• Would you like to receive a monthly email notification for ePartnerships? Consider subscribing. All parent email addresses will also be added to an emergency distribution list in the event of a campus or national crisis. To unsubscribe, please click here.

• Parents of graduates and returning students—If your student has earned the right to be called a Dean's List scholar or a graduate of Wheaton College this past semester, and you would like to share the news, visit http://www.wheaton.edu/news/release-request.html.

HEADLINERS

New Parents Orientation, August 21-23, 2008

If your son or daughter is new to Wheaton College, we’re looking forward to meeting you during Orientation Weekend. Visit the student orientation committee's website for student information and a full schedule, or click here for a schedule of parents events. At the end of July, a copy of the 2008-09 New Parents Handbook & Orientation Guide will be mailed to all new parents, which will provide further details about the weekend as well as helpful information to use as a resource throughout the coming year. If you have questions or need assistance as you prepare for Orientation, don’t hesitate to call the Parents Program office at 630.752.5712 or e-mail parents.program@wheaton.edu.

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A Glimpse into your Freshman Student's Fall 2008 Semester

Here’s the scenario: Your student is beginning the first semester at Wheaton College. After a few weeks, perhaps months, you receive a phone call or visit from your perplexed student. Certainly this will vary by child, but don’t be surprised if your student experiences any of the following:
• Syllabus shock—The volume and intensity of the college workload can overwhelm a student. Moving from a high school level to the demands of college courses can seem daunting. Practical ways for your student to combat syllabus shock are to practice time management and develop strong study habits.
• Social and/or roommate issues—Adjusting to having a roommate and developing new social circles can be stressful. Encourage your student to be patient. Regarding roommates, extending grace and committing to loving communication set a foundation for a healthy roommate relationship.
• Realistic expectations—Some students feel like failures if they haven’t met lifelong friends and/or a spouse by November. Encourage realistic expectations—developing lasting and authentic relationships takes time, and doesn’t occur instantaneously.
• Feeling stretched—There is no doubt that at one point your student will feel significantly stretched, both academically and emotionally. Some students even experience a degree of separation anxiety. Most importantly, commit your student to daily prayer as he or she navigates through this time of adjustment and transition.

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Defining a Parental Role—Helping Versus Hindering

It is a commonly known fact that Wheaton College parents desire for their children to grow intellectually, spiritually, and develop a sense of self. At times parents have a difficult time of “shifting gears” from their role as a high school student parent to that of a college student parent. This can be especially challenging if a parent is preparing to send their first child off to college. Many parents ask for guidance, to ensure that they model productive behaviors to help their student, instead of hinder their student. If these pointers could be helpful to you, please read on.
• Be available; allow your student to reach out to you—avoid smothering.
• Be an encourager; students are experiencing a life transition, developing a sense of self.
• Be supportive; engage in dialogue about your student’s choices and decisions—avoid instruction.
• Be delighted; enjoy watching as your student uncovers his or her direction and passions.
• Be prayerful; commit your student and your relationship with your student to daily prayer.

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Help Your Student get off to the Right Start

1. Encourage your student to choose friends carefully.
2. Encourage your student to remember that this is college, not high school.
3. Encourage your student to get involved but not over-commit.
4. Encourage your student to join a service-oriented project.
5. Encourage your student to manage time carefully and not procrastinate.
6. Encourage your student to find a good location to study and develop individual study habits.
7. Encourage your student to get to know professors. One example is to participate in Dine with a Mind—coordinated through Student Government.
8. Encourage your student to dress modestly to model Christlike behavior.
9. Encourage your student to get to know residence hall floor-mates.
10. Encourage your student to be themselves. During the first 4-6 weeks of college, new students experience what might be called “Camp Wheaton,” where everyone is putting their best foot forward. By the end of week six, the novelty has worn off and the reality of being a college student has sunk in.

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TAKE NOTE

2008-09 Year Verse

Each year Chaplain Kellough and President Litfin select a year verse for the upcoming school year. The 2008-09 year verse is taken from Psalm 119:32 (NIV):

I run in the path of your commands, for you have set my heart free.

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Annual Giving

You may have already heard from your student about a new program called We10 being introduced to sophomores, juniors, and seniors in September. We10’s “launch week” is scheduled for the week of September 8 and will include an ice cream social from 1:00 p.m. – 4:00 p.m. on the Quad September 10.

We10 is a new program that was created for Wheaton alumni in their first ten years, which includes most sophomores, juniors, and seniors because anyone who has completed one year of school at Wheaton is given alumni status.

