Announcements

2024-2025 Opening/Closing Dates

The Office of Residence Life and Housing is pleased to share the following dates related to the opening and closing of our residential communities for the 2024-2025 Academic Year. Please note these dates are subject to change.

A full 2024-2025 Academic Calendar will be made available here. The summer schedule can be found here.

Information for Academic Year 2024-25

For those who wish to make travel arrangements now for 2024-25, please see the following dates below.

Please note that due to the limited time between semesters, we are unable to offer extensions to closing dates and, at times, may be limited in our ability to honor early arrival requests. We encourage students to consider choosing flexible travel options in the unlikely event that dates change.

Fall 2024 Dates

  • Friday, August 16 or Saturday, August 17 – Pre-Orientation Move-In

    • Students will receive their move-in instructions (including date and time frame) in mid-July after program enrollment, from Residence Life and Housing.

    • Check-in will be available from 9 a.m. to 4 p.m. daily; move-in assistance will be available from 9 a.m. to noon each day for incoming students only.

  • Wednesday, August 21 – New Student Move-In
    • Check-In and Move-In Assistance will be available from 8 a.m. to 12 p.m.

    • 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 through Friday, August 23 – Orientation Activities (i.e. New Deac Week)
  • Thursday, August 22 through Saturday, August 24 – Continuing Student Move-In

    • Thursday, August 22 – Check-in will be available from 12 p.m. to 4 p.m.

    • Friday, August 23 – Check-in will be available from 9 a.m. to 4 p.m.

    • Saturday, August 24 – Check-in will be available from 9 a.m. to 1 p.m.

  • Monday, August 26 – Classes Begin
  • Saturday, December 14 – Last Day of Exams
  • Sunday, December 15 – Communities close at 2 p.m. for Winter Break (unless approved for Winter Break Housing)

Spring 2025 Dates

  • January 2025
    • Tuesday, January 7 – Sorority Recruitment
      • 10 a.m. to 1 p.m. – Actives (i.e., current sisters) Move-In
      • 1:30 p.m. to 4 p.m. – Potential New Members (i.e., students going through sorority recruitment) Move-In
    • Friday, January 10
      • 9 a.m. to 4 p.m. – Move-in for students moving on to campus for the first time this academic year
    • Saturday, January 11
      • 9 a.m. – Communities open for all students to return
    • Monday, January 13 – Classes Begin
  • May 2025
    • Wednesday, May 7 – Last Day of Exams
    • Thursday, May 8  – Communities close @ 2 p.m. for non-seniors (unless approved for Interim Housing)
    • Monday, May 19 – Commencement
    • Tuesday, May 20-
      • Communities close @ 12 p.m. for seniors and those not approved for Interim Housing

Summer 2025

  • Tuesday, May 27 – Summer School 1 Move-In
    • Summer School Housing will be in Bostwick and Johnson Halls
  • Wednesday, May 29 – Summer School 1 Begins
    • Interim Housing Closes
  • Thursday, July 3 – Summer School 1 Close
    • Students moving out must be out by 2 pm
  • Monday, July 7 – Summer School 2 Move-In
  • Tuesday, July 8 – Summer School 2 Begins
  • Sunday, August 10 – Summer School 2 Close
    • Students moving out must be out by 2 pm
  • Monday, August 11 – Transition Day
    • For those students who are living on campus will transition directly to their Fall housing between the hours of 9 am – 2 pm.

If you have questions or concerns, please contact us at housing@wfu.edu or 336.758.5185.

August 2024 Parent & Family Newsletter

Whether it’s your first year in The Forest or you’re returning to campus, we are looking forward to welcoming you and your Deac to campus this month! 

Our community staff is wrapping up their training, we’re walking our halls to make sure they’re ready for your arrival, and the excitement of the fall semester can be felt in our office and around campus. 

As a reminder, you’ll find a schedule below for your first stop during move-in: the Lawrence Joel Veterans Memorial Coliseum (popularly called “The Joel” or “LJVM” by our Deacs). Your student will pick up their Deacon OneCard (if needed), Room Key, and Mailbox Key here before you head to campus. We encourage your student to regularly check their WFU inbox for emails from our office as we have been sharing important information with them.

MOVE-IN 2024

  • Friday, August 16, or Saturday, August 17: Pre-Orientation/Early Arrival Students Move-In between 9 a.m and 4 p.m 
    • Approved arrival dates have been communicated directly by our office to students. 
  • Wednesday, August 21: New Student Move-In (Class of ‘28) between 8 a.m. and 1 p.m. with move-in assistance through 12 p.m. 
  • Continuing Student Move-In (Class of ‘27, ‘26, ‘25)
    • Thursday, August 22 between 12 p.m. and 4 p.m.
    • Friday, August 23 between 9 a.m. and 4 p.m.
    • Saturday, August 24 between 9 a.m. and 1 p.m.
  • After Hours Arrivals: Your students received directions in communication from us if they need to request an after hours check in.

