Fall Orientation – Welcome Weekend is from Friday, August 25, 2023 through Monday, August 28, 2023. Move-in for new residential students will be Friday, August 25, 2023 and will continue throughout the following three days for returning students.

View our Early Arrival Programs

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

On this page

Friday, August 25 

Note: Mandatory events are noted with an asterisk *

1:30 – 2:30 p.m.:  *Welcome Ceremony
Students and families are invited to attend the Welcome Ceremony to hear from Campus Leadership and Student Leaders welcome you and your classmates to campus. Families will leave after the welcome ceremony as students officially begin the orientation schedule.
Dimple

6:30 – 7:30 p.m.:  Dinner
Chase Dining Hall

7:30 – 8:15  p.m.:  *Community Expectation
Haas Field House

8:30 – 9:30 p.m.:  *Community Meeting: Living at Wheaton – in your residence hall
Meet with your Resident Advisor in your residence hall to discuss building a residential community at Wheaton.
Your residence hall

9:30 p.m.:  Outdoor Movie Night & Ice Cream Bar
Enjoy a sweet treat while you unwind after Day 1 at our outdoor showing.
Lower Campus Quad (rain location – Hindle and Filene Center)

Saturday, August 26 

Note: Mandatory events are noted with an asterisk *

7:00 – 9:00 a.m.: Breakfast
Chase Dining Hall

10:00 – 10:20 a.m.:  *Getting the Day started with the OL Team
Haas Field House

10:20 a.m. – 12:00 p.m.:  *Bystander Intervention and Response to Sexual & Gender-based Misconduct
This session will be presented by our Title IX Coordinator and SMART Program Coordinator. Students will learn key elements of bystander intervention, how to access reporting and resources as well as details of the College’s Sexual and Gender-based Misconduct Policy.
Haas Field House

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

1:00 – 3:00 p.m.:  *Design Your Wheaton Academic
Begin to define what you hope to get out of your college experience and plan your own path through Wheaton.
Haas Fieldhouse

3:00 – 3:30 p.m.: Commuter Session #1
Explore the many resources available on campus that you will find particularly helpful as a commuter. Meet with upper class students who also shared this experience and can help you navigate campus as a commuter student.
Holman Room in Mary Lyon

3:00 – 3:30 p.m.:  Transfer Session #1
Explore the many resources available on campus that you will find particularly helpful as a transfer student and meet fellow peers. Meet with upper class students who also shared this experience and can help you navigate campus as a transfer student.
May Room in Mary Lyon

3:30 – 5:30 p.m.:  We Just Got A Letter
Come connect with the Orientation Leaders while writing and taking a letter to start your year.
Balfour Hood Café

4:00 – 7:30 p.m.:  Dinner
Chase Dining Hall

7:30 – 9:30 p.m.:  Evening Programming – Wanna Know S’more?
Connect with your peers while making s’mores and enjoying one of our popular fire pits.
Meadows Firepit

Sunday, August 27 

Note: Mandatory events are noted with an asterisk *

10:00 – 11:15 a.m.:  *Building Community with Reverend Dr. Jamie Washington
Learn more about yourself and your part in creating an inclusive community, on the Wheaton campus and beyond.
Haas Field House

11:15 a.m. – 12:00 p.m.:  *Reflection and Conversations about Community
Haas Field House

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

1:00 -2:00 p.m.:  *The Wheaton Honor Code and Community Standards – the supports and accountability of being a student at Wheaton
Building off of the morning sessions, the Associate Vice President for Student Affairs and the Chairs of the College Hearing Board will discuss the Wheaton Honor Code, Community Standards, and the responsibility we all hold to be accountable and supportive of each other and the community.
Haas Field House

2:00 – 2:30 p.m.:  *Campus Safety
Hear from Campus Safety regarding their various resources and supports.
Haas Field House

2:45 p.m.:  *Class of 2027 Photo on Library Steps
Be sure to wear your Class shirt or something in your class color which is red!
Wallace Library

3:00 – 3:30 p.m.:  Commuter Session #2
Expand upon the knowledge shared in session 1 and go on a campus tour of valuable resources to you as a commuter student.
Holman Room in Mary Lyon

3:00 – 3:30 p.m.:  Transfer Session #2
Expand upon the knowledge shared in session 1 and go on a campus tour of valuable resources to you as a transfer student.
May Room in Mary Lyon

3:30 – 5:30 p.m.:  Choose own adventure
Use this time to explore campus, set up your room, connect with your peers. The Wheaton Athletic Mentors (WAMS) will be on the Library Green sharing about the various Fall sport schedules.
Library Green or Various spots around campus.

