WFU students return as University opens with numerous precautions

First-year Wake Forest University students Abbi Fister and Shon Howard come from different parts of the country with different backgrounds, but they’re excited to be on campus.

They also plan to adhere to the University’s social distancing guidelines to do their part to help keep the campus safe.

Abbi Fister

Fister is a Stamps Scholar and aspiring physician from Lexington, Ky. She and her parents read emails from the University and watched an online Town Hall explaining campus regulations around COVID-19 before she moved into Huffman Residence Hall on Monday.

“I really was happy with how they staggered move-in times,” Fister said. “It wasn’t crowded, and everyone was following the guidelines as far as I could see. My parents are very comfortable with me being here. I feel good about the precautions Wake Forest has put in place and feel very safe here right now.”

Howard moved into Luter Residence Hall on Monday after driving nearly nine hours with his mother from Orlando, Fla. He’s glad to be on campus.

Shon Howard

“Being here allows me to meet new people while being socially distanced,” said Howard, an Elevation scholar. “I follow the rules to a T, including the guidelines they put inside the buildings.”

About 1,400 first-year students moved into residence halls this week during scheduled, two-hour appointments. Move-in times for returning students run through Monday, and classes begin Aug. 26.

Wake Forest has numerous guidelines and procedures in place to protect against the spread of COVID-19, including opening residence halls at reduced capacity. For example, Howard is in a double occupancy room with no roommate.

#WFU24 Move-In Video

All members of the University community were required to complete an education and training module about COVID-19 facts, virus transmission, risk-reducing behaviors and relevant University policies before returning to campus. They were also asked to quarantine and to submit negative COVID-19 test results before coming to campus. And daily, online health screenings are required for students, faculty and staff.

The University worked closely with public health officials to develop a comprehensive plan to safely bring students back to campus and believes it has a prudent plan to mitigate risks.

Jae Canetti, a first-year student from Fairfax, Va., appreciated the proactive steps Wake Forest is taking while trying to resume as much normalcy as possible. He noted Wake Forest’s #ShowHumanitate campaign, online classes, updated building accessibility and masked Demon Deacon statues around campus, saying “the University has been unapologetically promoting public health and safety.”