Family FAQs
From the moment they arrive on campus, your student will explore new subjects, meet new people and begin the transformation into becoming a college student. Being at college doesn't mean they no longer need their families. But they do need different things from you than they have before, and your influence remains strong. It's important for you to stay connected and involved. We hope this list of FAQs will help answer your questions and help you identify the resources your student needs to succeed.
Financial Aid
Work-study is financial aid that your student earns by working on campus. It allows your student to earn a paycheck while attending Whitman, which can help pay part of their costs or cover personal expenses. Most offices on campus hire work-study students and provide jobs that are flexible around class schedules and academic needs while providing valuable work experience and building your student’s resume.
Whitman offers a matched work-study program that helps match incoming students who qualify for work-study with on-campus jobs. The application form is distributed by the Career and Community Engagement Center in partnership with the Financial Aid Office in late July. Students can register for the program through Sunday, Aug. 9.
While we work to place as many students as we can, not every student who applies will be matched with a position. Therefore, students are also encouraged to look for additional job opportunities for both on- and off-campus work using our online jobs platform, Handshake. Your student can activate their Handshake profile by logging in with their whitman.edu email address.
Our data actually shows that students who work also do well academically. Having a work-study position helps your student work on time management and study skills, while also increasing their responsibility. Our campus employers are extremely flexible around hours worked to accommodate academic needs.
Your student can go to their Whitman portal and log in. Once logged in, they can select Financial Aid and then loans. They can accept the loans online and the Financial Aid office will process them.
Students must maintain good academic standing (cumulative GPA of 2.0 and a minimum of 24 credits in the two immediately preceding semesters) to remain eligible for aid. Students receiving talent-based scholarships for debate, music, art or theater may have additional participation requirements.
An allowance for books and supplies has been included in the total financial aid package, but students will still need to buy their books.
The cost depends on the classes your student takes. Your student could pay very little or as much as $370 per class. Your student can save money by purchasing used books that are available on a first-come, first-served basis. The bookstore provides rentals on as many high-end textbooks as possible.
If a student withdraws during the semester, the refund policy applies to tuition and fee charges and special course fees. A student who moves from a residence hall after the semester begins, or fails to move into a room reserved for second semester, will be refunded room charges based on checkout date. Board charges will be prorated on a weekly basis as of the date of withdrawal, except for a min-imum charge of $100 per semester. If a student receives federal funds, the refund will be adjusted based on that fee schedule. See the full refund policy in the college catalog.
Residence Life and Housing
While living at Whitman, your student's mailing address is:
Student Name
Whitman College
280 Boyer Ave.
Walla Walla, WA 99362
It is not necessary to add a room number or building name.
Our residence hall staff works hard to help students connect with each other and the greater Whitman community. RAs and RDs plan a variety of events throughout the year to get students together and having fun.