Welcoming students

By Dr. Darnell Parker
Vice President for Student Affairs


Dear parents and guardians,

It was exciting to recently welcome our students back to campus! Their energy is infectious as they greet new faces and catch up with old friends. President Whelan sent the students a welcome message in preparation of their arrival. It was wonderful to see many of you on campus as you assisted your student to start the new academic year. As I shared with many of my colleagues at other colleges and universities, the opening of the academic year is my favorite time of year.

We began the fall semester with our Opening Convocation on August 27. This is a tradition that makes Wheaton a standout among other liberal arts colleges. We celebrate our seniors and welcome our new students into the Lyons family. College leaders and our student government president provide greetings and advice through brief remarks. 

In thinking about what I wanted to say to our students, I reviewed current events, looked at childhood books that are commonly read at commencements, and reviewed speeches I gave in the past. 

But, I found the perfect theme for my remarks while standing in Tasty’s Bagels located down Route 123 here in Norton. On the wall, there are inspirational quotes from athletes and others. The one that stood out to me was, “In a world where you can be anything, be kind.”

I encourage our students to practice compassion and empathy as we navigate their academic journeys. The world is a complex place, and listening and being there for each other is the foundation of a strong community.

As we start the academic year, I wanted to share some updates with you:

  • I appointed Dr. Zachary Irish as dean of students, effective July 1, 2024. He oversees residential life, student activities, involvement and leadership, and our student of concern (CARE management system). Dr. Irish will be working closely with parents and guardians to assist with your student’s transition to Wheaton. I am still available to families and students, but this shift will provide more clarity.
  • Over the summer, we continued our updates to residence halls, including Everett Hall and some of our theme houses. When students arrived on campus, they were excited to see that Wheaton continues to improve campus facilities.
  • The Counseling Center has been relocated to the garden level of Doll’s House, a more accessible location on campus. The new space provides enhanced privacy to students and larger space for programming.
  • Last academic year, we surveyed the student population regarding the dining services to gather information to improve campus dining options. I am excited to announce that we have added a 24/7 AI Byte vending machine in Crum’s Cloakroom located in Emerson Dining Hall. The machine will provide sandwiches, salads, yogurt parfaits, snacks, beverages, and more. In addition, we added a Ben & Jerry’s ice cream and Costa Coffee machine. Students can use their Lyons Buck to purchase items from the vending machines.  
  • The college has invested in new equipment to expand late-night food options and moved Late Night to the new Hood Café and Grill. Moving Late Night to Balfour-Hood Campus Center will increase usage of the space and encourage more social engagement and student organization meetings. 
  • The college implemented reusable containers in Chase Dining Hall that are more environmentally friendly. The containers are free for students to use. If containers are damaged or not returned, there will be a $5 assessment for a new container. Dining Services will send additional information.
  • A number of parents and guardians have inquired if there is a safety app students can use on campus. Wheaton College uses the safety app called Livesafe, which has features that allow students to request emergency assistance. The app also has the safewalk feature where students can provide their location to a friend or family member and that person can track that the student made it safely to their destination. This feature is widely-used and enjoyed by students at many colleges and universities. The app also provides a list of critical resources for students so they do not have to search the college website. If your student has not downloaded Livesafe, please encourage them to do so. Click here for more information.
  • I will continue to hold office hours for students on Fridays from 1–2:30 pm and eat lunch in the dining halls with President Whelan and other members of the college’s administration. I have found these sessions useful and provide students the space to share concerns and even successes.

In closing, I would like to invite you to join us for Family and Friends Weekend / Fall Fest, October 4–6. A majority of the activities will be held on Saturday, October 5. Please register for the weekend by using this form.

We are finalizing great programming and activities for both days that will provide an overview of what our students are doing in the classroom as well as leadership opportunities.

I look forward to working with you and your students as we assist them on their academic journey. You are always welcome to reach out to the Dean of Students Office with any questions or concerns.

Sincerely,
Dr. Parker