Visiting Educators

Visiting educators enrich Whitman’s academic community by bringing cutting-edge research and creative work from around the globe to campus. Such scholars share their work in public venues that engage broad audiences and in more informal settings that allow for extended conversation and relationship-building.

Funding: Many departments and programs fund visiting educators through discipline-specific endowments from generous donors. Any departments without such funds may apply for funding from the Robert and Mabel Groseclose endowment on a rolling basis. Please note that departments accessing such funds are typically limited to one in-person visiting educator per year, but special requests for a second visitor will be considered as well. Additional funds are available for virtual class visits. 

Visiting Educator Funding Application 

Designing On-Campus Visits: Whatever the funding source, faculty should consult the guidelines for hosting visiting educators and plan visits with these principles in mind:   

All visiting educators should directly engage with students. Interaction with students might include: 

• Teaching or helping facilitate one or more class sessions
• Giving an evening lecture that will be required for one or more courses and will include the opportunity for students to ask questions
• Engaging in mentoring conversations or activities that center specific groups of students, such as seniors working on theses or students underrepresented in a given field

All visiting educators should engage with the broader Whitman or Walla Walla community. Such interactions might include: 

• A public lecture or performance
• Mentoring conversations or professional development activities that center specific groups of faculty or staff, such as those writing a book, applying for large grants, or navigating a particular career stage
• Networking or sharing expertise with community partners

Faculty sponsors should design visits that best fit the scholars’ expertise and the needs of our community, endeavoring to maximize inclusivity and impact. Visits will often include a public lecture or performance but will not always.

Virtual Visits

In some circumstances, virtual visits present the most accessible opportunity for members of the Whitman community to interact with accomplished scholars. Funding for virtual visits should come from departmental endowments or operating budgets, when possible. When such funding is not available, faculty may apply to the Provost’s Office for support. 

Hosts should similarly plan virtual visits in ways that maximize inclusivity and campus impact. All virtual visiting educators should engage with students. Those planning such visits are encouraged to consider whether virtual events with groups of faculty or staff would be beneficial as well.   

Guidance on honoraria for virtual visits is included in the guidelines for hosting visiting educators.