Helping Your Deac Navigate the Fine Print This Fall

In this Issue: some helpful tips on why it is so important for students to read emails

As we get closer to the start of the fall semester, I wanted to share a perspective that comes up every summer around this time. I know how overwhelming the influx of information can feel from the parent/family side—and it can feel just as daunting for our incoming and returning students.

With that in mind, I want to offer a piece of practical advice you can share with your Deacs before they arrive on campus this fall: students need to establish a daily habit of reading the communications they receive from Wake Forest.

It sounds simple, but in college, the volume of emails they receive can catch students off guard. Whether it is an email from a professor, an update from an administrator, or a course document, students are held responsible for knowing the contents and meeting deadlines, whether they have opened the message or not.

Here is a quick guide to the primary ways we share critical information, and how you can encourage your student to approach them:

• The Course Syllabus: This is the master document for every class, outlining assignments, grading scales, exam dates, and attendance policies. Professors typically review this on the first day of class or post it online via Canvas (our digital learning management system). I always encourage students to read the fine print here—especially regarding due dates and policy expectations.
• Official University Emails: Our office and teams across campus try to be incredibly mindful of the number of emails we send. However, when a complicated situation or a nuanced policy arises, we occasionally have to use more words than the students might prefer. It is vital that they read all emails carefully to check for required actions, fees, or deadlines.
• WFU Should Know: This is our weekly student e-newsletter. It serves as a central hub for campus announcements, policy updates, and deadline reminders. (We will begin sending this to students in early August).

If a communication, item in the syllabus, etc. does not make sense to your student, please encourage your student to ask the sender for clarification right away. Reaching out directly to a faculty or staff member is a wonderful way for students to practice self-advocacy and find their footing here.

And just to set honest expectations, there may come a time when your student misses an email and faces a minor consequence—like a late fee, a missed event, or a deduction on an assignment. In my experience as a longtime administrator and part-time faculty member, these moments can feel distressing to parents and families, but they are actually invaluable learning opportunities. It is far better for a student to navigate a low-stakes misstep in a supportive college environment than to make a similar oversight with their first employer after graduation.

We want to partner with you to help your student build the independence and attention to detail that will serve them long after they leave the Forest. Thank you for helping us set the stage for a successful semester.