Wake Forest UniversityStudent Guide

Academic dates, campus language, housing, and student-life references for Wake Forest University. Free for students.

Private Non-Profit Liberal Arts College in Winston-Salem, NC. Operating on a semester system.

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10K+

Total Enrollment

Liberal Arts College

Institution Type

30

Housing Buildings

Student guide · Fall First Half of Term 2026

The semester, explained for Wake Forest University

Dates from the active academic calendar, plus the campus language and local details students actually need. Every entry comes from DormWay's approved campus reference library.

Relevant term
Fall First Half of Term 2026
Campus terms
17
Local details
12

Academic calendar

Fall First Half of Term 2026 runs Aug 24, 2026 – Oct 14, 2026. Calendar aliases that share a date range are grouped together, with every source term still shown.

36 entries
  1. Full Summer 2026
  2. Summer Session II 2026
  3. Fall First Half of Term 2026Fall First Half Term 2026Relevant now
  4. Fall First Half 2026
  5. Fall Semester 2026
  6. Fall Second Half Term 2026
  7. Fall Second Half of Term 2026
  8. Fall Second Half 2026
  9. Spring First Half of Term 2027
  10. Spring First Half 2027Spring First Half Term 2027
  11. Spring Semester 2027
  12. Spring Second Half of Term 2027
  13. Spring Second Half 2027Spring Second Half Term 2027
  14. Summer Session 1 / Summer First Half Term 2027Summer Session 1 2027
  15. Full Summer 2027
  16. Summer Session 2 / Summer Second Half Term 2027Summer Session 2 2027
  17. Fall First Half 2027Fall First Half Term 2027
  18. Fall Semester 2027
  19. Fall Second Half 2027Fall Second Half Term 2027
  20. Spring First Half 2028Spring First Half Term 2028
  21. Spring Semester 2028
  22. Spring Second Half 2028Spring Second Half Term 2028
  23. Summer Session 1 / Summer First Half Term 2028Summer Session 1 2028
  24. Full Summer 2028
  25. Summer Session 2 / Summer Second Half Term 2028Summer Session 2 2028

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Campus language

Search the full glossary. Nothing is sampled or hidden when the search field is empty.

17 terms

B

Benson
The Benson University Center food court, featuring various retail dining options like Chick-fil-A.

C

CHARGE
A student leadership development program focused on personal and professional growth.

D

Dogwood
Dogwood Hall, one of the newer residence halls located in the North Village.

L

Luter
Luter Residence Hall, typically housing upperclassmen.

M

Mag Room
The Magnolia Room, an upscale buffet-style dining room located in Reynolda Hall.
Mother So Dear
An affectionate term for the university, derived from the first line of the school's Alma Mater.

P

Polo
Polo Hall, an apartment-style residence hall on the north side of campus.

S

SG
Student Government, the primary representative body for the undergraduate population.
Shorty's
Shorty’s Restaurant, a sit-down dining venue located in the Benson University Center.
South
South Hall, a prominent residence hall for first-year students.

T

The Bubble
The perceived isolation of the campus community from the surrounding Winston-Salem area.
The Forest
A shorthand nickname for the university and its wooded campus environment.
The Pit
The main campus dining hall, officially known as the Fresh Food Company, located in Reynolda Hall.

W

WAKETV
The student-run television station providing campus news and entertainment.
Work Forest
A common nickname for the university, referencing its rigorous academic environment and heavy workload.

Z

Zick's
A student social hub and pizzeria located in Poteat Hall.
ZSR Ambassadors
Student volunteers who represent and support the Z. Smith Reynolds Library.

Places and practicalities

Buildings, logistics, and other local references drawn from the approved campus snapshot.

12 details
Deacon Cash
A prepaid debit account linked to the student ID for use at the bookstore, laundry, and off-campus partners.
Deacon OneCard
The official student identification card used for building access, meal plans, and library privileges.
hilltop_market
Hilltop Market
magnolia_room
Magnolia Room
Old Gold
A specific meal plan credit that allows students to purchase 'combo meals' at retail dining locations.
Reynolda
Reynolda Hall, the central administrative building housing dining services and the Office of the President.
The Quad
Hearn Plaza, the main grassy ceremonial space on campus where 'rolling the quad' occurs after athletic victories.
the_pit_fresh_food_company
The Pit (Fresh Food Company)
Tribble
Tribble Hall, an academic building notorious among students for its confusing, maze-like layout.
Wait
Wait Chapel, the iconic centerpiece of the campus used for major events and assemblies.
WIN
The Wake Information Network, the legacy online portal for student records, grades, and registration.
ZSR
The Z. Smith Reynolds Library, the primary academic library on campus.

