Wellbeing Wednesdays
Since opening in 1959, Trinity has changed lives through our spirit of innovation, helping students find their vocations, and flourish in their callings.
Now more than 60 years later, Trinity is leading the way in re-imagining the way we look at the traditional five-day week. We have shifted to a four-day academic schedule by leaving Wednesdays open throughout the semester and supplying this space as an opportunity to meet each student’s needs and interests.
This innovative approach provides time for projects, collaboration with peers, academic support, and much more. Students can explore their calling with job shadowing or micro-internships, engage their city through field trips, volunteering or visiting a nearby museum, pursue academic success by completing projects or seeking academic support, or taking care of their overall well-being by getting rest, reading a book or simply walking the beautiful Trinity campus.
So we ask, what will you do with your Wednesdays?
Transforming Trinity’s Weekly Schedule FAQ
Trinity shifted its academic schedule to make space for students to do what they need to do to be well. Since the launch of this new academic schedule, we’ve seen students flourish in many ways. One specific way students have flourished is academically as we’ve seen more students progress in their major fields of study and successfully pass more courses each semester.
All first-year students will have their FDN-101: Thrive class on Wednesday mornings for the first 8 weeks of the fall semester. Beyond this, Wednesdays will be largely free of courses.
In general, nothing will be required of you between 9 am and 2 pm on Wednesdays, with some exceptions.
You may have a field trip on Wednesdays – you’ll find this out in your syllabi. Student teachers will still intern at their placement sites. Nursing students may still have clinical rotations on Wednesdays, depending on hospital scheduling. Student leadership groups, clubs and orgs may have Wednesday meetings. Sports teams will still have competitions.
Otherwise, between 9 am and 2 pm, what you do is up to you to opt in.
Four-year students will have 120 Wednesdays in four years. Here are some ideas:
Explore your calling
- Sign up for early job shadowing or field placement.
- Pursue micro-internships through Trinity’s Community Alliance Program
- Take advantage of Trinity’s network of college-student-schedule-friendly employers to find flexible ways to earn income.
- Serve as a student leader and collaborate with other student leaders.
Engage your city
- Participate in field trips.
- Explore Chicago’s vibrant art and museum scene.
- Consider volunteering at local non-profits.
Pursue academic success
- Use the time to stay on top of projects and coursework.
- Sign up for tutoring services via Knack.
- Take advantage of increased opportunities for academic support.
- Use the easy-to-schedule time for group projects or group study sessions.
Take care of your well-being
- Get some extra sleep.
- Get outside and explore the networks of walking/running/biking trails around Trinity.
- Exercise!
- Connect with a peer expert via Warmer.
Yes! All campus supports and offices are open for you to visit on Wednesdays.
What will you do with your
Wednesdays?
Favorite Activities and Places to See
SkyDeck Chicago
Navy Pier Centennial Wheel and Rides
Millennium Park and Cloud Gate (“The Bean”)
360 Chicago Observation Deck
Garfield Park Conservatory
Brookfield Zoo
Lincoln Park Zoo
Chicago Cultural Center
The Magnificent Mile
Lake Michigan beaches
Chicago Architecture Center River Cruise
Walking or biking The 606
Chinatown
