Parents & Families E-Newsletter
October 2024

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WakeParents & Families

E-newsletter from the Office of Family Engagement


Fall colors are seen in the warmth of the afternoon light on the Quad.

Fall Break is this Thursday and Friday, so the semester is nearly half finished. The leaves are just starting to turn color and the cooler temperatures tell us that Fall is on the way!

We continue to hold Western NC in our hearts following the destruction from Hurricane Helene. This Outreach page shows our Wake Forest relief efforts. And if you have not seen it yet, there was this wonderful joint musical tribute:

The Wake Forest marching band joined with NC State’s band on Oct. 5 to play “Amazing Grace” in tribute to those impacted by Helene. TODAY’s Hoda Kotb shared this video, ABC’s World News with David Muir also featured this clip, and it was highlighted in this story by Southern Living magazine.

Project Pumpkin will be held on campus on Tuesday October 29 from 3-6 p.m. (and at various off campus locations on October 24 from 6-8 p.m.). This year’s theme is Wild Adventures. Project Pumpkin is a student-led service event that serves around 1,000 local children. Wake Forest students provide a safe environment for trick-or-treating, as well as carnival games, clowns, and other entertainment. We hope your Deacs will join in this fun-filled day!

Registration for spring courses will take place November 5-8. The Spring course schedule will be published October 18, and after Fall Break students will begin working with their lower-division adviser (if they have not yet declared a major) or their major adviser to plan their coursework for the spring. The Office of the Registrar has a comprehensive website with registration how to’s to help your Deacs.

Finally, please talk to your Deac to ensure they have a plan to vote in the upcoming election. Wake Forest has a comprehensive voting site to assist them, including the free resources of TurboVote. We want all our students to be active participants in our democracy and to get in the habit now of being a lifetime voter.

Wishing you and yours all the best as the fall continues. Go Deacs!


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

Upcoming Dates & Deadlines*

Oct. 15-16*
Midterm grades should be viewable

Oct. 17-18*
Fall Break

Oct. 21*
Lower division advising and major/minor advising period begins

Oct. 21-25
Academic Resources Awareness Week, ARAW, sponsored by CLASS (Center for Learning, Access, and Student Success)

Oct. 28*
Last day to withdraw from a fall term course

Nov. 5-8*
Registration for spring courses (students’ date is based on hours earned less AP/IB/Prior College Work)

Nov. 27-29*
Thanksgiving Break

Dec. 6*
Classes end

Dec. 9-14
Final Exam period

Dec. 15
Residential Communities close at 2 p.m. for Winter Break (unless approved for Winter Break Housing)

* 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

Message from the Parents’ Council chairs Karin and Charles Goldstuck (P ’23, P ’25)

Happy Fall! I hope many of you were able to make it to campus for Family Weekend. Despite early inclement weather, it turned out to be a beautiful weekend on campus and in Winston-Salem. Preceding the start of Family Weekend, the Wake Forest community came together for a record-setting Hit the Bricks, a campus-wide philanthropic event benefiting the Brian Piccolo Cancer Research Fund and the Comprehensive Cancer Center at Atrium Health Wake Forest Baptist. Congratulations — and thank you — to all who participated.

Wake Forest continues to live its motto of Pro Humanitate as various campus organizations and individuals assist with the recovery efforts in western North Carolina, an area especially hard hit by Hurricane Helene. Our sincere thoughts and concerns go out to those whose lives have been impacted by the fierce hurricanes that have spread such destruction from Florida to Virginia. Looking ahead, another example of “For Humanity” is the favorite student activity Project Pumpkin which takes place later this month. Please encourage your students to participate.

Karin and Charles Goldstuck (P’23, P’25)
Chairs, Wake Forest Parents’ Council

Academics

From the Office of Academic Advising (OAA):

  • Second half-of-term classes began on October 14. Remember...
  • The deadline to add a second half-of-term course is October 22.
  • The deadline to drop a second half-of-term course is November 1.
  • The schedule of Spring 2025 classes will be available starting October 18 and the advising period for Spring 2025 registration starts October 21. During this period, students will have a required meeting with their primary adviser, at which point their adviser will remove the Advising Hold on their record in Workday. If students do not meet with their advisers to discuss their Spring 2025 plans and to have their Advising Hold removed, they will not be able to register for Spring 2025 classes. Registration will take place November 5-8 at which point students can log into Workday during their assigned registration time and register for Spring 2025 classes.
  • The last day to drop a full-term course with a grade of “W” is October 28.

