Dear Wake Forest undergraduates,
We are pleased — and grateful! — that our community has responded well so far to the challenges of COVID-19. Even as we all continue to manage the impact of the pandemic on our campus this fall, we are turning our attention to plans for the end of this semester and the start of the spring semester.
This message includes information regarding the spring semester that will help you assess your individual situation and understand needed actions and due dates. As always, the University will adapt to circumstances presented by the pandemic.

Academics

The nature of the pandemic and current public health guidance for congregate living settings means we must take a prudent approach to the spring semester: We will respect social distancing and the safety measures that have allowed us to have a successful fall. We will continue to offer multiple modalities for Spring 2021 classes. Be assured that our classes — regardless of modality — will demonstrate Wake Forest’s powerful commitment to teaching in a way that ensures exciting, empowering, imaginative, innovative learning for students across all disciplines.

Academic Advising

  • Lower-division advising (for students who have not yet declared a major) and major/minor advising will take place November 2-18. Students will be contacted by their advisers to discuss their academic plans for the spring semester. Students can also seek assistance from the Office of Academic Advising.

Class Registration

  • Spring 2021 course schedule will be available to view in the Registration Portal starting October 30.
  • Registration Rounds for Spring 2021 classes will take place November 19-20 and 23-24. Registration information will be available at the Registrar’s website beginning on Oct. 26.

Living On Campus

Living in community is one of the key facets of the Wake Forest experience. Even under the constraints that COVID-19 places on us, we strive for meaningful engagement in our residence halls. Please visit the Residence Life and Housing 2020-21 website for important dates, deadlines, and answers to frequently asked questions. We’d like to highlight the following:

Fall 2020 Departure

  • University housing (residence halls on campus, road houses, and Deacon Place) closes on November 24 at 5 p.m.
  • For students with extenuating circumstances, we have opened a petition process to request permission to stay at Wake Forest until the end of the fall term (December 13), or until the start of the spring term, should community health conditions allow.
    • If a student petitions and is approved to stay on campus through the Thanksgiving holiday and finishes the semester on campus, they will not be eligible for the 10 percent refund.
    • Staying on campus past Dec. 13 will require an additional fee for housing and meals and is likely to be in a consolidated location.
    • To protect the health and safety of our students, faculty, and staff, students who are approved to remain will be required to demonstrate that they did not leave the immediate Winston-Salem area during the Thanksgiving break.
  • Students living in University-sponsored housing (e.g., Crowne Properties) will be allowed to remain in their housing, as will other off-campus students. The only exception would be if public health conditions warranted a need to ask our students to leave the community in order to control or reduce community spread. That decision would be made in close consultation with the county and state health departments.
  • While a full move-out will not be required under current plans, we urge you to consider everything you will need for the long winter break: Take home all items of importance to you (electronics, jewelry, cherished items, passports, money, prescription medicine, etc.). Please also take your laptop and academic materials for your spring classes in case plans for the start of the spring semester are impacted by COVID-19.

Spring 2021 Housing Application

  • Beginning Monday, November 2, all undergraduate students will be able to access their Spring 2021 Housing Application on the Housing Portal at go.wfu.edu/housingportal.
    • Resident students will be asked to confirm their residency status for the spring; students living off-campus or remote will be asked to confirm their off-campus address; remote students will be asked to express their intention for the spring.
  • The deadline for completing these spring updates is Monday, November 16 at 8 a.m. EST.
  • For more details based on your current status, please visit our website at rlh.wfu.edu/2020-21-residential-life.

Spring 2021 Move-In/Return

  • Move in will be January 23-26, and the first day of class will be held on January 27.
  • Saturday, January 23 will be reserved for students who are new to University housing for the Spring 2021 semester. These students will need to schedule an appointment and follow the same procedures as for fall move-in.
  • The university will share any details regarding additional requirements for pre-arrival COVID-19 testing and quarantine as plans evolve.
  • Students may return to University housing between Sunday, January 24 and Tuesday, January 26 once all pre-arrival expectations have been fulfilled.

Spring Billing Information, Fall Refunds, and Financial Aid

On December 1, you will be able to see spring charges in the Current Activity view of DEAC. All charges are due on January 1, 2021; you can see payment options here. Tuition and fees are based on the Board of Trustees-approved structure presented this spring. All modalities of instruction have the same tuition rate.

Fall Refunds

  • When students leave campus at the Thanksgiving holiday and complete the remainder of the semester from home, they will receive a 10 percent refund of housing costs, dining plans and wellness and parking fees, as applicable. As we get closer to the refund process, additional information will be available here.

Scholarships and Financial Aid

  • Financial aid packages for undergraduates are awarded for the full academic year, so your financial aid eligibility (if applicable) remains in effect for the spring semester. Any questions regarding your grants, scholarships, work-study, or loan eligibility can be directed to financial-aid@wfu.edu.
  • The housing allowance used for financial aid eligibility is based upon the University’s standard on-campus housing costs. Students who elect to live at home with family during the spring semester will have a reduced housing allowance and, in accordance with federal regulations, must have their financial aid eligibility reassessed. Any questions regarding the impact of remote instruction should be directed to financial-aid@wfu.edu.
  • Student Financial Services will begin refunding credit balances from the Spring 2021 semester beginning the week of Feb. 1, 2021.

Global Programs and Studies

  • Study abroad programs (both Wake Forest and Affiliate) have been cancelled for the Spring 2021 semester. Students interested in future terms abroad (i.e., Summer and Fall ’21), should contact studyabroad@wfu.edu. The Wake Washington semester program is scheduled to run this spring as planned.
  • Special programs in Beijing (for first-year Chinese nationals) and Shanghai (for continuing Chinese nationals) are expected to continue during the spring semester. Additional information, including curricular details, will be provided directly to students. For more information, contact studyabroad@wfu.edu.

International Student and Scholar Services (ISSS)

  • We know that our international students have unique needs. The ISSS office will be sending communications directly to international students with information about the spring semester, including any action items or due dates. Please be sure to check your ISSDeacs account regularly and quickly update any information as requested by ISSS.

Commencement

Commencement for the Class of 2021 is scheduled for May 17, and Commencement for the Class of 2020 is scheduled for May 22, pending future health guidance. Details will be available at the Commencement website in the coming months.


Our deep thanks for your ongoing patience and flexibility as we work through evolving conditions and prepare for the spring. We look forward to another successful semester and wish you continued good health and safety.

Sincerely,

Rogan Kersh
Provost

Hof Milam
Executive Vice President

Penny Rue
Vice President for Campus Life

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