Parents & Families
Hours
Monday—Friday
8:30 a.m.—5 p.m.
Welcome, P’28s (parents and families of the Class of 2028)!
We are so excited your student has chosen Wake Forest and look forward to getting to know your family over the next four years! This website will help you learn more about key due dates and deadlines for parents and families, what you should be doing this summer to help prepare your Deac for move-in, advice on the college transition, and more.
- Where to start
- Answers to key questions
- New Family Checklist
- See emails sent to new families
- See emails your student has received
- Advice for parents and families
- The A-Z of WFU – a glossary of terms you may need
- Transportation – learn about airports served by our shuttle services
- Hotel and restaurant recommendations from current families
- New Student Receptions
Here’s where to start.
Verify your family record in Wake Network.
Wake Forest uses email to communicate with families, and we need to ensure we have families’ correct contact information. If you have not already done so, make sure to verify your family record in Wake Network.
- Note: families do not show up in Wake Network until their student’s admissions deposit has been received and processed; depending on how you paid your deposit (e.g., check mailed in via US Postal Service, etc.), that could take a week or two to be received and processed.
Sign up to receive news and tips.
The Daily Deac is a blog that shares important news, offers advice about supporting your students, and covers a variety of WFU activities and events to help you get a sense of campus life. When you subscribe, you will get an email around 5 p.m. Eastern each weekday.
Download the WakeSafe app and Opt-In to Campus Safety Alerts, then read about the ways we communicate with families.
Campus Safety Alerts are not sent to families via email; families must download the WakeSafe app to receive alerts. Please also read the Communications with Families section to see when and how you will hear from Wake Forest.
Let’s address some key questions.
What should I be doing right now?
Make sure you’re familiar with important dates and deadlines happening this summer that we’ve included in our Key Dates for Parents and Families page.
- Note: Students’ logins and passwords should not be shared with anyone, including their parents/family members. Please help us keep our information systems safe and do not ask for or use their login and password.
When is Move-in Day and Orientation? How do I see the Orientation schedule?
Closer to August, we will provide a detailed Move-In Guide and the New Deac Welcome Week (aka Orientation) schedule. For now, please note these key dates:
Friday, August 16 and Saturday, August 17 – Pre-Orientation Move-In
- Students accepted to Pre-Orientation programs will receive their move-in instructions (including their assigned date and time frame) in mid-July after program enrollment from Residence Life and Housing.
- Note: if you will be flying to campus for move-in, we encourage you to wait on firm travel plans until your student decides whether they want to do a Pre-Orientation program. If you make travel plans prior to notification of Pre-Orientation program acceptance, consider booking options that are flexible or easily changed if needed.
Wednesday, August 21 – New Student Move-In (for students not doing a Pre-Orientation Program)
- Check-In and Move-In Assistance will be available from 8 a.m. to 12 p.m.
- Note: All students must be moved in by 1 p.m.
- Students will see their suggested move-in windows in late July 2024 when they receive their housing assignments via the Housing Portal.
Wednesday, August 21 thru Thursday, August 22 – Orientation activities for parents and families
- Families should plan to depart Thursday evening or Friday morning.
- Note that most of our student Orientation (i.e. New Deac Week) activities are on a separate track from parent and family orientation; student Orientation continues through Friday, August 23.
Where can I find emails sent to new families?
You can find the latest information sent to families on our Emails Sent to New Families page.
Where can I find emails that my student has received?
You can find the latest emails sent to students on our Emails Sent to New Students page.
How can I prepare myself for my student’s transition to college?
Check out our Advice for New Parents and Families page and our Stop, Drop, and Roll framework for promoting student independence and problem-solving.
I have questions – who should I contact?
Our Who to Contact for… page shows some of the most-often needed resources on campus. You can also email parents@wfu.edu for assistance.
Pro tip: whenever possible, let your student be the one to contact an office, ask a question, give feedback, or research how to accomplish something on campus. Our students need to develop relationships with campus offices, and they will be building real-world problem-solving skills when they do the work themselves.
Can I meet other new students and families?
Attend a New Student Reception if one is offered in your area. We hope all families will attend our Virtual New Student Reception on DATE (the virtual session will be recorded).
After you have verified your family record in Wake Network, you can use Wake Network to search for other families in your home area.