Parent Newsletter - November, 2019

From the President 

Dear Parents,

Well over 1,000 student family members visited Wheaton’s campus last weekend.  Parents and siblings sampled classes, took campus tours, explored the resources available to Wheaton students as they prepare for life after college, and enjoyed sporting events, a concert or a play, and the popular Talent Show. 

Several hundred parents gathered on Saturday morning for a prayer breakfast led by members of the Parent Council and Chaplain Tim Blackmon.  I shared a devotional message based on the lovely 111^th Psalm, which praises God for the delights of his varied creation and for his plan of redemption.  It is a psalm for us and for our children, that wonderfully expresses the heart of the liberal arts student who finds delight in studying all of God’s works. 

Knowing of the prayers of Wheaton parents, whether at the prayer breakfast or from your homes, is a great encouragement to us in the joyful work of Christ-centered higher education. 

With thanksgiving,

Philip Ryken
President

Campus Housing during Holiday Breaks

Thanksgiving Housing: College housing and meal service remain open during the Thanksgiving holiday weekend.

Christmas Housing: College housing closes at noon on Friday, December 20 and reopens at 3pm on Saturday, January 11. During Christmas Break the residence halls (Fischer, Smith-Traber and Upperclass Halls) are closed and no student is allowed to stay there for any reason. The regular meal plan ends with dinner on Thursday, December 19 and resumes with dinner on Saturday, January 11.

Even though housing shuts down for Christmas break, there are some students who need to stay on campus. With permission through the Residence Life office, students may stay as guests in a campus apartment or house during Christmas Break for the following reasons: athletics, students who live internationally, campus employment, or class participation.

Information on the approval process, deadlines and fees may be found on our website. As you plan future arrival and departure dates, please reference our housing calendar.

Explore the world with Wheaton!

Wheaton’s alumni and parent travel program opens the world to new places, exotic cultures, and adventures with like–minded believers — it’s an experience like no other. There's still time to join us on our adventure to Peru, February 20–March 2, 2020. We would love to see you on this journey, so register today and start dreaming about the adventure that awaits!

Externship Day 2020

In early February, more than 100 Wheaton students will spend the day shadowing alumni in a wide range of careers. Externship Day, co-sponsored by the CVC and the Alumni team, is an opportunity for your student to explore how their skills  and interests might align with a particular career. Students are invited to attend an information session on December 12 at 10:30am and applications will be sent to all students via email on January 13. Please encourage your son or daughter to take advantage of this rich opportunity.

How does your student get connected to the CVC? This video will show you a few ways to connect to one of our career professionals. We hope to see them soon!

How did you hear about Wheaton?

"Friends of my parents, through church." — student from Florida

"My neighbors down the street." — student from North Carolina

"Other missionary families, of course! Every missionary kid grows up knowing about Wheaton from other families in the missionary community." — MK student from Rwanda

These are some of the responses we hear from students when we ask "How did you hear about Wheaton?"

Wheaton parents are an important part of the global Wheaton family. We know that a word-of-mouth recommendation from a trusted source carries weight and helps promote the value of a Wheaton education to prospective students and families. Whether sharing about Wheaton with a student down the street, at your place of worship, or around the world, your endorsement can have a real impact on future students, both in applying, and ultimately enrolling at Wheaton College.

Do you know someone who would thrive in Wheaton's Christ-centered academic environment? Please let our Admissions team know at wheaton.edu/refer. Thank you for your partnership and helping build the next generation of Wheaton students.

The Office of Christian Outreach (OCO)

The mission of the OCO is to learn from, serve alongside, and partner with communities and organizations around the world in the redemptive work of the gospel. To fulfill our mission, we fundraise with and on behalf of students who will impact the Global Church through sharing the gospel and serving at summer camps, hostels, schools, medical facilities, and other nonprofit sites across the world. One way you can join us in our mission is to donate to the OCO via our upcoming Fruit Basket Fundraiser. This fundraiser allows you to purchase a Fruit Basket to be delivered to your student as a way to encourage them during Finals Week. A letter will be arriving at your home with details. If you would like to contact us directly about this fundraiser, please email our Programs Development Coordinator, Tuesday Whittington at tuesday.whittington@wheaton.edu.

If you have a student interested in learning through off-campus cross-cultural experiences that integrate service and evangelism during Summer 2020, please encourage them to apply for the following opportunities: Service + Evangelism in Summer 2020

The Wheaton College Graduate School

Our mission is to form servant scholars and leaders through exceptional graduate programs for Christ and His Kingdom. One factor that makes our programs exceptional is our commitment to experiential learning.

At HoneyRock, the M.A. in Outdoor and Adventure Leadership offers Graduate Assistant roles to our residential students, helping save money, build resumes, and develop skills for leadership in church, camp, and college student communities. Twenty-somethings passionate about impacting the lives of young people through outdoor leadership, but not yet ready to commit to an M.A. program, are able to pursue the one-year HoneyRock Fellows Program.

On the other side of the world, School of Biblical and Theological Studies graduate students participate in the Graduate Ancient Israel Summer Program, or join a Wheaton in the Holy Lands summer trip. Closer to home, students like Cody Bivins are applying theology to contemporary ethical questions.

Here at our main campus, M.A. in Higher Education and Student Development students impact the lives of Wheaton College undergraduate students as Graduate Residential Advisors. The M.A. in Marriage and Family Therapy (MFT) program has just announced its plan to open the Center for Family and Relational Health, an important learning site for its students and a valuable resource to the local community.

All around the world, Flexible Learning students like Gigi Dawood apply their learning directly to their current ministry, leadership, or business roles.

We welcome your prayers for our graduate students as they continue to learn, serve, and lead at Wheaton, at HoneyRock, and around the world.

How can you pray for Wheaton this month?

• Give thanks to the Lord, for he is good; his steadfast love endures forever.
• Pray for the Lord’s grace and peace for students in the build-up of exams and projects prior to Thanksgiving Break. Pray for perspective on their studies, to be seen as a gift to grow and learn and not a litmus test determining personal value or worth.
• Pray for the Chaplain’s Office and the Chapel Program, that it will nurture students’ commitment to corporate worship and spiritual growth.
• Pray for the Wheaton College community, that the Lord will continue to strengthen the bond that we share as brothers and sisters in Christ Jesus.

This benediction is prayed over the students at most Chapels throughout the year and it is our prayer for the parent community during this Thanksgiving season.

God go before you to lead you.
God go behind you to protect you.
God go beneath you to sustain you.
God go beside you to befriend you.
Do not be afraid.
May the blessing of God the Father, and the Son, and the Holy Spirit be upon you.
Do not be afraid. Go in peace.

With thanksgiving for your involvement and prayers,

The Wheaton College Parent Engagement team