Events marked with an asterisk (*) are required for new students.
Please bring this Opening Week Schedule to campus with you.
8 a.m.-5 p.m. • INFORMATION DESK, Reid Campus Center. Wondering where to go or what to do? Stop here with your questions.
8 a.m.-5 p.m. • CHECK-IN FOR PARENTS, Reid Campus Center Information Desk. Parents Orientation Schedules and name tags will be available for parents at the Information Desk.
*8:30 a.m.-4 p.m. • POST OFFICE MAILBOXES ASSIGNED, Reid Campus Center ground floor. Stop by the Post Office to receive your mailbox assignment. Registration packets will be found in all new students’ mailboxes.
8:30 a.m.-4 p.m. • PACKAGE PICK-UP, Reid Campus Center G02. Packages mailed to the college over the summer may be picked up during this time.
*8:30 a.m.-5 p.m. • I.D. CARD PICTURES TAKEN, Reid Campus Center, Young Ballroom.
8:30 a.m.-4:30 p.m. • PICNIC DINNER TICKETS ON SALE, Reid Campus Center foyer. Tickets for the Thursday evening picnic dinner may be purchased in advance or at the picnic. Dinner is complimentary for new students; there is a $12.50 charge for adults and a $6.50 charge for children.
9 a.m.-4:30 p.m. • BUSINESS OFFICE OPEN, Memorial 217. All bills must be paid or other financial arrangements made before you can get Business Office clearance for registration.
9 a.m.-4:30 p.m. • FINANCIAL AID OFFICE OPEN, Penrose House. The Financial Aid Office is open if you have questions.
*9 a.m.-5 p.m. • RESIDENCE HALLS OPEN FOR NEW STUDENTS. All students should arrive at their residence halls by 5 p.m. Upon checking in, students will receive a New Student Packet that contains additional orientation information. A second packet, the Registration Packet, can be found in all new students’ mailboxes in the Reid Campus Center.
*9 a.m. -5 p.m. • CHECK-IN FOR NEW STUDENTS LIVING OFF-CAMPUS, Reid Campus Center Information Desk. New students not living in a residence hall can pick up their New Student Packet at the Information Desk. A second packet, the Registration Packet, can be found in all new students’ mailboxes in the Reid Campus Center.
10 a.m. • CAMPUS TOUR, Penrose Library. Take a walk through the Whitman College campus with a student guide. Tours leave from the front steps of Penrose Library.
10 a.m.-3 p.m. • REFRIGERATOR RENTALS, Reid Campus Center office, room 202. Small residence hall refrigerators are available to rent for the academic year.
1 p.m. • CAMPUS TOUR, Penrose Library. Take a walk through the Whitman College campus with a student guide. Tours leave from the front steps of Penrose Library.
3-4:15 p.m. • ALUMNI PARENT RECEPTION, Alumni House, 219 Marcus St. All Whitman alumni parents of incoming new students and their families are invited to attend. Hosted by President George Bridges and the Whitman College Alumni Association.
4:30-5:15 p.m. • PARENTS ORIENTATION, Cordiner Hall. For a complete description of orientation events, please see the Parents Orientation Schedule, available at the Reid Campus Center Information Desk.
5:30-7 p.m. • DINNER, Memorial Building lawn (Reid Campus Center in case of rain). Dinner is complimentary for new students; there is a $12.50 charge for adults and a $6.50 charge for children.
7-8:30 p.m. • PARENTS ORIENTATION, Cordiner Hall. For a complete description of orientation events, please see the Parents Orientation Schedule, available at the Reid Campus Center Information Desk.
*7:30-9 p.m. • RESIDENCE HALL SECTION MEETINGS, residence hall sections. New students will meet with their Resident Assistants, Student Academic Advisers and section mates.
8 a.m.-5 p.m. • INFORMATION DESK, Reid Campus Center. Wondering where to go or what to do? Stop here with your questions.
8-9:30 a.m. • BREAKFAST, Reid Campus Center Café. For students on a meal plan.
