Humpday

In this Issue:

• News story about one of our sophomores (and a reminder why the Involvement Fair is such a critical opportunity!)
• Our Program for Leadership and Character was mentioned in Chief Executive Magazine
• Please urge your students to take our climate survey!!
• Student opportunity: Deacon Dialogue facilitators
• Information for P’24s with graduating students
• Mold and Mildew Prevention info for resident students

It’s Wednesday, or humpday, the middle of the week. It’s grey out today and the forecast calls for rain for the next few days, so I suspect your Deacs will grit their teeth and bear it until the weekend (and they can stay in if they like). At least it is warmer outside. Today I’ve got a handful of news, opportunities, and requests for help. Take what you need, and scroll past the rest 🙂

News story about one of our sophomores (and a reminder why the Involvement Fair is such a critical opportunity!)

One of my colleagues forwarded me this short video from one of our local news stations, profiling sophomore Couriyah Stegall. She’s featured in a segment called “Good for Her” and talks about some of the significant volunteer work she has done as a Wake Forest student. That would be reason enough to watch (and as an aside, I sure hope her family reads the Daily Deac to see this!)

But she also talks about some of the fears that she had when she first came to school – will I fit in? etc. – and her answer to that was to go to the Student Involvement Fair. I keep talking about that fair because involvement really is the key to students feeling like they find their place here. And with the changes that come in the spring semester (new classes, many go through recruitment, not all have the outcome they wanted), this is the right time to think about trying new organizations.

Couriyah is deeply involved in Campus Kitchen, which is a wonderful organization that selects, prepares, and delivers food to people in need in our larger community. Encourage your students to consider volunteering for Campus Kitchen – and getting involved in other areas of interest – by going to the Student Involvement Fair on 2/1.

Our Program for Leadership and Character was mentioned in Chief Executive Magazine

Last week, in an article in Chief Executive Magazine, the authors describe the new Virtuosity App, designed as a system to support individual and organizational character development. Embedded in this system is a framework developed by Wake Forest’s Program for Leadership and Character and the Oxford Character Project that describes seven strategies of character development. Check out the article, “Exercising your leadership character,” and see how the work of our Program for Leadership and Character is getting noticed.

Please urge your students to take our climate survey!!

On Monday, we launched a climate survey for all students, faculty, and staff. We are aiming to reach 35% participation from each of those groups, and have had an early strong showing among faculty and staff – but our student uptake is slower than I’d like to see.

So please gently nudge your students to take the email. If our students don’t add their voices to this survey, the results won’t be as helpful as we want them to be. Students got an invite in their email on Monday to take the survey, or they can check out QR codes on campus or via our website. NOTE: this survey is for students, faculty, and staff only (not parents and families, unless you fall into the WFU student/fac/staff category). Thank you!

Student opportunity: Deacon Dialogue facilitators

I get an email regularly from our excellent Office of Civic and Community Engagement, and this opportunity caught my eye as something that might be of interest to some of your students:

“Become a Deacon Dialogue Facilitator

Are you interested in being a catalyst for change? The OCCE is actively recruiting undergraduate students to become Deacon Dialogue Facilitators. Deacon Dialogue Facilitators will be responsible for facilitating dialogue spaces on various topics related to identity, politics, and current issues utilizing an issue guide.

Deacon Dialogue Facilitators will be expected to facilitate or co-facilitate at least one (1) dialogue per semester and will be integral in shaping, leading, and guiding dialogue initiatives at Wake Forest. Applications due by March 6.”

I particularly like this opportunity because one of the real-world skills that can help your students for the rest of their lives is how to help foster productive dialogue, particularly when it is a tough topic. Students who learn to do this sooner rather than later may have a big advantage in future workplaces, relationships and more. If your Deac might like this, share the opportunity with them.

Information for P’24s with graduating students

I have a couple of notes for P’24s with seniors graduating in May:

Some have asked me when information about ordering Commencement tickets will be available. That notice typically goes out to your students in early to mid-March. We have to wait until close to mid-semester to get the list from the Registrar’s office with the names of students who are on track to graduate. In the interim, you can look at the Commencement website now for general info, but we will be adding additional notes as those are confirmed. Note: one of the last things that normally gets added is timing of departmental open houses/receptions (those tend to get finalized closer to April, but tend to be later in the afternoon on Sunday).

If they are not already aware of this, please share with your ’24s that the WFU Mentoring Resource Center’s Senior Mentoring Groups are kicking off in February. These groups are for seniors to connect with each other, reflect on their last four years at Wake and seek guidance from a faculty or staff member about their transition to life after Wake. Your senior can register here by noon on February 2. 

Mold and Mildew Prevention info for resident students

At the start of each semester, the Office of Residence Life and Housing distributes information to resident students about the potential for mold and mildew growth, how to prevent it, and how to report issues should you find them. Read the message.