We recommend considering the following while packing and preparing for Move-In.

  • Run through our list of what to bring (and not to bring).
  • Label belongings with your student’s name, residence hall, and room number.
  • Remind your student to have a photo ID (license or passport) or their Deacon OneCard handy on Move-In day.

A few pages that might be helpful for you and your student to look over as they prepare for a year spent on campus are shared below:

We will see you soon! As always, we are available at 336.758.5185 and housing@wfu.edu during business hours for any questions or concerns you may have. As always, Go Deacs!

September 2024 Parent and Family Newsletter

It’s the start of fall in The Forest! We hope your student has begun to feel settled at home; whether it’s their first time in The Forest, or they’re returning home once again. This month we have links to residential reminders your student receives at the start of each semester, provide tips for supporting your students as they navigate roommate dynamics, and offer suggestions for #WFU28 for those of you with new Deacs. We also have a special link provided below for #WFU28 Parents and Families!

For all of our on-campus students, several important messages were sent out as semester kick-off reminders for how to stay safe and healthy in community:

Important Mold & Mildew Prevention and Fire/Life Safety Info

Health and Safety Inspections

Fire Alarm Info and Building Updates

Supporting Your Student as They Navigate Roommate Dynamics 

Students are settling into a routine both academically and socially and well you guessed it, roommate relationships can began to change like the leaves. September is usually the point when the newness has worn off and the little things can start to frustrate our students. Sometimes this can lead to students wanting a roommate change. While a room change may end up being the result, we first encourage students to utilize active listening and mediation techniques that may address the concerns and allow the two individuals to remain where they currently live. As parents and family members, you can partner with us in a variety of ways – most importantly through your own understanding of the process and helping your student(s) understand as well. We’ve included some advice below that has helped our students over the years. 

 Help your student(s) evaluate the situation

  • Listen to them. Be a sounding board by providing support and perspective.
  • Encourage them to consider the point of view of the other person.
  • Remind them that living with another person isn’t always easy. Conflicts will arise but through effective communication they can work through the concerns (hopefully). 

Help your student(s) address the problem

  • Encourage your student to talk directly and respectfully to their roommate about the actual concerns.
  • Encourage the student to talk to them in a timely manner so the conflict doesn’t build up over time. 
  • Please know…if students cannot address the issue with their roommate one-on-one, remind your student to reach out to their RA for assistance. 
  • Let your student resolve the problems in their own way. No need to swoop in and save the day, they need to learn these healthy conflict skills. 
  • Remind your student to use “I statements” to own their feelings and the thoughts expressed. I feel______ when_____because_____so what I’m hoping is _____.  A complete example would be “I feel frustrated when the lights are left on after midnight because it is hard for me to fall asleep and then I don’t do well in my classes, so I’m hoping we can turn the lights off or dim them at a certain time every night, or find another agreeable solution that works for both of us.”
  • Help yourself and your student(s) by better understanding how we train our RAs to assist with this process. Please know that RAs are not full-time conflict specialists but they offer up as much help as possible.  For example, one of the listening models our RAs utilize…the LARA model when talking directly with students experiencing a crisis: 

L stands for Listen. In this stage of LARA, active listening needs to be practiced, by maintaining eye contact (if culturally appropriate), nodding your head, and showing that you are listening.

A stands for Affirm or Acknowledge. Much like active listening, this stage requires that the RA says something affirming like “Acknowledge the feelings and needs behind what is being said.

R stands for Respond. This is when the RA can respond to what was said – address the interests and needs that the resident brought up. 

A stands for Add. Provide additional information or options about solutions.  We don’t give advice or force your opinion on anyone, though!

If mediation doesn’t fully work on the RA level, we have Graduate Hall Directors and Community Directors to assist with further communication and to decide the most appropriate next steps in finding a resolution. Help your student to help themselves when it comes to handling conflict. While it’s not always delightful, neither your student nor you are alone in working through tough situations. 

Encourage your Deacs to Get Connected! 

For #WFU28 family and friends, encourage your students to connect with their Faculty Fellows if they haven’t already. Each first-year residence hall has an affiliated faculty team from a wide range of academic disciplines who work to foster engagement, support and advise students, and create experiences designed to connect our residential communities. They are interested in getting to know your student as a whole person- not just a student of classrooms, studios, and labs. 

Additionally, our newest Deacs are encouraged to take part in as many of the Wake the Forest events as possible. Wake the Forest is a series of events designed specifically to help new students establish meaningful connections to the Wake Forest community as they navigate their new home in the first few weeks of school. 

A Small Gift for you… 

And last but not least, we have a small gift for our newest parents and families. We’ve created a gallery of moments from move-in week that we hope will bring a smile to the faces of our #WFU28 Parents and Families.

