New Student Orientation – Welcome Weekend

New Student Orientation and Welcome Weekend: Friday, August 22, 2025 through Monday, August 25, 2025.

Move-in for new residential students: Friday, August 22, 2025.

First day of classes: Tuesday, August 26, 2025

Early Arrival Programs

Our Early Arrival Programs are designed for new students with shared interests and experiences. This allows students to make meaningful connections within a smaller community before Fall Orientation and learn about the campus resources available to support their success.

View Our Early Arrival Programs

Fall Varsity Athletes

Fall varsity athletes typically arrive ahead of these programs to participate in pre-season. (A student’s coach will provide those details).

Fall 2025 Orientation Schedule

On this page:

New Student Orientation – Welcome Weekend is a required program for all new students. Transfer students (both residential and commuting) will participate in a one-day Orientation program on Monday, August 25th (see ‘Transfer Student Orientation’ for detailed schedule).

Items marked (M) indicate Mandatory Participation.

Friday, August 22, 2025

9:00 a.m. – 1:00 p.m. New Residential Student Check-in and Move-in (M)
Location: Balfour-Hood Atrium
Pick up your room keys, parking pass, and your class t-shirt. Be sure to visit the photo booth and grab more freebies!
(All new residential students received a move-in time from Residential Life to their Wheaton email address.)

9:00 a.m. – 2:00 p.m. Family & Friends Farewell Zone
Location: Pine Hall Patio
It’s not goodbye- it’s see you soon! Family and friends are invited to visit the Farewell Zone to write a letter to your new student and grab a refreshment before departing campus.

11:00 a.m. Campus Tour Open to Family and Friends
Location: Meet Outside Office of Admission
Visiting Wheaton for the first time? Hop on a tour of our beautiful campus!

2:00 – 2:45 p.m. New Commuting Student Check-In (M)
Location: Balfour-Hood Atrium
New commuting students will check in for Orientation and pick up their parking pass.
Program Note: Commuting transfer students will check-in and participate in Orientation sessions on Monday, August 25th.

3:00 p.m. – 4:00 p.m. Orientation Kick-Off! (M)
Location: Chapel Field
All new students will attend the Orientation Kick-Off to hear from campus leadership and meet your Orientation Leaders. New students will break out into their Orientation Leader groups.

4:00 p.m. – 4:30 p.m. ‘Downtime Destinations’: New Commuting Student Tour (M)
Orientation Leaders will take new commuting students on a tour of study and common spaces that they can use while on-campus.

4:30 – 6:00 p.m.  Dinner
Location: Chase Commons

6:00  –  7:00 p.m. New Residential Students – Community Meeting (M)
Location: Your Residence Hall
Meet with your Resident Advisor (RA) in your residence hall to discuss building a residential community at Wheaton.

7:15 p.m.  Chapel Night Parade
Location: Meet outside of Chase Commons
New students will assemble outside of Chase Dining Hall and process as a group to the night’s traditional festivities.

7:30 – 8:30 p.m.  Chapel Night and Candle Lighting
Location: Chapel and Dimple
A time-honored Wheaton tradition. You will be welcomed with campus ghost stories and traditions presented by members of the Student Government Association, followed by the traditional lighting of candles around the Dimple to commemorate the start of your Wheaton journey!

8:45 – 10:00 p.m. Evening Program– First Night Bonfire
Location: Meadows Firepit (Near Volleyball Court)

Saturday, August 23, 2025

7:30 – 8:45 a.m. Breakfast
Location: Chase Commons

9:00 – 11:45 a.m. Saturday Mandatory Orientation Sessions (M)
New students will be divided according to their residence halls or commuting status and will rotate between three Saturday morning sessions. 

Meadows Halls

  • 11:00 – 11:45 a.m. The Inside Scoop: Campus Tour with your Orientation Group (Tour departs from Hindle Auditorium)

Young Hall, Clark Hall, and First-Year Commuting Students 

  • 10:00 – 10:45 a.m. The Inside Scoop: Campus Tour with your Orientation Group (Tour departs from Hindle Auditorium)

Pine Hall

  • 9:00 – 9:45 a.m. The Inside Scoop: Campus Tour with your Orientation Group
    (Meet your Orientation Leader on Chapel Field)

*Content Notice: Students should note that this session will raise and discuss sensitive topics relating to sexual and gender-based misconduct, including but not limited to sexual assault, dating and domestic violence, sexual harassment and stalking. Students are encouraged to attend and step out if time or space are needed during the presentation. If a student feels they are not able to attend the session due to the topic area, they should contact [email protected] to discuss alternative options for receiving the required information from the session.

