Student Affairs

Academic Resource Center

The Academic Resource Center (ARC) provides resources and support for all students. Home to premajor advising, tutoring, and the Student Academic Adviser programs, the staff in the ARC assist students who need academic advice, who want to improve their study or time management skills, or who need assistance arranging learning accommodations. The director offers individual academic counseling sessions by appointment. The ARC student staff is comprised of the Student Academic Advisers (SAs) and the peer tutors. The SAs live and work in the first-year residence hall sections to guide and assist new students on academic and curricular matters. Through academic programming, including such topics as time management, analytical reading, exam preparation, stress management, learning preference recognition, etc., SAs strive to provide content that contributes to improving students’ overall academic effectiveness. The ARC staff also coordinates assistance for students with disabilities and for those who demonstrate a need for tutors, note-takers, or assistive technology. Students can find additional information on the Whitman College website at www.whitman.edu/content/academic_resources.

Disability

Whitman College is committed to providing students who have disabilities fair and equal access. Once the college admits a student with a disability, he or she will have equal opportunity to participate in and benefit from all the college programs and activities. Whenever a student with a documented disability needs modification of academic requirements, facilities, services, or procedures, the college will make every reasonable effort to meet the student’s needs. Students requesting accommodations for a documented disability should discuss their needs with the Director of Academic Resources, Julia Dunn, Memorial 205. For the complete policy go to www.whitman.edu/content/academic_resources/disability-services.

Welty Center — Counseling

Professionally trained counselors are available to provide personal and psychological counseling to students at no charge. Counselors assist individuals and groups with personal and academic concerns, career choices, interpersonal relationships, and other areas of concern or interest. A consulting psychiatrist is available to students one day per week. The Counseling Center offers a variety of personal growth opportunities, including workshops and programs on listening and communication skills, stress management, and assertiveness training. Whitman’s professionally supervised peer counseling program and the Stuart Religious Counselor provide additional counseling resources. All counseling is confidential.

Welty Center — Health Services

The medical director and the director of the Health Center are responsible for the health service. The on-campus Health Center, with a 12-bed capacity, is staffed by nurses around the clock. During the academic year, the Health Center serves as a facility for the management of minor injuries and illnesses, and it offers student overnight rooms for health-related conditions not requiring hospitalization. Illness prevention and health education are emphasized.

The Health Center physicians maintain regularly scheduled hours on campus Monday-Friday. The physicians may refer students to outside resources if indicated. Limited postoperative care may be provided at the Health Center. The director of the student Health Center, who is a certified registered nurse, also is available to see students on a walk-in basis for nursing assessment and referral. All regular students may access Health Center resources and may see the Health Center physician and nurses without charge. If a student wishes to consult a private physician, the Health Center staff may recommend competent local specialists when requested to do so. Whenever a student is treated away from the Health Center, the expenses incurred will be the student’s responsibility. A dietician is available on a limited basis for consultations at no charge to students. A physical therapist and a massage therapist also are available on an appointment basis; there is a charge for their services.

Women’s health care, including PAP smears and contraception, is available. Anonymous HIV testing is available at no cost. The cost of other tests and services must be assumed by the student. Some medicines, bandages, and the loan of crutches, etc., may be provided free of charge. A dispensary for prescribed medication is available. Allergy antigen regimes/shots prescribed by home physicians may be continued at the Health Center at a nominal cost. The college charges for physical examinations for outside agencies, employment, matriculation, or other educational institutions. For a charge, certain immunizations are available at the Health Center.

Students must submit a Medical History Form and Immunizations Record before registration can be finalized at the college. Registration for classes cannot be completed until Health Center clearance has been obtained.

Accident and Health Insurance

It is mandatory for all regular students to have health and accident insurance. For those who do not already have medical insurance, Whitman College offers a group illness and injury plan to students at a reasonable cost. International students must have the Whitman College student insurance plan.

Each year the fee for the college insurance policy will be included on the student bill. If the student has other health and accident insurance, proof of insurance must be provided to the Health Center in order to receive a waiver of the college insurance policy (this must be done each year the student is enrolled). This proof of insurance must be received by the end of the third week of each academic year, at which point the insurance fee will be removed from the student bill.

It is the student’s responsibility to understand his or her insurance plan and know how to access coverage. We advise that each student carry a personal insurance card at all times.

If hospitalization or outside medical services are needed, the Health Center will assist the student in locating suitable medical treatment. The cost for such outsourced medical treatment, however, must be assumed by the student.

Whitman College provides “secondary” accident injury insurance for intercollegiate/varsity sport athletes who sustain injuries directly related to their varsity sport. This coverage applies only to varsity athletes, not club/team/intramural sports participants. If a varsity sport athlete becomes injured in a varsity sport-related accident, the student’s primary personal insurance will be billed first. As a secondary insurance, the varsity sport accident insurance policy will pay the balance due after the student’s primary personal insurance has paid its portion of the bill.

Intercultural Center

Fostering diversity, inclusion, and respect for all in the Whitman community is one of the foremost goals of the Intercultural Center. The center works to strengthen Whitman’s intercultural community and ensure a positive Whitman experience for those from historically under-represented backgrounds. The center also seeks to enrich the experience of the entire student body and community by providing opportunities to engage and educate the campus as a whole on issues related to diversity. Working together with a variety of campus constituencies, the Intercultural Center facilitates and encourages ongoing dialogue on issues of diversity between students, staff, and faculty.