4:00 – 7:30 p.m.:  Dinner
Chase Dining Hall

7:30 – 9:00 p.m.:  Whea Perform
Watch the talents of Wheaton’s many performance groups come alive on stage.
Dimple Stage

9:00 p.m.: Pancakes Buffet
Enjoy a pancake buffet with all the fixings, spend some time connecting with your peers. Connect after Whea Perform with the various performance groups about auditions and becoming involved.
Dimple

Monday, August 28 

Note: Mandatory events are noted with an asterisk *

7:00 – 9:00 a.m.:  Breakfast
Chase Dining Hall

9:00 – 10:00 a.m.:  *Small Group Meetings with MAP advisors
Enjoy a continental breakfast while meeting with your MAP advisor and small group.
Dimple

10:00 a.m. – 4:00 p.m.:  *MAP Advisor meeting
 PAMS will schedule your one on one meeting with your MAP advisor. Some MAP Advisors will meet with students later in the week.

11:30 a.m. – 2:00 p.m.:  Lunch
Chase Dining Hall

1:00 – 3:00 p.m.:  Resource Fair on the Dimple.
Have a chance to meet and greet with representatives from Arts at Wheaton, Aramark, Athletics/Rec, Campus Safety, Career Services, Counseling Center, Dean of Students, Global Ed, Information Technology, Library, Mail Services, Marshall Center, Student Activities, Involvement & Leadership (SAIL), The Center for Social Justice and Community Impact (SJCI), Title IX
Dimple

4:00 – 7:30 p.m.:  Dinner
Chase Dining Hall

6:30 – 7:30 p.m.:  *Community Meeting in your residence hall
Meet with your RA and after the meeting your RA will lead you to Chapel Night.
Your residence hall

7:30 – 8:30 p.m.:  *Chapel Night
A time-honored Wheaton tradition. You will be welcomed with campus ghost stories and traditions presented by the Student Government Association, followed by the lighting of candles around the Dimple. Be sure to wear your Class shirt or something in your class color!
Dimple stage

8:30 p.m.:  Dessert Fair
Grab some sweet treats after Chapel night from local bakeries and our own Aramark catering.
Dimple

Tuesday, August 29 

Note: Mandatory events are noted with an asterisk *

5:00 p.m.:  *Convocation
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 at this exciting Wheaton tradition.
Dimple stage

Extended Fall Orientation Programs

We have also developed orientation experiences to continue throughout the Fall semester with additional choose your own adventure experiences. You will be required to attend six (6), and three (3) of which have already been chosen for you and will take place later in September and October as outlined below. Listed below are the experiences that you can choose to attend at least three (3). Our goal is to engage you in the community by connecting you with the culture and traditions at a variety of campus events. We hope this ongoing engagement will continue to acclimate you to Wheaton and help you learn about the variety of campus resources.

The following campus events are Required for all new students, so please mark your calendars:

Note: Mandatory events are noted with an asterisk *

Dates are still being set

*Speak About It!
Weber Theatre
More information will be sent to your Wheaton email soon.

*Taking Action as a Community Member
More information will be sent to your Wheaton email soon.

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

Additional orientation options throughout the fall semester are listed below.  Note that you must pick at least three (3) and be sure to check-in at the designated sign-in location to get credit for attending the events:

Student Employment Fair
Dimple

Student Activities Fair
Dimple

Any event during Family & Friends Weekend.
In order to receive credit for this event you will complete a form on engage and only one Family & Friends Weekend event can be counted toward one (1) of your three (3) additional required choose your own adventure events.

Fresh Check Day
Any athletic game, varsity, recreation, intramural – In order to receive credit for this event you will complete a form on engage and only one athletic event can be counted toward one (1) of your three (3) additional required choose your own adventure events.

Mainstage performance – dates coming soon
Additional items will be added and communicated.