8:30-9:45 a.m. • PARENTS ORIENTATION, Maxey Auditorium. Please see the Parents Orientation Schedule for complete descriptions and locations.
8:30 a.m.-4 p.m. • POST OFFICE MAILBOXES ASSIGNED, Reid Campus Center ground floor. Stop by the Post Office to receive your mailbox assignment. Registration packets will be found in all new students’ mailboxes.
8:30 a.m.-4 p.m. • PACKAGE PICK-UP, Reid Campus Center G02. Packages mailed to the college over the summer may be picked up during this time.
8:30 a.m.-4:30 p.m. • BUSINESS OFFICE OPEN, Memorial 217. All bills must be paid or other financial arrangements made before you can get Business Office clearance for registration.
8:30 a.m.-4:30 p.m. • FINANCIAL AID OFFICE OPEN, Penrose House. The Financial Aid Office is open if you have questions.
9 a.m. • RESIDENCE HALLS OPEN FOR RETURNING STUDENTS. Welcome back!
8:45-9:15 a.m. • CIRP FIRST-YEAR SURVEY FOR STUDENTS WITH LAST NAMES BEGINNING WITH A-L, Maxey Auditorium. CIRP is a national survey that asks first-year college students their opinion on a wide range of questions, including student characteristics, goals and opinions. The survey takes approximately 10-20 minutes to complete.
9:20-9:50 a.m. • CIRP FIRST-YEAR SURVEY FOR STUDENTS WITH LAST NAMES BEGINNING WITH M-Z, Maxey Auditorium. CIRP is a national survey that asks first-year college students their opinion on a wide range of questions, including student characteristics, goals and opinions. The survey takes approximately 10-20 minutes to complete.
*10-11:30 a.m. • WHITMAN COLLEGE OPENING CONVOCATION, Cordiner Hall. All students and family members are cordially invited to attend this event that marks the formal opening of the college year. Professor of Geology Patrick Spencer will present the Convocation talk.
11:30 a.m.-1 p.m. • NEW STUDENTS AND FAMILY LUNCH, Memorial Building lawn (Reid Campus Center in case of rain). New students and their family members are invited to a no-charge picnic lunch.
1:15-5 p.m. • PARENTS ORIENTATION. Please see the Parents Orientation Schedule for complete descriptions and locations.
1-4 p.m. • REFRIGERATOR RENTALS, Reid Campus Center office, room 202. Small residence hall refrigerators are available to rent for the academic year.
1-2 p.m. • SPECIAL ACADEMIC INFORMATION SESSIONS. Students interested in majoring in biology, mathematics/calculus, environmental studies, foreign language, music, or 3-2 engineering/3-2 computer science should attend an information session to help in selecting classes for the fall semester. Times and locations for these sessions can be found in your New Student Packet.
*2-2:30 p.m. • ACADEMIC ADVISING GROUP MEETINGS FOR FIRST-YEAR AND TRANSFER STUDENTS, advisers’ offices. This session is designed to acquaint first-year and transfer students with their faculty advisers. Students will receive crucial information regarding college policies and registration at this meeting. Locations are listed in the New Student Packet.
*2:30-5:30 p.m. • ACADEMIC ADVISING FOR FIRST-YEAR AND TRANSFER STUDENTS, advisers’ offices. Individual advising times will be assigned at the academic advising group meeting.
*2:30-5:30 p.m. • LIBRARY ORIENTATION AND TOUR, Penrose Library foyer. Students will participate in a 30-minute orientation and tour of Penrose Library. Pre-assigned tour times are listed in your New Student Packet.
2:30-5:30 p.m. • MUSIC LESSON CONSENT AVAILABLE, Hall of Music faculty offices. Students interested in taking music lessons will need consent from instructors in the music department before they can register. The music faculty will be available in their offices at this time to give consent for these lessons.
