The mission of Wheaton College is to serve Jesus Christ and advance his kingdom through excellence in liberal arts and graduate programs that educate the whole person to build the church and benefit society worldwide. The College’s vision for Wheaton College graduates is that knowledge and reason, Christian character, love, practical wisdom, and beloved community will be cultivated in them because of their experiences in and out of the classroom. The foundational commitments of the College include:
- Statement of Faith—what we believe
- Community Covenant—how we promise to live
- Christ at the Core—what we teach
- Life with God Together—how we grow
- Christ-Centered Diversity Commitment—how we practice Christian unity and Kingdom diversity
This handbook is provided as a practical guide for Wheaton College students* to live out their promise to each other via the Wheaton College Community Covenant. If students choose to attend Wheaton College, it should be with the full intention of living with integrity within the vision of holy living articulated in the Community Covenant and the expectations articulated in the Student Handbook.
By virtue of enrolling in academic courses, participating in College-sponsored activities, and/or working for the College, students accept responsibility for the expectations described in the Handbook. For follow-up questions or help locating information in this handbook, please ask for assistance from the Student Development staff located in the Student Services Building, Suite 218. You may also email student.development@wheaton.edu or call 630.752.5941.
Policies listed here are either authored by Student Development or are institutional policies for which Student Development has responsibility for communicating and/or enforcing. More information regarding academic policies or financial policies can be found in the Wheaton College Catalog.
Students are expected to refrain from publicly (including on social media) advocating for beliefs and/or behaviors clearly prohibited in the Community Covenant since students annually affirm its vision as a life-giving aspect of their voluntary membership in the College community and because the Community Covenant forms the foundation of the Student Handbook’s expectations. The College reserves the right to meet with and/or act in response to behavior perceived as public student advocacy in opposition to the Community Covenant. For answers to frequently asked questions about the Community Covenant, click here.
If students have a dissenting opinion regarding ways a College department and/or another member of the community could be serving the campus more effectively, they are encouraged to discuss the concern in person before publicly expressing such dissent.
Students who find it challenging to live with integrity within the Community Covenant’s vision and/or the Student Handbook’s expectations are encouraged to talk with the Vice President for Student Development, Dr. Paul Chelsen, or with any staff member in the Student Development Division. *For the purpose of the Wheaton College Student Handbook, the term “student” includes:
- A full-time or part-time degree-seeking undergraduate enrolled in academic courses wherever such courses are offered;
- A degree-seeking undergraduate student not currently enrolled in academic courses but living in a College-owned/rented property and/or working for the College between semesters;
- A special non-degree-seeking undergraduate enrolled in academic courses wherever such courses are offered; or
- A Wheaton College pre-college program participant.
These policies also apply to graduate students as directed in the Graduate Student Handbook.