12:00 – 1:30 p.m.  Lunch
Location: Chase Commons

1:30 p.m. Class of 2029 Photo (M)
Location: Library Steps
Be sure to wear your class t-shirt that you picked up at check-in!

2:00 p.m.  ‘Let’s Go Wheat!’ Pep Rally
Location: Haas Athletic Center
You’re a Lyon now! Head over to Haas Athletic Center for a healthy dose of school spirit with Wheaton Athletics staff and student leaders. Following the pep rally, various recreational games will be available for your enjoyment until 4:30 p.m.
Sensory Notice: This event will include loud cheering and music.

2:30 – 4:30 p.m. Open Recreation | Haas Athletic Center
2:30 – 4:30 p.m. Open Pool Swim | Balfour Natatorium

5:00 – 7:00 p.m.  Dinner
Location: Chase Commons 

8:00 – 10:00 p.m. Evening Program– Glow Night
Location: Dimple

8:00 – 10:00 p.m. Glow Night Crafts
Location: Emerson Dining Hall 

Sunday, August 24, 2025

7:30 – 8:50 a.m. Breakfast
Location: Chase Commons

Sunday Mandatory Orientation Sessions (M)
Students will be divided into two groups based on residence halls or commuting status for Sunday morning mandatory sessions.

Young, Clark & Pine Halls
9:00 – 10:00 a.m. Bystander Intervention and Student Life Scenarios (M)
Location: Chapel 

Meadows Halls & First-Year Commuting Students
9:45 – 10:45 a.m. Bystander Intervention and Student Life Scenarios (M)
Location: Chapel 

11:00 a.m. – 1:00 p.m. WheaDecompress
Choose from a number of activities designed to help you relax and reset:

11:30 a.m. – 2:00 p.m.  Lunch
Location: Chase Commons

2:00 – 5:00 p.m.  Shopping Shuttle to Target
Location: Pick-up/Drop Off outside Haas Athletic Center

5:00 p.m. – 7:00 p.m.  Dinner
Location: Chase Commons

8:00 – 10:00 p.m. Evening Program- Outdoor Movie
Location: Dimple

Monday, August 25, 2025

7:30 – 8:45 a.m.  Breakfast
Location: Chase Commons

9:00 – 9:30 a.m.  Orientation Small Group Checkpoint (M)
Location: Dimple
Meet up with your Orientation group on the Dimple. Look for your OL holding your group sign!

9:30 – 10:30 a.m.  MAP Advisors Meetings (M)
Location: Various classrooms (New students should check their Wheaton emails for advisor meeting locations. Questions about your advisor meeting location? Please visit the Filene Center front desk.)

Monday Mandatory Orientation Sessions (M)
Students will be divided into two groups based on residence halls or commuting status for Monday mandatory sessions.

Meadows Halls and First-Year Commuting Students
11:00 a.m. – 12:00 p.m.  WheaBelong* (M)
Location: Mars Arts & Humanities (Meneely) Classrooms

*Content Notice: Students should note that this session will raise and discuss sensitive topics including but not limited to bias incidents, suicide statistics, and experiences pertaining to identity. If a student has concerns due to the intended topics, they are encouraged to contact [email protected].

Young, Clark and Pine Halls
11:00 a.m. – 12:00 p.m.  Wheaton Honor Code & Community Expectations (M)
Location: Chapel

12:00 – 1:00 p.m.  Lunch
Location: Chase Dining Hall

Young, Clark and Pine Halls
1:15 – 2:15 p.m.  WheaBelong* (M)
Location: Mars Arts & Humanities (Meneely) Classrooms

*Content Notice: Students should note that this session will raise and discuss sensitive topics including but not limited to bias incidents, suicide statistics, and experiences pertaining to identity. If a student has concerns due to the intended topics, they are encouraged to contact [email protected].

Meadows Halls and First-Year Commuting Students
1:15 – 2:15 p.m.  Wheaton Honor Code & Community Expectations (M)
Location: Chapel

3:00 – 4:15 p.m.  Resource Fair & Frozen Lemonade Food Truck
Location: Library Green (lawn outside Library steps)
Meet and greet with representatives from across campus resource departments. Collect stamps by engaging with different tables to unlock exclusive access to the frozen lemonade food truck!

