Parents & Families E-Newsletter
February 2026

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WakeParents & Families

E-newsletter from the Office of Family Engagement


We are about a month away from having an ocean of daffodils emerge in Reynolda Gardens. With all the snow we have had, we can’t wait to see signs of spring!

We are sending this e-newsletter to make an important correction:
The date for Family Weekend is October 2-4 (not October 4-6 as was incorrectly listed in the original e-newsletter). Please disregard the earlier newsletter and mark October 2-4 in your calendar for Family Weekend. Apologies for any confusion this may have created, and thank you for your patience and understanding — Betsy

Happy February! We have some updates to share on key event weekends this fall:

Family Weekend 2026 will be held the weekend of Oct. 2-4. Details about the weekend’s schedule and how to purchase tickets to the Wake-Stanford football game will be available in late spring/early summer.

For our alumni families, Homecoming will be held the weekend of Nov. 6-8. There will be special events for alumni in reunion years (ending in 1s and 6s).

Start booking your hotel/Airbnb/VRBO and thinking about your travel plans. We look forward to celebrating these great weekends with you this fall!

Finally, we want to offer a warm welcome to families in the Class of 2030, whose students were accepted during the Early Decision process and will begin at Wake Forest this fall. We are including you in this e-newsletter so you can begin to get a taste of how we connect with families, but please know you will get special communications starting in May with dates and deadlines pertaining to the Class of 2030. We look forward to getting to know you better over the next four years!

Go Deacs!


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

Upcoming Dates & Deadlines*

Feb. 17
Last day to drop spring courses*

March 9-13
Spring Break*

March 16*
— Summer School registration opens
— Lower division advising and major/minor advising begins

March 20*
Last day to Withdraw from spring course sections

March 31*
Fall course registration begins (based on hours earned)

* 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.

Incoming Families of the Class of 2030

Welcome, P’30s (families of newly-admitted students in the Class of 2030)! We are including you in this e-newsletter so you can begin to get a taste of how we connect with families. We encourage you to review our page for incoming families.

IMPORTANT NOTE: the details and deadlines in other sections of this e-newsletter only apply to currently-enrolled students (Classes of 2026-2029), not your incoming Deacs. More information will be available on May 1 once our New Students website for the Class of 2030 goes live.

If you have not already done so, please review How We Communicate, so you understand how Wake Forest and families can best work together, and consider subscribing to the Daily Deac blog, which shares important news, offers advice about supporting your student, and covers a variety of WFU activities and events to help you get a sense of campus life.

Academics

From Undergraduate Summer Session:

  • The countdown is on — registration for Summer 2026 opens in one month! Mark your calendars for March 16, and use this time to head over to our Summer Session website to scout out the best path for your student. Whether they need to knock out a tough prerequisite, catch up on credits, or get a head start on next year’s heavy lifting, now is the time to find the perfect course to sharpen their academic edge. Students can browse the full course list today so they’re ready to secure a spot the moment registration opens—and if they need help mapping out a strategy, our team is standing by!

From Center for Global Programs and Studies:

  • If your student is interested in studying away during Fall 2026, the final deadline for most programs is March 15. Most Spring 2027 program deadlines are not until October. Some programs may have earlier deadlines so it is crucial to refer to our website.
  • If your student is going to study abroad in the fall, they will most likely need to apply for a visa before leaving campus or early in the summer. In order to apply for a visa, your student must first have a valid passport. We advise making sure the passport is valid through at least late December 2027. It is highly recommended that if your student will have access to their passport over Spring Break, they return to campus with it. We have a great visa website for you and your student to reference.
  • If your student needs to meet with us to discuss their plans, they can do so on our scheduling page. Please note that the Calendly link only displays our availability for the next two weeks. Students can also come to our walk-in hours Mon.-Fri. 1:30-4:00 p.m.

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.

Campus Recreation

  • SCUBA Certification classes are live! In three on-campus sessions, your Deac can be fully certified for a lifetime of underwater adventure. We have all of the necessary gear!

