New Student Orientation – Welcome Weekend
New Student Orientation: Thursday, August 27, 2026 through Sunday, August 30, 2026.
Move-in for first year residential students: Thursday, August 27, 2026.
Transfer Student Orientation: Monday, August 31, 2026.
Move-in for transfer residential students: Sunday, August 30, 2026.
First day of classes: Tuesday, September 1, 2026
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).
Helpful Information for New Students
Fall 2026 Orientation Schedule
- Friday August 22, 2025
- Saturday, August 23, 2025
- Sunday, August 24, 2025
- Monday, August 25, 2025
- Tuesday, August 26, 2025
- Transfer Student Orientation
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 before classes begin (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
- 9:00 – 9:45 a.m. Livin’ Like a Lyon: Meadows Center
- 10:00 – 10:45 a.m. Rights, Resources and Protections*: Title IX and the College Response to Sexual and Gender-based Misconduct: Hindle Auditorium (Discovery Center)
- 11:00 – 11:45 a.m. Wheaton Lore Campus Tour with your Orientation Group (Tour departs from Hindle Auditorium)
Young Hall, Clark Hall, and First-Year Commuting Students
- 9:00 – 9:45 a.m. Rights, Resources and Protections*: Title IX and the College Response to Sexual and Gender-based Misconduct: Hindle Auditorium (Discovery Center)
- 10:00 – 10:45 a.m. Wheaton Lore Campus Tour with your Orientation Group (Tour departs from Hindle Auditorium)
- 11:00 – 11:45 a.m. Livin’ Like a Lyon: Meadows Center
Pine Hall
- 9:00 – 9:45 a.m. Wheaton Lore Campus Tour with your Orientation Group
(Meet your Orientation Leader on Chapel Field)
- 10:00 – 10:45 a.m. Livin’ Like a Lyon: Meadows Center
- 11:00 – 11:45 a.m. Rights, Resources and Protections*: Title IX and the College Response to Sexual and Gender-based Misconduct: Hindle Auditorium (Discovery Center)
*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:
- Calming Crafts | Mars Science Center
- Wheaton Woods Walk | Mars Science Center (meeting point)
- Basketball, Pickleball & Volleyball | Clark Recreation Center
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
4:00 – 6:00 p.m. Athletics Scrimmages
Men’s Soccer | Keefe Field
Women’s Soccer | Mirrione Stadium
Field Hockey | Nordin Turf Field
5:00 p.m. – 7:00 p.m. Dinner
Location: Chase Commons
8:00 – 10:00 p.m. Evening Program- Outdoor Movie: Monsters University
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.)
11:00 a.m. – 12:00 p.m.
Wheaton Honor Code & Community Expectations (M) (Meadows Halls and Commuting Students)
Location: Chapel
12:00 – 1:00 p.m. Lunch
Location: Chase Dining Hall
1:15 – 2:15 p.m.
Wheaton Honor Code & Community Expectations (M) (Young, Clark and Pine Halls)
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, 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. Transfer Student Lunch
Location: Chase Commons
1:15 p.m. – 2:15 p.m. Wheaton Lore Campus Tour (M)
Depart from Chase Commons
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, Residential Life, Student Activities, Involvement & Leadership (SAIL), The Base, Student Employment, The SMART Program, Peer Tutoring & Advising.
4:30 – 5:00 p.m. Honors Program Pathways (New students admitted to the Honors Program)
Location: Watson Fine Arts, Ellison Lecture
For all new students admitted to the Honors program, come and learn about the resources available to you and the many different pathways for pursuing Honors at Wheaton.
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.