Get up close and personal with Wheaton College in Massachusetts during one of our upcoming in-person Open Houses where you will be able to spend the day with us.

• Choose from faculty-led sessions focusing on an area of academic interest
• Tour areas of campus related to the fields you’re interested in, from makerspaces and arts facilities to science and nursing labs
• Attend a student life discussion with college administrators—covering residential life, student activities and leadership
• Meet Wheaton faculty and students
• Learn more about admission and financial aid and connect with a counselor
• Explore internship, research, experiential learning, and study abroad opportunities
• Enjoy lunch at the award-winning Chase Dining Hall

Register to attend Saturday, October 21 at 8:00 a.m.

Open House Schedule

Saturday, October 21, 2023

On this page:

• 8:00–8:30 a.m.   Registration and Continental Breakfast

• 8:30–9:00 a.m.  Welcome Address

• 9:00–9:20 a.m.   Compass Curriculum

• 9:30–10:20 a.m.  Academic Presentation Breakout Sessions

• 10:30 a.m. and 11:30 a.m.  The Wheaton Experience Breakout Sessions

• 11:30 a.m.–1:30 p.m.  Complimentary Lunch and Campus Tours

To locate the buildings you want to visit, find the corresponding numbers on the Wheaton Campus map.

Around the Dimple and On the Fields

See Around the Dimple and On the Fields for more on-campus activities to enjoy throughout the day!

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Guest access to Wi-Fi:  WheatonGuest

Simply select WheatonGuest from the available Wi-Fi networks on your device. After connecting, you will be directed to our Guest Captive Portal Page to review and accept our Terms of Use. Upon login, you will be redirected to the Wheaton College website and connected to the internet.

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Registration and Continental Breakfast

8:00–8:30 a.m.

Watson Fine Arts Center (26)

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Welcome Address

8:30–9:00 a.m.

• Michaele Whelan, Ph.D., president
• Walter Caffey, vice president for Enrollment, dean of Admission & Student Aid
• Meghan Lambert ‘24, Student Government Association president

Watson Fine Arts Center, Weber Theatre (26)

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Compass Curriculum

9:00–9:20 a.m.

The Compass Curriculum gives students the freedom and flexibility to create their own path to success, with personalized advising and professional mentorship. Learn more about Compass and other key elements of a Wheaton education, which encourages academic rigor, career exploration and skills development, as well as the requirements for graduation.

• Francisco de Alba, associate provost for Academic Administration and Faculty Affairs, professor of Hispanic Studies

Watson Fine Arts Center, Weber Theatre (26)

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Academic Presentation Breakout Sessions

9:30–10:20 a.m.

Get a comprehensive overview of our academic programs from the faculty who designed the curriculum. Not sure what you want to select as a major? Feel free to select the session that piques your interest or attend an interactive session with student panelists to hear how they discovered their major at Wheaton.

Choose from the following: 

Business, Communications & Marketing

The digitally connected world relies on professionals with the knowledge, skills and leadership to thrive in the global marketplace. Our business and management major is one of Wheaton’s most popular, and the new marketing major was added to meet student demand. This is also the case across campus, where the Department of Film and New Media added our other new major, Digital Media and Communications. Through dedicated instruction and advising, real-world consulting projects and immersive learning experiences, each of these majors helps you acquire skills, knowledge and experiences that prepare you for success in a rapidly changing world. And because they are designed in the liberal arts tradition and for the twenty-first century, each pairs with any of our other majors to empower students to build additional skills to their area of focus and to explore meaningful connections between their different interests.

• Leanna Lawter, associate professor and chair of Business and Management
• C.C. Chapman, senior professor of the Practice of Business and Management
• Josh Stenger, associate provost for Academic Administration and Faculty Affairs, professor and chair of Film and New Media

Mary Lyon Hall, Holman Room (14)

Creative Industries and Art

Learn more about our programs in visual art, creative writing, design, music, theatre, dance, and film and new media studies. You will have a chance to meet with faculty and staff to learn more about opportunities offered by these programs.

