WakeParents & Families
E-newsletter from the Office of Family Engagement
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On April 10, Wake Forest students and members of the Traditions Council celebrated Arnold Palmer Day, which honors the memory of our legendary alumnus with cake, Arnold Palmer drinks, t-shirt sales, buttons, and other giveaways on Manchester Plaza.
April is always a time to look back and look ahead at the same time. We look back to celebrate the accomplishments of our soon-to-be graduates as we gear up for Commencement for the Class of 2025 (and their P’25 families). And we look forward to the arrival of our newly-enrolled Class of 2029 (and their P’29 families) by publishing our updated New Students website May 1 with information for our new students and families. P’29s, please see the special section for Incoming Families in the body of this newsletter.
We are just shy of two weeks away from LDOC (Last Day of Classes) on April 28, then final exams run April 30-May 7.
Move out, don’t throw out! As your students begin preparing to move out, the Office of Sustainability reminds us that a successful move-out starts with a plan!
“Students can minimize move-out stress and waste by participating in Wake Forest’s annual Deacs Donate effort. Donations will be accepted in designated areas at each Residence Hall starting the week of April 21.
Please encourage your students to review which items are accepted for donation and begin planning their move-out. Be a part of this campus-wide initiative that helps us meet our waste reduction goals and give back to our local Winston-Salem community.”
Students are also encouraged to attend the Spring Clean Out free swaps happening on campus April 29 and May 4: “As you pack up for summer, don’t toss your stuff — SWAP it! Join us for an end-of-year exchange where you can donate, trade, or score pre-loved treasures for free. From clothes and residence hall decor to school supplies and more, this is an easy way to lighten your load, reduce waste, and support a more sustainable campus.”
The end of the semester can be a whirlwind, but encourage your Deacs — especially our seniors! — to take a break, stop and smell the roses, and savor every experience they can. College goes by very quickly — for us as parents and families, and for our students.
Go Deacs!
Betsy Chapman, Ph.D. (’92, MA ’94)
Executive Director of Family Communications
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Upcoming Dates & Deadlines*
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April 28*
Classes End
April 30-May 7*
Final Exam period
May 1
Football tickets go on sale for the Family Weekend football game (note: Family Weekend event tickets go on sale later this summer)
May 8
Residential Communities close @ 2 p.m. for non-seniors (unless approved for Interim Housing)
May 18
Baccalaureate
May 19
University Commencement
May 20
Residential Communities close @ 12 p.m. for seniors and those not approved for Interim Housing
June 1
Payment due for Summer I and Summer II courses (for students attending Summer Session)
* See the Academic Services calendar, which lists these and other key academic dates; Additionally, see Residence Life and Housing’s opening and closing dates for our residential communities
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Message from the Parents’ Council chairs Karin and Charles Goldstuck (P ’23, P ’25)
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 We are thrilled to welcome our newly-admitted students and families to the Wake Forest community! Congratulations! As we prepare to celebrate our newest Deacons, many families are getting ready to head to Winston-Salem for the graduation celebration of our Class of 2025 students. These celebrations, coupled with the remarkable success of Wake N’ Shake and the Wakeville Arts Festival, demonstrate that our Deacons have plenty of reasons to celebrate. As the academic year starts to wind down, Karin and I want to extend our best wishes to all students in their final weeks of classes and for a successful end to the semester!
Karin and Charles Goldstuck (P’23, P’25)
Chairs, Wake Forest Parents’ Council
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For New Families of students in the Class of 2029
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- Welcome, P’29s (families of newly-admitted students in the Class of 2029)! We are currently working on the new version of the New Students website for the Class of 2029 (which is currently in pre-production/not yet published). We anticipate a May 1st launch, and will send all P’29s an email once the site is live.
- Please note that all the information on that website right now pertains to the Class of 2028, not your incoming students, so do not go by those dates, or complete any forms there.
- P’29 families will receive a weekly email each Tuesday (starting May 6) that covers key information, deadlines, and other information relevant to preparing your student for move-in and Orientation.
- From Athletics: Family Weekend football tickets go on sale May 1
- Family Weekend will be held September 26-28. Tickets for the Family Weekend football game (Sept. 27 against GA Tech) will go on sale on Thursday, May 1 at 10 a.m. Mark your calendar!
- NOTE: Students can get a free ticket to sit in the students’ football section with the Screamin’ Demon Rewards App (ticket claims open at noon the Monday before the game: Sept. 22 at noon ET). If your student wants to sit with you, you will need to purchase a ticket for your student.
- For inquiries or to purchase Family Weekend premium or season tickets options, please call the Wake Forest Ticket Office at 336.758.3322 ext 1 or complete this form to be contacted.
- Note that Family Weekend event tickets will go on sale in July.
- From University Police:
- We were excited to participate in Campus Days and connect with incoming students and their families! The Wake Forest University Police Department is dedicated to keeping our campus community safe and informed.
