Snow Day!
In this Issue:
- Snow Day/Wake Alert Winter Weather Advisory
- Global Gauge: see the global engagement of Wake Foresters
- Wake Forest ranks 4th nationally in study abroad participation
- Things students must do before leaving their residential communities before Winter Break
- Reminders for off campus students of things to do before leaving for break
Today was supposed to be LDOC (Last Day of Classes). But given the precarious weather forecast, we all woke up around 5:30 a.m. to a Wake Alert voicemail telling us that campus is closed today. At my house at least, I do not have any snow (as of 7:45 a.m.), but it is plenty cold and it looks like some of the pine needles on my trees are trying to lightly freeze.
So technically LDOC was yesterday for students, even though they didn’t know it at the time. And that gives them one more day to study for finals. Students all appreciate a little TLC as they prep for finals, so if it is within your budget to Venmo/Zelle them a little cash for a meal off campus (or delivery to campus), I know they would be grateful.
Snow Day/Wake Alert Winter Weather Advisory
We received notice this morning that school would be closed:
“Wake Forest’s Reynolda Campus, including Wake Downtown and other University sites located in Winston-Salem, will be closed on Friday, Dec. 5, due to a winter weather advisory issued by the National Weather Service.
Faculty will receive instructions from their respective deans about options for rescheduling classes or holding them virtually.
Students should monitor their email for further directions.
While the campus is closed, some University buildings, including the ZSR Library, the Benson Center and the Wellbeing Center, will remain open due to the last day of classes and exam schedules.
Campus service hours may be adjusted due to the weather. Check websites for updated hours of operation for campus dining, the Wellbeing Center, the ZSR library, Deacon Health, Mail Services and WFU shuttle services.“
You can read the full message here.
Global Gauge: see the global engagement of Wake Foresters
As I think about academic excellence at Wake Forest, one of the things I am most proud of is the emphasis we place on global education. That often comes in the form of students having some form of abroad experience: for many that is a semester long, for others, it might be a summer abroad program or doing independent research. But our faculty also have prolific global engagement, and that can add a depth of richness to the classes they teach and the scholarship they produce.
So I was especially excited to learn of a publication that was new to me, Global Gauge:
“Welcome to Global Gauge, a semesterly publication highlighting the global initiatives and endeavors across Wake Forest University’s academic and administrative units. Within these pages, you’ll discover inspiring examples of how our students, faculty, staff, and alumni are extending Wake Forest into the world—and bringing the world back to Wake Forest. While these highlights capture only a fraction of the global engagement taking place across the university, we hope they provide you a glimpse into the depth and breadth of international initiatives at Wake Forest.”
You can view the Global Gauge flipbook here; click the white icon on the right side of the screen. I found it helpful to view in Fullscreen mode (look for the four arrows icon at the lower right of the flipbook).
Wake Forest ranks 4th nationally in study abroad participation
Related to the item above, did you know that Wake ranks 4th nationally in study abroad participation?
“The Institute of International Education’s (IIE) Open Doors 2025 report—published on Nov. 17 and considered the world’s benchmark for global educational exchange—showed that 85.7% of Wake Forest undergraduates received credit for study abroad in the 2023-24 academic year and summer of 2024, placing Wake Forest fourth on the list of leading doctoral universities.
‘The high level of student enrollment in study abroad reflects two things: our students’ strong commitment to gaining a global perspective, and Wake Forest’s institutional dedication to creating these crucial opportunities,’ said the University’s Assistant Dean of Global Study Away Programs David Taylor.”
Things students must do before leaving their residential communities before Winter Break
Residence Life and Housing sent a message to resident students earlier this week. There are a number of very important steps students need to take before departing campus, and they should read the full message; here is an excerpt:
- Store all food in closed containers. Remove perishables.
- Personal property should be moved off the floor.
- Remove all trash and recyclables from your room and common areas to outside containers.
- Take bicycles home or store them on designated bike racks (not in hallways, on balconies, under stairwells, or attached to banisters). Motorized bikes and/or e-scooters are NOT allowed in the residence halls or under breezeways; these should be parked in designated moped spaces.
- Unplug all items from wall outlets including MicroFridge© units.
- Residents should start the defrost process 48-72 hours prior to when they leave. This process includes cleaning up any water left behind after defrosting with a towel or paper towels. MicroFridge© units must be completely clean and dry prior to leaving for Winter Break.
- Fan coil units should be set to 70° and low fan speed.
- Ensure there is at least 6 inches of clearance at the bottom (intake) of the fan coil unit to allow for proper air flow to condition the room. The top grates should not be obstructed so that air is pushed throughout the space. Failure to address the intake and vents could result in compromised efficiency and/or personal items being moved to allow for the work to be completed by the facilities team.
- Adjust blinds
- Ground floor or balcony facing rooms: Lower and close blinds
- Upper floor and non-balcony facing rooms: Raise and open blinds
- Shut and lock your windows. Turn off room lights.
- Lock your door and take your key. Staff will lock all doors!
- Remove all items from communal bathroom countertops and showers
- During Winter Break, our custodial teams complete deep cleanings of all campus bathrooms, including those in the Quad and North communities.
- To ensure these spaces can be cleaned thoroughly, please remove all personal items from bathroom countertops and showers before leaving for break. Bathrooms with any items left behind will not be cleaned.
Reminders for off-campus students of things to do before leaving for break
Residence Life and Housing also sent a message to all off-campus students with reminders of things they should do before leaving their off-campus residences for the Winter Break. If you have an off-campus student, encourage them to read the message.
Wishing all our Deacs a happy snow day and a productive weekend as they prep for finals. You got this!!