Tuesday, January 11, 2022

Today’s the day we meet the person who will become Whitman’s 15th president. The Board of Trustees and Presidential Search Committee invite you to join them for a virtual announcement at 4 p.m. 

 

If you have not already registered for the announcement via Zoom, please be sure to do so through this link.

Welcome to Whitman

Over the past month, Whitman has welcomed the following new employees:

• Jeremy Davis, instructional and learning technology lab administrator in Technology Services

• Matthew Gabel, adjunct assistant professor of physics

• Jeanine Kay-Shoemake, adjunct assistant professor of biology

• Haley Lowery, instructional and learning technology administrative assistant in Technology Services

• Leah Maldonado, accounting coordinator in the business office

• M Prull, exhibitions and collections manager in Sheehan Gallery

• Emily Sibley, adjunct assistant professor in environmental studies
• Colby Watilo, assistant baseball coach

The start of 2022 signifies the beginning of a new chapter for Whitman's employee assistance program as Cascade Centers becomes Canopy.

While their name has changed, Canopy’s promise to partners and members continues to include:

• Innovative, human-centered wellbeing services and organizational support 
• Improving quality of life through emotional and responsive care
• Serving people with heart, offering real solutions and experienced professionals

Contact Canopy with any questions or requests by phone (800-433-2320), email (info@canopywell.com) or by logging into the member portal.

 

Don’t forget to take care of these important COVID-19 prevention requirements for our community in preparing for the spring:

• All students must get a COVID-19 test before returning to campus and complete the Spring 2022 Pre-Arrival COVID Test form by January 15.
• The entire Whitman community must take two baseline COVID tests following their return to campus; 
• Everyone who is eligible must attest to receiving a COVID-19 vaccine booster by January 15, or have an approved exemption; anyone not eligible must complete a form attesting that they will get the booster within one month of becoming eligible. Need to get your booster still? In Walla Walla, boosters are available at:

  • Walla Walla County Department of Community Health: clinics each week Thursday through Saturday. You can make an appointment online here: https://www.covidwwc.com/clinics.

     

  • Safeway: Registration is preferred, but walk-in appointments are welcome. For appointments, register on the Safeway website.

     

  • Albertsons: Registration is preferred, but walk-in appointments are welcome. For appointments, register on the Albertsons website.

     

  • Walmart: Daily appointments are available. Register on the Walmart website.

     

  • Walgreens: Register first on the Walgreens website. No walk-in appointments are available.

     

  • Rite-Aid: Must pre-schedule appointment online at riteaid.com.

In accordance with Washington state Labor & Industries employer requirements, we are notifying the campus community that in the past 24 hours, nineteen people with Whitman access were confirmed positive for COVID-19. These people are now in isolation for 10 days in accordance with our campus and CDC guidelines. Though the likelihood of transmission is low due to our campus COVID-19 protocols, it is possible that others may have been exposed to COVID-19. There is nothing you need to do at this time aside from following our campus COVID-19 protocols. Anyone identified through the contact tracing process as a close contact (within 6 ft. for at least 15 minutes over 24 hours) will be personally notified. 

Have an event you'd like to share with campus? Submit the information to the Events Calendar.

“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. 

 

Submissions are welcome! If you have a professional or personal accomplishment 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 for submissions is noon for the following day's newsletter, though submissions may be held for a later date according to space and editorial needs. By submitting to Whitman Today you also authorize use on Whitman's social media unless otherwise specified.

 

Previous issues of Whitman Today are archived on our website.