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).

 The Fall 2025 Orientation schedule will be posted when available. In the meantime, please see the 2024 schedule below to get an idea of what to expect.

Fall 2024 Orientation Schedule

On this page:

Friday, August 23, 2024

9:00 a.m. – 1:00 p.m. Check-in and Move-in
Location: Balfour-Hood Atrium
Pick up your room keys, parking pass, and your class t-shirt. Be sure to visit the photo booth for a commemorative picture magnet!

2:00 p.m.  Welcome Ceremony
Location: Dimple
All new students are invited to attend the Welcome Ceremony to hear from Campus Leadership. Student Leaders officially welcome you and your classmates to campus.

3:00 p.m. Family and Friends Say Farewell
It’s not goodbye—it’s see you later!

3:30  –  4:30 p.m. Residential Students – Community Meeting #1
Location: Your Residence Hall
Meet with your Resident Advisor (RA) in your residence hall to discuss building a residential community at Wheaton.

3:30  – 4:00 p.m. Commuter and Off-Campus Students – Commuting Student Mixer
Location: Club Hub, Balfour Hood Campus Center (2nd floor)
Mingle with fellow commuting students and enjoy free takeaways, including DIY car air fresheners.

5:00 – 6:30 p.m.  Picnic by the Pond
Location: Chapel Field
New students will meet with their Orientation Leader groups on Chapel Field by Peacock Pond while enjoying an outdoor dinner.

7:00 – 7:30 p.m. Transfer Student Meet & Greet
Location: Pine Hall, Conger Commons

7:30 – 8:30 p.m.  Welcome Sunset Social
Location: YMC/Meadows Courtyard
Hang with your new classmates while enjoying music and sweet treats.

9:00 – 11:00 p.m. Outdoor Movie Night
Location: Chapel Field
Grab a free blanket (while supplies last!) and a spot on the field for an outdoor screening of Pitch Perfect.

Saturday, August 24, 2024

8:00 – 8:50 a.m. Breakfast
Location: Chase Dining Hall

9:00 a.m. – 12:15 p.m. *Saturday Mandatory Orientation Sessions
*New students will be divided according to their residence hall for Saturday morning sessions. See below for morning session breakdown by residence hall. Commuting students will attend a separate community expectations session.

Meadows and Upper Campus Residence Halls:
9:00 – 9:45 a.m. Community Expectations: Weber Theatre
10:15 – 11:00 a.m. Pancake Bar & Social: Pine Hall, Conger Commons
11:30 a.m. – 12:15 p.m. Wheaton College Honor Code: Cole Memorial Chapel

Young, McIntire, Clark Halls:
9:00 – 9:45 a.m. Wheaton College Honor Code: Cole Memorial Chapel
10:15 – 11:00 a.m. Community Expectations: Weber Theatre
11:30 a.m. – 12:15 p.m. Pancake Bar & Social: Pine Hall, Conger Commons

Pine Hall and Commuting and Off-Campus Students:
9:00 – 9:45 a.m. Pancake Bar & Social: Pine Hall, Conger Commons
10:15 – 11:00 a.m. Wheaton College Honor Code: Cole Memorial Chapel
11:30 a.m. – 12:15 p.m. Community Expectations (Pine Hall residents Only): Weber Theatre
11:30 a.m. – 12:15 p.m. Commuting and Community (Commuting Students only): Balfour Hood Media Center

12:15 – 1:30 p.m.  Lunch
Location: Chase Dining Hall

2:00 – 3:30 p.m.   Lyon’s Pride Pep Rally
Location: Emerson Gymnasium
You’re a Lyon now! Head over to Haas Athletic Center for a healthy dose of school spirit with Wheaton Athletics staff and student-athletes. After the pep rally, various recreational games will be set up for your enjoyment until 3:30 p.m.

5:00 – 7:00 p.m.  Dinner
Location: Chase Dining Hall 

8:00 – 10:00 p.m. Rock the Block Party
Location: Chapel Field
Head to Chapel Field for carnival games and snacks, mechanical bull rides, an inflatable obstacle course, and live music.

8:00 – 10:00 p.m. Craft Night
Location: Pine Hall Conger Commons

Sunday, August 25, 2024

8:00 – 8:50 a.m. Breakfast
Location: Chase Dining Hall

9:00 a.m. – 12:30 p.m. *Sunday Mandatory Orientation Sessions
*Students will be divided into GROUP A and GROUP B for Sunday morning sessions. 

9:00 a.m. – 10:30 a.m. GROUP A (Pine, Young, McIntire, Clark)
*Bystander Intervention, Title IX and the College Response to Sex Discrimination
Location: Mars Arts & Humanities (Meneely) Classrooms

Students will learn key elements of bystander intervention, how to access reporting and resources in response to sex discrimination and harassment, as well as details of the college’s Title IX Policy.

