Dear parents,

We thought it might take years to surpass last year's record-high freshman enrollment, but we are happy to report that this year's freshman class is the biggest in 42 years with 423 freshmen! Walla Walla University is God's university, and we are intentional about the qualify of education and experience we provide to your student. Please know that we pray for you and with you, and we ask that you do the same for us.

You may have heard that Sittner Hall, our largest men's residence hall, will be undergoing renovation this summer. This project is scheduled to take place this summer, and Sittner Hall will be ready to welcome new residents in fall 2020. Learn more about the project here.

We provide a multitude of support services to ensure our students are cared for and have the best chance to succeed in college. Be sure to encourage your student to take advantage of these services.

Enjoy a blessed Thanksgiving holiday!

Claudia Santellano

Director for Alumni and Parent Relations

Tips and FAQs
curated for parents like you.

Travel/lodging plans for holiday break

Final exams will take place December 9-11. Remind your student to review their exam schedule to help with scheduling of travel plans (see link below)!

Residence hall closures
As a reminder, residence halls remain open during Thanksgiving and spring break. During Christmas break, the residence halls close the Friday of test week and reopen the Friday before school resumes. If students need assistance finding a place to stay over Christmas break, please contact Kristen Taylor, director of residential life and housing, by phone at (509) 527-2539 or email kristen.taylor@wallawalla.edu.

Local shuttle service from Pasco airport (airport code PSC)
The Grape Line shuttle runs seven days a week, several times a day between Walla Walla/College Place and Pasco. Cost varies depending on the place of departure and the destination. Find more information or to make an online reservation >

Uber
Uber is now available in College Place and Walla Walla. As with any taxi service, we encourage all to exercise utmost care when securing transportation to and from the campus.

Send some cheer during finals

Fall quarter final tests are just around the corner, and our "Surprise Your Student” program is an ideal way to send your student cupcakes and/or care packages. Cupcakes are from Frosted, Walla Walla's very own gourmet cupcake shop. The care packages hold an assortment of fun, creative and tasty treats, and they can be personalized with several different themes:  "Birthday,” "Thinking of You,” "Get Well," and "Missing You.” Through this program, you can also order balloon bouquets, and gift cards for local merchants.

Got health insurance?

Wintertime can bring sniffles and sneezes, and sometimes more sinister health bugs that our University Health Clinic may be able to help treat. Here are just a couple of reminders in case your student needs care:

• All undergraduate students and graduate international students taking more than 6 credits must be covered by a health insurance plan.
• Be sure to check that Providence Medical Group — the provider that runs our University Health Clinic — is included in your in-network coverage, or consider another health insurance plan.

Time with family

College Place Family Weekend — From Friday afternoon ice cream cones to Sabbath lunch and the return of the Onion Bowl, our October Family Weekend was full of fun. On Sabbath, nearly 800 guests enjoyed lunch at the largest "restaurant" in town (our own gym), and more than 100 family portraits were taken (download your 2019 family portrait here). Fall colors were on gorgeous display for an afternoon stroll, and this year's Onion Bowl ensured a grand time was had by all!

Portland Parent Sabbath — More than 180 WWU students and their family members enjoyed Sabbath church services at Sunnyside Adventist Church, followed by a delicious Sabbath lunch. Following lunch, 64 junior nursing students were welcomed to the noble nursing profession during a special Nurses' Dedication service.

Join us next year — Plan now to join us for Family Weekend 2020 (Oct. 30-31) or Portland Parent Sabbath (date to be determined). No RSVPs are needed, but you'll want to plan well ahead for lodging!

Fall's focus on faith and service

Fall quarter is chock-full of opportunities for students to strengthen their faith and serve others. Ask your student about:

Week of Worship, Sept. 30 - Oct. 4 — Our guest speaker was our very own WWU Church Lead Pastor, Andreas Beccai. Pastor Andreas was born in Ghana and spent his formative years in the U.K. He completed his undergraduate degree in law and business at Keele University in the U.K. and earned a master of divinity degree from Andrews University. Before coming to the University Church, Pastor Andreas served as a pastor at Volunteer Park SDA Church, and before that at Green Lake Church, both in Seattle, Wash. Pastor Andreas is a gifted preacher and passionate about the mission of the church. Watch our Fall 2019 Week of Worship series here (you can also Google, "Week of Worship, Fall 2019, Day.")

Service Day, Oct. 16 — Twice a year our College Place students, faculty and staff participate in service projects throughout the Walla Walla Valley, helping local organizations and private residents. This year more than 700 students helped with approximately 37 projects. Read more about Service Day here.

Impact in Reach — Each year through ASWWU Global Service the Associated Students of Walla Walla University (ASWWU) launch an ambitious year-long service project. Past projects have included funding wells in Africa, building an orphanage in Uganda, starting a school in Indonesia, covering tuition for Rwandan refugees, and supporting a trade school in Haiti. This year ASWWU Global Service has chosen to partner with Treehouse, a domestic non-profit organization that works with foster children throughout Washington State. Learn more about this year's project here.

"Flourish" — This fall quarter sermon series from the Walla Walla University Church explored the book of Daniel and its themes of faith and discovery. Watch sermons from this series here.

Is a study tour in your student's future?

This past summer, 44 students participated in the 2019 Bible Lands Study Tour, which took them to Israel, Jordan, Egypt, and Turkey. They followed the footsteps of Moses, Jesus, the Apostle Paul, and John the Revelator, a life changing experience.

Now, we're looking forward to the 2020 UK Study Tour, a history and literature tour of the United Kingdom. Students will explore castles, churches, museums, and the homes of the great English authors.

Notes from Student Financial Services

FAFSA is open for 2020-2021
The federal government opened the FAFSA (Free Application for Federal Student Aid) for next school year on Oct. 1. The FAFSA for 2020-2021 uses 2018 tax information. Since most families have their 2018 taxes done by now, this should make applying for financial aid easier. Students and families whose financial situation has changed since 2018 can work with Student Financial Services on an individual basis, after their initial award letter has been generated.

How do students find a job?
Students needing employment should contact the Student Employment Office by phone at (509) 527-2357, and/or in person in Room 307 of the Canaday Technology Center building. Visit wallawalla.edu/jobscene for current job listings.

Scholarship applications for 2020-2021: Open Jan. 31 to Feb. 21
This is prime hunting season for scholarships for next school year. Visit wallawalla.edu/scholarships for tips on finding scholarships, and resources. Students enrolled this year (but are not graduating) are eligible to apply for WWU’s continuing student scholarships for 2020-2021. These are funded by alumni and friends of WWU. The application will be open Jan. 31 to Feb. 21, 4pm; late applications are not accepted. Visit wallawalla.edu/awards for more information. Make sure this deadline is on your student’s calendar!

Supportive parents: Get involved!

Visit your student

Local shuttle service from Pasco airport: The Grape Line shuttle runs seven days a week several times a day between Walla Walla and Pasco. Costs varies depending on the place of departure and the destination. Find more information or to make an online reservation >

Reserve a room: There are three guest rooms available on campus for rent. The fee for these rooms is $60/night plus tax. Arrange to stay in one of these rooms or to learn about other area lodging options >

Camper/RV accommodations available: Camper/RV parking is available behind Sittner Hall, the men’s residence hall. Power, water, and sewage hook-ups are included in the $20 nightly fee. First come first served. Call Sittner front desk at (509) 527-2111 for details.

Quick resources for parents