Our Way Forward

Read Our Full Report

View Full Plan »

Watch President Hatch Outline Our Model for Reopening

Read President Hatch’s June 30 Message »

• A comprehensive plan detailing Wake Forest’s expectations and requirements for addressing this public health challenge will be shared with all incoming students, faculty and staff prior to the beginning of the fall semester as part of orientation or reorientation.
• Based on CDC guidance, we will utilize a Screen, Test, Protect protocol to identify and contain potential outbreaks.
• We will educate our community about how each person can contribute to a healthy and successful semester by following key public health guidelines, including:
  • Daily symptom monitoring
  • Social distancing
  • Wearing face coverings
  • Committing to COVID-specific hygiene
  • Enhanced cleaning protocols
  • Getting seasonal flu shots
• We are expanding the capacity of our Student Health Service team and services to accommodate the forecasted needs of our campus community.
• Faculty and staff will have access to resources through the newly-created Employee Health Service.

Learn More About Health of Community »

• Students and faculty will have flexibility in how they will approach the Fall 2020 semester.
• Course design will include face-to-face, blended and online classes. We expect that about half of undergraduate courses will feature a face-to-face component.
• Required classes may be available in a full online format where possible to ensure that individual health conditions, travel restrictions or family challenges will not prevent advancement toward degree.
• If necessary, the schedule for courses may extend longer into the day to accommodate the need to offer greater spread of peak class times and reduce the density in classroom buildings.
• We will reopen the undergraduate add/drop period from July 15-21 to allow for returning students to adjust course schedules, if necessary. Otherwise, students may retain their original schedules created for this semester. We recommend students speak with their advisors if they have any questions.
• We expect the library, studios and labs will be open with appropriate distancing measures and increased infection control measures.
• Offices that support student success — including the Office of Academic Advising, the Learning Assistance Center & Disability Services, Magnolia Scholars Office, Merit Scholars Office and the Writing, Biology, Chemistry and Math Centers — will serve students through remote capabilities with some limited in-person options.

Learn More About Academics »

• Residence halls will be open at reduced capacity as we seek to reduce density in accordance with public health guidelines. Given these parameters, Wake Forest will increase the number of single-occupancy rooms, estimating that 65% of residence hall rooms will be singles and 35% will be doubles.
• Wake Forest has secured additional spaces in apartment complexes near campus and on existing shuttle routes, which will function as University-sponsored housing. Currently, we do not foresee the need to use hotels as normal residence halls.
• While the three-year residency requirement remains in place for 2020-21, students (particularly juniors) are welcome to petition for release in order to live off campus. Petitions will be reviewed first for individually compelling circumstances and then in the order in which they are received. Students who petition prior to July 10 should expect decisions on petitions by July 22.
• Revised housing selection times and a room configuration list will be made available for sophomores, juniors and seniors on Wednesday, July 15. First-year students will be assigned rooms by Residence Life and Housing.
• The main dining halls will be open and operating under social distancing requirements, which will reduce the number of people able to dine at peak times. We will also offer a revised and flexible set of dining options, including enhanced takeaway service and delivery offerings. All food court and retail venues, and some new ones, will be operating
  on normal schedules with social distancing requirements in place.
• Public health guidelines constrain the size, duration and location of programming. More than 240 student organizations, club activities and programming will need to re-envision social gatherings and activities in which social distancing is not possible.
• We expect the Wellbeing Center and other large spaces will be open with appropriate distancing measures and increased infection control measures.
• We expect to offer intramural sports activities that are low health risk, and we will pursue creative new options for friendly competitions and increase the number and variety of outdoor activities.
• Offices that support student success — like the Office of Student Engagement, Office of Personal and Career Development and Office of Diversity and Inclusion — will continue to serve students through both in-person and remote capabilities.

Learn More About Residential Life »

• July 15:
  • Undergraduate course information updated to reflect academic modality (in-person, online or blended)
  • Add/Drop period for continuing students begins
  • Release of housing selection times and configurations
  • Fall billing date
• July 17: Students who have lived on campus for six semesters must declare their intent to live on or off campus
• July 22: Decisions to be announced for any off-campus petitions submitted by July 10
• July 23-July 24: Housing selection for roommate groups with a senior (Thursday) or junior (Friday) group leader
• July 27-28: Housing selection for roommate groups with a sophomore group leader
• July 27-31: Registration for first-year students
• July 31: First-year housing assignments released
• August 1: Fall payment due
• August 17-20: New student move-in appointments
• August 20-24: Continuing students move-in appointments
• August 24: Add/Drop for first-year students
• August 26–November 24: On-campus instruction for undergraduate students occurs; we will forgo fall break this year; check with graduate and professional schools for slight variations to their calendars
• November 30–December 18: Remainder of the fall semester and final exams occur remotely