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September 2025 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 once again. This month, we have links to residential reminders your student receives at the start of each semester, tips for supporting your students as they navigate roommate dynamics, and suggestions for #WFU29 for those of you with new Deacs.

For all of our on-campus students, here are some reminders for how to stay safe and healthy in community:

Mold and Mildew Prevention

Health and Safety Inspections

Campus Safety

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 begin 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 be necessary, 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 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 #WFU29 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 participate in as many 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.

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.

2025-2026 Opening/Closing Dates

Residence Life and Housing is pleased to share the following dates related to the opening and closing of our residential communities for the 2025-2026 Academic Year. Please note these dates are subject to change.

A full 2025-2026 Academic Calendar will be made available here. The summer schedule can be found here.

Information for Academic Year 2025-2026

For those who wish to make travel arrangements now for 2025-26, 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 2025 Dates

Friday, August 15 and Saturday, August 16 – 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. each day. Move-in assistance will be available from 9 a.m. to noon for incoming students ONLY on Saturday, August 16.
Tuesday, August 19 – New International Student Move-In
- Students will receive their move-in instructions (including date and time frame) in mid-July from Residence Life and Housing.
- Check-in will be available from 9 a.m. to 4 p.m.; move-in assistance will not be available.
Wednesday, August 20 – New Student Move-In
- Check-In and Move-In Assistance will be available from 8 a.m. to 12 p.m.
- All students are encouraged to move in by 12 p.m., but late arrivals must plan to arrive between 12 p.m. and 2 p.m.
- Students will see their suggested move-in windows in late July 2025 when they receive their housing assignments via the Housing Portal.
Wednesday, August 20 through Friday, August 22 – Orientation Activities (i.e. New Deac Week)
Thursday, August 21 through Saturday, August 23 – Continuing Student Move-In
- Check-in will be available from 9 a.m. to 4 p.m. daily. Continuing students can move in on whichever day best fits their schedule.
Monday, August 25 – Classes Begin
Saturday, December 13 – Last Day of Exams
Sunday, December 14 – Communities close at 2 p.m. for Winter Break (unless approved for Winter Break Housing)

Spring 2026 Dates

Tuesday, January 6 – Sorority Recruitment Early Arrivals
Friday, January 9
- 9 a.m. to 4 p.m. – Move-in for students moving on to campus for the first time this academic year
Saturday, January 10
- 9 a.m. – Communities open for all students to return
Monday, January 12 – Classes Begin
Wednesday, April 29 – Last Day of Classes and Move-Out Begins
Saturday, May 9 – Last Day of Exams
Sunday, May 10 – Communities close @ 2 p.m. for non-seniors (unless approved for Interim Housing)
Monday, May 18 – Commencement
Tuesday, May 19 – Communities close @ 9 a.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.

July 2025 P&F Newsletter

The summer is flying, and we’re just a little over a month away from the start of the Fall semester! This month, we’re highlighting important reminders as you solidify your plans to return to campus next month and essential information for our incoming first-year students (‘29) around housing assignments.

First-year students have now received their housing assignments for the upcoming academic year. They are able to log in to their Housing Portal to view their room assignment and their roommate (if applicable). Students also received a link to Roomie to access a 3-D interactive model of their room to help plan and shop for their space, as well as other resources and tips to prepare for move-in day! By July 31, students will receive confirmation of their approved move-in date and a suggested move-in timeframe for August 20 (if applicable).

