Monday, November 28, 2022

From Noah Leavitt, director of the Career and Community Engagement Center:

 

Last week’s break gave me a lovely opportunity to make my way through a few very full menus and also through my very full newsfeed which was packed with stories about changes in the labor market and the economy. The reflective mood of the weekend got me wondering what the outlook might be for students as they are contemplating internship possibilities, summer research projects, and post-graduate plans. Last spring, the economy was roaring and the labor market was absorbing new graduates as fast as they were collecting their diplomas. Will summer 2023 be the same?

 

While it’s too early to gain total clarity, I want to note a few items I’m starting to keep an eye on (tech layoffs, signs of an economic slowdown, Georgia's US Senate election runoff) and also share a few helpful resources that students might find relevant.

 

Read more.

Strategic Priorities Discussion

During the 2016-2017 academic year, Whitman College launched a strategic planning process and identified five broad strategic priorities. This year, the college is assessing the progress made towards those goals and evaluating whether any new priorities should be identified. As the first step in our new strategic planning process, priority working groups have assessed the progress over the past five years. You can find the brief summaries on the strategic planning website along with links to more detailed reports.

 

This week is the first of several opportunities for the Whitman community to provide feedback regarding the college's strategic priorities. In the small-group discussions, you'll be asked if there are major new priorities that should be added to the existing five. We invite you to weigh in at one of the following sessions: 

 

Open discussions for students:

• Monday, Nov. 28 from 6-7 p.m. at Reid Campus Center Coffeehouse
• Thursday, Dec. 1 from 6-7 p.m. at Reid Campus Center Coffeehouse

Open discussion for faculty and staff:

• Tuesday, Nov. 29 from 8:30-9:30 a.m., 12-1 p.m., and 4-5 p.m. in Baker Center

Open discussion for staff:

• Wednesday, Nov. 30 from 11 a.m.-12 p.m. at Baker Center

Faculty meetings:

• Wednesday, Nov. 30 from 4-5 p.m. in Olin Auditorium (discussion may be brief depending on other items on the meeting agenda)
• Friday, Dec. 2 from 12-1 p.m. in Baker Center

A survey for all students, staff, faculty and trustees will also be sent this week.

As we return from Thanksgiving Break, last week's shooting at Club Q in Colorado Springs, Colorado is on many of our minds. If you would like to talk to someone about how you are feeling, or any emotions that may have arisen from this tragedy, please stop by the Glover Alston Center between 4-6 p.m. on Tuesday or 1-3 p.m. on Thursday. In addition, LGBTQIA+ Student Services and the Office of Religious and Spiritual Life will organize a community gathering on Friday (details to be announced).

Join Whitman students and alumni for the winter break Whitties Helping Whitties events coming to Bellevue, Seattle, Portland, and San Francisco! Keep an eye out for invitations and register for the events on Handshake.

• Bellevue, Washington: Sunday, Jan. 8 at 2 p.m.
  Maydenbauer Center, 11100 NE 6th St., Bellevue, WA 98004
• Seattle, Washington: Monday, Jan. 9 at 5:30 p.m.
  SURF Incubator, 999 Third Ave., Suite 700, Seattle, WA 98104
• Portland, Oregon: Tuesday, Jan. 10 at 5:30 p.m.
  EcoTrust, 721 NW 9th Ave., Portland, OR 97214
• San Francisco, California: Thursday, Jan. 12 at 7 p.m.
  Werqwise, 149 New Montgomery St., 4th Floor, San Francisco, CA 94105

Questions? Reach out to the CCEC at ccec_info@whitman.edu. 

The Power & Privilege (P&P) executive team is looking for session leaders for the 2023 Power & Privilege Symposium which will take place during Spring semester. The theme this year is "No More Allies." Session leader applications are due Thursday, Dec. 1.

COVID-19 Updates

In accordance with Washington state Labor & Industries employer requirements, we are notifying the campus community that since last Wednesday, seven people with Whitman access were confirmed positive for COVID-19.

 

Please continue to follow all our campus COVID-19 protocols to help prevent transmission. If you have any symptoms that may be COVID-19 or know that you may have been exposed to coronavirus, please be tested. Additional masks and rapid test kits are available in the front entryway at the Welty Student Health Center during normal operating hours. 

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“Whitman Today” is produced by the Office of Communications and is emailed Monday through Friday to Whitman College staff, faculty and students. All times are listed in Pacific Daylight Time. 

 

All submissions are welcome! If you have accomplishments to celebrate, an event to publicize or other content to share with the Whitman community, email whitmantoday@whitman.edu. Submissions should be 125 words or less. The deadline is noon for the following day's newsletter. Submissions may be edited and/or held for a later date according to space and editorial needs. Your submission also authorizes use on Whitman's social media unless otherwise specified.

 

Previous issues of Whitman Today are archived on our website.