Dear Parents and Families,
What an extraordinary moment this is in your parenting journey! As you are preparing to send your student off to Walla Walla University, we know you're feeling proud and excited—and maybe a little nervous too. This milestone represents years of love, guidance, and investment in your student's future. We're absolutely honored to be part of what comes next.
We want to be honest with you: this transition won't always be easy. Your student might struggle academically, feel homesick, or experience loneliness in those first few months. At times it might feel like an emotional roller coaster for all of you! This is perfectly normal and part of growing into adulthood. Despite common perceptions, no freshman has it all figured out from day one.
During this season, one of the greatest gifts you can offer your student is space to navigate these new experiences, to make mistakes, and to discover their own strength. We encourage you to stay curious about their journey without feeling the need to intervene or control every situation. While your instinct may be to step in and solve problems, try to resist that urge unless they truly need your help. Continue reaching out through letters, texts, calls, or care packages.
Instead, when challenges arise, encourage your student to reach out to the many resources we've built specifically for them. Help them assess their motivations, think through their choices, and make fully informed decisions—but let those decisions be theirs to make. Even when it feels uncomfortable for both of you, trust them to handle what they're capable of handling and trust us to be there for them.
Please know that your student is not navigating this journey alone. Our faculty and staff genuinely care about developing each student's full potential—intellectually, spiritually, and personally. We've created comprehensive support systems because we believe in the unique gifts and worth of every individual who walks our campus.
Practice empathy as your student works through difficulties, even those they may have brought upon themselves. Let them dust themselves off, learn to advocate for themselves, and discover the satisfaction that comes from persevering through challenges. Encourage them to find healthy ways to manage stress and build confidence. This is how they'll develop the resilience and skills they'll need throughout their adult lives.
As your student develops their adult identity and explores their life's purpose, practice trusting them. Encourage them to embrace opportunities for service, creative expression, and thoughtful engagement with ideas. This exploration of who they're becoming is not just part of their education, it's the very heart of it.
Your role is evolving from protector to supporter, from problem-solver to encourager. It's a beautiful transition that honors both the person your student has been and the adult they're becoming.
We're grateful to partner with you in this next chapter of your student's life. Together, guided by our shared commitment to nurturing the whole person, we'll help them grow into the thoughtful, capable, and confident adults we know they can become. We just ask you to trust us to do our best for each individual student in our care.
With warm regards and excitement for the journey ahead,
Your Walla Walla University Family
Parent and Family Guide
This guide has been designed to provide information that will help keep you informed and allow you to continue to mentor your student throughout this experience. We have included important dates, phone numbers, and information about the transition to college, specifically for this academic year. Download the Parent and Family Guide PDF.
Enrolling your student
Campus information
Parent Connection e-newsletter, sent by email quarterly. Check your email address on file or update at wallawalla.edu/update.
Welcome to the WWU Family!
Parents' FAQ
Parental involvement in the university experience can increase motivation and improve grades, but the right balance between involvement and interference is essential for the student’s growing independence and self-responsibility. Staying in touch with your university student through expressions of love and specific interest creates a helpful level of parental involvement.
The Family Educational Rights and Privacy Act (FERPA) does not allow us to release student information or academic information to parents, even if they are paying the bill, unless the student gives explicit permission. If they choose to do so, students can give parents login information to their WWU account (myWWU) for access to various types of information.
Statements are generated by the tenth of each month. Students are usually mailed one copy, or they can access their financial information at any time from their WWU account (myWWU). Using myWWU, students can also authorize other people (e.g., parents or sponsor) to receive a statement by mail.
Students can drop courses for a number of weeks into a term, but there are important deadlines and financial consequences to keep in mind. Before dropping a course, the student will need to visit with the course instructor and academic advisor. Dropping courses can affect students’ financial aid eligibility and scholarships, regardless of their GPA.
In order to succeed academically, students must complete all course requirements, which typically include an exam during finals week at the end of the term. On the rare occasion that early departure is necessary, the student may request an early exam through the office of the associate vice president for academic administration. If the request is granted, there is a $100 fee for each early exam.
There are many resources available to your student. These include mentoring for all freshmen through our Freshman Success Program, free tutoring at the Teaching Learning Center, academic advisement, counseling services, career counseling, health and wellness services, and disability support services. Course instructors often provide individual assistance to students as well.
The Walla Walla Walla University family gathers each week at CommUnity for worship, academic reflection, and celebration of the values of the university. All undergraduate students taking six or more credits are required to attend a minimum number of CommUnity meetings each term. Attendance is not required for students who already have a baccalaureate degree, are enrolled for less than six credits, are married, have dependent children in their immediate care, or are at least 25 years of age.
The student should first attempt to speak with the instructor and/or department chair or school dean about the issue. If the issue remains unresolved, the student may contact the Associate Vice President for Academic Administration (509) 527-2395 for assistance.
This status and special monitoring occurs when a student’s cumulative GPA falls below 2.0 or their term GPA is below 2.0 for two consecutive terms. Such students are limited to taking no more than 13 credits and are encouraged to meet regularly with their academic advisor. If the GPA does not improve sufficiently during the probation term, the student will be dismissed from WWU. A dismissed student may apply for readmission, presenting evidence of readiness to succeed.
Students who live in residence halls are more connected to the campus and have an increased likelihood of academic success. Students from outside the Walla Walla Valley are required to live in the residence halls until they are at least 22 years old, married, or have senior status (135 credits). Students of any age who wish to live with an immediate family member may submit a request for off-campus housing.
Support WWU, support your student:
Visit your student during Family Weekend.
Opportunities for student internships at your company? Want to volunteer to mentor a student? Let us know! Get in touch with our Student Development Center.
- Looking for a speaker for an event or for your professional organization? Consider our faculty experts!