September 2026
Dear Parents,
Not everything goes according to plan—our plan, at any rate.
We know this from Holy Scripture, which kindly informs us that “the heart of man plans his way, but the Lord establishes his steps” (Proverbs 16:9).
We also know about changes to plans from lived experience. Lisa and I experienced many happy events and fun adventures this summer, including birding on the Yucatan Peninsula, a visit to Wheaton’s Field Station in the Black Hills, fireworks in historic Philadelphia on our nation’s birthday, an all-family weekend on the lake at HoneyRock, lots of World Cup matches, and more.
We also suffered multiple illnesses and emergency room visits, a minivan breakdown, wildfires, rerouted flights, and other large and small crises that disrupted our travel schedule and rearranged our summer plans. Our summer plans changed, but not the steps that God ordained for us, which we know to be well-considered and ultimately beneficial.
Not everything will go according to plan for your Wheaton student this year, either. Some of you have experienced this already, and it’s only September. There will be setbacks, disappointments, and unmet expectations. There may even be an unwanted crisis.
When this happens, my prayer for you is that you will offer genuine encouragement that is grounded in your own deep faith in God and confidence in his goodness, as well as his planning ability.
We invite you to pray also for us in everything that seems unexpected this school year, as together we trust in God’s good next steps for Wheaton College and for every member of our campus community.
In Christ’s service,
Philip Ryken
President
Thank you to all the parents who submitted questions for the September 10 Virtual Parent Town Hall with President Ryken and the Senior Administrative Cabinet. If you were unable to attend, we invite you to watch the recording to hear responses to questions and topics of importance to Wheaton parents and families.
The Closing Parent Program was the last parent event at Passage Orientation in mid-August. President Ryken offered a final word of encouragement, and parents shared Scripture passages and prayers for Wheaton’s newest students. It was the perfect way to close the parent portion of Passage Orientation.
Here is a list of the Scriptures shared that morning. Perhaps they can serve as prayer starters as you pray for your student and Wheaton College this year.
Parents, grandparents, and siblings are invited to campus for Family Weekend! Come enjoy Wheaton’s vibrant campus life, meet your student’s besties, and revel in some one-on-one time with your son or daughter.
Review the Family Weekend schedule to see what is happening over the two days. You are invited to take in as much, or as little, as you like. Please pay special attention to events that require advance tickets or registration.
Students will follow their regular class schedules on Friday, November 6, so while they are in class, it might be a good time to visit Sam’s Café in lower Beamer, or explore downtown Wheaton, which is walking distance from campus.
Wheaton College offers a number of resources to support students. Residence Directors (live-in professional staff) and Resident Assistants (student leaders on each floor) are some of the first staff members students know. If your student mentions any concerns with roommates, academics, emotional care, or adjusting to living away from home, please encourage them to connect directly with one of their residence life staff members for encouragement, assistance, and referrals to additional campus resources. Students also can request support from Student Wellness. This resource may be found by students on Wheaton’s internal website, Gateway, in the “Wellness C.A.R.E.S” widget.
Explore Life at Wheaton to discover the range of available resources provided by the Student Development division.
Parents sometime ask the question, “When will someone at the College contact me if a concern arises with my student?” The Parent Notification Policy in the Student Handbook is a good resource to help address this question and can be used as a resource to clarify expectations. Follow up questions may be directed to student.development@wheaton.edu.
Community is beginning to take shape after a great start to the school year. Being back together creates a lot of excitement and energy. Students are building new connections in their living spaces, reflecting on past friendships, and figuring out who might be their new friends for the coming year. The purpose of the Residence Life department at Wheaton College (think RAs, GRAs, ARDs, RDs) is to create physically and relationally supportive environments where students are challenged to live out the body of Christ and grow in His likeness.
Students recently received the roommate check-up guide on building healthy relationships. It is a helpful resource for parents too, as you support your students from a distance. Having a roommate, floor mates, apartment mates and a brother or sister floor can be one of the greatest joys of your student’s college years. Friendships, adventures, late night talks, sharing joys and sorrows, meeting people from all over the world are enormous opportunities that can shape your student. Relationships, as we all know, can also be a point of conflict, misunderstanding and distress. It is absolutely critical to understand that community, both intimate and extended, is the workshop of your student’s relationship with God. It is not by chance that Jesus said, “If you love me, love your neighbor.”
It is by design that Campus Living is one of the four pillars of Wheaton’s educational experience (along with academic, co-curricular, and chapel). For eight months of the year, students are intentionally living with roommates and floor mates in all their glory and mess. There are challenges of communication, expectations, teamwork, reconciliation, conflict management, and the working out of 1 Corinthians 13 within a real-life scenario. Students are not only building intellectual muscles while they attend Wheaton, but they are also putting their faith into practice with real people in a real community. That is why we do not simply change housing arrangements when roommate dynamics feel uncomfortable, challenging, or overwhelming. The Residence Life staff is here to walk alongside your student by giving them both support and challenge and help walk them through the practices of the Christian life as it pertains to their living situation. If your student mentions experiencing a glitch with their roommate, please encourage them to utilize this resource, reach out to their resident life staff member who can help guide and empower them to have an honest and caring conversation with their roommate.
Encourage your student to first speak directly with their professor to get an accurate picture of their current grade and discuss whether there is a realistic path to improvement. If the situation is not recoverable, the student could withdraw from the course; however, they should consult with the Student Financial Services and/or Athletics department, as relevant, to see how a reduction in credits may affect their financial aid and/or athletics participation. Withdrawing requires completing the appropriate form from the Registrar's Office before the withdrawal deadline. For students who need to see if they need extra support, the Learning and Accessibility Services Office offers appointments.
