Happy FDOC

by Betsy Chapman

In this Issue:

  • Snow in the Forest
  • Really helpful tool: the Comprehensive Syllabus
  • Thoughts on campus engagement
  • Secrest Artists Series event on 1/20

Happy FDOC (First Day of Classes!). President Wente sent out a FDOC message to campus today. It’s a great message; the closing paragraph particularly resonated with me:

“We have the opportunity at Wake Forest to pay attention both to the individual and to the distinct blending of voices in our community – to hear how each good question asked, each personal story shared furthers our understanding of and love for the humanity our motto charges us to serve. That is my challenge to all of us this semester – to add your voice and to listen.”

Because of the snow we got on Friday, campus officially opened at 11 am today. Why the late opening, you may ask? Winston-Salem does not have the same snow plowing infrastructure that I grew up with in Pennsylvania, so even a little snow can really mess with transportation.

While the main roads do get salted and plowed, most neighborhoods do not – so it can be very difficult to navigate neighborhood streets, particularly if people drive on them and it melts the top level and packs the snow down, then it all refreezes. So that is where we are.

Because it is an abbreviated day, will share just a few topics.

Snow in the Forest

My talented photographer colleague Lyndsie was out and about during the snow and took some great pictures of the campus all covered in white. You can view that photostory here, and you can also subscribe to photostories so they are sent straight to your inbox (the subscribe box is at the bottom of the photostory).

From the time the snow started falling on Friday until probably yesterday after lunch, it had not gotten much above freezing, so we kept a lot of the snow. Today’s forecast calls for a high of 50 and sunny, which means a lot of the snow ought to be melting.

Really helpful tool: the Comprehensive Syllabus

At the start of the semester, I like to remind families of a wonderful tool from CLASS (Center for Learning, Access, and Student Success): the Comprehensive Syllabus. This is a one stop shop for your student to see all of their homeworks, assignments, test dates, projects, etc. – which allows them to have an at-a-glance view of what they need to work on each week, how to plan their study time, etc.

This video about the Comprehensive Syllabus shows your student how to set one up for themselves. My ’27 has been using this with great success at NC State and says it is an amazing help in keeping assignments on track.

CLASS also offers free peer tutoring, academic coaching, academic workshops, and more. There are so many free tools in the toolbox to help students maximize

Every student will have to find their best time management, test strategies and study strategies, but I hope the resources of CLASS might be of use to some of our Deacs. A new semester is a great time to start utilizing their services.

Thoughts on campus engagement and readjustment

With the spring semester comes all kinds of changes – new classes, learning professor expectations, adjustments to friend groups, and more. Students can sometimes feel like they are rudderless and drifting until they get in a good groove.

There are a few things that students can do to help find that sense of direction or connection to campus. Here is a short list of options:

  • Join campus organizations. The Spring Involvement Fair is on Jan. 29. This is a great way to join a few clubs and activities that might help you meet your people. There are literally hundreds of campus organizations. Take a chance on a new one!
  • Connect with the Office of Student Engagement, whose mission is to help every Deacon find their place. They can help students get involved.
  • Go to campus events. Students can find those on The Link (for example, there is a Cozy Fest this coming Friday at ZSR). For our first-year students, they can also be on the lookout for events and activities with their Faculty Fellows in their residence halls.
  • Consider volunteering or service projects. The Office of Civic and Community Engagement has tons of opportunities across a variety of areas.
  • Take care of your mental health. The University Counseling Center is here for our students, as is our We Are Wake initiative (336-758-CARE or we.wfu.edu).

So if your student is feeling a little unsettled as the semester begins and needs some places to start, try these.

Secrest Artists Series on 1/20

We are a week away from our next Secrest Artists Series event, and I wanted to share it in case any of you are able to attend (and of course to encourage your Deacs to attend as well). Here are the details:

“Tonality, vocal ensemble: “America Will Be”
Monday, January 20 at 7:30 p.m., Wait Chapel

Founder and Artistic Director Alexander Lloyd Blake (’10) created Tonality to connect people through song, using choral music to stimulate community conversations about important issues in the contemporary world. On this Martin Luther King, Jr. holiday, the 2024 GRAMMY-winning vocal ensemble will present their “America Will Be” program, a renewed vision for an inclusive America.

This concert is a collaborative presentation by the Secrest Artists Series, Wake Forest University and Winston-Salem State University.

Join us at 6:40 PM for a pre-concert talk. The talk will be given by Dr. Claire Crawford an Assistant Professor in the Department of Politics and International Affairs and the Program of African American Studies at Wake Forest University. Dr. Crawford will discuss the power of song and sound in the making of a musical democracy.

Visit the Secrest Artists Series website for more information.

Tickets: $5-$25. Free [for students] with WFU ID. Please reserve in advance.”

That’s all the news I’ve got for you today, Deac families. Hope your students had a great FDOC!

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