- We encourage everyone to download WakeSafe, our free mobile app that allows students, staff, faculty, families, visitors, and community members to communicate directly with University Police.
- Getting started is easy: no email needed, just download the WakeSafe app and enable notifications.
- While the details and deadlines in this section of the Wake Parents & Families e-newsletter apply to all incoming families, all other sections of this e-newsletter only apply to currently-enrolled students (Classes of 2025-2028), not your incoming Deacs.
- Important note: administrators do not review, moderate, or correct information shared in private Facebook groups set up by individual parents/families; that information is not officially sanctioned by the University. Our official Wake Forest parent and family Facebook page is not a group you need to be admitted to; it is an informational page anyone can access.
- If you can’t find an answer on our website or via campus offices, you can email parents@wfu.edu for help. You can also follow our official WFU social media accounts.
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Academics
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From The Center for Learning, Access, and Student Success:
- Encourage your students to join CLASS (Center for Learning, Access, and Student Success) at CLASS Cafe on Wednesday, April 23rd between 3:30-5 p.m. CLASS Cafe is a pop up cafe outside the CLASS office on Hearn Plaza. This community building event is for students, faculty, and staff to enjoy seasonal treats and casual conversation!
- The CLASS Office is offering an interactive workshop titled “Preparing for Success: Build Your Finals Study Plan” on Thursday, April 24th at 6 p.m. in ZSR 476. Students will leave with their individualized detailed study plan to help them find success in finals! This is part of the CLASS OWLS (Outreach Workshop Learning Series) events.
From the Office of the Dean of the College:
- A reminder that Wake Study Space https://college.wfu.edu/wakestudyspace is a handy resource to find space to study on demand or to book space in advance for private use or for collaborative projects and study sessions.
- Common spaces in select College academic buildings (Scales, Carswell, Greene, Kirby, and Manchester halls) will be open for extended access hours (April 29-May 6 until 1 a.m.) to support Spring 2025 finals week.
From Undergraduate Summer Session:
- Registration for Summer Session 2025 remains open through Friday, May 30. The Summer Session website has all the information you need to consider how Summer Session might benefit your current or incoming student. Please contact us with any questions.
From The Office of the Provost:
- Two Wake Forest faculty members have been named 2024 Fellows of the American Association for the Advancement of Science (AAAS), one of the highest honors in science.
Dr. Kimberley McAllister, Vice Provost for Research, Scholarly Inquiry and Creative Activity and professor of biology and neuroscience s being honored for her distinguished contributions to cortical synapse formation during development and in disease, with a recent focus on the effects of maternal infection on risk for psychiatric illness in offspring.
Dr. Abdou Lachgar, Professor of Chemistry is being recognized for his exceptional contributions to research, teaching, and service in the field of materials science, particularly his work in crystal framework engineering and green energy production.
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News
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From Student Financial Services:
- Congratulations to the parents and families of our May degree candidates! To prepare for Commencement, your students will need to have student clearance; please be sure your students are checking their Workday Student Financials hub for any outstanding charges to be paid, or credits that can be refunded.
- If your student has a credit balance on their account, they can request a refund.
- We encourage our future alumni to register for their WFU Alumni Gmail account.
- For parents of students that are continuing their studies during the Summer 2025 semester, the Summer semester billing statement will be made available on Workday in early May. That bill will be due on June 1st for all students, including students only enrolled in Summer II courses.
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Events
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From the School of Business:
- April 15 | 6:00 - 7:30 p.m. | (Atlanta) School of Business Happy Hour: Expand your local black and gold connections in Atlanta! Hosted by local School of Business alumni, meet fellow Biz Deac alumni over drinks for relaxed conversation.
- April 24 | 9:00 - 10:30 a.m. | (Atlanta) MSA Alumni Coffee Gathering: This casual meetup is a great opportunity to reconnect and expand your professional network in the Atlanta area while sharing career insights with fellow MSA alumni.
- May 2 | 12:00 - 5:00 p.m. | (Winston-Salem) Greater Business Open: School of Business alumni, faculty and staff are invited to join current MBA students as we swing into a day of fun at Tanglewood Park! Your registration fee includes cart and greens fee, park entrance fee, bucket of range balls, boxed lunch and drinks. Registration closes April 25.
From Wake Forest Executive Education: Join us for one of our upcoming professional development open enrollment programs:
See the Events Calendar.
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Resources
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From the University Counseling Center:
- As we wrap up the semester, the UCC’s theme for April is Distress Tolerance Skills! This month we will feature tips to manage difficult feelings including stress. We’ll also share some information on our end of the semester events. Lastly, if your student has been seen in the UCC this semester, please encourage them to check their emails and complete our client satisfaction survey. We value feedback and would love to hear about their experiences in our office! Completing the survey enters them into a drawing to win a prize. Please follow our Instagram for more information!