Quick answers

Useful facts students can verify from the guide above.

What academic term is relevant now?
Fall First Half of Term 2026 runs Aug 24, 2026 – Oct 14, 2026.
How much campus context is included?
17 approved campus terms and 12 local details are included in full.
Are all approved campus terms included?
Yes. The complete approved glossary is available in the scrollable, searchable campus-language section.
Where does this guide come from?
Calendar dates, campus terms, and local details come from DormWay's approved campus reference library.

Class of 2030 · Wake Forest University

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What we’ll email you about

  • Aug 25

    Vehicle Registration Deadline

    Recommended · source

  • Sep 1

    Health Insurance Waiver Deadline

    Required · source

  • Sep 9

    Last Day to Add a Class

    Required · source

One email per real deadline. Source link cited every time. We re-check 7 days before each one fires.

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Find a few communities to try at Wake Forest University

These are things we discovered from public campus sources. We are constantly looking for more.

Tell us what we missed

22 mapped items from 6 public sources

Interest filters
  • Major-aligned clubs, pre-professional groups, and research communities.
  • Performing arts, visual arts, student publications, film, and music.
  • Cultural orgs, identity communities, and faith-based groups.
  • Volunteer groups, civic engagement, mutual aid, and student government.
  • Outdoor clubs, intramural sports, club sports, and rec center programs.
  • Entrepreneurship, hackathon teams, makerspaces, and engineering project teams.
  • Casual hangouts, interest groups, and open events without applications.

Worth a look

Club Baseball

Competes against other universities in the National Club Baseball Association (NCBA).

Tryout required

Source: campusrec.wfu.edu · Verified 22 days ago

Learn More

Student Union

The largest student-run programming board at Wake Forest, responsible for planning major campus events and traditions like SpringFest, Lighting of the Quad, and aWake All Night.

Regular commitment

Source: studentengagement.wfu.edu · Verified 22 days ago

Visit Website

Anthony Aston Players

A student-run theatre organization that produces a variety of plays and musicals, offering opportunities in acting, directing, and technical theatre.

Tryout required

Easy to try first

Hit the Bricks

An annual 8-hour team relay race around Hearn Plaza to raise money for the Brian Piccolo Cancer Research Fund. Students run laps carrying backpacks filled with bricks.

Drop in any time

Source: hitthebricks.wfu.edu · Verified 22 days ago

Springfest

A week-long celebration organized by Student Union before final exams, featuring concerts, a carnival, food trucks, and other events for the entire campus community.

Drop in any time

Source: studentengagement.wfu.edu · Verified 22 days ago

Campus rituals

Lovefeast

A cherished Moravian tradition held in Wait Chapel before winter break, featuring a simple meal, candle lighting, and carols to celebrate the holiday season as a community.

Drop in any time

Source: chaplain.wfu.edu · Verified 22 days ago

Rolling the Quad

A beloved tradition where students cover the trees on Hearn Plaza with toilet paper to celebrate major athletic victories and other significant university achievements.

Drop in any time

Source: admissions.wfu.edu · Verified 22 days ago

Using DormWay at Wake Forest University

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Wake Forest University on DormWay

Current DormWay activity for this campus

9

Active Students

10

Syllabi Analyzed

8

Courses on DormWay

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Popular Courses

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College Chemistry ICSC-111-DElementary Probability and StatisticsMTH-117-BRevolutionary North AmericaSPA-102-F-Elementary Spanish IIThemes in Modern South Asian Literature: Love, Gender, and Sexuality in Modern South AsiaWriting the Labyrinth: The Fantastic as Social Inquiry

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Life in Winston-Salem for Wake Forest University Students

Everything you need to know about living and studying in Winston-Salem.

