The focus of this program is to deliver information to international students about their immigration status, cultural adjustment, academic differences, options for employment and overall transition to Wheaton and the United States. Those who choose to participate may be an international student or may be an ally of that particular group. Led by the Center for Global Education.

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

For examples of the types of events and workshops that take place, please consult the Fall 2024 schedule listed below.

On this page:


Tuesday, August 20, 2024

12:00 – 4:00 p.m.
International Student Arrival
Check in with Global Ed and pick up your residence key, Wheaton ID and class t-shirt.

Balfour Hood Atrium

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

6:00 – 8:00 p.m.
Campus Tours and Memory Making with EAP Assistants

Join the Early Arrival Assistants and your fellow students for an evening of socializing and crafting.
Center for Global Education, then Emerson Faculty Dining Room

Wednesday, August 21, 2024

8:45 – 10:00 a.m.
International Overview

Program schedule overview, immigration presentation, and cross-cultural discussion on adjusting to a new environment.
Mary Lyon Hall – Holman Room

10:00 – 11:00 a.m.
Academic Excellence Workshop
What to Expect in the Classroom & How to Succeed. Hear from faculty about how to best succeed in your classes. Then, settle in with your Early Arrival Program Assistants as they share their own classroom experiences.
Mary Lyon Hall – Holman Room

11:00 a.m. – 12:00 p.m.
Health Services and Understanding Taxes

Learn more about health services and health insurance, then get a deeper understanding of taxes in the U.S. as they relate to international students.
Mary Lyon Hall – Holman Room

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

1:30 – 2:00 p.m.
Opening Ceremony 

Join campus leadership and the Early Arrival Program Coordinators as they give their opening remarks to commence Early Arrival 2024!
Weber Theatre

2:00 – 5:00 p.m.
Afternoon Cross-Track Programming
Discovery Center

5:00 – 6:00 p.m.
Dinner
Chase Dining Hall

6:00 – 8:00 p.m.
Target Trip

Meet outside Global Ed for a fun shopping trip

Thursday, August 22, 2024

9:00 a.m. – 12:00 p.m.
Hot Topics

Conversations about race, ethnicity, gender and politics in America.
Mary Lyon Hall – Holman Room

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

1:30 – 3:30 p.m.
Wheabelong
Join us on a journey through diversity, equity, inclusion and belonging
Discovery Center Classrooms

3:30 – 4:00 p.m. Break


4:00 – 5:00 p.m.
Title IX and Smart Session
Understanding consent, sex discrimination and bystander intervention
Mary Lyon Hall, Holman Room

6:00 – 8:00 p.m.
Evening Programming

Spend your evening playing games and getting to know the students from all of the EAP tracks!
Wallace Library

Friday, August 23, 2024

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

9:30 – 10:00 a.m.
EAP Joint Activity and closing remarks

Discovery Center

10:00 a.m. – 11:30 p.m.
International EAP Evaluations and Closing

Discovery Center