6-7 p.m. • MEXICAN FIESTA DINNER, Ankeny Field (Jewett Dining Hall in case of rain). New students will join their RA and SA for a festive section dinner on Ankeny Field.
7:15 p.m. • CLASS OF 2012 GROUP PHOTO, Ankeny Field. We invite you to participate in creating a memento of your opening week experience by joining your new classmates in a large group photo of the class of 2012!
*7:30-8:30 p.m. • “WELCOME TO THE TIME OF YOUR LIFE,” Cordiner Hall. Nationally acclaimed speaker Dr. Will Keim addresses important issues faced by new college students.
*9-10:30 p.m. • RESIDENCE HALL MEETINGS, residence hall main lounges. This session for new students will include an orientation to residence hall life as well as a discussion about living with roommates. Come meet your new neighbors and your hall’s staff!
10:30-11:30 p.m. • STORM THE FIELD. All new and transfer students housed in Jewett Hall, Lyman House and North Hall will storm Ankeny Field for a variety of field games and activities.
10:30-11:30 p.m. • CRAM THE COURTYARD. All new and transfer students housed in Prentiss Hall and Anderson Hall will cram the courtyard between the buildings for a variety of field games and activities.
8-11 a.m. • CONTINENTAL BREAKFAST, Prentiss Dining Hall. For students on a meal plan.
9 a.m.-Noon • ONLINE REGISTRATION CHANGES FOR NEW STUDENTS, from any networked computer on campus, including Maxey and Olin computer labs. For new students who need to make changes to their fall semester class schedule. Students must have adviser Web clearance and have completed Web Check-In before schedule changes can be completed.
10 a.m.-1 p.m. • BUSINESS OFFICE OPEN, Memorial 217. All bills must be paid or other financial arrangements made before you can get Business Office clearance for registration.
10 a.m.-1 p.m. • FINANCIAL AID OFFICE OPEN, Penrose House. The Financial Aid Office is open if you have questions.
11 a.m.-3 p.m. • REFRIGERATOR RENTALS, Reid Campus Center Office, room 202. Small residence hall refrigerators are available to rent for the academic year.
*11:30 a.m.-1 p.m. • TRANSFER STUDENT LUNCH, Reid Campus Center, Young Ballroom B. This event is designed for transfer students to meet each other and get acquainted.
11:30 a.m.-1:30 p.m. • BRUNCH, Prentiss Dining Hall. For students on a meal plan.
*1:30-2:30 p.m. • NEW STUDENT BOOK DISCUSSION FACULTY PANEL, Cordiner Hall. Professors Kendra Golden, Elyse Semerdjian, and Zahi Zalloua will share their unique, discipline-specific perspectives on your summer reading, “The Complete Persepolis” by Marjane Satrapi. Moderated by Shampa Biswas, director of global studies and associate professor of politics, this session will provide a brief introduction to the intellectual community at Whitman and serve as a springboard for the engaging book discussions to follow with your section mates, resident assistants and student academic advisers.
*2:30-4 p.m. • NEW STUDENT BOOK DISCUSSION. New students will discuss “The Complete Persepolis” by Marjane Satrapi in small groups with their resident assistant and student academic adviser.
4:15-5:45 p.m. • PLAYFAIR, Ankeny Field. Wacky, wild, hilarious fun awaits the class of 2012 as you participate in these interactive games. Meet new friends and laugh until your sides ache.
6-7 p.m. • DINNER, Prentiss Dining Hall. For students on a meal plan.
*7:30-8:30 p.m. • S.O.S. (Secrets of Success), residence hall main lounges. First-year students are invited to a presentation by the SAs in their halls. Learning styles, study skills and time-management techniques will be presented from the perspective of your fellow students in a manner that is sure to get you well acquainted with the charismatic personalities of your SA staff.
9 p.m.-Midnight • INTERACTIVE LATIN DANCE PARTY, Reid Campus Center, Young Ballroom. Salsa Magic is an interactive Latin dance party and light show. Lead instructor Lee Edward Smith and his dance partner have performed around the world with a one-of-a-kind themed dance party that simply can’t be missed. Featured on Fox Television’s Ambush Makeover, they have created a unique, interactive show and dance party.
