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Announcements

2026-2027 Opening/Closing Dates

Residence Life and Housing is pleased to share the following dates related to the opening and closing of our residential communities for the 2026-2027 Academic Year. Please note these dates are subject to change.

A full 2026-2027 Academic Calendar will be made available here. The summer schedule can be found here.

Information for Academic Year 2026-2027

For those who wish to make travel arrangements now for 2026-27, please see the following dates below.

Please note that due to the limited time between semesters, we are unable to offer extensions to closing dates and, at times, may be limited in our ability to honor early arrival requests. We encourage students to consider choosing flexible travel options in the unlikely event that dates change.

Summer 2026

  • Tuesday, May 26 – Summer School 1 Move-In
    • Summer School Housing will be in Bostwick and Johnson Halls
  • Wednesday, May 27 – Summer School 1 Begins
    • Interim Housing Closes
  • Thursday, July 2 – Summer School 1 Close
    • Students moving out must be out by 2 pm
  • Monday, July 6 – Summer School 2 Move-In
  • Tuesday, July 7 – Summer School 2 Begins
  • Sunday, August 9 – Summer School 2 Close
    • Students moving out must be out by 2 pm
  • Monday, August 10 – Transition Day
    • For those students who are living on campus will transition directly to their Fall housing between the hours of 9 am – 2 pm.

Fall 2026 Dates

  • Thursday, August 13
    • Check-In at the LJVM is from 8 a.m. – 4 p.m.
    • Wilderness to Wake and Marching Band Move-In
      • No move-in assistance available
    • Forest Guides (OTP Student Staff) Move-In
  • Friday, August 14
    • Check-In at LJVM is from 8 a.m. – 4 p.m.
      • Move-In Assistance from 8 a.m. – 11 a.m.

    • All other Pre-Orientation programs Move-In

  • Tuesday, August 18 – New Student Move-In
    • Check-In at LJVM begins at 7:45 a.m.
      • Students will receive their assigned move-in window when they receive their housing assignment over the summer
    • Move-In Assistance from 8 a.m. – 12 p.m.
    • Late Arrivals from 12 p.m. – 2 p.m.
  • Tuesday, August 18 through Friday, August 21 – Orientation Activities (i.e. New Deac Week)
  • Friday, August 21 and Saturday, August 22 – Continuing Student Move-In

    • Check-in will be available from 9 a.m. to 4 p.m. daily. Continuing students can move in on whichever day best fits their schedule.

      • Check-in will not be available on Thursday, August 20 so please plan accordingly
  • Monday, August 24 – Classes Begin
  • Tuesday, December 15 – Last Day of Exams
  • Wednesday, December 16 – Communities close at 2 p.m. for Winter Break (unless approved for Winter Break Housing)

Spring 2027 Dates

  • Wednesday, January 6 – Sorority Recruitment Early Arrivals
    • Potential New Members (PNMs) must be moved in by 2 p.m.
    • A limited number of leadership members will arrive on Tuesday, January 5. For questions, please consult with your chapter, council, or the Office of Fraternity and Sorority Engagement.
  • Friday, January 8
    • 9 a.m. to 4 p.m. – Move-in for students moving on to campus for the first time this academic year
  • Saturday, January 9
    • 9 a.m. – Communities open for all students to return
  • Monday, January 11 – Classes Begin
  • Monday, April 26– Last Day of Classes and Move-Out Begins
  • Wednesday, May 5 – Last Day of Exams
  • Thursday, May 6  – Communities close @ 2 p.m. for non-seniors (unless approved for Interim Housing)
  • Monday, May 17 – Commencement
  • Tuesday, May 18 – Communities close @ 9 a.m. for seniors and those not approved for Interim Housing

If you have questions or concerns, please contact us at or 336.758.5185.

Affiliate Housing @ Creekside at The Grounds

Fall 2026 Communications

To view our Fall 2026 Communications, please see below. To view our Incoming Student Communications, please click here

Valentine's Day Care Package

From our partners SWAKU:

Valentine’s Day is the perfect excuse to make your student smile!

Surprise them with a Valentine’s Day care package filled with goodies they’ll love—the kind of unexpected gift that brightens their whole week and reminds them they’re supported from afar.

Ordering is quick and easy:
Visit https://www.swaku.com/wfu-care to choose a package and add a heartfelt message.

Your note will be the first thing they see—and trust us, that personal touch makes all the difference.

Don’t wait! These care packages go fast.
Order by January 23 to make sure your student receives a sweet Valentine surprise they’ll be talking about for days.

Send love. Send joy. Send a care package today.

Surprise Care Package

From our partners SWAKU:

As spring begins, it’s the perfect time to send your student a little extra joy. Our specially curated care packages are designed to brighten their day and give their week a much-needed lift—right when they need it most.

Each package is filled with thoughtful items your student will love. You can even choose a package plan to surprise them again later this academic year, creating moments of connection from miles away.

Ordering is quick and easy:
Visit https://www.swaku.com/wfu-care to select a package and include a heartfelt note your student will see first when they open it.

