your son or daughter into college life. We encourage you to spend some time on Wheaton’s parent website. Here, you’ll find helpful information, including references to several of the topics that will be discussed at Orientation,  the academic calendar, and contact information for offices across campus.

Mark your calendars for Family Weekend on November 5-6, 2021. Family Weekend offers a great opportunity for you to meet your son’s or daughter’s friends and to experience a little bit of student life at Wheaton. Of course, Family Weekend plans are also dependent on CDC and State of Illinois guidelines in place at the time.

We’re looking forward to seeing you and your Wheaton student soon!

Registration for Incoming Students

Parents of new students, please encourage your students to regularly check their Wheaton College email account this summer. Registration for first-year students begins in July; transfer students have received an email about registration and first-year students received a pre-registration questionnaire on June 1. Check out the First-Year Advising and Registration information put together by our Academic Advisors. Incoming students are encouraged to read through this information and contact the Academic Advising Office with any questions at academic.advising@wheaton.edu or make an appointment with an Advisor. Please note: the appointment link requires students to use their Wheaton College login and password.

Wheaton Passage

By participating in one of Wheaton’s four Passage experiences, your student will quickly form friendships, connect with faculty, and capture a vision for life at Wheaton. Hear from fellow Wheaton parents Keith and Linda Ford as they reflect on their son’s experience:

“Passage played an invaluable role in supporting our son’s transition to Wheaton College. We could not have asked for a better orientation and welcome to the Wheaton College community. He is connected, energized, and feeling confident about his place on campus and within the college community, thanks in large part to the experiences with Passage.” – Keith and Linda Ford

You can learn more and register at wheaton.edu/passage.

Lead Wheaton Passage. Do you have a rising sophomore, junior, or senior? Your student can welcome new students by leading a Passage group whether they’ve participated in Passage or not. Learn more at wheaton.edu/LeadPassage.

Summer in the Center for Vocation and Career (CVC)

It’s summer in the CVC! Our mySkills program has launched its second season, with 60 students learning new skills from Wheaton alumni. We also had over 40 students who received funding through the CVC Internship Scholarship for unpaid/underpaid internships and gain a wealth of experience.

We are eager to serve our students over the summer—and that includes both our incoming students and our recent graduates. Here are a few ways your son or daughter can stay (or get) connected to us:

• Zoom into Drop-Ins: M-F, 1-4:30 pm (CDT)*
• Our team is ready to talk with students about anything from job exploration and resume review to networking and interview prep!
• Meet with a Coach: Available by Appointment on Handshake
• Students can talk with a staff member dedicated to their specific discipline and the skills they are building in their course of study.
• Still Searching? Hop on Handshake and explore!
• Dozens of jobs are added every day, in addition to plenty of resources that are available 24/7, like our tips for maximizing an internship experience this summer, and our online resume review.
• Practice Your Elevator Pitch on Big Interview
• Students can register for free with their Wheaton student email account and begin using resources to help them ace their next interview.
• Our office’s sound proof, web-cam equipped, and professionally lit interview rooms are the perfect space for a networking call or interview.
• Living in the area? Reserve a Virtual Interview room on Handshake!

*Drop-Ins will not be available the week of June 21 during our team development week.

Student Financial Services

2021/2022 Financial Aid Awards

Continuing student financial aid awarding for 2021/22 will begin this month. It is very important that students check their student portal and complete any outstanding financial aid requirements to avoid delays in receiving awards. All required documents or forms should be scanned and uploaded using our Secure File Transfer. Emailing sensitive information is not recommended for security reasons. Please note that students with FAFSA’s that were selected for Federal Verification will take longer to process.

As other departments have said, please encourage your student to monitor their Wheaton email account over the summer as email is our main method of communication regarding any missing or incomplete items needed to complete their awards. Additionally, an email will be sent to students once awards are ready to view and accept in their student portal.

Fall 2021 Billing and Payment

Fall 2021 bills will be available online in the Student Billing and Payment Gateway in late July with a due date of August 25, 2021 (first day of classes).  Students and their Authorized Users will receive an email when the bill is ready to view or print online. Fall payment plan enrollment will be opened when bills are issued. Wheaton bills by semester, so payment plan participants must re-enroll each semester.

Due to increased administrative costs, the per semester payment plan application fee will change from $25 to $40 per semester. Based on our research, this is consistent with what other colleges and universities typically charge for administering payment plans. This change will allow Wheaton to continue to offer our families the convenience of a pay-as you-go plan to help budget their student’s educational expenses over the semester.

Not receiving monthly e-bill notices? Students need to grant parent access to the Student Billing and Payment Gateway under their profile for Authorized Users. Students log in through their student portal and once authorized, parents will receive two automated emails with login credentials which will allow access to account activity, on-line payments and payment plans. This also gives our office permission to speak with parents about their student’s accounts. We recommend that parents and students log in to the Billing and Payment Gateway at least once a month when the eBill notices are sent to review their accounts.  Authorized Users log in here. 

Students should set up a bank account for Electronic Refunds under their profile in the Student Billing and Payment Gateway to expedite the refund of credit balances by direct deposit. Continuing students can leave credit balances on their accounts to be applied towards future charges.

Please direct questions to Student Financial Services at sfs@wheaton.edu or 630-752-5700.

How to Pray for Wheaton This Month

Pray for deep renewal and rest as administrators, faculty, and staff take vacations and time away after a long year. Pray for restoration of soul in fellowship with the Lord, and for time to relax in the company of family and friends. Pray for peace of mind, entrusting work and the future to the Lord.

Pray for students as they are working summer jobs, being at home with their families, doing internships, taking summer classes, and much more. Pray for strength and energy as they pour themselves out to others and their endeavors. Pray for grace and joy as they rest and renew.

Pray for international students still on campus who are unable to return to their home countries due to COVID-19. Pray for comfort and peace as this is the second summer many of them have not gone home. Pray for them to see and experience the Lord's goodness and redemption in the midst of challenging circumstances.

With thanks for your involvement and prayers, 

The Wheaton College Parent Engagement Team