Wake Forest College of Wake Forest University is the center of the University’s academic life. Through it, the University carries on the tradition of preparing young people to develop their knowledge and hone their skills as they become leaders of character intent on working and living in the spirit of Pro Humanitate.
Wake Forest College embraces the liberal arts tradition within the context of an internationally recognized research university by upholding the teacher-scholar idea; expecting exceptional teaching and outstanding research, scholarship and creativity; and promoting faculty engagement with students both in and out of the classroom that nurtures their intellectual and personal development. Wake Forest College also welcomes the challenges of cultural diversity and pluralism in all their forms and is committed to addressing these challenges through the cultivation of inclusive, equitable learning communities that reflect the world in which all our students and faculty live.
Wake Forest continually examines its educational purpose and evaluates its success in fulfilling it. A formal statement of purpose was prepared as part of the school’s decennial reaccreditation process and was adopted by the Board of Trustees.
The Undergraduate Schools
The undergraduate schools, Wake Forest College and the Wake Forest School of Business, are governed by the Board of Trustees, the University administration and by their respective faculties. Responsibility for academic administration is delegated by the president and trustees to the provost, who is the chief academic officer of the University. The deans of the schools report to the provost and are responsible for academic planning and administration for their schools.
In the past several years, Wake Forest College has undertaken bold initiatives, such as leading the adoption of test-optional admissions; developing new programs to educate the whole person; integrating the cultivation of leadership and character; reinventing personal and career development; establishing an engineering program rooted in the liberal arts; and building greater community within the residential college setting.