Order by February 28 to ensure your student receives a package—these go fast!

Thank you for helping make this season a little brighter, a little sweeter, and a lot more meaningful for your student.

Fall Finals Care Packages

From our partners SWAKU:

Finals week is just around the corner, and your student is wrapping up a busy semester filled with hard work, late nights, and lots of learning. As they prepare for exams and final projects, a little encouragement from home can go a long way. That’s where we come in!

We’re offering Fall Finals Care Packages filled with classic snacks and a personal note from you. It’s a thoughtful way to let your student know you’re thinking of them and cheering them on as they push through the final stretch.
Whether it’s a quick bite between study sessions or a boost of motivation from your message, this small surprise can make a big difference.

Order now to send a little love their way: https://www.swaku.com/wfu-care
Deadline to order: November 7th, 2026

Let’s help your student finish strong — one snack at a time!

Halloween Care Package

From our partners SWAKU:

Halloween is creeping up fast — and there’s no better way to send a little love (and a few boos!) than with a Halloween Care Package for your student.
A surprise from home can lift their spirits and bring a smile to their face. Our Halloween care packages are packed with delicious snacks and goodies — perfect for a quick study break or sharing with a friendly ghoul or two down the hall.

Don’t ghost this chance — order by October 10th, 2026 to make sure your student gets their treats in time!
Order Here: https://www.swaku.com/wfu-care and give them something to say boo about (in the best way!).

Thank you for helping make their Halloween a little sweeter.

Study Abroad & Housing

To learn more about Study Abroad and how it might impact your housing arrangements, please visit our website.

September 2026 Parent & Family Newsletter

Fall in The Forest

It’s the start of fall in The Forest! We hope your student is beginning to feel settled and at home, whether they’re new to The Forest or returning for another year.

This month, we’re sharing reminders for living safely and healthily on campus, tips for navigating roommate dynamics, and ways families of #WFU30 can help their new Deacs get connected.

Staying Safe and Healthy

A few helpful reminders for students living on campus:

Supporting Your Student Through Roommate Dynamics

As the newness of the semester wears off, small roommate frustrations can sometimes become bigger concerns. While a room change may occasionally be necessary, we encourage students to first practice communication, active listening and conflict-resolution skills.

Families can help by:

  • Listening and providing support and perspective.
  • Encouraging empathy by helping your student consider their roommate’s perspective.
  • Encouraging direct communication about concerns before frustrations build.
  • Letting your student take the lead in resolving the issue and developing healthy conflict-resolution skills.
  • Encouraging “I” statements: I feel ___ when ___ because ___, so I’m hoping ___.

If your student needs additional support, encourage them to reach out to their RA. RAs use the LARA listening model — Listen, Affirm/Acknowledge, Respond and Add — to help students navigate challenging conversations. If additional assistance is needed, Community Directors can help determine next steps.

Encourage Your Deac to Get Connected!

For families of #WFU30, encourage your student to connect with their Faculty Fellows if they haven’t already. Faculty Fellows help students build connections, find support and become engaged in their residential communities.

Students can also participate in Wake the Forest, a series of events designed to help new Deacs build meaningful connections and find their place in the Wake Forest community.

We look forward to continuing our partnership in your student’s journey at Wake Forest. Questions or feedback? Contact us during business hours at 336.758.5185 or .

Looking Ahead: 2027-28 Housing

As Wake Forest prepares for the 2027-28 academic year, planned enrollment growth and construction on South Campus will affect housing availability, particularly for juniors and seniors.

We are sharing this information early so you have time to understand what these changes may mean for you and consider your options as the housing process begins.

What to expect

Housing options and processes will look different depending on your class year and whether you plan to study abroad.

  • Rising seniors will mostly live off campus after fulfilling the University’s residency requirement. Students who desire to remain on campus will enter an on-campus housing lottery. Availability for rising seniors is expected to be more limited than in previous years.
  • Rising juniors will continue to be subject to the University’s residency requirement. Depending on eligibility and availability, pathways may include University housing or Affiliate Housing via Creekside at The Grounds.
  • Rising sophomores will continue to live in University housing and participate in the Academic Year Housing Selection process.
  • Students planning to study abroad during Fall 2027 should pay particular attention to housing information for Spring 2028, as on-campus availability for returning students is expected to be limited. Learn more here.

We are also reviewing how we will determine priority within each class in partnership with our newly formed student advisory board and Student Government. We will share any resulting changes before the housing selection process begins in Spring 2027.

What comes next

As you begin thinking about 2027-28, we encourage you to review the information we share, talk with the people involved in your housing decisions and avoid making assumptions based on how housing processes have worked in previous years.

Our goal is that, by the end of February 2027, all students will know their housing status for the entire 2027–28 Academic Year. This includes outcomes for both the on- and off-campus lotteries.

We recognize that where you live is an important decision. We will continue to communicate early and clearly as plans and processes for 2027-28 take shape.