The Intercultural Center team provides academic and social support for multicultural and international students. The international and multicultural student orientation, mentoring, individual counseling and advising sessions are a few of the opportunities available to assist students with their transition to Whitman College and Walla Walla. The center also helps bring diverse perspectives and experiences to the campus by sponsoring various speakers and events; housing a collection of books and videos related to diversity and multicultural issues; and providing information about internship and scholarship opportunities.

Throughout the year, the center sponsors workshops, speakers, programs, and cultural events that are free and open to the whole community. The student-led diversity organizations are among the most active clubs on campus. They provide leadership opportunities for students and promote diversity/multiculturalism by sponsoring speakers, discussion panels, musical events, dances, festivals, and dinners. In addition to the multi-ethnic interest house (MECCA), there are 15 active diversity groups: American Indian Association; Asian Cultural Association; Black Student Union (BSU); Club Latino; Coalition Against Homophobia (CAH); Feminists Advocating Change and Empowerment (FACE); Hui Aloha; International Students and Friends Club (ISFC); Muslim Student Association; South Asian Student Association (SASA); Gay, Lesbian, Bisexual, Transgender and Questioning (GLBTQ); Hillel-Shalom; Vietnamese Cultural Club (VCC); First Generation Working Class (FGWC); and African Awareness Club.

Glover Alston Center

The Glover Alston Center is a resource to facilitate Whitman’s commitment to sustaining a diverse community. By providing a safe space for meaningful conversation and interaction, the Glover Alston Center fosters collaboration with academic departments, input from divergent perspectives, intercultural and international awareness, and respect for all in the Whitman community. The Glover Alston Center achieves this by serving as:

• A unique place for programs to develop education, understanding, and community involvement.
• A safe place where conversations about diversity, difference, multiculturalism and social justice occur.
• A social and academic space where collaboration between Whitman community members can occur.
• A meeting place and home for campus organizations and clubs.
• An open space for meditation, reflection, and spiritual and religious practices.

With this facility, the Whitman community hopes to foster meaningful exchanges between individuals and groups for the greater understanding and mutual respect of one another by encouraging engagement, leadership development, and learning.

All members of the Whitman community are invited and encouraged to use this nonresidential space.

Office of Religious and Spiritual Life

The Office of Religious and Spiritual life is affiliated with the Intercultural Center and works to promote religious diversity and spiritual engagement on campus. The programming from this office seeks to create opportunities for interfaith dialogue among religiously affiliated groups which include: Hillel-Shalom, Muslim Student Association, Namaste Meditation Club, Orthodox Christian Fellowship, Nembutsu Dojo, Society of Friends, Whitman Christian Fellowship, and Whitman College Unitarian Universalists. Interfaith discussions (Spirituali-TEAs), worship services, service projects, and high holy day meals are among the many activities supported by the office. Counseling services also are available.

Student Engagement Center

The Student Engagement Center (SEC) encourages and supports students to take advantage of a vast array of experiences available outside of the classroom. These experiences enrich students’ academic programs as well as help them refine their interests and develop their passions for deeper and more meaningful learning experience at Whitman. They also help prepare students to be successful when pursuing opportunities for employment and graduate study. The Student Engagement Center fosters personal and intellectual development by promoting student engagement in academics, in community service, internships, campus and summer employment, leadership opportunities, and career exploration. The Student Engagement Center’s staff collaborates with academic departments and student support programs throughout the Whitman community to help students assess their skills, interests, and abilities, and to promote their involvement in activities that will advance them toward their future goals.

Student Engagement Center programs include:

• Internships — Internships add to a student’s college experience by allowing them to practice professional skills and obtain a deeper understanding of the world of work. Students are encouraged to apply for one of thousands of internships listed on the SEC website or to develop an experience that best suits their interests. The SEC also administers the Whitman Internship Grant Program which typically provides 30 stipends to students who develop and secure unpaid summer internships.
• Student-led Community Service Programs — Student interns coordinate seven service programs: Whitman Mentor Program, Adopt-A-Grandparent, Story Time Project, Make A Difference Day, Spring Break and Service Trips, and the Summer Community OutReach Excursions (SCORE).
• Community Service Consultations — The SEC staff connects individuals and groups with volunteer opportunities and supports Greek philanthropy and the Community Service House.
• Through career counseling, students can assess their skills and interests and explore career options. The staff teaches students how to build a professional resume, helps them to reflect on the experiences that will enhance their career goals, and introduces them to resources that fit their unique needs.
• Alumni Networking — The SEC provides networking opportunities for students and alumni to communicate about careers, internships, and jobs. The Career Consultant Network is a database of about 1,300 alumni who have volunteered to speak with students or other alumni about career issues. Alumni lists can be searched by location, and/or career field and sent to students as an Excel file. Several times a year the SEC hosts networking receptions in conjunction with Alumni Relations.
• America Reads/Counts — The SEC hires 20-25 work-study eligible Whitman students each year to tutor in the Walla Walla schools. This program provides Whitman College students with the opportunity to give back to their community, gain work experience, and earn money.
• Graduate School Fair — Each fall semester, regional graduate school representatives come to campus to meet students and discuss their academic programs. In addition, a Law School Panel, consisting of several regional law schools, provides an overview of testing and the application process.
• Major Connections — Offered in collaboration with the Academic Resource Center, Major Connections is an interactive fair that allows students to meet seniors from each academic department to learn more about the major. The SEC staff offers interest inventories, introduces students to internships, community service opportunities, and the career choices made by Whitman alumni who have majored in that field.
• More information about the SEC can be found on at: www.whitman.edu/content/studentengagement/.