- The University Counseling Center continues to be a support to students who desire to talk to a professional about a multitude of things. We offer same-day scheduling during office hours, Monday through Friday from 8:30 a.m. to 5:00 p.m., and an after-hours counselor-on-call after 5:00 p.m. on weekdays and 24 hours a day on weekends.
From the Office of Personal and Career Development (OPCD):
- Whether your student is still searching for a summer internship or a full-time role, there are plenty of tools to help them move forward. Handshake currently features over 60,000 opportunities, which can be filtered by job function or location.
- Encourage your students to update their resume, LinkedIn, and Handshake profiles—and try using AI tools.
- Also, remind your student that searching by skills, not just job titles, can help uncover more opportunities. Applying early makes a big difference because jobs are filled quickly! For more career tips and ways to support your student, visit the Parents & Families page.
From Residence Life and Housing:
- Campus is in bloom, and the time to plan for move-out has come! This month, we have some final reminders for you as to what to expect from the move-out process this year, Summer housing, 2025-2026 dates, and a welcome to Class of ’29 parents and families! Please visit our website to learn more.
From Transportation and Parking Services:
- If your student is heading home at the end of the semester, Transportation and Parking Services offers convenient airport shuttle services during designated break times. Shuttles run to and from Greensboro and Charlotte airports, making travel easier and stress-free. Registration dates are listed below, so be sure to book in advance and review our schedule for departure times. For more details and to reserve your student’s spot, visit our airport shuttle services website.
- End of Semester Airport Shuttle Registration: Tuesday, April 1– Wednesday, April 30
- Registration will open at 9:00 a.m. on April 1 and close at noon on April 30.
From Mail Services:
- Streamlining Student Mail with New Smart Lockers: Wake Forest Mail Services is excited to launch a new smart mail delivery system that will make package and mail pickup faster and more convenient for students. Beginning this summer, student mailboxes will be transitioned to secure parcel lockers located on campus.
- If your student is affected, they have already received communication about this change, so feel free to check in with them! Once mail or packages are placed in a locker, students will get an email with a barcode for easy pickup at the kiosk.
- Here are a few important things to note if your student has been contacted:
- Mail in current PO Boxes should be picked up by April 30, 2025.
- Mailing addresses will remain the same — students can continue using their current PO Box numbers.
- Mailbox keys are no longer needed and should be returned to the Mail Services Customer Service counter.
- For more details and instructions, visit our Incoming Mail page.
From the Office of Wellbeing:
From Deacon Health:
- Seniors or Students not returning to Wake Forest: reminder to pick up all medications and obtain your records by completing a Release of information on our website. You can pick up your copies or we will fax your records to your provider of your choice.
- Remember to establish care in the area you will be living to continue with your healthcare and be proactive in your healthcare.
From Deacon Dining:
- Wake Forest Chef Wins Gold! Congratulations to Chef Jonathon Burns, who earned Gold at the ACE (Aramark Culinary Excellence) Competition, representing Wake Forest among top campus chefs in the Harvest Table Culinary region. His winning dish — a Joyce Farms Chicken Roulade with Lady Edison Ham & Sage — was featured at a special Chef’s Table in The Pit.
Chef Burns will advance to the national competition this July at the Culinary Institute of America in Napa Valley. We’re proud to have him showcase Wake Forest Dining on the national stage!
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Athletics
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From Athletics: Family Weekend football tickets go on sale May 1
- Everyone is excited about Family Weekend, which will be held September 26-28. Tickets for the Family Weekend football game (Sept. 27 against GA Tech) will go on sale on Thursday, May 1 at 10 a.m. Mark your calendar!
- NOTE: Students can get a free ticket to sit in the students’ football section with the Screamin’ Demon Rewards App (ticket claims open at noon the Monday before the game: Sept. 22 at noon ET). If your student wants to sit with you, you will need to purchase a ticket for your student.
- For inquiries or to purchase Family Weekend premium or season tickets options, please call the Wake Forest Ticket Office at 336.758.3322 ext 1 or complete this form to be contacted. The below premium options sell out quickly:
- Suite Package — Limited Availability
- TD Club Package — Limited Availability
- Pollard Club Package — Limited Availability
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Parents & Families Page
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Parents and Families Page is your portal to news and information specifically for Wake Forest families.
The Daily Deac is our blog for parents and families. It’s a great way to get a snapshot of life at Wake Forest, plus news, tips, and advice on supporting your student. Subscribe to the Daily Deac here
Any emails that are sent to all students, faculty, and staff are archived on the Family News website.
See our Who to Contact for... page if you need to contact a particular department, or our After Hours Help page if you have an urgent need to reach someone at the University because you have an urgent concern that cannot wait until the next business day.
Contact the Office of Family Engagement at parents@wfu.edu or 336.758.4237.
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Wake Forest University
The Office of Family Engagement
1834 Wake Forest Road
Winston-Salem, NC 27109
1.800.752.8568
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