Q&A about textbooks

In this Issue:

• Fire alarm reminders
• Don’t forget to do the student health insurance enrollment/waiver process
• Learn more about how your student can purchase their textbooks and course materials

Only one more week before the first of our ’29 students begin moving in – which feels crazy to me. The summer has just sped by! Today I want to draw attention to a couple of key processes before everyone gets totally consumed with packing and moving their Deacs (of all years) to campus. Let’s dig in!

Fire alarm reminders

We ran this item back in June, but it is worth repeating now that school is about to begin. Typically at the start of every semester, some residence halls (often first-year halls) experience fire alarms. In my own first weekend at Wake, I think we had 3 within 24 hours.

Student safety is our highest priority, and we treat each fire alarm seriously. Each alarm is reported and reviewed by various staff members to ensure our sensors are functioning correctly – and in nearly every case, the sensors are working as intended.

Our detectors are set to the lowest sensitivity allowed by the fire code. Below is some information about how our sensors work.

Our rooms use photo particle sensors, meaning they look for particles in the air that could be smoke. Unfortunately, those sensors can’t distinguish smoke from steam, hair spray, vaping (which is not allowed in rooms!) etc., which often triggers what students will refer to as false alarms. To avoid setting off the alarms, students should:

• Avoid allowing excessive shower steam to build up and then be released where a detector is located.
  • Do not smoke or vape in the buildings. All cigarettes, including e-cigarettes, must be smoked at least 50 feet away from any campus building.
  • Only cook food for the recommended amount of time at the appropriate temperature.Do not leave cooking unattended for any length of time.
• Do not spray any aerosol cans close to the detectors.
• Take care when curling or straightening hair not to be close to any detectors.

Don’t forget to do the student health insurance enrollment/waiver process

Have you enrolled in or waived student health insurance? While not due until September, it might be easier to do it now.

As a reminder, all students are automatically charged for the student insurance plan and required to complete the enrollment or waiver forms. If you do not complete either form by September 15, you will be automatically enrolled even if you have existing coverage. If you have sufficient coverage through your own policy, you may complete the waiver form and the charge will be removed.

Learn more about how your student can purchase their textbooks and course materials

I talked to my friends at the Bookstore because many families, especially our new P’29 families, have asked about the best methods to get their students’ textbooks. This Q&A from the Bookstore should help.

When is the best time to shop for my books?

As soon as you know your courses and section numbers, visit the Wake Forest Campus Store website to view and order your materials. Shopping early increases your chances of getting a used or rental copy, which can save you money.

If a book isn’t available yet, you can sign up for an email alert to be notified when it’s in stock.

You have two delivery options:

• Ship to any address (home, off campus address if applicable, etc.)
• Reserve for free in-store pickup at the Wake Forest Bookstore

The store offers extended hours at the start of each term to make it easy to pick up your order. Even if a book isn’t in stock locally, the site can often locate a copy at another store and ship it to Wake Forest for free.

Pro tip: Shopping in-store is a great way to get help from Bookstore staff who can answer questions, check availability, and explain your rental, used, and digital options. It’s also a good chance to browse school supplies, tech, and Wake gear.

Price match available! If you find a lower price on a textbook from qualifying retailers (like Amazon or Chegg), the Wake Forest Bookstore will match it, just bring proof of the lower price when purchasing in-store.

Heads Up: Renting a Book?

If you’re renting textbooks, you’ll need to provide a physical credit or debit card (not just Apple Pay or digital wallet) to keep on file as part of your rental agreement, even if you’re using a gift card or another method to pay. Be sure to bring one with you when shopping in-store!

How do I get Course Material Email Notifications?

Sign up online to be notified as soon as we get the list of materials from your instructor and at least one format is available—then you can choose to have it delivered or pick-up in-store. You can get notifications for as many books or courses as you need. Here are two ways how:

• Within the main navigation, go to Books > Textbooks & Course Materials. Select your class. If your class materials are not confirmed, you’ll see an option for “Email me when available online.”
• If you know the book you need, you can enter the ISBN in the search field. If it’s not available, you’ll see the option to receive a notification when your book is in-stock.

Can I just go to the bookstore once I get a Course Material Notification?

You’re welcome to stop by, but we can’t guarantee your book will be on the shelf when you arrive. To make sure you get what you need, we recommend ordering your books online and selecting free in-store pickup. That way, we’ll reserve your items and begin processing your order right away.

We’ll fulfill your order as quickly as possible, and you’ll get an email notification as soon as it’s ready. Once you receive that message, you can come to the store to pick up your materials—no need to wait in line or worry about availability.

Shouldn’t I attend class first before buying the book to make sure I really need it?

We love when students visit the store—and the earlier you come in, the better! Shopping in person early gives you the best chance to grab used or rental copies, ask questions, and check out supplies, tech, and Wake Forest gear.

That said, textbook inventory moves fast, so if you want to be sure your books are available, we recommend placing your order online first and selecting free in-store pickup.

We’ll fulfill your order as quickly as possible and send you an email notification when it’s ready.

Pickup location:

• During the first week of classes, all online order pickups will be located outside, behind Taylor Hall for faster service.
• After the first week, pickups will move inside the bookstore.

Ordering ahead saves you time, and ensures your materials are ready when you arrive.

What if I change or drop a class after I have the book?

If you’re planning to drop a class, it’s best not to purchase the textbooks or materials for that class until your schedule is finalized. This helps you avoid unnecessary purchases and makes returns easier.

If you’ve already bought the book but end up dropping the class, most unused textbooks can be returned to the campus store up to the school’s official add/drop deadline. 

Important Note: If you ordered your books online but decided to return them (for example, because you dropped a class), you must come to the bookstore in person to pick up your order and initiate the return. Returns will not be processed automatically.

Our policy states that you have 21 days from when your order is available for pickup to collect your books and start any return or refund process. If you do not pick up your order within this timeframe, you will forfeit the right to return the books and may lose the materials.

Late addition: after I published today’s blog, campus received messages this afternoon about administrative realignments related to the Office of Diversity and Inclusion; read the messages here and here.