As a reminder, the 25-26 Move-In Schedule (full opening/closing dates can be found HERE) is as follows:

August 15/16, 2025– Move-in for Pre-Orientation Programs (Optional)
- Students approved to participate in a Pre-Orientation program will move into their assigned housing for the academic year; these students will receive confirmation from Residence Life and Housing in July.
- Below are dates for Pre-Orientation move-in:
  - Marching Band will move in on Thursday, August 14
  - Wilderness to Wake will move in on Friday, August 15
  - All other Pre-Orientation programs will move in on Saturday, August 16
- Check-in will be available from 9 a.m. to 4 p.m. daily
  - Move-in assistance will ONLY be available on Saturday, August 16, from 9 a.m. to noon for incoming students ONLY.
August 19, 2025 – New International Student Move-In
- International students not participating in Pre-Orientation programs must move in on Tuesday, August 19, between 9 a.m. and 4 p.m. EST.
August 20, 2025 – Move-In for New Students & Transfer Students
- Suggested move-in timeframes will be shared as we get closer to move-in.
- Check-In and Move-In Assistance will be available from 8 a.m. to 12 p.m.
- All students should be moved in by 1 p.m. but late arrivals must plan to arrive between 12 p.m. – 2 p.m.

Students who need to arrive after their check-in window will complete a late arrival form, which will be included in our final details in the coming weeks! We’ll send the final information regarding check-in and our opening week to their @wfu.edu email address, so ensure they check regularly in the coming weeks!

If your student is living on campus for Summer Session 2, they will soon be receiving information regarding move-out and transition to their fall assignment.

As a reminder, students moving off-campus or opting out of moving in early to their Fall 2025 assignment will check out of their summer housing assignment on Sunday, August 10 by 2 p.m. EST.
Students with a Fall 2025 On-Campus housing assignment have the option to transition into their Fall 2025 space on Monday, August 11th between 9 a.m. and 2 p.m. However, please be aware that opting to move in early will incur a nightly charge of $15 until your approved move-in date unless you have been notified otherwise. Your student will receive communication from our office with information to opt into this process.

Move-In: August

We know move-in day is one of the most exciting parts of the college experience and our partners, SWAK University Services, are here to help make the transition a little smoother. Their custom store is designed specifically for Wake Forest students and and ready to help you find everything your student needs to feel at home from day one.

Shop Now: https://www.swaku.com/wfu-room

Why shop with them?

Guaranteed-to-Fit Twin XL Bedding – Not all “Twin XL” sets are created equal, but ours are specially sized for WFU residence hall beds.
Free Campus Delivery – Skip the extra luggage; your student’s items will be waiting when you arrive.
Save with 15% Off Bundles – Get everything from sheets to storage, all in one place (and at a discount!).
Support Campus Life – A portion of every purchase goes directly to Residence Life and Housing programs.

To ensure timely delivery, please place your order by Monday, July 22, 2025.

Shipping Details
When ordering, see below on how to best ensure the package gets to your student:

For incoming students (i.e., Class of 2029) who have not received their campus box number yet (box numbers are typically assigned in late July/early August):
Student Name
1834 Wake Forest Road
Box 2029*
Winston-Salem, NC 27109

* IMPORTANT: Box 2029 is a temporary address for new students to have items shopped to campus; it is not your student’s permanent box number

Popular items tend to go quickly, so we encourage you to shop early. Whether you’re helping your student feel settled or just want to avoid last-minute packing stress, we’re here to help make move-in a success.

We look forward to welcoming your student back home (or for the first time)! Should you have any questions for us, we are available at 336.758.5185 and housing@wfu.edu.

October 2025 Parent & 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 2026.

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 2026 Housing Processes are 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.

October 8

Spring 2026 processes available via the Housing Portal
- Spring Intent
- Off-Campus Lottery
- Winter Break housing requests

October 22

Deadline for ALL students to submit their Spring Intent
Deadline for Off-Campus Lottery Entry
Deadline to submit requests for Winter Break housing

October 29

Off-Campus Lottery outcomes released
Pull-in and room change requests for Spring 2026 available via the Housing Portal

November 15

Deadline for pull-in, room change, and disability-related accommodation requests for Spring 2026

December 3-5

Any approved on-campus room changes
December 3 – Check in between 9 a.m. and 4 p.m.
December 5 – Check out by 2 p.m.

