Right to Know

Student Right to Know and Consumer Information website contains information required by law for the Student Right to Know and Clery Act and other information that might be helpful to you including FERPA [Family Educational Rights and Privacy Act]. It is designed to inform current and prospective students and their parents about information that is vital to understanding their rights and responsibilities and the policies of the college. Students will be notified yearly of the information available on this web page. Please let us know if there is additional information you would like to see included on these pages.

Consumer Information (HEOA)

Some of the information below is in accordance with The Higher Education Opportunity Act of 2008. This was signed into law on August 14, 2008. This law mandates that we provide you with some specific information in various formats. Students will be notified yearly of the information available on this web page. More information about the HEOA requirements.

Institutional Information

General Information

• General School Information (Whitman Fast Facts)
• Whitman College Catalog

Accrediting, approval, or licensing agencies

Whitman College is accredited by the Northwest Commission on Colleges and Universities, an institution recognized by the Council for Higher Education Accreditation and/or the Secretary of the U.S. Department of Education. Whitman’s Department of Chemistry is accredited by the American Chemical Society.

Academics

• Academics
• Academic Programs
• Off-Campus Studies
• List of faculty and instructional personnel
• Accreditation: A complete copy of documents from the last accreditation period is available at Penrose Memorial Library.
• Transfer credits
• Textbook information
• Withdrawing from the College

Data/Reports

• Common Data Set
• Student body diversity
• The Office of Institutional Research is a major repository for information on enrollment and degrees awarded, and is charged with analyzing and interpreting these data for use in planning and policy decisions. It has a major role in providing statistical data to the President, Deans, and Board of Directors for strategic planning, accreditation review, and student outcomes. The Office of Institutional Research also has a major responsibility for compiling and filing reports required by the Washington Higher Education Coordinating Board, the U.S. Department of Education, HEDS and other state and federal agencies.

Graduation Rates

Graduation Rates

Financial Aid Information

• Costs
• How to Apply
• Rights and Responsibilities
• Contact Us

Security Policies and Crime Statistics

• Annual Report
• Emergency Procedures
• Campus Security and Crime Statistics
• Crime Reports and Timely Warnings
• Missing Student Notification

Alcohol and Drug Abuse Policies and Prevention

• The Student Handbook
  • Alcohol Policy: Page 68
  • Drug Policies: Page 69
• Drug Free Schools and Community Act

Student Life

• Facilities and services available to students with disabilities
• Copyright infringement and student penalties
• Code of Conduct
• Equity in Athletics

FERPA (Your Right to Privacy)

The Family Educational Rights and Privacy Act (FERPA) guarantees that you have some control over the educational records kept by the College. Some of the information is public and other information is private. A complete “Family Educational Rights and Privacy Act of 1974” (FERPA or Buckley Amendment) is available in the Dean of Students Office.

Voter Registration Information

Register to vote online

Complaint Process

The Washington Student Achievement Council (WSAC) has authority to investigate student complaints against specific schools. WSAC may not be able to investigate every student complaint.

Whitman College - Record of Informal Student Complaints

Whitman College encourages all community members, including students, to resolve their complaints at the earliest and most informal level (i.e. by talking with the individual(s) involved; through facilitated conversation and/or conflict mediation). Conflicts that arise during the course of everyday collegiate life are normal, and learning to deal with them effectively and with mutual respect is implicit in the mission of the College. The purpose of this policy is to ensure that records of informal student complaints are maintained and monitored at Whitman College.

Informal student complaints are those that relate to a person's status as a student at Whitman College but do not rise to the level of a formal complaint as outlined in Whitman's Grievance Policy. A complaint is an expression of dissatisfaction with the performance or actions of a college employee, a college experience, and/or a college procedure. Complaints relating to academic and other aspects of a student’s life will be accepted under this policy. This policy does not supersede, impact or otherwise alter any existing or future campus policies for receiving student grievances and complaints. Incidents involving sex- or gender-based harassment, discrimination, or violence, including sexual misconduct fall under the purview of Title IX and must be filed with the College’s Title IX Coordinator, Cassandre Beccai (beccaic@whitman.edu, 509-522-4314).

Resolution to informal complaints should be attempted by following the steps in the diagram below. Students have the right to file their complaints with the Office of the Provost and Dean of the Faculty. Complaints may be submitted using the form found at http://whitman.edu/assist. Complaints lodged in this way will be treated in a respectful, confidential manner, and the Office of the Provost and Dean of the Faculty will be responsible for taking action to resolve the complaints if necessary, and for the collection and maintenance of a College-wide record of complaints. Senior staff at the College will review the record of complaints and will write a summary report annually, with the goal of noting patterns of concern.

Figure 1. The diagram above shows the appropriate pathway to resolution of informal student complaints. Students have the right to file complaints with the Office of Provost and Dean of the Faculty by filling out and submitting the form at http://whitman.edu/assist. Updated 11/10/16.

Visit http://www.wsac.wa.gov/student-complaints for information regarding the WSAC complaint process.