Timezone

Eastern Time (ET)

Median Rent

$950

Cost of Living Index

92

Student Population

45,000

City Transportation

Walkability

29

Bikeability

44

Public Transit

Winston-Salem Transit Authority bus system

Nearest Airports

Piedmont Triad International Airport, Smith Reynolds Airport

Climate Averages

Climate

Humid subtropical

Avg Annual Temp

57°F

Avg Snowfall

6 in

Campus Operations Snapshot

Parking and Transit

Lot Z5

surface_lot • Assigned to first-year students

First-year student permit fee is $360 for the academic year.

Lot Z2

surface_lot • Assigned to sophomore students

Sophomore student permit fee is $360 for the academic year.

Visitor Lots (C, A, F, M, P, S1, S2)

surface_lot • Available for guests

One-time visitors do not need to register; frequent visitors can obtain a no-fee permit.

Campus News

Latest updates from Wake Forest University

Why Wake Forest made its new commercial out of paper

Wake Forest's new 30-second institutional commercial features a campus brought to life using nearly 3,000 pieces of hand-cut paper, reflecting the university's commitment to character education.

Sep 11, 2026

Read More

Inauguration of Dr. Peter Rodriguez

The university celebrated the inauguration of Dr. Peter Rodriguez as its 15th president, marking a new chapter for the institution.

Sep 11, 2026

Read More

Community Gathers for Climb to Remember

A record 1,594 participants gathered at Allegacy Stadium for the 25th anniversary of 9/11 to climb 2,977 steps in memory of the victims.

Sep 11, 2026

Read More

Severe Thunderstorm Warning issued for Winston-Salem/Forsyth County area until 2:45 PM on September 5, 2026.

Severe Thunderstorm Warning issued for Winston-Salem/Forsyth County area until 2:45 PM on September 5, 2026.

Read More

Community Safety Advisory: Report of sexual assault on campus occurring on August 23, 2026.

Community Safety Advisory: Report of sexual assault on campus occurring on August 23, 2026.

Read More

Upcoming Events

What's happening at Wake Forest University

Day of Service

September 12, 2026

Campus-wide / Various Service Sites

A day for the Wake Forest community to engage with the Pro Humanitate motto through various service opportunities. Breakfast and transportation are provided.

Apartheid's Shadow | Film Screening and Conversation

September 24, 2026

ZSR Library, Library Auditorium (Room 404)

A film screening and conversation event held in the ZSR Library Auditorium.

Creating Presentations with Google Slides

September 29, 2026

Virtual Event (Zoom)

A virtual workshop on how to create effective presentations using Google Slides.

Fall 2026: Last day to drop full-term class

September 29, 2026

Reynolda Campus

The final deadline for students to drop a full-term class for the Fall 2026 semester.

Life after Death: Celebrating Day of the Dead

September 29, 2026

Lam Museum of Anthropology

An event celebrating the Day of the Dead at the Lam Museum of Anthropology.

Dorms & On-Campus Housing at Wake Forest University

Various dorm and housing options are available for students.

30 known dorm and housing options. The first 24 are shown below; the rest are available in the expandable list.

109-111 Rosedale Circle

1115 Polo Road

1125 Polo Road

1145 Polo Road

1157 Polo Road

1210 Polo Road

Angelou Hall

Capacity: 180

Room types: double

Babcock Hall

Capacity: 199

Room types: double

Bostwick Hall

Capacity: 76

Room types: double

Collins Hall

Room types: double

Davis Hall

Room types: double

Deacon Place Apartments

Room types: apartment

Dogwood Hall

Room types: double

Efird Hall

Room types: double

Greene Hall

Room types: double

Hopkins Hall

Room types: double

Huffman Hall

Capacity: 176

Room types: double

Johnson Hall

Room types: double

Kitchin Hall

Room types: double

Luter Hall

Capacity: 199

Room types: double, suite

Magnolia Hall

Room types: suite

Martin Hall

Room types: suite

North Campus Apartments

Capacity: 110

Room types: single

Palmer Hall

Room types: double

Show the remaining 6 housing options

Piccolo Residence Hall

Room types: double

Polo Hall

Room types: 4-person townhomes

Poteat Hall

Room types: suite

South Hall

Room types: double

Student Apartments

Room types: apartment

Taylor Hall

Capacity: 249

Room types: double

Campus Details

Academic System

Semester

Control

Private Non-Profit

Email Domain

@wakeforestu.edu

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