False Fall
In this Issue:
- Messages from home (grab tissues first)
- A reminder from University Police
- Friday phone call
- Reminder about social media and students’ privacy
- Orientation slide decks
When I woke up this morning to let our dogs out, there was a marvelous chill in the air. You almost needed a jacket if you were going to be outside for more than a minute or two. It. Felt. Amazing.
But I want to stress to the Daily Deacdom – especially our newest P’28 readers – that this is False Fall, as shown in the picture below.
Second Summer is right around the corner, as you can see by the 90s+ weather that will be here for FDOC (First Day of Class) on Monday:
So enjoy this cooler weather today and tomorrow, Deacs!
Messages from home (grab tissues first)
Parent and family orientation for our new P’28 and transfer families came to an end yesterday. Our new families have either departed last night or will be doing so shortly. I know that this is an emotional time.
As I was heading in to Wait Chapel yesterday morning to get ready for our Flourish in the Forest program for new families, I cut through Davis Chapel (the small chapel behind Wait Chapel) and saw a series of small notes on the altar. It looked like prayers that maybe families had written for their students, or students had written for themselves? They were lovely and poignant messages of hope and good wishes as the semester began.
In that same spirit, I want to shout out my extremely talented and creative colleagues on our video and social media team, as well as our P’28s who helped provide the content for this beautiful video with messages from home. Warning: you will want to have a tissue handy (or at least I did!)
A reminder from University Police
As part of our What to Know Before You Go orientation session for families yesterday, we invited several campus partners to share a thought or two about what they hoped families would take away with them. Our Chief of University Police, Regina Lawson, reminded families of this important note – and it is something we want all families of all years to know:
If students need to report a crime (or suspected crime) or need police help, we need them to call University Police, or dial 911, or report it via the Wake Safe app. Sometimes students’ first reaction is to call their parents or families, or text it to their friends, or post on social media, but those channels do not alert police. So we need them to call police first (and then they can tell you if they want).
Friday phone call
Longtime Daily Deac-ers have heard this before, but as we look to the start of the semester, it is a good time to remind you of it. As you and your students try to determine the best day/time for them to call you for a proper conversation, you may want to suggest that it be on Friday afternoons. Why?
Research by Meg Small at Penn State showed parental communication on weekends (30 minutes or more of general conversations not specifically related to substance use) decreased the high risk use of alcohol on those weekends.
Reminder about social media and students’ privacy
Particularly for our newest families, for whom they might be getting the “frantic phone call” referenced yesterday, I want to offer a gentle reminder not to air your student’s struggles in social media spaces without their consent.
Our students may not want their loved tones to ask [well-intended] questions in an online/public forum (even if it is a closed group) about what may feel like sensitive topics to them: “Is anyone else’s student eating all their meals alone?” “Anyone else have a student who can’t seem to break into a friend group? Maybe we can pair them up together!” “My student’s roommate is awful! Suggestions on how to handle?” etc.
Even if you think it is no big deal or you are trying to help them, it still might feel like a violation of privacy to your student. And at the end of the day, Wake is has a smallish student body and sometimes it is not hard to figure out who is being discussed. So before you post, it is wise to ask your Deac’s permission to share.
For sensitive questions your student might not want you to ask publicly, you can always email parents@wfu.edu, and we can help you (either by answering or directing you to someone who can), or you can use the Who to Contact for… website to find the right office.
Orientation slide decks
We are currently collecting any slide decks from parent and family Orientation sessions. As soon as I get them all, I will make them available in the Daily Deac. Thanks for your patience in the interim.
For our families traveling back home, as well as our ’25-’27 Deacs who are traveling here to get moved in, I wish you all safe travels. Let’s have a great fall semester!! Go Deacs!