*Content Notice: Students should note that this session will raise and discuss sensitive topics relating to the policy against sex discrimination, 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 important information from the session.

9:00 – 10:30 a.m. GROUP B (Meadows, Upper Campus/Exchange Students, Commuting Students)
*Empowering Campus Inclusion at Wheaton
Location: Weber Theatre

*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. 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 important information from the session.

10:30 – 11:00 a.m. Orientation Leader Group Checkpoint
Follow your Orientation Leader to various points around campus to check-in.

11:00 a.m. – 12:30 p.m. GROUP A (Pine, Young, McIntire, Clark)
*Empowering Campus Inclusion at Wheaton
Location: Weber Theatre

11:00 a.m. – 12:30 p.m. GROUP B (Meadows, Upper Campus/Exchange Students, Commuting Students)
*Bystander Intervention, Title IX and the College Response to Sex Discrimination
Location: Mars Arts & Humanities (Meneely) Classrooms

12:30 – 2:00 p.m.  Lunch
Location: Chase Dining Hall

2:00 – 4:00 p.m.  WheaDecompress
Choose from a number of activities designed to help you relax and reset:

5:00 – 7:00 p.m.  Dinner
Location: Chase Dining Hall

8:00  –  10:00 p.m.  WheaPerform
Location: Dimple (Rain location: Weber Theater)
The talents of Wheaton’s many student performance groups come alive on stage!

Monday, August 26, 2024

*All new and transfer students should wear their class t-shirts today for class photos and Wheaton traditions.

8:00 – 9:00 a.m.  Breakfast
Location: Chase Dining Hall

9:00 – 9:45 a.m.  Orientation Leader Group Checkpoint | Dimple
Meet up with your Orientation group on the Dimple. Look for your OL holding your group sign!

10:00 a.m. – 12:00 p.m.  MAP Advisors Meetings
Location: 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.)
Students will meet with their MAP Advisors.

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

1:45 p.m.  Class Photos
Location: Library Steps
Class of 2028 and the incoming transfer student cohorts will take class photos. Be sure to wear your class t-shirt given at check-in!

2:00 – 4:00 p.m.  Resource Fair & Ice Cream Truck
Location: Emerson Dining Hall
Meet and greet with representatives from Accessibility Services, Arts@Wheaton, Athletics/Rec, Campus Safety, Counseling and Health Services, Dean of Students, Dining Services, Center for Global Ed, IT Support Services (ITSS), Life and Career Design Institute (LCDI), Campus Mail Services, Marshall Center for Intercultural Learning, Residential Life, Student Activities, Involvement & Leadership (SAIL), Center for Social Justice and Community Impact (SJCI), Center for Religious and Spiritual Life, Student Financial Services, Title IX and Bias Response Office, and Wallace Library. Featuring Kona Ice food truck!

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

6:15 – 7:00 p.m.  Community Meeting #2
Location: Your residence hall
Meet with your RA and after the meeting your RA will lead you to Chapel Night.

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

7:30 – 9:00 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 conclusion of Orientation and the start of the academic year! Be sure to wear your class t-shirt (or something in your class color).

Tuesday, August 27, 2024 (First Day of Classes)

5:00 p.m.  Convocation
Location: Dimple
President Whelan is excited for the new 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.

Extended Orientation Programs

Tuesday, September 3, 2024

6:00 p.m. and 8:00 p.m.  Speak About It: Consent Education
We are excited to bring back Speak About It! for another year. Required for all new students. More information will be made available. There is some flexibility to account for schedule conflicts. Please email [email protected] with any questions.

Content Notice: Students should note that this session will raise discussion around consent, especially as it pertains to sexual violence. Students are encouraged to attend and step out if time or space are needed during the presentation. If a student feels they are unable to attend the session due to the topic area, they should contact [email protected] to discuss alternative options for receiving the important information from the session.

Friday, September 6, 2024

12:30 – 1:30 p.m. Honors Program Welcome
Location: Hindle Auditorium in the Discovery Center
Students in the Honors Program are invited to attend this Welcome Ceremony to meet with the faculty and learn more about the program.

2:00 – 4:00 p.m.   Student Activities Fair
Location: Dimple
Thinking about joining a student organization? This is your chance to meet with current student leaders from all of Wheaton’s student clubs and organizations. Learn more about their missions, find out meeting times, grab free stuff, and join their mailing lists.

Friday, September 27, 2024 – Fresh Check Day

11:00 a.m. – 2:00 p.m.
Location: Dimple
Check out all of the campus, community and student resources for your physical, mental and emotional health.

Thursday, October 17, 2024 – MAP Day

This includes attendance at MAP Day and completion of the reflection.

Friday, October 4 – Saturday, October 5, 2024 – Family Fall Fest

Schedule will be available in September.