Parents & Families E-Newsletter
January 2026

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WakeParents & Families

E-newsletter from the Office of Family Engagement


German Men’s National Team has selected Winston-Salem as its home base for the 2026 FIFA World Cup.

Welcome to the Spring semester, Deac families! We started the semester off with some big news: the German Men’s National Team has selected Winston-Salem, Wake Forest and Graylyn as host site for FIFA World Cup:

“The German Men’s National Team has selected Winston-Salem as its home base for the 2026 FIFA World Cup, choosing The Graylyn Estate as its team base camp and Wake Forest University as its official training site. Together, Wake Forest and Graylyn will provide world-class training facilities and accommodations as Germany prepares for competition on the world’s premier global sporting stage.” Read Dr. Wente’s full message.

When is Family Weekend 2026? The date for Family Weekend is typically set based on the football schedule, which we will not know until late January or early February. We will announce Family Weekend as soon as the date has been decided, but I do want to be transparent that it does take a bit of time between the football schedule release and the finalization of the Family Weekend date: we need to check on availability of hotel space, see if there are religious holidays that coincide, check the academic calendar because it can’t be too close to move in, nor too late in the semester, etc.). So know the announcement will not be immediate, but we will be working on it once we know the football schedule. Thank you for your patience.

At the start of every semester, we encourage families to review the How We Communicate page of our Parents and Families website, so you know what to expect when hearing from Wake Forest.

Let’s make it a great Spring semester. Go Deacs!


Betsy Chapman, Ph.D. (’92, MA ’94)
Executive Director of Family Communications

Upcoming Dates & Deadlines*

Jan. 19
MLK Holiday (no classes)*

Jan. 21
Last day to add spring courses*

Feb. 17
Last day to drop spring courses*

March 9-13
Spring Break*

* See the Academic Services calendar , which lists these and other key academic dates.

See Residence Life and Housing’s opening and closing dates for our residential communities.

Academics

From Undergraduate Summer Session:

  • Explore the Summer Session website to discover how we can help your student get ahead this year. Registration for summer 2026 opens on March 16, leaving ample time to browse our course list and find the perfect match for their academic needs. If any questions come up during your planning, our team is here to help!

From CLASS (Center for Learning, Access, and Student Success):

  • Did Fall semester not go as well academically as your student may have wanted? CLASS is available to help! We offer several student success supports, including individualized academic coaching with our highly trained staff and peer tutoring in many academic subjects. Students can request an appointment through the Student Portal on our website.

Campus Life

University Counseling Center (UCC)

  • 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.
  • This semester the UCC will begin offering Let’s Talk in collaboration with our campus partners. Let’s Talk is a counseling center program designed to engage students who may not otherwise come to counseling by providing informal, walk-in consultations with a mental health professional at various campus locations. Let’s Talk helps lower barriers for students to seek mental health support, providing them with a non-clinical connection point with a mental health provider who can offer confidential consultation,resources, and referrals. Follow our Instagram page for more information including dates and location.

Deacon Health

  • The Campus Health Committee shared important reminders for our students about how to protect the collective health of our community as we start a new semester.

Campus Recreation

Office of Wellbeing

  • Encourage your students to participate in Sleepin' Deacon 2026! Sleepin’ Deacon is the Office of Wellbeing’s annual campus-wide initiative which focuses on sleep education and the promotion of healthy sleep habits. This two-week challenge engages students to improve their current sleeping habits. Registration for Sleepin’ Deacon opens on February 2.

Housing and Dining

  • We hope your January is off to a great start and that your Deac is settling back into life in The Forest smoothly. As we begin the Spring 2026 semester, Residence Life and Housing is sharing important housing information and key dates to help students plan ahead — especially as we look toward Housing Selection for the 2026-27 academic year. To read more, check out our January Parent & Family Newsletter

Office of Civic & Community Engagement

  • The Office of Civic & Community Engagement invites Wake Forest students to apply for a Summer 2026 AmeriCorps program that blends meaningful community service with professional development. Up to 24 students will gain hands-on experience addressing healthcare access, food security, and childhood education while serving 300 hours with local community partners from June 1-July 31. Participants receive a monthly living allowance, on-campus housing assistance, and an education award upon successful completion. U.S. citizens or legal permanent residents are eligible; the priority deadline is Feb. 1, with a final deadline of March 6. Encourage your student to explore this impactful summer opportunity.
  • The Kids’ Cooking Coalition is seeking enthusiastic student volunteers to teach local children essential cooking skills and nutrition through fun, hands-on sessions. Volunteers commit a few hours each week throughout a six-week spring program, with training provided. If your student enjoys working with children and giving back, encourage them to apply — applications are accepted on a rolling basis until all volunteer roles are filled.

Personal and Career Development

  • The spring semester is a pivotal time for students to transition their goals into action and achieve their near-term career objectives.To support this journey, the OPCD is hosting high-impact events this month including the Spring Career & Graduate School Fair (Jan. 21). Parents and families can further help by encouraging students to refine their resumes at weekly workshops, update their Handshake profiles, and visit the OPCD in Reynolda 230 for a free professional headshot — no appointment needed. Our career coaches are ready to provide one-on-one guidance to ensure your student feels prepared. Learn more.

