December 23, 2020 - Reminder: Important To-Do's for Spring 2021

Dear Students,

Last week we sent an email with a number of important things for you to do in preparation for the spring semester. It is essential that you complete these items so that we can make sure we are ready for you and your classmates to come back to campus.

Please review the items below and complete them by Jan. 1 if you have not done so already.

Important To-Do #1: Update Your Address and Learning Mode Information

For our testing strategy and contact tracing process, it is very important this semester that we have your local address so that you are included in our campus-wide COVID-19 testing protocol. You must complete this step in order to receive the early January email from Meenta, our COVID-19 testing company, to set up your account; if you do not, you will not have any campus access in the spring.

All students should go to the Academic Profile menu under the Students tab in myWhitman to complete the Spring 2021 Address Update check-in process, which will ask you to confirm that you will be living in a campus residence. If you will not be living on campus, you will be asked to provide your address and/or time zone. This check-in will also ask if you are taking all your spring classes online, which is information faculty need for class planning.

Important To-Do #2: Complete the Everfi COVID-19 Health Training

Prior to starting the spring semester, every member of the Whitman community must complete COVID-19 health and safety training, which Whitman provides online through EverFi. Even if you completed the training in the fall, you must do it again. You will receive a separate email today with a personalized link to access the EverFi training.

Important To-Do #3: Sign the Spring 2021 Community Pledge

Every member of the Whitman community must read and sign the Spring 2021 Community Pledge detailing the ways we will individually and together take steps to support a healthy campus this spring. Even if you signed the Fall 2020 Community Pledge, you must sign the new version to have campus access this spring.

Important To-Do #4: Schedule Your Move-in Time

For Students Living On-Campus:

To accommodate social distancing guidelines, move-in to residence halls will be a scheduled process this year taking place on Jan. 16 and 17. All students living on-campus (except student athletes) should schedule your move-in time from the available choices. We encourage students to sign up for times between 9 a.m. and 5 p.m. on Jan. 16 and 17. There are some additional evening move-in times for students coming in on the evening flights into Walla Walla, or for students unable to arrive during the day.

Student athletes should check with their coaches about their specific move-in process.

If you will not be moving in by Jan. 17 and are therefore unable to take the COVID-19 test and begin the initial quarantine period with the rest of the campus community, you must contact Dean of Students Kazi Joshua (joshuake@whitman.edu) to discuss the implications of a late arrival.

For Students Living Off-Campus:

Students living off-campus should be back in Walla Walla by Jan. 17 in order to begin the Whitman community’s initial 14-day quarantine period. Student athletes living off-campus should check with their coaches about their specific move-in dates and process.

Additionally, because all classes will be online for the first week (Jan. 25-29) it is essential that you have internet access in your house/apartment prior to that time so that you can successfully attend classes during the initial quarantine period. If you do not already have internet service in your off-campus residence, contact a local internet company (Spectrum, CenturyLink and PocketiNet are three options in Walla Walla) to schedule installation as soon as possible, as it may take several weeks to complete the process.

Important To-Do #5: Reserve Airport Shuttle Space (On-Campus Students Only)

Shuttles will be available from the Walla Walla airport and the Pasco airport, in the time of COVID, for students who will be living on campus and who are arriving in the region on Jan. 15, 16 or 17, 2021. The college is unable to provide a shuttle service for non-students or students living off-campus. The college will arrange transportation and notify students. Please note, due to demand and logistics, students wanting to access the shuttle may need to wait for a period of time; this is particularly the case for students flying into Pasco (PSC). Students can also opt to use another publicly available option such as the Grapeline shuttle, a rideshare option, or a one-way rental at their own cost. Submit a request for shuttle transportation.

Important To-Do #6: Save the Date to Attend a Town Hall Meeting

President Murray and members of the Cabinet will host two online town hall meetings for students and their families. Plan to attend one of these Zoom meetings for more details about the spring semester and an opportunity to ask your questions. The town halls, which can be accessed through this link, are scheduled for:

These meetings will be recorded for later viewing and the links will be shared afterward.

We are so looking forward to seeing you soon! Another email will be sent in early January with a few more important to-do items, so watch for that. If you have any questions in the meantime, please consult our Spring 2021 FAQs or the Whitman College Safe Start Plan. You may also reach out to me with any questions you may have.

Be safe,

Kazi Joshua

Dean of Students