For current students, We10 will aim to create student understanding and awareness of Wheaton's mission and history. It will also help to educate students on the critical role private support from alumni, parents, and friends plays in financing their education. Included in We10 will be programs such as Tuition Freedom Day, the Blanchard Birthday Bash, and Senior Class Gift. And, though they won’t be considered alumni yet, new freshmen can expect a special gift from the We10 program during Orientation.

On a different note, a special thanks to all the parents who made a financial commitment to the Wheaton Fund last fiscal year (July 1, 2007 – June 30, 2008). Thanks to the generous contributions of parents, alumni, and friends, Wheaton was able to meet its $4.6 million Wheaton Fund goal.

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Financial Aid

The Financial Aid Office is available to help students meet the cost of an education at Wheaton, and has committed the majority of available funds to helping those with demonstrated need. You can access Financial Aid’s website at www.wheaton.edu/finaid for applications, forms, descriptions on the types of aid available, loan counseling, frequently asked questions, an outline of costs, and much more.

New students who have submitted all required forms should have received their financial aid package. Both freshmen and returning students will be able to see their award on BannerWeb. Also, check BannerWeb to ensure all required forms are completed. Financial aid awards will not appear on your student’s fall invoice unless all disbursement requirements have been met. Financial aid awards are being made on an ongoing basis for all students who have turned in the required forms. Be sure to check BannerWeb to see if an award has been made, or if documentation is still missing. Do you have questions about your student’s financial aid package? Contact the Financial Aid Office by e-mail at finaid@wheaton.edu or by phone at 1.800.362.2674.

If your student is a first time Stafford Loan borrower or has changed lenders, please be aware that a Master Promissory Note (MPN) must be signed with the lender before funds will be sent to the College. For questions or confirmation of status on the loan, please contact your lender directly.

Financial aid, including parent loans, is not automatically credited to the Wheaton Installment Program (WIP) account. The Student Accounts Office oversees this program and can be contacted by phone at 630.752.5801, or by e-mail at student.accounts@wheaton.edu.

Financial aid can be seen on the fall term invoice sent out from the Student Accounts Office and is disbursed only if: (a) a financial aid award has been made, and (b) all requirements for disbursement have been met. Financial aid awards will be disbursed into student accounts starting August 20.

Students who have received scholarships from other organizations need to notify the Financial Aid Office of the donor’s name and the amount of the scholarship. If a scholarship causes a change in the financial aid award, your son or daughter will be notified of the change.

When new students arrive on campus, their Wheaton College e-mail address will be activated. Offices will officially communicate with your son or daughter through their Wheaton e-mail address only, so encourage your student to regularly check their e-mail account. Returning students need to check their Wheaton e-mail account over the summer for important e-mail messages and reminders.

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Career Services

Director of Career Services, Ita Fischer, answers questions from parents.

Dear Ita,
I’m reading that the economy is really tough right now. What can Wheaton graduates expect in terms of job prospects and what is the best way to snag one with a liberal arts education?

Although the economy has indeed tightened, the outlook for College grads is not as dire as it would seem. Although corporations are laying off their existing workforce, they are also conscious that the boomer generation is retiring and there is still a need to hire and train their replacements before a mass retirement completely impacts business. According to the NY Times, "Job prospects this year, however, have been better than career counselors and recent graduates had expected. Employers are still extending offers, just not as many as last year." Trend watchers warn that although companies are still hiring, there will be far less choice than in past years.

Wheaton grads, with a liberal arts education, are actually more marketable than ever. In a down economy, corporations will try to save money by off-shoring more automated skills. What companies are looking for are the liberal arts strongholds of thinking, analyzing, writing, and presenting. Companies do not hire college graduates for their skills or experience: they recognize grads don’t have them…yet! What Wheaton grads offer is immense potential. The more a graduate can demonstrate that they learn quickly, are willing to get the job the done, are a quick learner and a motivated initiative taker, they will be sought after!

I do encourage all job seekers to remain persistent. The average résumé is read for 15-seconds and to a certain extent job hunting is a numbers game. Apply to several places and don’t just wait for their response before applying for the next batch. Apply aggressively!

Here’s a great exercise: help your student make a list of 50 people within your immediate circle and connect with those people, but don’t ask them for a job! That’s right. Don’t ask them for a job. Instead, ask them how they got their jobs. Ask them about their experiences and if they have any suggestions for someone who is just starting out. When you start a relationship with someone, I guarantee they would be happy to float your résumé or connect you with anyone in their acquaintance that may be looking to hire. This process is the essence of networking!

For more information from the Career Services office, please contact Ita Fischer at Ita.Fischer@wheaton.edu.