Housing and Dining

  • Spring is (hopefully) just around the corner here on campus, and so is Housing Selection! In this month’s newsletter, we’re covering Housing Selection, RA offers for the 2026-27 Academic Year, and preparing for Spring Break. Click to read our newsletter!

Office of Civic & Community Engagement

  • The Office of Civic & Community Engagement is offering a Summer 2026 AmeriCorps opportunity for Wake Forest students. From June 1–July 31, participants will complete 300 hours of service with local partners focused on healthcare access, food security, and childhood education. Students receive a monthly living allowance, on-campus housing support, and an education award upon completion. Open to U.S. citizens and legal permanent residents. The application deadline is March 6. If your student is seeking a meaningful, skill-building summer experience, encourage them to apply.
  • Wake ’N Shake 2026 is almost here! Encourage your student to take part in Wake Forest’s 12-hour dance marathon on Saturday, March 28, benefiting the Brian Piccolo Cancer Research Fund and Atrium Health Wake Forest Baptist. Last year, students raised more than $330,000 to support cancer research and patient care. All students are invited to participate in this meaningful campus tradition and help make a difference in the fight against cancer. Students can register today.
  • Nominations are now open for the second annual Student Impact Awards, celebrating student leadership, service, and engagement at Wake Forest and in the Winston-Salem community. Students may nominate themselves, a fellow student, a student organization, or a faculty or staff member who has made a meaningful impact. Nominations are due Friday, March 6, at 11:59 p.m. ET. Winners will be announced April 7 at the event in Benson University Center from 5-7 p.m. Encourage your student to submit a nomination and help recognize those shaping the Wake Forest experience.

Personal and Career Development

  • February is the prime season for your student's internship or job search, regardless of their year. With over 55,000 active listings on Handshake, being proactive now ensures a smoother path to a successful summer. We are here to support students at every stage—whether they are just starting the process, want to master networking, or are currently struggling. This month is particularly critical for first-year and sophomore students, who should be aware of the accelerated financial services and accounting recruiting calendar and available events. To access detailed job search strategies, event calendars, and guidance tailored to all student years, please visit the OPCD Parents web page.

Transportation and Parking

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.

Wake Forest Executive Education

  • Take a look at our upcoming professional development workshops!
    • Authentic & Effective Leadership on February 27 in Winston-Salem, NC. This 1-day program focuses on building the foundations of authentic and effective leadership. Participants will explore their personal identity to better understand who they are as a leader.
    • Influencing with Data: Visual Analytics and Storytelling on March 13 in Winston- Salem, NC. This program will equip you with the skills to effectively translate complex data into clear, compelling visualizations, significantly strengthening your overall narrative.
      • Get a sneak peek of this session on Feb. 24 and complimentary lunch! Learn more here.
    • Enterprise Leadership on March 27 in Uptown Charlotte. This workshop aims to help you achieve an intricate alignment and cohesive effort to necessitate the ability to think strategically, holistically, and integratively about your organization, weaving together its diverse elements into a unified, forward-looking vision.
  • Each of these courses count toward our Certificate in Leadership! A great credential to help you advance your career. Learn more about this certificate on our website or contact us if you have any questions at executivewake@wfu.edu.

See the Events Calendar.

Financial Matters

Student Financial Services

  • The 1098-T tax form is now available for the 2025 tax year. While the form is available online, only students can access the form through the Student Financials hub on Workday. If your student did not consent to receive an electronic copy of the 1098-T, then the form was mailed in late January to the primary address listed on their Workday account. For more information, please visit the Tax Information page on the Student Financial Services website.
  • 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.

Student Financial Aid

  • Continuing students who plan to enroll in Wake Forest summer school may submit a Summer Financial Aid Application. Summer financial aid at Wake Forest consists of federal aid, private education loans, and limited institutional aid programs. The Summer 2026 Financial Aid Application will open March 16 when Summer registration begins.

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