The draft Fall 2020 class schedule that appeared temporarily on WIN a few weeks ago was based on preliminary faculty survey results for classroom scheduling purposes. Departments adjusted their offerings based upon several factors, including faculty submitting courses, assigning classroom spaces with appropriate social distancing measures, and more. 

The updated, thoroughly reviewed course schedule features confirmed modality of classes. All returning students will have an opportunity to affirm their existing schedule — and/or to drop & add classes as may be necessary — between July 15-21.  (First-year students will still register July 27-31, as originally planned.)

It’s important to note that upper division students, particularly seniors, should not make schedule changes that threaten major requirements. Departments may have carefully balanced offerings to provide courses that fulfill major requirements while meeting modality needs. You should discuss with your major/minor adviser the impact of making any changes to your schedule. 

You came to Wake Forest for many reasons: our faculty are exceptional, our campus is beautiful, and the community of friends you surround yourself with is life-changing. You’re going to experience the same time-tested Wake Forest mix of academic challenge and support. Yes, some of that challenge may come from doing things differently and some of that support may be more necessary than before. 

There is also a limit to the number of credits you can transfer into Wake Forest from another institution, and the institution’s classes have to be approved by Wake Forest faculty and the Registrar’s office as being of comparable difficulty as a Wake Forest class. This approval process takes time.

Because of the social distancing constraints created by COVID-19, our Fall courses will incorporate a range of modalities as we open the campus again. There will be a small number of face-to-face courses provided in socially distanced classrooms, labs and studio spaces. The remainder of our courses will be offered in versatile modalities. We have two blended formats: Blended Traditional that will combine in-person and online components with the assumption that all students will be on campus for the in-person sessions; and Blended with Online Pathway that will combine in-person and online components with online options available such that you could take the course fully online if necessary. We will also offer fully online courses, too. Please know that all our faculty will be incorporating the highest-quality virtual learning practices in these blended and online formats in their courses.

Just like you, your faculty learned a lot about teaching remotely from the Spring 2020 semester. Your professors have taken what they learned to redesign and improve their courses, incorporating your feedback along with the best of online design, engagement, and technology to create top-notch learning experiences for the fall. This includes participating in robust peer-to-peer learning communities — created by Wake Forest’s Center for the Advancement of Teaching, Office of Online Education, members of ZSR Library’s Digital Initiatives team, and the Academic Technologies unit in IS — that focus on preparing our faculty to teach in an online environment, whether it is blended or wholly online.  We have more details in these videos here or you can also view the helpful chart on this page.

If you will not be in Winston-Salem this fall, it is critical for you to select courses offered in the Online and/or Blended-Online Pathway modalities. All students, regardless of course modalities, are welcome to live in University housing. For those students who are taking all of their courses online, you may also live at your permanent address; if this applies to you, please email housing@wfu.edu with the subject line “Intent to Live at Home” so they can update your housing record. Students under the University’s residency requirement who want to live somewhere other than their permanent address will need to submit a petition to be released via the Housing Portal.

Taking classes online does not mean you need to stay in your dorm room. Wake Forest has wifi in all of its buildings and, like usual, spaces will be available to study alone or in small groups at a social distance. Available spaces will be promoted, and group work will be plentiful. Our campus is especially beautiful in the fall, and we encourage you to enjoy the changing leaves and the cooler temperatures of the Piedmont outdoors. Read about what a day living on campus this fall may look like here. 

We recognize the unique situation our students who were planning to study abroad this Fall are in. Those who currently have less than full time status for on-campus registration will receive priority access, starting today, for the add/drop period, ahead of the remainder of the continuing student body. You will be able to register yourself during this advanced window. PINs will not be required for any continuing student in this special add/drop period.

Many departments have added some spaces and sections to accommodate more students. In addition, we have asked department chairs to be aware that our former study abroad students have specific questions and challenges unique to their situation. 

You can also explore options at less popular times and for various requirements in your major, not just one targeted course. Use the waitlists so that departments can see where courses are most in demand. Reach out to department chairs to make sure you are on any internal waitlists. Be especially open to courses offered fully online because those are likely to have more wiggle room to add extra students than blended or face to face courses where enrollment is tightly constrained by classroom space. Check back frequently over the next couple of days as spaces may open up as other students drop and move around.  

Add/drop is always a fluid process. Our office, the University Registrar’s Office, and departments are monitoring class enrollments across all modalities and course times constantly, and will make adjustments where possible in the days and weeks ahead.