Featured Resources: Accessibility Services, Office of Admission, Arts@Wheaton, Athletics and Recreation, Campus Safety, Dining Services, Center for Global Ed, Marshall Center for Intercultural Learning, Residential Life, Student Activities, Involvement & Leadership (SAIL), The Base, Student Employment, The SMART Program, Peer Tutoring & Advising.

5:00 – 7:00 p.m.  Dinner
Location: Chase Commons

8:00  –  10:00 p.m.  WheaPerform
Location: Chapel Field
The talents of Wheaton’s many student performance groups come alive on stage!

Tuesday, August 26, 2025 (First Day of Classes)

5:00 p.m.  Convocation
Location: Chapel Field
President Whelan is excited for the new and transfer students to join her and the faculty in this Wheaton tradition to kickstart the new academic year. The senior class will be in their regalia to kick off their senior year.  You will hear from peers, campus leadership and faculty.

Transfer Student Orientation

Sunday, August 24, 2025

10:00 a.m. – 3:30 p.m. Transfer Residential Student Check-in and Move-in (M)
Location: Balfour-Hood Atrium
Pick up your room keys, parking pass, and your class t-shirt.

2:00 – 5:00 p.m.  Shopping Shuttle to Target
Location: Pick-up/Drop Off outside Haas Athletic Center

8:00 – 10:00 p.m. Evening Program- Outdoor Movie
Location: Chapel Field

Monday, August 25, 2025

9:00 – 9:30 a.m.  Transfer Orientation Kick-Off (M)
Location: Emerson Dining Hall | Faculty Dining Room

9:30 a.m. – 10:30 a.m.  MAP Advisors Meeting (M)
Location: Emerson Dining Hall | Faculty Dining Room
Transfer students will meet with their MAP Advisor.

10:00 a.m. – 3:30 p.m. Commuting Transfer Student Check-in (M)
Location: Balfour-Hood Atrium
Pick up your parking pass and your class t-shirt. Commuting transfer students can check-in any time during this window during a program break.

11:00 a.m. – 12:00 p.m. Wheaton Honor Code & Community Expectations (M)
Location: Chapel

12:00 – 1:00 p.m.  Lunch
Location: Chase Commons

1:15 p.m. – 2:15 p.m.  WheaBelong* (M)
Location: Mars Arts & Humanities (Meneely) Classrooms

*Content Notice: Students should note that this session will raise and discuss sensitive topics including but not limited to bias incidents, suicide statistics, and experiences pertaining to identity. If a student has concerns due to the intended topics, they are encouraged to contact [email protected].

2:45 p.m. – 3:45 p.m. Rights, Resources and Protections: Title IX and the College Response to Sexual and Gender-based Misconduct* (M)
Location: Emerson Dining Hall | Faculty Dining Room
Students will learn about College policies in response to incidents of sexual and gender-based misconduct, including but not limited to student resources and details of the College’s Title IX policy. *Content Notice: Students should note that this session will raise and discuss sensitive topics relating to sexual and gender-based misconduct, including but not limited to sexual assault, dating and domestic violence, sexual harassment and stalking. Students are encouraged to attend and step out if time or space are needed during the presentation. If a student feels they are not able to attend the session due to the topic area, they should contact [email protected] to discuss alternative options for receiving the required information from the session.

3:45 – 4:15 p.m.  Resource Fair & Frozen Lemonade Food Truck
Location: Library Green (lawn outside Library steps)
Meet and greet with representatives from across campus resource departments. Collect stamps by engaging with different tables to unlock exclusive access to the frozen lemonade food truck!

Featured Resources: Accessibility Services, Office of Admission, Arts@Wheaton, Athletics and Recreation, Campus Safety, Dining Services, Center for Global Ed, Marshall Center for Intercultural Learning, Residential Life, Student Activities, Involvement & Leadership (SAIL), The Base, Student Employment, The SMART Program, Peer Tutoring & Advising.

5:00 – 7:00 p.m.  Dinner
Location: Chase Commons

7:30 p.m.  Transfer Student Candle Lighting
Location: Meet outside the Chapel
The traditional lighting of candles to commemorate the start of your Wheaton journey!

8:00  –  10:00 p.m.  WheaPerform
Location: Chapel Field
The talents of Wheaton’s many student performance groups come alive on stage!

Tuesday, August 26, 2025 (First Day of Classes)

5:00 p.m.  Convocation
Location: Chapel Field
President Whelan is excited for the new and transfer students to join her and the faculty in this Wheaton tradition to kickstart the new academic year. The senior class will be in their regalia to kick off their senior year.  You will hear from peers, campus leadership and faculty.