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Passage: The Orientation Program of Wheaton College

Passage registration opens January 5, 2024

The Start of Your Wheaton College Journey

Philip Ryken in His Office

Welcome to Wheaton!

We pray for your joyful life transition to our historic Christ-centered liberal arts community. Your time with us begins with Wheaton Passage, our excellent orientation experience for all new students. Passage will help you adapt to your new life through building community and connecting with the students, professors, and staff members who will be part of your new home. 

Once you have confirmed your enrollment to Wheaton, your next step is to register for Passage.  Registration opens on or after Friday, January 5, 2024.  To register, log into the Admitted Student Portal to choose your specific Passage site (Wilderness, Northwoods, Equestrian, Urban, Transfer). Communication regarding Passage will come to your student email address (my.Wheaton.edu).

If you have further questions about Wheaton Passage, please visit our Passage FAQ page. May every blessing rest upon you and your family as you move into this next phase of your life at Wheaton College. 

In Christ’s service, 

Philip Ryken Signature

Philip Ryken
President

2024 Passage Dates

The Complete Passage Orientation Experience

Students moving into Fischer Hall

1. Check-In, Move In, and Welcome

After you check in, our team of Thundermovers will be there to help make your move easy. Then, together with your parents you’ll be welcomed by President Ryken, administrators, faculty and other students at an opening event and learn about the mission and commitment of Wheaton College.  Students and Parents will attend several on-campus orientation sessions before students head to their Passage site.  

Small Group of Students Talking at HoneyRock

2. Small Group Experience

Next, you’ll begin your small group experience off campus in a unique place. The locations of each experience vary…you could be on your way to premier wilderness locations to Wheaton's HoneyRock Center for Leadership Development in northern Wisconsin or to the Center for Urban Engagement in Chicago.

students in front of blanchard

3. Converge at Wheaton

Finally, you’ll return to campus to experience radical hospitality as your fellow Wheaties welcome you to your new home. You’ll hang out with your new classmates while sampling Chicago deep dish, attend Residence Hall events, play an epic evening of rec and games under the lights on the soccer field and join the rest of the student body for your first all-campus worship, which Wheaties affectionately call “All-School”.

 

Through Passage you will gain greater clarity not only about what Wheaton can help you achieve, but who you can become. Passage is your start to the unparalleled journey Wheaton College offers. — Philip Ryken ’88, President of Wheaton College

Small Group Experience: Four Wheaton Passage Sites

Students choose from one of four sites for the second phase of their Passage Orientation experience.

girls on wilderness trip at honeyrock

Wilderness

the L in Chicago

Urban

chrouser lawn at Honeyrock

Northwoods

Group of Wheaton College IL Transfer Students

Transfer

Wheaton Passage
— By the Numbers
75+
Wheaton staff and faculty involved
8
distinct sites to choose from
120
student leaders ready to welcome you

Distinctives of Wheaton Passage

faculty with students at honeyrock

Deep Faculty Involvement

At Wheaton, 60+ full time faculty participate in our orientation program to help students set a vision for how they can build their faith—not lose it—through the pursuit of rigorous academic study. Through conversation and fun activities, professors become trusted guides to help new students transition to college.

chicago skyline

Multi-Site Options

While all students participate in Passage, they have choice in what their experience will entail. From Chicago to the Northwoods of Wisconsin and various locations between, students can choose the location and activities that best fit their interests.

students talking in a circle

Focus on Community Formation

College can be a big place. Instead of throwing students into a massive group, we start small. Once students depart for their site, they begin to form communities within their small group of students, led by an upper-class student.

 

The Start of Your Wheaton College Journey

Passage Orientation

Passage Site

Arrive and Move in at Wheaton College

Cost

Notes
Passage - Wilderness Site August 14, 2024 $995 Wilderness Passage students arrive a day early to pack their gear.
Passage - Urban Site* August 15, 2024 $995 The Urban Site includes the Woodlawn and Downtown tracks.
Passage - Northwoods Site* August 15, 2024 $995 The Northwoods Site includes HoneyRock and Equestrian tracks.
Passage - Transfer* August 15, 2024 $995 Transfer Passage takes place in Downtown Chicago and is designed specifically for Transfer students.

*If you're a student in one of the following groups, you're invited to move into your residence on Wednesday, August 14 in order to participate in early arrival programming:

Students attending Wilderness Passage
International/MK/TCK students
Music Majors
First Generation College Students
ROTC cadets 

How well you transition into the beginning of your college journey has a significant impact on your future success and your ability to enjoy all that college life has to offer. Therefore, Wheaton College expects all first-year students to participate in Passage and strongly encourages transfers to participate.

Wheaton Passage is a 1-credit hour academic course graded on a pass/fail basis. For more information, visit our FAQ Page.

The Passage fee is itemized as a part of your fall semester bill. Financial Aid for Wheaton Passage will be determined by information provided on a student's FAFSA and aid eligibility. No further application for financial aid is required for Passage.