Wake The Forest
Wake The Forest is a First Year Experience initiative that supports students’ transition into college during their first six weeks. By offering residential-based events, resources, and engagement opportunities, Wake The Forest fosters care, connection, and community, reinforcing the integration of living and learning and aiming for a campus culture where students matter, belong, and thrive.
Your Foundation for Success
Every Wake The Forest event is designed to support your growth, connection, and sense of belonging during your first six weeks. These experiences, complemented by intentional interactions with in-hall staff and Faculty Fellows, align with the Four Pillars of The Forest—Personal Development, Life of the Mind, Community & Belonging, and Pro Humanitate—to ensure holistic development and reinforce community-wide connections.
Personal Development: Finding Your Place
We’re dedicated to your holistic wellbeing – mind, body, and spirit – helping you discover yourself, find balance, and connect with resources and your residential community to feel at home and thrive.
Life of the Mind: Exploring Big Ideas
Learning extends beyond the classroom. We encourage your curiosity by connecting you with faculty and staff in your residence halls through conversations and shared experiences that foster a lifelong love of learning.
Community & Belonging: Your Wake Forest Family
You’re joining a diverse community where you are seen, valued, and connected. We create spaces for you to explore your identity, learn from others, build relationships, and find your unique place within the Demon Deacon family.
Pro Humanitate: Leading with Purpose
Leadership is a journey, not just a title. We encourage you to see yourself as a leader who can make a difference, big or small, and we’ll help you explore leading with character, courage, and a spirit of Pro Humanitate – for humanity.
Shape the First Six Weeks
The Wake The Forest planning committee invites faculty, staff and campus partners to contribute to the Wake The Forest initiative by submitting program or initiative ideas for first-year students. We welcome proposals in the following categories:
- Campus-Wide Events: Develop signature events or promote existing programs open to all, with a special focus on welcoming and connecting first-year students to Wake Forest traditions and engaging them with the broader community. By being part of Wake The Forest, your event will receive additional marketing support and be tagged with a specific Pillar icon. First-year students who attend a set number of Wake The Forest events will also earn extra Link Loot points, redeemable in a special “first-year only” auction at the end of the first six weeks.
- In-Hall Programs: Create engaging and intimate opportunities within residence halls, in collaboration with Faculty Fellows or RAs, to strengthen the residential learning and belonging experience for first-year students.
- Resource Opportunities: Offer accessible drop-in or scheduled experiences for first-year students to connect with your office or department and learn about campus resources aligned with the Four Pillars of The Forest: Personal Development, Life of the Mind, Community & Belonging, and Pro Humanitate.