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

  • October 21-25 is Academic Resources Awareness Week (ARAW), an annual event every fall semester. The goal of ARAW, a signature CLASS (Center for Learning, Access, and Student Success) event, is to make students aware of all the free on-campus academic resources available to them and normalize their use. From peer tutoring and help centers to academic coaching, ZSR research sessions, and more, Wake Forest offers a multitude of academic resources to help students along their learning journey. Students are encouraged to check out some or all of the great events planned for the week.

From The Office of the Provost:

  • Wake Forest students shine at URECA Day — At Wake Forest, where student-faculty engagement makes the difference, undergraduate students have the opportunity — regardless of their discipline — to work on a scholarly project with a faculty mentor. During Family Weekend, more than 130 undergraduate students and 120 faculty members shared their research projects in poster and oral presentations to hundreds of family, friends, staff and students.
  • Winston Salem State partners with Wake Forest to provide students a new pathway to law school — On Oct. 2, Winston Salem State Chancellor Bonita Brown (’94, JD ’97) and Wake Forest Law Dean Andy Klein signed a memorandum of understanding to create a pathway for WSSU students to pursue a JD at Wake Forest Law. Klein called the agreement a “natural fit” and said the law school looks forward to creating a path to careers in law for WSSU students.
  • WFU Teacher-Scholar Ovidiu Csillik to collaborate on NASA-funded project — Wake Forest Environment and Sustainability Studies Assistant Professor Ovidiu Csillik, a researcher and remote sensing expert, will serve as a co-investigator on a new NASA-funded project to get a more accurate and detailed picture of what is happening with carbon storage over time in tropical forests. The three-year, $1 million NASA Research Opportunities in Space and Earth Science (ROSES) grant will fund the study, “Aboveground Carbon Stock Changes in Dynamic Tropical Forests.”

From the Military Science Department:

  • Did you know that students who participate in Army ROTC can major in any subject and will have a guaranteed job upon graduation? Army ROTC cadets can earn a $420 monthly stipend while in school and experience top notch leadership training. Any student can take our introductory courses to learn more about the program with no military service obligation! If your student wants to learn more about Army ROTC and the variety of guaranteed jobs available, encourage them to contact us at ROTC@wfu.edu.

NEWS

From Information Systems:

  • Recently, some student accounts (both official WFU and personal accounts) have been the target of a phishing campaign. The scam offered an invitation to participate in a research project with promises of a weekly paycheck. Even though the email appeared to come from a Wake Forest professor, the sender’s address was external. Read more about how to avoid this recent phishing scam regarding a WFU paid research project.

Events

From Deacon Health:

  • The last mobile Flu clinic is Oct. 24 from 11 a.m.-2 p.m. in Benson University Center. Students can also walk into Deacon Health during business hours to get flu shots as long as supplies last. Encourage your student to get a flu shot. It takes two weeks to build immunity. We want our students to feel their best during midterms.
  • Remind students to drink plenty of water, get rest, exercise, and wash their hands.

From Wake Forest Executive Education:

From Wake the Arts:

See the Events Calendar.

Resources

From the University Counseling Center:

  • October is Depression Awareness Month: for both families and students, knowing the risk factors and symptoms can help with the early identification and treatment of depression. Our Understanding Depression Tips Sheet has information to help you identify symptoms and help your student manage depression.
  • The University Counseling Center continues to be a support to students who are struggling with changes in their mood and behavior. We offer same-day scheduling during office hours, Monday through Friday from 8:30 a.m. to 5 p.m., and an after hours counselor-on-call after 5 p.m. on weekdays and 24 hours a day on weekends.
  • Please follow our Instagram!

