Phase 2 in Walla Walla for Staff

This is an archived message. Please check the most recent updates to ensure you have the most current information. 

Released: May 27, 2020 at 9:48 a.m. PDT

Dear Members of the Whitman Community,

As you may have heard, Walla Walla has been approved to move to Phase 2 of Washington Governor Jay Inslee’s economic reopening plan.

I know many of us are looking forward to returning to campus and some sense of normalcy. However, the return to work for Whitman employees will be a gradual process in accordance with guidelines outlined by the state. Your health and safety are our highest priority so we want to be as thoughtful as possible. We will be reopening campus offices and facilities in a rolling fashion, so just because others are approved to work on campus does not mean you should return.

Please do not return to work until you hear from your supervisor, cabinet member, or human resources that it is safe for you to do so. That message will come with additional information about new coronavirus-related safety requirements in your work area.

I also understand that finding childcare may be an issue for some of you with school-aged children. While our expectation is that staff and faculty will endeavor to find childcare, we also know that there will likely be fewer summer childcare options than normal in Walla Walla. For this reason, we anticipate the need to be flexible in the return-to-work process and ask that supervisors be flexible with employees with childcare concerns, including continuing work-from-home through the summer if necessary and feasible.

We will continue to update you as we finalize return-to-work plans. I look forward to seeing you all on campus when it is safe to be back together.

Kathy