On April 12, the Academic and Institutional Technology (AIT) department sent an email to students announcing another update in a series of changes to Wheaton College’s digital infrastructure. The college will be replacing Wheaton Portal, the online hub where students and faculty can access the college directory, financial aid, registration, classes and many other campus resources, with Wheaton Gateway. Unlike its predecessor, the new online portal will come with a mobile application.
This announcement is the most recent in a series of changes to the college’s digital infrastructure. Last fall, the college directed students and faculty to switch from the learning management system Schoology to Canvas. Just a semester before that, the college replaced its employee dashboard with Oracle.
Alan Wolff, chief information officer, said the college has decided to transition away from the current portal, which is powered by Luminis, because it will be nearing obsolescence this summer. The new portal will be powered by Pathify, a Colorado-based online portal service.
In the email sent to students, Wolff said Gateway will include new features like joining on-campus and virtual events and receiving key alerts tailored to the student’s specific needs. Wolff told the Record that just as the current Portal does, Gateway will also facilitate access to other services, including Handshake, Gmail, tech support, campus calendars and student services like registration and classes.
“This robust integration will serve as a centralized hub, enhancing students’ ability to engage deeply and effectively with all aspects of campus life,” he said. “A key feature of Wheaton Gateway is its mobile application, which promises to provide a hassle-free, intuitive user experience accessible from anywhere. The integration of mobile-friendly technology showcases Wheaton’s commitment to leveraging modern solutions to enhance educational experiences.”
Wolff also provided an image of what the Wheaton Gateway would look like.
Although this change may feel sudden, Wolff said, this transition will happen gradually. The process of switching from the Wheaton Portal to the Wheaton gateway will occur in a step-by-step process, beginning in late summer with the student body. This will be followed closely by faculty and staff.
“Initially, basic functionalities will be introduced, with more sophisticated features being added gradually,” Wolff said. “This phased approach will help Wheaton College maintain continuity in service while implementing new capabilities.”
The AIT team will also be providing online video tutorials on how to navigate through the Wheaton Gateway. Wolff said the AIT team hopes that this change will better ensure the success of students.
“As the new academic year begins, students will come back to a fresh, unified approach to accessing educational and campus resources.”