As your son/daughter transitions to become an enrolled Wheaton College student, they begin working directly with various campus departments and offices. Feel free to remind them to make appointments, but please allow them to do the work themselves of making or attending meetings. In order for parents to attend any meeting, a FERPA release form must first be on file within the campus office; each office requires its own FERPA release to be on file. However, it is the discretion of each office to include parents or other third parties in meetings with students. (See the Registrar’s FAQ section to understand FERPA more.)
First-year students meet with their departments during the first week they are on campus. They will then have a one-on-one appointment with their faculty advisor in the fall (October 26-November 6). Academic advising is available year-round for matriculated students. Students can book an appointment or email academic.advising@wheaton.edu.
Major course sequencing information can be found on the MAPs page. Any questions about major courses should be addressed with the faculty advisor.
Students should prepare for their first meeting with their advisor by checking their Wheaton email. Departments will send out information sometime in September or October. They can also create a plan for their spring registration to discuss with their advisor. Students may also want to explore the Know Yourself section of the Center for Vocation and Career website, and/or meet with a CVC coach.
It was wonderful to see so many students at the CVC’s first large-scale event of the year! Almost 300 Wheaties turned out for the part-time job fair, connecting with 20+ employers hiring for on and off-campus jobs.
The CVC’s next big upcoming event is Internship Exploration Night on September 24. At this open-house-style event, students can come to the CVC anytime between 4:30 - 6:30 p.m. and talk to 20-30 student presenters who have completed internships of their own. In a competitive job market where internships are absolutely crucial for student success, this event is a perfect chance for your student to ask questions, get advice, and figure out where to begin applying.
To register for Internship Exploration Night, workshops, and other upcoming CVC events, or to make a coaching appointment, encourage your student to create a profile on Handshake if they haven’t done so already!
Student Health Services (SHS) has been busy helping patients complete entrance requirements, clearing students to start their intercollegiate or club sport, and treating those sick with various viruses often spread once students gather in the fall. Students should be encouraged to check their MyChart messages to be sure their medical entrance requirements are complete.
SHS has two physicians, two nurse practitioners, and a team of registered nurses who are available Monday through Friday, 8 a.m. – 4 p.m. to care for the varied primary health care needs that arise for your college student. The SHS website highlights the types of services available. All provider visits are covered under the Health and Wellness fee paid at the beginning of each semester, with potential additional fees for medications, supplies, or blood work.
Please encourage your student to protect themselves and others in the Wheaton College community by getting a flu shot this year. The cost of the vaccine is $30 billed directly to the student’s account. Students can walk in or call SHS to schedule an appointment. In addition, on October 14, Walgreens pharmacy staff will be coming to Coray gym on Wheaton’s campus to give flu shots using a student’s own insurance, and this immunization is often covered at 100% with insurance. Sign-ups for this event will be advertised around campus.
Families in the Los Angeles area are warmly invited to the Faithfully Forward event on September 26, at the Skirball Cultural Center. It will be a time to meet leadership, learn more about what is coming to Wheaton’s campus, and worship with special guest artist Rend Collective. This is a free event, but you must register.
Join us as we celebrate exciting news, including our $2 million library match being fully met, which unlocks an additional $2 million from an anonymous donor. To learn more about the Library Renovations, and exciting projects, visit our website.
Wheaton in Chicago welcomed 12 new students to the South Side of Chicago as our fall 2026 cohort this August. In addition to taking classes on site and studying Chicago through interdisciplinary lenses, such as CORE 308: Engaging Arts in the City or URBN 233: Chicago, this group of sophomores, juniors and seniors will be interning several days a week at sites such as Lydia Home Association, Project H.O.O.D., Greenwood Archer Capital, and Hyde Park Refugee Project. Encourage your student to apply.
Wheaton in Chicago fall 2026 cohort in front of Woodlawn mural featuring Mae Jemison, the first African American woman in space, who grew up in Woodlawn, Chicago. Photo credit: Grace Sentosa '23, WIC Program Assistant.
The Marriage and Family Therapy (MFT) Clinic at Wheaton College is growing!
The MFT Clinic continues to provide the same trusted individual, couple, and family therapy throughout the state of Illinois, including Wheaton College students and their families, and now has even more therapists available for new clients seeking support.
Specialties include:
As always, the MFT Clinic provides faith-integrated care for interested clients. All clinicians have been trained and/or supervised at Wheaton College.
To schedule an appointment, go to www.mftclinic.com, call 630.733.8161 or email info@mftclinic.com. The MFT Clinic is located at 209 N Washington St in Wheaton, next to the Billy Graham Hall.
Note: While the Wheaton College Counseling Center (WCCC) is the primary resource for students to receive short-term individual therapy, the MFT Clinic is an affordable option if longer term individual care is needed, or if the focus of therapy is more relational in nature. Students, families and anyone in the community, can receive premarital, couples, family, individual, and even roommate counseling at the MFT Clinic.
Last month, watching families help students settle into residence halls and connect with other parents on campus reminded our staff and faculty of how much parents invest in their students before the semester begins.
Wheaton College strives to offer that same care and support to every student throughout the academic year. One way we do this is through the Wheaton Fund, which provides flexible, timely resources for the services and opportunities students rely on while at Wheaton. To see how the Wheaton Fund supports all students, please watch this brief video.
A gift to the Wheaton Fund helps keep Wheaton’s Christ-centered education accessible. Gifts of any size matter. Together they create opportunities for students today and for those who follow. We are grateful for the care families give to Wheaton students, and we want to extend that same support to all students now and in the future. Please consider partnering with us by making a gift to the Wheaton Fund today.
501 College Avenue
Wheaton, IL 60187
630.752.5047
parents@wheaton.edu
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