Bottom Line, Up Front

• Module I: “New to the Forest” (due Monday, August 21st)

• Module II: “Fall in the Forest” Extended Orientation (due Friday, September 29th)

   

Dear <<First Name>>,

Welcome to Wake Forest University, and congratulations on beginning this new chapter!  I am delighted to have you among us as our newest Demon Deacons. New Deac 101 is mandatory for both our new and transfer students. 

Your orientation experience “New Deac 101” will be completed via asynchronous sessions available through CANVAS and taken in two parts: 

• Module I: “New to the Forest” (due Monday, August 21st)

• Module II: “Fall in the Forest” Extended Orientation (due Friday, September 29th)

To access your online Orientation course, please visit canvas.wfu.edu and log in with your WFU student credentials.

For our first-year students, you will be asked to complete Modules I and II.  For our transfer students, you will be asked to complete Module I, II and an additional session by our Office of Personal and Career Development.  

NEW DEAC 101: “New to the Forest” (available Monday, July 10th)

For the first module “New to the Forest,” you will have the opportunity to hear from various university departments such as the Office of Wellbeing, the Office of Personal and Career Development, and the Office of Diversity and Inclusion, just to name a few. You should work through the materials on your own and complete the various quizzes and assignments no later than Monday, August 21st.

FALL IN THE FOREST/ EXTENDED ORIENTATION: (available Monday, August 28th)

New Deacs cannot learn everything about what it takes to have a successful college experience in a few days before the semester even starts.  Therefore, new and transfer student orientation programming continues through the fall via CANVAS.  

On Monday, August 28th, you will gain access to a second module (Extended Orientation) which will include three sessions: 

• CHECK-IN #1. Step Up: Becoming an Active Bystander. Demon Deacons care for each other! This session will teach students about the variety of situations they may encounter both on a college campus and virtually. It will provide ways for students to intervene safely while considering how their own identities impact their ability to do so. In addition, this session will instill a sense of responsibility for students to work towards a culture of care for all members of the WFU community and beyond.     

• CHECK-IN #2. Academic Success: Wake Forest recognizes that the transition to college goes beyond Orientation. As part of your extended orientation to campus, you will complete a module that guides you through the many campus resources available to you, all of which are designed to promote and support academic success. After you complete this module, you will take a brief assessment to gauge your understanding of the student support services available to you. The following week, you will meet with your Student Adviser to discuss the experience and how to make the most of these resources.  

• CHECK-IN #3. The Power of (a) Handshake: Through the Office of Personal & Career Development (OPCD), you have access to one of the most powerful career tools - Handshake. Fellow students will walk you through setting up your profile in order to open the door to career support at Wake Forest as well as gain access to thousands of internships and jobs.

Students are asked to complete the online EXTENDED ORIENTATION module in CANVAS no later than FRIDAY, SEPTEMBER 29th.  Completion of this material is REQUIRED.  

As a reminder, all of the messages that we send students throughout the summer can be found here. 

Please be sure that you continue to check your WFU email, review the First-Year Student / Transfer Student Checklists, and the New Students website often throughout the summer to ensure that you are not missing important deadlines and details.

If you haven’t already done so, please  follow @WFUOrientation, and @WFU.OAA on Twitter. @WFUOrientation, @WFUStudentAdvising, and @WFU.OAA on Instagram are other great resources; members of the Student Advising Leadership Council are already sharing great advice and are happy to answer any questions you may have! Moreover, @wfutransfers is an Instagram account specifically for those of you who are transferring to the Forest - be sure to check it out if you haven’t already! 

Questions regarding Pre-Orientation Programs, New Deac Welcome Week or New Deac 101 can be directed to orientation@wfu.edu.  

​​Cherise James, Ph.D. 
She | Her | Hers
Director of Orientation, New Student and Transitions Programs