Frequently Asked Questions
All enrolled, degree seeking students at Whitman College are eligible for care at the Welty Health and Counseling Center.
To make an appointment you can call us at 509-527-5195, email us at healthcare@whitman.edu or you can also simply drop by the Welty Health and Counseling Center between the hours of 8 a.m. and 5 p.m., Monday through Friday, to make an appointment.
The Welty Health and Counseling Center is located at 11 Merriam St. on the corner of Merriam Street and Boyer Avenue, on the southeast side of campus.
The staff are dedicated to ensuring students are seen as quickly as possible. Most students can schedule an intake appointment with a counselor or a visit with a health provider within 1–2 business days. We also offer same-day urgent walk-in counseling hours and nurse triage appointments every day. During high-stress times of the year, it may take slightly longer to schedule a routine appointment.
If you are experiencing a mental or physical health crisis, seek immediate help by contacting one of the following:
Urgent Medical Care
- Be familiar with your health care plan. Many have urgent health advice lines. These numbers are often on the back of your insurance card.
- Call Whitman Campus Security: 509-527-5777
- Providence Urgent Care
- BestMed Urgent Care
- College Place Express Care
- Call 911 for emergencies
- Providence St. Mary Medical Center: Emergency Department
- Yellowhawk Tribal Health Center - Umatilla Indian Reservation
Psychological Crisis
- Whitman Urgent 24/7 Counseling Line: 509-527-5588
- Walla Walla Crisis Response Services: 509-524-2999
- Crisis Text Line: Text “HOME” to 741741
- Crisis counseling for students of color: Text “STEVE” to 741741
- National Suicide Prevention Lifeline: 800-273-8255
- Trevor Text Line for LGBTQIA+ students: Text “START” to 678678
- Trevor Project LGBTQIA+ Lifeline: 866-488-7386
At your intake appointment, you will first fill out an electronic questionnaire about your history and then a counselor will meet with you for approximately 30 minutes. You will be asked some questions related to your current concerns. During this session, you and the counselor will decide what the next best course of action will be. Sometimes this means follow up with counseling at our center, a referral to another Student Life department or a community provider, or no follow up.
There are several pharmacies in Walla Walla. The pharmacy will need to have a payment method on file and the prescription that you want to fill. Tallman’s, a local pharmacy, will deliver vaccines directly to the Welty Health and Counseling Center. Safeway Pharmacy on Rose Street is within walking distance, and Walgreens and Walmart are within easy driving distance.
We have many routine vaccines and some travel vaccines available. Vaccines are charged to your student account. Alternatively, Safeway can administer many of these vaccines and process them through your insurance.
Please read more here.
Point of care tests performed at the clinic include: COVID-19, strep, mono, urinalysis, pregnancy and STI tests. We can provide phlebotomy for testing that is sent to an outside laboratory as well.
Welty Health and Counseling offers reproductive exams and prophylaxis, including condoms, dental dams, prescriptions for oral contraceptives and PrEP. If you have symptoms or believe you have been exposed to a sexually transmitted infection (STI), the health center has low cost testing available, charged without detail to your student account. More extensive testing is available through our affiliate lab and is billed to insurance. Planned Parenthood, a few blocks away, has testing available as well, and provides care on a sliding scale according to income. Our experienced staff is available for conversations about reproductive health at all times.
Students who are under age 18 must have signed parental consent for treatment for any physical health concerns except reproductive health at the Welty Health and Counseling Center. Students under 18 do not need parental consent for treatment for counseling. Once students are 18 or older, they are considered adults and responsible for their own care and the decisions that go along with it. If they wish other adults, including parents, to have access to their health information, they may sign a release of information form (available upon request) to allow for selected exchange of information.
We share information with parents ONLY with your written permission. A consent for treatment will be provided upon your first visit to our clinic. Clinic charges are documented as “Health Center” charges on your bill from the business office. No one outside the Health Center can identify the item charged.
You can register and book your first session in just minutes by clicking here.
If you need any assistance accessing Uwill or have questions about the program, you can find more information from the following resources: Contact Welty Health and Counseling Center at 509-527-5195. Reach out directly to Uwill at 833-998-9455 or support@uwill.com.
Providers at Welty Health and Counseling Center offer diagnosis and treatment for a wide range of psychiatric conditions and mental health concerns. However, we do not conduct formal evaluations for either attention-deficit/hyperactivity disorder or autism spectrum disorder, and we do not routinely prescribe or refill ADHD medications. Our counselors can work with students on behavioral strategies to help manage ADHD symptoms. If you are currently taking ADHD medication prescribed by another provider, we recommend that you continue your care with that clinician. If you need help finding a local provider for ADHD assessment or medication management, please don’t hesitate to reach out to us.
The Welty Health and Counseling Center takes a holistic approach to student well-being by addressing physical, mental and emotional health in an integrated and coordinated way. Each member of our multidisciplinary team of medical and mental health professionals works collaboratively to provide comprehensive, high-quality care for all students. Your information may be shared among our medical and mental health staff only when it is relevant to your care and/or your safety (e.g., if students are receiving care across multiple services, staff involved in their care will routinely consult with one another). Our goal is to treat you with dignity and respect, and work with you to decide which services are most appropriate in order to optimize your wellbeing through prevention and intervention.
All degree-seeking students are able to access the college health center, regardless of their particular health insurance. The Welthy Health and Counseling Center does not bill insurance. Students are responsible for requesting a receipt for charged services/supplies if they would like to submit a claim. We strongly recommend that all students are aware of their benefits, including the limitations and requirements of their particular health insurance. Whitman does not offer a domestic student health insurance plan. Students in need of coverage can find insurance at Washington Health Plan Finder. Our International Student Health Insurance Plan is an AETNA plan by Lewermark.
Watch this short video to learn more about medical insurance, insurance cards, co-pays and more!
Students can see a counselor, physician or nurse practitioner at no cost. Nurse evaluations and services, including travel consultations, are also free. A small fee ($5–$20) may apply for in-house point of care tests like strep, medications and medical supplies. Costs for minor procedures, outside bloodwork and immunizations vary but are available upon request. If students are referred to an outside provider for additional care, they may incur additional costs depending on their insurance coverage.