December 10

Spring-Only Housing Selection for students returning to campus will take place on Wednesday, December 10, 2025 between 10 a.m. and 4 p.m. EST via the Housing Portal.

January 6

Deadline to decrease your Spring 2026 meal plan selection

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 2025
- Wednesday, November 26 – Sunday, November 30
  - Thanksgiving Break- the residence halls stay open
December 2025
- Sunday, December 14: Winter Break begins
  - Residence halls close @ 2 p.m.

January 2026
- Saturday, January 10
  - Residential Communities open for all students @ 9 a.m.
- Monday, January 12
  - 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 2025 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. 26-30), 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 25-26 academic year, they’ll participate in our Spring-Only Housing Selection process on Dec. 10. 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 14, at 2 p.m. for Winter Break (barring students who have been approved for Winter Break Housing). We will reopen on January 10 at 9 a.m. for all students. For key dates and reminders to add to your calendar, be sure to bookmark our 2025-2026 Opening/Closing Dates.

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!

2026-2027 Opening/Closing Dates

Residence Life and Housing is pleased to share the following dates related to the opening and closing of our residential communities for the 2026-2027 Academic Year. Please note these dates are subject to change.

A full 2026-2027 Academic Calendar will be made available here. The summer schedule can be found here.

Information for Academic Year 2026-2027

For those who wish to make travel arrangements now for 2026-27, please see the following dates below.

Summer 2026

Tuesday, May 26 – Summer School 1 Move-In
- Summer School Housing will be in Bostwick and Johnson Halls
Wednesday, May 27 – Summer School 1 Begins
- Interim Housing Closes
Thursday, July 2 – Summer School 1 Close
- Students moving out must be out by 2 pm
Monday, July 6 – Summer School 2 Move-In
Tuesday, July 7 – Summer School 2 Begins
Sunday, August 9 – Summer School 2 Close
- Students moving out must be out by 2 pm
Monday, August 10 – 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.

Fall 2026 Dates

Thursday, August 13
- Check-In at the LJVM is from 8 a.m. – 4 p.m.
- Wilderness to Wake and Marching Band Move-In
  - No move-in assistance available
- Forest Guides (OTP Student Staff) Move-In
Friday, August 14
- Check-In at LJVM is from 8 a.m. – 4 p.m.
  - Move-In Assistance from 8 a.m. – 11 a.m.
- All other Pre-Orientation programs Move-In
Tuesday, August 18 – New Student Move-In
- Check-In at LJVM begins at 7:45 a.m.
  - Students will receive their assigned move-in window when they receive their housing assignment over the summer
- Move-In Assistance from 8 a.m. – 12 p.m.
- Late Arrivals from 12 p.m. – 2 p.m.

Tuesday, August 18 through Friday, August 21 – Orientation Activities (i.e. New Deac Week)
Friday, August 21 and Saturday, August 22 – Continuing Student Move-In
- Check-in will be available from 9 a.m. to 4 p.m. daily. Continuing students can move in on whichever day best fits their schedule.
  - Check-in will not be available on Thursday, August 20 so please plan accordingly
Monday, August 24 – Classes Begin
Tuesday, December 15 – Last Day of Exams
Wednesday, December 16 – Communities close at 2 p.m. for Winter Break (unless approved for Winter Break Housing)

Spring 2027 Dates

Tuesday, January 5 – Sorority Recruitment Early Arrivals
Friday, January 8
- 9 a.m. to 4 p.m. – Move-in for students moving on to campus for the first time this academic year
Saturday, January 9
- 9 a.m. – Communities open for all students to return
Monday, January 11 – Classes Begin
Monday, April 26– Last Day of Classes and Move-Out Begins
Wednesday, May 5 – Last Day of Exams
Thursday, May 6 – Communities close @ 2 p.m. for non-seniors (unless approved for Interim Housing)
Monday, May 17 – Commencement
Tuesday, May 18 – Communities close @ 9 a.m. for seniors and those not approved for Interim Housing

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

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