Orientation Overview |
The Office of Student Development is responsible for coordinating all Student Life activities related to New Student Orientation. Listed below are many of these fun events. Please contact us for more information regarding any event or how to get involved.
You can also visit the WFU Orientation web page for more more great information related to the full orientation schedule and program.
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Wilderness to Wake |
Each year 40 new students together with 8 upperlass students and 2 staff instructors venture into the North Carolina wilderness or to the NC Outer Banks immediately prior to New Student Orientation. The 40 students are put into four separate groups (each with two instructor/guides) where they learn leadership and team building skills over a five-day period of outdoor wilderness training. All incoming students will receive detailed information regarding the Wilderness to Wake experience and an application on the New Student website in early May. We encourage all interested students to apply.
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SPARC (Students Promoting Action & Responsibility in the Community) |
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Each year 40 new students and 10 upper-class leaders participate in a four-day urban plunge experience in the Winston-Salem community The students work together in groups in multiple social service settings, hear presentations and share reflections and discussions related to civic responsibility, volunteerism and service. Some of the local agencies where student learn and serve are Habitat for Humanity, Campus Kitchens, and El Buen Pastor. Incoming students interested in SPARC will receive the program description and application in their New Student Orientation packets in May.
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Special Events |
New students are invited to make new friends and understand the Wake Forest traditions and culture through a series of fun and educational activities staged throughout their first days on campus. Some of these special community-building events include:
- The Spirit of Wake Forest - a spirited introduction to the history, values and traditions of Wake Forest
- Wake World - a peer theatre presentation of the life journey of a typical first-year student
- Taste of Winston-Salem - great food from local restaurants mixed with music and entertainment
- Demon Deacon Spirit - an introduction to our Wake Forest Athletic program including coaches and a soccer game
- Pros vs Joes - an amazing race type competition across campus with ones residence hall classmates
- Live at Wake Forest - a college band entertains for students to enjoy and socialize
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Student Orientation Advisers (SOAs) |
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Wake Forest has a long tradition of pairing upper-class students with a faculty/staff adviser to form an academic advising "team" for small groups of first-year students. In 2007 we expanded the role of these student advisers. In addition to providing academic advice, these students assist new students with transition issues, student life issues and campus resources. These 'student orientation advisers,' as they are now titled, attend most of the major orientation events with their advising group, and they continue to meet with their advisees once a week for the first six weeks of the semester in order to assist in the students' transition progress. The orientation advisers provide yet another support system for incoming students making the challenging transition to college life.The Office of Student Development helps coordinate the recruitment and training of the SOAs in this highly valued leadership and mentoring position. SOA applications are made available at the beginning of the Spring semester.
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