President Bolton Highlights Whitman’s Unique Curriculum at Family Weekend

Last month, Whitman College welcomed well over 100 families to campus to connect with their students, learn more about Whitman and experience beautiful fall weather in Walla Walla. Families took full advantage of the opportunity to cheer on the Blues, explore Whitman programs, meet other Whitman parents, and, most important, spend quality time with their Whitties.

President Sarah Bolton kicked off the weekend with a welcome event in the Reid Campus Center’s Young Ballroom, where she fielded questions from families and highlighted how Whitman is preparing students for the future. Some highlights from the Q&A session:

Q. How does Whitman prepare students for graduate school?

Whitman has resources to help students prepare for graduate-level studies. Many Whitman alums are accepted to their first-choice graduate school, President Bolton said, in part due to the hands-on research experience they gain at Whitman.

She noted in particular that Whitman has dedicated pre-health and pre-law advisors to help interested students prepare for post-grad programs such as medical or law school.

Q. How is Whitman preparing students to adapt to climate change?

President Bolton noted that Environmental Justice, Sustainability and Climate Action is one of the pillars of Whitman’s strategic plan, adopted in 2023. Last year the college also completed a climate study to better understand Whitman’s impact and take action, she said.

Whitman has a robust Environmental Studies program, which many students interact with—either as majors or out of general interest. Whitman’s variety of outdoor programs and activities immerse students in the environment. And Whitman’s close relationship with the Confederated Tribes of the Umatilla Indian Reservation gives students the opportunity to connect with leaders in sustainability and land management.

One open question, President Bolton said, is whether Whitman should be building climate resilience into the curriculum for every student and noted that those discussions are ongoing.

Q. Are there specific courses that you would recommend?

President Bolton said she was impressed by Whitman students’ broad thinking about their academic experiences and the ways in which students fully engage with the curriculum. One thing she recommends more students consider: language courses. Learning a second or third language changes who you are and how you think about the world, she said.

Q. What has surprised you most about Whitman?

It’s the extraordinary opportunities associated with this place, President Bolton said. Students interested in the environment, for instance, can see windmills in action nearby or delve into water use questions that matter deeply here. Students also have opportunities to engage with historic agriculture, national forests, the wine industry, immigrant populations and Indigenous communities in unique ways at Whitman.

Q. How can families get involved?

President Bolton had three suggestions:

First, the college is actively building networks of mentors in different fields for students to connect with and learn from. She recommended that those interested in serving as mentors reach out to Kim Rolfe in the Career and Community Engagement Center to learn more.

Second, philanthropy from families—on all scales—matters. Even if it’s not their focus while their student is here, President Bolton encouraged parents to think about how they might like to have an impact on Whitman in the future.

Third, feedback is so important. “You have a view of this experience that is different from mine,” she said. If parents or family members have ideas, she encourages them to connect with her or one of Whitman’s deans to share their thoughts.