• Kelly Goff, associate professor and chair of Visual Art, program coordinator of Design
• Patrick Johnson, associate professor of Film and New Media
• Will Mason, associate professor of Music, chair of the Department of Music
• Max Ponticelli, professor of Practice of Technical Theatre
• Kent Shaw, associate professor of English

Watson Fine Arts, Weber Theatre (26)

Education and Humanities for the 21st Century

Explore Wheaton’s comprehensive education programs and the transformative power of studying the humanities. Wheaton offers small classes and a supportive environment for students pursuing a teaching license within a liberal arts context. Education majors benefit from practical training, meaningful fieldwork, and the opportunity to obtain licensure in early childhood education, elementary education or secondary education in subjects like English, history, math, biology, chemistry, Spanish or French. Additionally, discover how studying the humanities at Wheaton equips students with the skills and knowledge to tackle the challenges of the 21st century. Faculty and students will discuss the exciting courses, research opportunities, internships and career paths available across a wide range of humanities disciplines.

• Sara Donaldson, assistant professor of Education
• Ellie Swindler ‘24, Education/English double major
• Aaron Landau, assistant professor of Philosophy

Mars Arts and Humanities, Meneely 301 (15)

Nursing

Our new nursing program is designed to prepare students for clinical practice as nurses at the intersection of community health and social justice. Faculty will highlight the unique advantages of Wheaton’s program and provide a glimpse into our state-of-the-art simulation center and labs.

• Marianne Williams, professor of the Practice of Nursing

Diana Davis Spencer Discovery Center, Room 2360 (23)

The Integrated Social Sciences

This session is an introduction to the breadth and depth of social sciences programs, student-faculty research and connections with other departments. The session will also highlight how Wheaton’s approach to the liberal arts will prepare you for success after graduation — regardless of your major.

• Kate Eskine, associate professor of Psychology
• A. Javier Trevino, professor of Sociology
• James Freeman, associate professor of Economics

Watson Fine Arts Center, Ellison Lecture 102 (26)

The Sciences at Wheaton

Faculty will showcase the array of opportunities available in STEM disciplines: astronomy, biochemistry, biology, chemistry, computer science, engineering environmental science, mathematics, neuroscience, physics and statistics, and share the many innovative research opportunities available within the sciences at Wheaton.

• Jessie Knowlton, associate professor of Biology, program coordinator of Environmental Sciences
• Christopher Kotyk, assistant professor of Chemistry
• Mark D. LeBlanc, professor of Computer Science
• Juvenal Lopez, assistant professor of Biology
• Dipankar Maitra, associate professor of Physics and Astronomy

Diana Davis Spencer Discovery Center, Hindle Auditorium (23)

Exploring your Academic Options

We know that having an open mind is important as you consider all academic options, and here at Wheaton College we encourage exploration to find out what interests and passions really drive you. Join a panel of Wheaton students who were once in your shoes and hear how they navigated the process of choosing a major.

• Dolores Radlo, dean of Advising

Diana Davis Spencer Discovery Center, Room 3327 (23)

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The Wheaton Experience Breakout Sessions

10:30–11:20 a.m. and 11:30 a.m.–12:20 p.m.

These sessions are designed to showcase the myriad resources, support networks and opportunities available to help you personalize your Wheaton experience and ensure you are set up for success both in and outside of the classroom.
Sessions will run twice, beginning at 10:30 a.m. and 11:30 a.m. Choose from the following:

The Wheaton Edge: Internships, Research, Experiential Learning and Study Abroad

Wheaton is committed to providing students with experiences that broaden their understanding and vision beyond the borders of this campus and this country. Join us to learn more about the Wheaton Edge—Wheaton’s commitment to provide every student the opportunity for a funded experiential learning experience—and the many opportunities for internships, research and study abroad.

• Audrey Spina ‘17, assistant director of Career Services
• Gretchen Young, dean of the Center for Global Education

Diana Davis Spencer Discovery Center, Hindle Auditorium (23)

Campus Leadership, Involvement, Belonging and Wellness

We believe that learning and growing extend beyond the classroom. The door is always open for you to become an important part of a community that supports individual expression and collective responsibility.  A panel of student affairs administrators will highlight the many opportunities for student leadership and involvement on campus.