Transportation and Parking

  • Zipcars Available on Campus for Student Convenience. Did you know that Wake Forest University offers Zipcar rentals right on campus? Zipcars provide a flexible, affordable, and eco-friendly transportation option for students without a car. With hourly or daily rental options, students can easily run errands, attend appointments, or explore the surrounding area.

    Signing up is simple, and memberships include gas, insurance, and 24/7 access to vehicles conveniently located on campus. Learn more about how Zipcar makes getting around easy and stress-free for your student! Learn More About Zipcar at WFU.

The Barn at Reynolda Village

  • The Barn at Reynolda Village has space available for graduation weekend celebrations on Monday, May 18. Please visit our website for rental rates, catering information, and a virtual tour of the venue. You can also call 336.758.BARN for more information.

Events and Athletics

Athletics

  • 2026 Wake Forest Football Season Tickets are on sale now. We have availability in all of our seating in the stands and there is limited availability in all premium areas.
    • McCreary Tower Club seats start at $2,314 and provide the best experience inside Allegacy Stadium.
    • Touchdown Club seats start at $1,025, are located in the North Endzone and include all-inclusive food and non-alcoholic beverages, as well as 2 beer/wine vouchers per game.
    • East Side Club, located in section 14, provides mesh, chairback seating with extended legroom and a drink rail conveniently located in front of your seat. These also give you access to the Pollard Club located in the concourse behind section 14, with all-inclusive food, non-alcoholic beverages and 2 beer/wine vouchers per game.
  • For more information on all premium areas offered and single game suites, please visit our website or call the Wake Forest ticket office at 336-758-3322.
  • Single game tickets for the 2026 Wake Forest vs. Miami Hurricanes football game are on sale now and start at $65. Tickets can be purchased at godeacs.com or by calling the Wake Forest ticket office at 336-758-3322.
    • All tickets purchased for the Miami game before the official schedule release will include a Built in the Dark t-shirt (limit 1 t-shirt per order)
    • Group tickets and suites are available by calling the ticket office at 333-758-3322.

Arts

  • Secrest Artists Series: J’Nai Bridges, mezzo soprano. Thursday, Feb. 5 at 7:30 p.m., Brendle Recital Hall, Scales Fine Arts Center. Two time Grammy Award-winning American mezzo-soprano J’Nai Bridges, known for her “plush-voiced mezzo-soprano” (The New York Times), and “calmly commanding stage presence” (The New Yorker) has been “marked out at an early stage as a singer headed for top flight” (Financial Times), gracing the world’s leading operatic and concert stages “with a voice both voluptuous and statuesque” (The New York Times).

    Ms. Bridges’ concert at Wake Forest will be an all-French program featuring works by composers such as Ravel, Bizet, Chausson, Duparc, Berlioz, and Debussy. Ticket information.
  • Old Times by Harold Pinter. Directed by Cindy Gendrich. Ring Theatre, Scales Fine Arts Center. Feb. 6-7 & 12-14 at 7:30 p.m.; Feb. 8 & 15 at 2 p.m. Harold Pinter’s three-person masterpiece about jealousy, sex, and the power of memory. Gripping. Elusive. Funny. Elemental. Audience Notice: No late admission for these performances. Ticket information.
  • Pro Humanitate Through Art: Jorge and Darlene Pérez on Collecting, Purpose and Community. Thursday, Feb. 12; Program: 5 p.m., Reception: 6 p.m., Broyhill Auditorium, Farrell Hall. Wake Forest is thrilled to welcome Darlene and Jorge Pérez (P ’26) as the Acquavella Distinguished Lecturers in Arts Management — an exceptional opportunity for our students and community to be inspired by their perspectives and experiences as admired figures and philanthropists in the dynamic intersection of art, artists and commerce. Darlene is a member of the Wake Forest Board of Trustees. Register.

Wake Forest Executive Education

  • Wake Forest Executive Education has launched a new lineup of Spring 2026 open-enrollment courses, the perfect way to start the new year with purpose and professional growth. Designed for professionals at every career stage, our programs build leadership, strategy, and communication skills that translate into real-world impact.
  • This spring, we’re excited to take our Certificate in Leadership on the road to Asheville, offering participants the opportunity to engage in immersive learning while connecting with peers in Western North Carolina! Visit our website for program dates and details.

See the Events Calendar.

Financial Matters

Student Financial Services

  • Payment for Spring semester tuition and fees was due on December 1. To view your student’s balance and submit an online payment, you can visit the Workday portal.
  • Have your students Sign up for Direct Deposit! Wake Forest encourages students to sign up for Direct Deposit, as doing so provides students with a convenient and secure way to access their funds faster.
  • Each year by January 31, Wake Forest makes available an IRS Form 1098-T to all students who had qualified tuition and other related educational expenses billed to them during the previous calendar year. Current students can consent to receive this form electronically and provide proxy access for third parties to view online. For more information on Form 1098-T, please visit the Tax Information page.
  • Students Financial Services is required to submit student Social Security numbers to the IRS with their 1098-Ts. Please have your student update their SSN in Workday if it is not up to date.

Student Financial Aid

Resources for Families

We want to make sure all families are aware of the many resources available online to help you:

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Wake Forest University
The Office of Family Engagement
1834 Wake Forest Road
Winston-Salem, NC 27109
1.800.752.8568