8-11 a.m. • CONTINENTAL BREAKFAST, Prentiss Dining Hall. For students on a meal plan.
10:30-11 a.m. • INTERFAITH CELEBRATION WELCOME AND WELCOME BACK, Amphitheatre (Spiritual Activities Room, Prentiss Hall Basement, in case of rain). An interfaith service to welcome students to a new academic year in the context of celebrating the diverse religious traditions represented on campus. All are welcome.
11:30 a.m.-1:30 p.m. • BRUNCH, Prentiss Dining Hall. For students on a meal plan.
*1:30-3:30 p.m. • SHATTERING THE SILENCE: WOMEN ONLY, Reid Campus Center, Young Ballroom. Sexual assault is often referred to as a silent epidemic on the college campus. This interactive session is designed to educate new college female students about issues of sexual assault and to work together as women to identify ways to actively reduce risk and increase personal safety.
*3:30-5:30 p.m. • SHATTERING THE SILENCE: MEN ONLY, Reid Campus Center, Young Ballroom. Sexual assault is often referred to as a silent epidemic on the college campus. This interactive session is designed to begin a dialogue with new college male students on issues of sexual assault and explore the role and responsibility that men have to actively combat and prevent sexual violence on the Whitman campus.
5:30-6:30 p.m. • DINNER, Prentiss Dining Hall. For students on a meal plan.
6-7 p.m. • DINNER, Jewett Dining Hall. For students on a meal plan.
*7:30-8:30 p.m. • “VOICES OF WHITMAN,” Amphitheatre (Cordiner Hall in case of rain). Current students will reflect on their college experiences, sharing with you how Whitman has shaped them, and in turn, how they have shaped Whitman in this celebration of diverse perspectives that define the college.
*8:30-9:30 p.m. • RESIDENCE HALL DISCUSSIONS. Residence hall section discussions will follow the “Voices of Whitman” presentation.
10 p.m.-1 a.m. • NIGHT AT REID, Reid Campus Center. Join the staff of Reid Campus Center for a night of fun, fun, fun! Activities will include food, music, dancing, mini-golf, crafts and much, much more!
7-10 a.m. • BREAKFAST, Prentiss Dining Hall (7-9:30 a.m. full selection, 9:30-10 a.m. continental breakfast). For students on a meal plan.
7:30-9:30 a.m. • BREAKFAST, Jewett Dining Hall (full selection). For students on a meal plan.
9 a.m.-Noon • ACADEMIC ADVISING APPOINTMENTS FOR RETURNING STUDENTS, advisers’ offices. Returning students who plan to add or drop classes should arrange to meet with their faculty advisers during this time.
*9-10 a.m. • FINANCIAL AID MEETING, Maxey Auditorium. All new students who are receiving need-based financial aid must attend this meeting. Students receiving loans are required to hear this information, and students receiving need-based scholarships need to hear important information about renewing their scholarships. Students receiving only merit-based scholarships do not need to attend.
9 a.m.-Noon, 1-4 p.m. • BUSINESS OFFICE OPEN, Memorial 217. All bills must be paid or other financial arrangements made before you can get Business Office clearance for registration.
9 a.m.-Noon, 1-4 p.m. • FINANCIAL AID OFFICE OPEN, Penrose House. The Financial Aid Office is open if you have questions.
10:30-11:30 a.m. • ENVIRONMENT NOW: ENVIRONMENTAL PROBLEMS AND WHAT WHITTIES DO, Olin 130. Join environmental studies-geology Professor Bob Carson and several Whitman students for a presentation on environmental issues around the world, and learn what you can do about them on campus.
11:30 a.m.-12:30 p.m. • LUNCH, Prentiss Dining Hall. For students on a meal plan.
11:45 a.m.-1 p.m. • LUNCH, Jewett Dining Hall. For students on a meal plan.