• Lyndsey Aguilar, associate director of Residential Life
• Raquel Ramos, dean of the Marshall Center for Intercultural Learning
• Leonard Breton, director of the Center for Social Justice and Community Impact

Mary Lyon Hall, Holman Room (14)

Admission and Student Financial Aid Information Session

Wanda Suriel, director of Admission, Susan Beard ‘90, senior director of Student Financial Services, and Carla Minchello, director of Financial Aid will be available to answer any of those questions regarding the admission and financial aid application processes.

Mary Lyon Hall, Woolley Room (14)

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Complimentary Lunch and Campus Tours

Enjoy lunch

11:30 a.m.–1:30 p.m.

Choose a time to dine that works best for you and enjoy a complimentary lunch in our award-winning dining hall. Meal tickets will be provided at the dining hall entrance. Scan the QR code to get a preview of today’s lunch options.

Chase Dining Hall (27)

Campus tours 

11:30 a.m.–1:00 p.m.

See a residence hall, academic spaces and athletics facilities, and learn more about the Wheaton student experience. Student-led tours will depart on a rolling basis between 11:30 a.m. and 1:00 p.m.
Location: departing from the steps of the Office of Admission (1) from 11:30 a.m.–12:30 p.m. and in front of Chase Dining Hall from 12:30—1:00 p.m. (27)

Tours of the Mars Center for Science and Technology, Nursing Simulation Labs and Wheaton’s Innovation Spaces (includes a campus tour)

11:30 a.m. and 12:30 p.m.

Get to know the spaces behind our STEM and nursing programs through interactive tours of the Mars Center for Science and Technology and our clinical simulation center—an important part of nursing education. See where students practice skills safely and learn new procedures, explore student research labs, and view Wheaton’s innovative/creative makerspace as you learn about ways that students can utilize the resources of Wheaton’s state-of-the-art facilities.

Location: departing from the steps of the Wallace Library (25) at 11:30 a.m. and in front of Chase Dining Hall (27) at 12:30 p.m.

Tours of Visual and Performing Arts Facilities (includes a campus tour)

12:30 p.m.

Join us on a tour of the visual and performing arts facilities on campus. See the spaces where Wheaton students perform and create. Discover the many ways in which our Theatre, Music, Visual Art, Design, Film and New Media, Studio Art and Art History departments are connected.

Location: Departing in front of Chase Dining Hall (27) at 12:30 p.m.

All tours conclude at the Office of Admission where admission and student financial services counselors will be available to answer any questions regarding the admission and financial aid application process.

Ask questions!

The Office of Admission is open all day. Stop by to say hello or ask a question. Look for the bright blue “Ask Me” buttons for assistance.

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Around the Dimple and On the Fields

Fall Fest 2023

12:30–3:30 p.m.

Join Wheaton alumni, students and parents at Fall Fest on Saturday, October 21! Enjoy food from Black Dog Donuts, Hometown Cafe & Poke Bowl, and Loco Larry’s Taco food trucks.

Location: Parking Lot 3

Alumni Sporting Events

9:30 a.m. — Men’s Lacrosse Game
Location:  Diane Nordin ‘80 Turf Field

11:00 a.m. — Men’s Basketball
Location: Haas Athletic Center, Beard Field House (10)

11:00 a.m. — Women’s Lacrosse
Location: Diane Nordin ‘80 Turf Field

12:00 p.m. — Softball
Location:  Softball Field

4:00 p.m. — Ultimate Frisbee
Location: Diane Nordin ‘80 Turf Field

Tour of the Permanent Art Collection 

12:00–4:00 p.m
Location: Watson Fine Arts Center, Lobby (26)

Wheaton College Lyons 

Wheaton College fields 24 NCAA Division III athletic teams that compete as members of the New England Women’s and Men’s Athletic Conference (NEWMAC)

12:00 p.m. — Men’s and Women’s Swimming and Diving
Wheaton College vs. Bentley University
Location: Haas Athletic Center, Balfour Natatorium (10)

1:00 p.m. — Women’s Soccer
Wheaton College vs. Smith College
Location: Christina Mirrione ‘99 Stadium

2:00 p.m. — Men’s Soccer
Wheaton College vs. Springfield College
Location: Keefe Athletic Field