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Wheaton College Bookstore

Textbook Reservations—Textbook buying made easier.
How does it work?
• Go to www.wheatonbooks.com
• Select “Order Your Fall Textbooks” on the front page and follow the directions from there

Benefits
• Students placing their orders now increase their opportunity to get cost-saving used textbooks
• Textbooks will be here on campus when students arrive

When
• Available online now through August 3 Bonus
• One student will WIN FREE TEXTBOOKS for the fall—sign up for Textbook Reservations by August 3 and it could be you!
If your student misses the August 3 cutoff for Textbook Reservations, they can still order their textbooks beginning August 6 through EasyBooks until we reach our limit of 1,000 orders.

Computers—Low educational pricing is available for MacBook and MacBook Pro computers; all standard laptop models are in stock. With purchase of a MacBook computer, you can receive a free iPod Touch or Nano, free Office Mac 2008, or a free printer. See our website www.wheatonbooks.com for details. Academic pricing on Macs and PCs cannot be beat. Conservatory and Art students, check out www.wheatonbooks.com for specific computer bundle recommendations from your department chairs. Order at www.wheatonbooks.com and we can hold it for you until your student is on campus (please provide your student’s campus ID number).

Essential Items for the school year—click this link for Student Life and review all the essential and fun items students will want to have when they come to campus. You will find information about ordering textbooks, how to get the HoneyRock book, our Mac bundles, and how to add money to ThunderBucks Plus accounts!

Bookstore and Convenience Store—Please note that the Bookstore is across the plaza from the dining hall and our phone number is 630.752.5119. Also, we have a great “mini-mart” in the lower level of the Beamer Center—our Convenience Store. The C-Store is open until 11:00 p.m. during the school year and will have those “emergency” items (ink cartridges, paper, notebooks, laundry soap, toothpaste, healthy snacks and more). We also stock books, Bibles, journals, pillows, music, iPods, t-shirts, blue books, and vocabulary cards at the C-Store. Come check us out!

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Student Health Services

The Student Health Services mission is to serve and educate students in their physical, emotional, and spiritual wellness during their experience at Wheaton College and equip them for the future. Student Health Services (SHS) is located at the Wyngarden Health Center at the “Quad.” The SHS is available to all students enrolled in classes at Wheaton College regardless of insurance. Walk-in visits to see a nurse are free of charge. A nurse must be seen before seeing a Medical Provider. There are five Medical Providers available for appointments. The charge for that service is $20.00. Students may make an appointment to see a licensed, registered dietician. Low-cost massage therapy is also available for female students.

SHS hours are Monday-Friday 7:30 a.m. - 5:00 p.m., Saturday 11:00 a.m. - 1:00 p.m. (during the academic year). Nurses are on call all other hours and can be reached for an emergency by dialing Public Safety at 630.752.5911.

SHS offers a variety of low-cost services:
Laboratory services Immunizations Prescription medications (after seeing a Medical Provider)
Allergy immunotherapy (after seeing an allergist)
Wart Removal
Loan of medical equipment
Rapid strep, mono, and influenza testing
Self help table free of charge
Sport and work physicals
Medical Shuttle free of charge (during academic year)

SHS offers Menactra (meningococcal vaccine) for prevention of meningitis for a reasonable cost. This vaccination is strongly recommended for students living in a dormitory setting. For more information about this vaccination and others please browse www.cdc.gov.

For freshmen undergraduate students, please make sure that you have completed the health form and sent to SHS before September 2, 2008. A late fee and registration hold will occur after this deadline if all information is not complete.

If you have any questions about our services please call 630.752.5072 or e-mail at: HealthSvcs@wheaton.edu.

It is a requirement of Wheaton College that all students have health insurance benefits in the Wheaton area for emergency and non-emergency illnesses and injuries. Students are automatically enrolled and charged for the Wheaton College student health insurance plan unless they have other coverage comparable to the Wheaton plan. Completion of an online waiver is required for the student to be removed from the Wheaton plan.

Health insurance requirements and online waiver may be accessed at www.wheaton.edu/healthsvcs. The deadline for waiver submission is September 12, 2008. For more information please contact Karen Mulder at 630.752.5573 or karen.k.mulder@wheaton.edu.

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GET CONNECTED

Listen Online

Check out scores of lecture and chapel messages from those who work at Wheaton College or have visited the campus, including audio of the 2008 Wheaton College Commencement activities. The WETN web site is www.wetn.org. 

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If we do not have your email address on file please consider emailing it to us. Along with receiving links to ePartnerships and Parents in Prayer, your address will be added to our emergency distribution list.

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		Construction is well underway for the renovation to Adams Hall and Edman Chapel. Take a minute to visit The Promise of Wheaton campaign website at www.wheaton.edu/promise to learn more about the five-year campaign.

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