Noon-3 p.m. • STUDENT ACTIVITIES FAIR, Cordiner Side Lawn (Reid Campus Center in case of rain). Representatives from various student clubs and organizations will provide information about getting involved at Whitman. Local businesses and organizations also will offer information about Walla Walla.
3-4 p.m. • FIRST GENERATION/WORKING CLASS STUDENTS RECEPTION, Penrose House backyard (Prentiss Great Hall in case of rain). Representatives of the First Generation/Working Class (FGWC) student group invite you to socialize, meet new people, and learn about upcoming events and activities. Refreshments will be provided.
4:30-5:30 p.m. • INTERCULTURAL STUDENT SOCIAL, Reid Campus Center Coffeehouse. All students are invited to attend this event! The Intercultural Center Staff and members of Whitman’s Intercultural student organizations invite you to socialize, meet new people and learn of upcoming events and activities. Refreshments will be provided.
6-7 p.m. • SECTION MIXER PICNIC DINNER, Ankeny Field (Jewett Dining Hall in case of rain). Each new student residence hall section has been paired up with another new student residence hall section for a picnic dinner on Ankeny Field. Come meet some of your classmates from across campus!
*7:30-8:30 p.m. • “IF AND HOW MUCH: ALCOHOL AND COLLEGE,” Cordiner Hall. Dr. Jason Kilmer is a nationally recognized speaker whose presentation will challenge, amuse and educate you on issues relating to alcohol.
*8:30-9:30 p.m. • RESIDENCE HALL DISCUSSIONS. Residence hall section discussions will follow Dr. Jason Kilmer’s presentation.
10 p.m. • CAPTURE THE FLAG, Ankeny Field. Everyone is welcome!
9 a.m.-4 p.m. • MUSIC ENSEMBLE AUDITIONS, Hall of Music faculty offices. If you are interested in auditioning for a music ensemble, you must sign up for an audition time. Vocal auditions will be held with Professor Bode in room 115, orchestra auditions with Professor Dixon in room 117, jazz ensemble auditions with Professor Glenn in room 118, and wind ensemble auditions with Professor Crawford in room 216. Vocal and orchestra auditions will be held on Tuesday and Wednesday. Jazz ensemble and wind ensemble auditions will be held on Tuesday, Wednesday and Thursday.
Noon-1 p.m. • SIGMA CHI FACULTY/FIRST-YEAR LUNCHEON, Sigma Chi side lawn, 1005 Isaacs St. The men of Sigma Chi invite faculty, administrators and new students to join them for their traditional lunch.
4-5 pm • MEETING FOR STUDY ABROAD RETURNEES, Olin 130. This meeting is required for all students who studied off-campus last semester either in a foreign country or on an affiliated domestic program. Credits, program evaluations and opportunities for continued involvement with international activities at Whitman will be discussed.
4-5 p.m. • EXPERIENCE EXPO: JOB, INTERNSHIP AND VOLUNTEER OPPORTUNITIES, Reid Campus Center, Young Ballroom. Need a part-time job? If so, campus and local employers will be available to take resumes or job applications. Looking for an internship or a community service opportunity? If so, agency contacts will be available to answer questions and talk with you about how you can get involved. Sponsored by the Career Center and the Center for Community Service.
5:30-6:30 p.m. • SOPHOMORE CLASS PICNIC, Reid Campus Center back lawn (Reid Campus Center Young Ballroom in case of rain). Don’t miss out on this sophomore class reunion! You must bring your Whitman I.D. card.
PLEASE NOTE: Prentiss Dining Hall will be closed for dinner; all board meals will be served in Jewett Dining Hall.
9 a.m.-4 p.m. • MUSIC ENSEMBLE AUDITIONS, Hall of Music faculty offices. If you are interested in auditioning for a music ensemble, you must sign up for an audition time. Vocal auditions will be held with Professor Bode in room 115, orchestra auditions with Professor Dixon in room 117, jazz ensemble auditions with Professor Glenn in room 118, and wind ensemble auditions with Professor Crawford in room 216. Vocal and orchestra auditions will be held on Tuesday and Wednesday. Jazz ensemble and wind ensemble auditions will be held on Wednesday and Thursday.
