Parents are Wheaties too 

Wheaton College is experiencing tremendous growth in academic programs, athletics, and opportunities for students like yours to gain practical skills and experience with exciting internships, study abroad, and social entrepreneurship. As we continue to grow, we are investing in efforts to renew and reinvigorate campus living, learning, and recreation spaces.

by Merritt A. Crowley, Vice President for College Advancement

One of my early roles in higher ed was helping to grow the Parents Leadership Program at Brown University in order to meaningfully engage and connect more parents to the life of the University. I learned quickly that there was a great interest among parents to be a part of their student’s college experience—in myriad ways.

As Wheaton parents, you are invested in your child’s education and seek community with fellow current parents. Like your student, perhaps you, too, fell in love at first sight with the campus! The good news is this—when your student became a Wheatie, you did, too.

As a family member, you can be involved and support the College’s vital liberal arts mission. Through programs offered by the Dean of Students, Admissions, and the Division of Advancement, you can help Wheaton grow and strengthen the bonds that keep us together as a community!

Here are a few ways that you can become involved:

Parents Advisory Council is a group of parents, educators, and administrators committed to sharing information in a collaborative manner to ensure educational excellence for students and to ensure that parents have a voice at the College.

Parent Ambassadors help Admissions welcome new families to the Wheaton community and promote the College to prospective students and parents.

Parents Leadership Council helps to develop Wheaton’s culture of philanthropy through their leadership gifts and by encouraging others to support the College.

Nearing the Halfway Point of the Academic Year
It’s hard to believe that the semester is coming to a close next week. It was a busy fall on campus, including Fall Fest Friends and Family Weekend, our annual Five-Minute Play Festival, the two-day Many Voices, Many American Poetries Festival, MAP Day, the opening of the Early Education Center, a panel discussion on careers in higher ed, an alumni talk from ESPN producer Andrea Pelkey ’02, and a virtual career fair on tech analytics with our peers at Brandeis and Suffolk.

Wheaton saw the inaugural class of nursing students arrive on campus this fall, along with our first cohort of criminal justice majors. These two new courses of study, along with majors in interdisciplinary design, marketing, and digital communications are the clearest signs of academic growth and opportunity at Wheaton.

Our campus community also gathered for a Peace Ceremony in Cole Memorial Chapter in the aftermath of the terrorist attacks in Israel. In addition, the Center for Religious and Spiritual Life hosted a series of dialogues around the impact of the Israel-Hamas war. “From Reaction to Reflection” was led by Gail Sahar, Professor of Psychology, and Jonathan Brumberg-Kraus, Professor of Religion. These conversations, convened over three afternoons, focused on the varied experiences and perspectives of our Arab and Muslim students, Jewish students, and the broader Wheaton community. We support one another during these challenging times, and together we stand united against hate.

Giving Season
I would like to thank you all for your contributions to the Wheaton community, both on and off campus. Wheaton’s Giving Tuesday Challenge ends on Friday, December 1, 2023. A leader in Wheaton’s philanthropic community pledged $100,000 in matching funds that will double or triple the impact of every donation through December 1st! All gifts will be matched dollar-for-dollar, and gifts of $1,000 or more will get a 2-to-1 match! 

If you have already made a gift, thank you. And please share news of the Giving Tuesday Challenge with fellow Wheaton parents and on your social media accounts.

If you have any questions about engagement opportunities available to Wheaton parents and families, please send us an email.

All the best to each of you for a happy and healthy holiday season!