Inside WFU – news for faculty and staff

COVID-19 Update: More Restrictions Lifted and Commencement

February 26, 2021

Dear Faculty and Staff Colleagues,

The following message will be sent to undergraduate students later today addressing the governor of N.C.’s new executive order, explaining the lifting of more restrictions and announcing that the University will send out more information about Commencement on March 16.

If our situation and public health indicators remain stable, we are cautiously optimistic that the University may return to Yellow Operating Status by mid-March.

We continue to value your ongoing ability to adjust and adapt quickly during the atmosphere of change around the pandemic.

With gratitude,

Nathan O. Hatch
President

Rogan Kersh
Provost

Penny Rue
Vice President for Campus Life

Read the message to students here »

Updates from HR: Vaccines, Faculty & Staff Clinic, Reynolda House and Zoom workshop

February 25, 2021

COVID-19 vaccine update: Group 3

Beginning Feb. 24, those who work in child care and PreK-12 are now eligible to receive the COVID-19 vaccine. Other Group 3 essential workers – including those in higher education – are expected to be eligible beginning March 10. Here is what you can do to prepare:

• If you haven’t already, complete the employee survey. If your work circumstances have changed or you have already been vaccinated, you can let us know by submitting the survey again.
• If you are unsure of what group you are eligible for, use the NCDHHS Find My Vaccine Group tool.

The University has applied to be a vaccine provider and has plans to implement our own vaccination clinic when approved. The estimated timing of this approval is still unknown. In the interim, we are working with Wake Forest Baptist Health (WFBH) to identify opportunities for University faculty, staff and affiliate colleagues to get vaccinated.

Colleagues should take advantage of any opportunity to get vaccinated through their health care provider and may search for a vaccine provider once eligible.

If you have questions related to COVID-19 vaccine distribution and planning, please review these Frequently Asked Questions or submit your question(s) to Human Resources using this form.

Policy update: Administrative leave and release time

This policy has been updated to grant employees release time to receive immunizations offered on campus and/or those that are recommended or required for all employees whether they are offered on or off campus.

View the policy update on the HR website.

Faculty & Staff Clinic

The Faculty & Staff Clinic, operated by WFBH, is available to support those with COVID-19-related questions or concerns. The clinic nurse is available to:

• Help determine if you should go to work, based on your symptoms
• Help connect you to care when needed
• Answer your COVID-19 questions
• Help you if you aren’t feeling well while at work

Visit Our Way Forward to learn more about the clinic and how to get it touch. Read More »

Move More! More Often! starts next week

February 25, 2021

The Office of Wellbeing and Campus Recreation are partnering to bring back “Move More! Move Often!” Enrollment is now open for Wake Forest University faculty, staff and students.

Move More! Move Often! is an 8-week program engaging and encouraging individuals to increase their daily physical activity. Participants monitor active minutes either by using their own activity tracker or manually logging active time, no device required. Throughout the 8-week challenge, participants can access performance incentives, receive supplemental resources and materials, and join the campus community for opportunities to get more active.

The program caters to all activity levels and activity types, and it runs from March 1 through April 30.

Move More! Move Often! supports participants seeking to increase activity toward the CDC’s recommended 150 active minutes per week or maintain current activity levels.

Learn more and register here for the session beginning next week.

Founders’ Day Convocation is today at 4 p.m.

February 25, 2021

Please join us today at 4 p.m. EST for Founders’ Day Convocation. Each year, the Wake Forest family gathers to observe the University’s founding in February 1834. This year’s virtual program will include a student oration, musical performances and an update from the President’s Commission on Race, Equity and Community.

We will award the Medallion of Merit, the highest honor bestowed by the University, to Donna Boswell (’72, MA ’74). Dr. Boswell has been a University Trustee since 2004 and was named the first woman chair of the Board of Trustees in 2015, a groundbreaking appointment she held for three terms.

Since current circumstances prevent our gathering together in person, the 2021 Founders’ Day Convocation will be presented as a video which will be streamed today, February 25, 2021 at 4 p.m. EST. Watch the video premiere live at convocation.wfu.edu and share your reactions on social media with #foundersdaywfu.

Revised WFU 2020 Annual Crime and Fire Safety Report available

February 24, 2021

A revised copy of the 2020 Annual Security and Fire Safety Report has been posted on the Wake Forest University Police website to reflect current policies and information. 

Changes include updates to:

• The Wake Alert registration policy on page 85 
• The missing student confidential contact registration process on page 116 
• How to change privacy settings in W.I.N. on page 149

This report contains information regarding campus security and personal safety for the Wake Forest community. It also contains information about crime and fire statistics for the previous three calendar years. Crime statistics are for occurrences on campus; in certain off-campus buildings or property owned or controlled by Wake Forest (including branch campuses); and on public property within or immediately adjacent to campus. Fire statistics are for on-campus residence halls.