Wake Forest University

Residence Halls & Dining:In the interest of building community, Wake Forest requires all undergraduates to live on campus for at least three years. Of the 156 research institutions with data in one recent survey, only nine (5.8%) required three or four years of on-campus residency. The University has done its part in this endeavor by acquiring, building or substantially renovating all residence halls in the past decade. The Division of Residence Life and Housing (RLH) maintains 27 facilities. They are equipped with high-speed internet service and include common areas suited to group study. The Division of Dining Services includes 17 locations. The main dining hall, affectionately known as The Pit, serves cafeteria-style food with several distinct areas, including vegan, gluten-free and other diet-specific options. Athletics:Wake Forest fields 18 intercollegiate athletics teams nine for men and nine for women in the NCAA's Division I and the Atlantic Coast Conference, of which it is a charter member. The University's undergraduate enrollment is the smallest of any school in the four most financially and athletically potent Division I conferences, but that size is a strength rather than a weakness. The distinction helps the University attract student-athletes who excel in competition and academics. Across all sports, Wake Forest posted a 96% NCAA-measured graduation report in a report released in 2024. The institutional-level report measured graduation rates of 14 Wake Forest sport cohorts, considering teams in indoor track, outdoor track and cross country as one entity per gender. Of those 14 groups, seven posted perfect scores of 100%. Demon Deacon teams have won 10 NCAA team championships in six unique sports. Men's golf and field hockey have won three each and women's golf, men's tennis, men's soccer and baseball have one title apiece. In the spring of 2023, the women's golf team won its first NCAA title and the baseball team advanced to the semifinal stage of the College World Series.

Campus Life:Wake Forest is committed to putting the spirit of its motto, Pro Humanitate, in action. Student Organizations: Approximately 200 student organizations are active at Wake Forest, providing extracurricular learning and service opportunities for their members and ancillary benefit to the campus and local communities. They are centered around academic and professional development; business development; recreational-sports participation; fraternity and sorority life; cultural affiliation and affinity; media; fine-arts performance and exhibition; student governance; and other focal points. Community Outreach: In addition to student-run organizations, the Office of Civic and Community Engagement partners with approximately 120 projects and institutions across policy areas including aging; poverty; health; food access; various children's matters; education; and environmental sustainability. In the 2023-24 academic year, Wake Forest was one of only two North Carolina colleges to receive funds for an important initiative, Public Health AmeriCorps. Over the year, 14 students partnered with eight unique community organizations to help meet various public-health needs. In 2023-24, more than 42% of undergraduates participated in one or both of the major campus fundraising events supporting cancer research. Wellbeing: The University believes its obligation to students transcends classroom learning and extends to general health and wellbeing. In 2017, the University opened the renovated Reynolds Gym and the new Sutton Center, collectively known as the Wake Forest Wellbeing Center. The project immediately increased space dedicated to personal and group fitness; doubled the size of the Student Health center; and led to an increase in gym usage. A member of the Wake Forest community enters the facility every 68 seconds.In early 2023, Wake Forest announced the creation of We, a campus-wide initiative in support of mental health. The program works with the campus community to elevate consciousness of care; promote healthy practices and preventative care awareness; equip community members with knowledge and skills that can support their peers in need; and connect the community to the resources and information necessary to foster a culture of self-care. The endeavor created a dedicated phone number through which callers can refer themselves or others in need of assistance.A robust campus recreation department oversees 37 club sports and 37 intramural leagues and competitions. Nearly every late afternoon and early evening features contests in several distinct sports.

Research:Wake Forest is classified as a High Research Activity institution, the second-highest level, by the Carnegie Foundation for the Advancement of Teaching. Wake Forest University has grants and internally funded research pursuant to basic science and technology. Wake Forest University manages research projects in Biology, Chemistry, Physics, Mathematics, Computer Science, Health & Exercise Science, Divinity and Business. The Z. Smith Reynolds Library and the professional school libraries together house 900,000 physical books and 971,000 eBooks, as well as access to a multitude of other web-based resources. The campus libraries provide resources for both student and faculty researchers. Every fall, the Undergraduate Research and Creative Activities Center sponsors Undergraduate Research Day, in which students display and explain the results of their faculty-mentored research, which often takes place the previous summer. In 2023, nearly 140 students presented their work, achieved under the guidance of faculty in 25 unique academic disciplines. In the Class of 2024, approximately one of every 10 graduates had participated in at least one Undergraduate Research Day. Wake Forest is also distinctive and impactful in the study of leadership and character. In January of 2023, the University announced it had secured a $30.7 million grant from the Lilly Endowment Inc., to benefit the Program for Leadership and Character, an initiative that seeks to inspire, educate and empower leaders of character to serve humanity. The grant will create a national higher education network dedicated to educating character. In early 2024, the Program fielded the first grant requests from other institutions seeking to form that network. Research at Wake Forest is enhanced by the work of 10 discipline-specific institutes and centers. In 2023-24, these organizations included:The Humanities Institute, which establishes programs and funds for University faculty in the humanities and other fields of study engaging in humanistic inquiry and scholarship;The Center for Bioethics, Health and Society, which addresses ethical, social and policy issues vital to biotechnology, healthcare, biomedical research and public health;The Andrew Sabin Family Center for Environment and Sustainability, which is dedicated to influencing the future of environmental protection, sustainability and climate change from the jungles of Peru to Wake Forest;The Center for Functional Materials, which is charged with connecting a broad range of materials-focused research groups and with supporting multidisciplinary research necessary for breakthrough developments; Interdisciplinary Arts Center, which draws artists, scholars, students, faculty and staff from across the academic divisions and disciplines in order to invigorate the intellectual and cultural life of the University;The Center for Molecular Signaling, which brings together investigators in the life, physical, computational and mathematical sciences to tackle basic questions about molecular communication among and within the cells of living organisms ranging from insects to plants to humans;The Center for Nanotechnology and Molecular Materials, which seeks to provide access to a broad range of nationally competitive capabilities in nanosciences.The Center for Research on Abroad and International Student Engagement (RAISE Center), which is dedicated to helping faculty, staff and students collaborate with scholars around the world to understand and enhance the experiences, engagement and development of abroad and international students; The Translational Science Center (TSC), which focuses on promoting and maintaining functional health in aging through research of cognitive function and physical activity.Conference ServicesWake Forest offers other organizations the space and logistical assistance to run conventions and other events. The locations include academic classrooms and auditoriums on the main campus as well as three separate, affiliated venues: Graylyn Estate and Conference Center; Reynolda Gardens; and Reynolda House Museum of American Art. WFDDThe University owns WFDD, an FM affiliate of National Public Radio. The station broadcast news, information, and public affairs programming covering the arts, people, and institutions in the area. It is the longest continuously broadcasting public radio station in North Carolina.