4:-4:30 pm • NEW STUDENT STUDY ABROAD INFORMATIONAL MEETING, Olin 130. This informational session is designed for all first-year and transfer students who are interested in finding out about off-campus study opportunities in foreign countries or in the U.S. through Whitman. Course prerequisites and planning tips will be covered.
4-5 p.m. • SENIOR CLASS MEETING, Maxey Auditorium. Senior celebrations, GREs, academic deadlines, graduate schools, interviews and job searches all make the senior year unique and exciting. Please join the senior class committee for the first of many senior gatherings to learn about important upcoming events.
9 a.m.-4 p.m. • MUSIC ENSEMBLE AUDITIONS, Hall of Music faculty offices. If you are interested in auditioning for a music ensemble, you must sign up for an audition time. Vocal auditions will be held with Professor Bode in room 115, jazz ensemble auditions will be held with Professor Glenn in room 118, and wind ensemble auditions will be held with Professor Crawford in room 216.
5-6:30 p.m. • “PERICLES,” Amphitheatre (Maxey Auditorium in case of rain). Come see students of the theatre department present Shakespeare’s adventurous saga of love, loss, redemption and revenge. There are pirates, too. Directed by Evan Cartwright ’09.
7-8 p.m. • OUTDOOR PROGRAM SLIDESHOW, Reid Campus Center G02. Is Whitman in the middle of nowhere? The Outdoor Program doesn’t think so! We are in a great location to access some of the best wilderness areas in North America, including the Wallowas, Wenaha-Tucannon Wilderness Area, Eagle Cap Wilderness Area and the Salmon River. Come find out more about the OP and where to hike, raft, climb, kayak, canoe, ski and camp. Also, if you are interested in becoming a trip leader for the OP, come to this meeting to find out what it takes and how to start the process.
9-11 p.m. • COFFEEHOUSE, Reid Campus Center Coffeehouse. Coffeehouse occurs each Friday night and features Whitman musicians. Come unwind after the first week of classes and enjoy the performance.
10 a.m.-7 p.m. • WHITSTOCK AND POSTER SALE, Reid Campus Center side lawn. Come purchase posters to decorate your new room, enjoy live music and eat at the all-campus dinner, 5:30 p.m.-6:30 p.m. Please remember to bring your Whitman I.D.
8:30-10:30 p.m. • SKIT NIGHT, Maxey Auditorium. Members of first-year residence hall sections and transfer students design and perform skits to introduce themselves to the class of 2012.
2-3 p.m. • SORORITY RECRUITMENT ORIENTATION FOR WOMEN, Olin 130. If you are planning to participate in sorority recruitment or would like to learn more about Greek life, please attend this meeting. Information about fraternity recruitment will be provided in the residence hall sections.
*7:30-8:30 p.m. • THE PRICELESS VOTE FOR BEING HUMAN, Maxey Auditorium. Dr. Jaiya John’s presentation is a poetic outpouring on the daily choices we are granted in our social living. We may either choose to become more human and thus extend ourselves into the human fabric; or we may choose to become less human and fold ourselves inward into our comfortable social categories. We all carry a unique challenge: Choose to find beauty in the variety of human life and learn from it; or choose to see something worth scorn and drown in it. Both choices lead to very real consequences.
*7:30-8:30 p.m. • “CAN I KISS YOU?” Maxey Auditorium. Mike Domitrz presents an interactive, humorous and hard-hitting session on dating, communication, alcohol and consent.
*8:30-9:30 p.m. • RESIDENCE HALL DISCUSSIONS. Residence hall section discussions will follow Mike Domitrz’s presentation.
© Whitman College | 345 Boyer Ave. Walla Walla, WA 99362 | Contact us