From the Office of Civic & Community Engagement:

  • Election 2024
    • The voter registration deadline in North Carolina has passed. If your Deac is looking to cast their ballot in North Carolina, they can still do so during One-Stop Early Voting which provides same-day registration. Early voting is available from Thursday, Oct. 17-Saturday, Nov. 2. Students must show their proof of residency when registering during this time. We suggest bringing hard copies.
      • On-Campus Proof of Residency: Login to the WFU housing portal. On the homepage select “Information Update”, then “Proof of Residency” from the dropdown menu. Confirm that housing for Fall 2024 is correct. Select ‘Print This Page’ at the bottom of the page.
      • Off-Campus Proof of Residency: Bring mail — a current utility bill, a bank statement, paystub or any other government document showing your name and address
      • If your Deac pays bills electronically or gets paid via direct deposit, print out a hard copy showing their WSNC address
    • The Office of Civic & Community Engagement, Deacs Decide and Transportation Services, are excited to offer free rides to Polo Park Community Center — the closest early voting location to the Reynolda Campus — Monday-Friday from 8 a.m.-7 p.m. The Deacon Station shuttle will run on the following dates from Shelter A: Oct. 17-18, Oct. 21-25, and Oct. 28-Nov. 1.
    • Please note that Voter ID regulations have changed in the state of North Carolina. Voters must show a photo ID when casting their ballot. Thankfully, your Deacs’ Deacon OneCard is an acceptable form of ID at the polls.
      • Important note: Students voting absentee in North Carolina will need to include a photocopy of their NC State ID or driver's license with their ballot.
      • Free copies (for voting purposes) are available at the Benson Copy Center or in the Office of Civic & Community Engagement (Benson 506). If your Deac is voting in their home state, please check your local board of elections.
    • If you’re unsure if your student is registered to vote they can check their registration status on TurboVote.
  • Service Opportunities
    • Is your student interested in volunteering during Project Pumpkin on October 29th? Volunteer training dates will be announced on the Project Pumpkin Instagram. Volunteer tasks include serving as a chaperone on the quad or the bus, as well as volunteering off-campus at local Parks and Rec Fall Festivals on October 24th.

From the Office of Personal and Career Development (OPCD):

  • With Fall Break just around the corner on October 17 and 18, we hope your student gets a well-deserved break. Once they return, there are plenty of opportunities to help them on their career journey, from the redesigned OPCD website to finance events and job fairs. Whether they're exploring career coaching or learning new skills through LinkedIn Learning, we encourage you to check out the details.

From Residence Life and Housing:

  • With Fall Break marking the halfway point of the semester for our students, we encourage our students to start thinking and preparing for upcoming breaks in addition to looking ahead to Spring 2025. In this month’s newsletter, we’ll cover all the need-to-knows for important dates ahead, including Spring Intent.

From Deacon Dining:

  • As the crisp autumn air rolls in and the leaves begin to change, we're gearing up for another exciting fall season. Last month was filled with incredible moments, from our first Supper Club to amazing tastings and pop-ups. Now, as we usher in the new season, we’re even more excited to celebrate with you. And with fall upon us, it can only mean one thing — Pitsgiving is right around the corner! We can't wait to bring you all the best that this vibrant season has to offer.
  • Introducing Owen, our newest student board representative! Owen is a senior Mathematics major who is passionate about building community through campus dining. As a student board member, Owen serves as a vital link between Deacon Dining and the student body, ensuring that student voices are heard.
  • Upcoming calendar events:
    • Food Truck Fridays, Manchester Quad, 11 a.m.-2 p.m. — Join us every Friday on Manchester for Food Truck Fridays! Savor unique flavors as a different food truck rolls in each week, serving up fresh, mouthwatering bites. It’s the perfect way to kick off your weekend—come hungry and see you there!
    • November 21: PITSGIVING! The Pit (all day) — It’s that time of year again — Pitsgiving is almost here! Grab a friend and join us for our most epic event of the year! Don’t forget to follow us on social media @DeaconDining for the latest updates — you won’t want to miss a thing!

From Transportation and Parking Services:

  • If your student is heading home for Thanksgiving Break, 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.
  • Thanksgiving Break Airport Shuttle Registration: Monday, Oct. 28 - Friday, Nov. 22.

Athletics

From Athletics:

Parents & Families Page

Parents and Families Page is your portal to news and information specifically for Wake Forest families.

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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, please see our After Hours Help page.

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