We know that just like our students, you too are experiencing the mix of emotions that comes with the changes this new chapter offers. Some of our families are sending their first to college, or their last. Some are watching the legacy of their third-generation Demon Deacon unfold. Other families are sending their students to another country for the first time while others are watching their student create their own path as a first-generation college student. No matter where you fit in our shared Wake Forest story, know that we are here to partner in your student’s journey to create a home at Wake Forest.

We look forward to continuing our shared partnership in your student’s journey here at Wake Forest. For any questions or feedback, our office is always available during business hours at 336.758.5185 or housing@wfu.edu.

October 2024 Parent and Family Newsletter

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.

For our upper class students, the Spring 2025 Housing Processes is currently live. If your student is considering a housing request, they should be aware of the following dates and deadlines outlined below and submit their request via their housing portal. 

  • All students must submit Spring Intent by November 3, 2024
  • Spring 2025 Housing processes run from October 7 to November 3, 2024
    • Students looking to change rooms on campus for the Spring 2025 semester may submit a request.
    • Students who have earned at least four housing credits and want to live off-campus prior to fulfilling the six-semester residency requirement will be able to enter the Off-Campus Lottery.
    • Students with vacancies should either pull in a roommate of choice or expect a student may select that space during Spring Only Housing Selection.
  • Spring Only Housing Selection for students returning to campus will take place on Wednesday, December 11, 2024 between 10 a.m. and 4 p.m. EST via the Housing Portal.

If your student is studying abroad and/or may not be especially tapped into messages from campus at the moment, encourage them to read through their recent emails. 

Recent RLH Emails:

If your Deac is considering going abroad for the semester, you may also find this issue of the Daily Deac helpful as you help them navigate the impact and options of their residential experience, following the transformative experience that is studying abroad. 

Finally, for your reference, below you’ll find a reminder of key housing dates across the next few months.

  • November 2024 
    • November 28- December 1
      • Thanksgiving Break- the residence halls stay open
  • December 2024
    • Sunday, December 15: Winter Break begins
      • Residence halls close @ 2 p.m.
  • January 2025
    • Friday, January 10 
      • Move-in/return for current members of the Panhellenic Council 
    • Saturday, January 11
      • Move-in for potential new members of the Panhellenic Council 
      • Move-In for students moving on to campus for the first time this academic year
      • Residence Halls open for all students @ 9 a.m.
    • Monday, January 13
      • Classes Begin 

As our Deacs embark on the second half of their semester, please know that we are here to help along the way. As always, should you have any questions or feedback, we’re available during the week at 336.758.5185 and via email at housing@wfu.edu.

November 2024 Parent and Family Newsletter

We can’t believe it’s already November! Soon, many of our Deacs will be returning home for Thanksgiving Break. Just a few short weeks after that, they’ll be returning for Winter Break. This month, we’re highlighting some helpful ways you can help them prepare. 

With the Thanksgiving Break around the corner (Nov. 28 – Dec. 1), students will continue to receive communications from our office regarding ways to prepare their rooms for the break and upcoming inspections. Please nudge them to read their emails in their entirety, as they contain important information and helpful reminders so that students don’t incur any violations, in accordance with our Guide to Community Living and the Student Code of Conduct.  

For students remaining on campus for Thanksgiving Break, dining options will be available but may be limited. For specific hours, students should refer to Deacon Dining’s website at deacondining.com. Our residence halls will be open during Thanksgiving Break, but we’ll have limited staff on site. For emergencies, or to contact our on-call staff, students should call University Police at 336. 758.5911. 

As students prepare to leave campus for an extended period of time, we encourage them to review our Breaks and Inspections Hub, where they’ll find important dates and details, as well as helpful checklists to help them with the packing process. 

If your Deac is returning to campus in the Spring for the first time for the 24-25 academic year, they’ll participate in our Spring-Only Housing Selection process on Dec. 11. Students can expect an email towards the end of this month for specific instructions for selection. Encourage your Deac to check their emails, even as we near break! 

As a reminder, our residence halls will close on December 15, at 2 p.m. for Winter Break (barring students who have been approved for Winter Break Housing). We will reopen on January 11 at 9 a.m. for all students. For key dates and reminders to add to your calendar, be sure to bookmark our 2024-2025 Opening/Closing Dates. 

If your student is looking for an invaluable student leadership position for next year, the Resident Adviser role is a great opportunity on-campus.  In addition to the chance to help build a robust residential experience alongside their peers, this premiere leadership experience also offers a ten-month $5,700 stipend and a single room at a discounted rate! Students can apply via their housing portal and visit our website to learn more. Applications are due January 14, 2025. 

Lastly, we know that so many of our students, parents, and families are looking forward to the upcoming break. We hope that our Deacs have a well-deserved restful break and that our families enjoy all of who your students are becoming. One semester down, another to go! 

If you have any questions, we’d be happy to answer them! Feel free to send us an email at housing@wfu.edu or call us at 336.758.5185 during business hours. As always, Go Deacs!