Wake Forest University, Private research university in Winston-Salem, United States
Wake Forest University is a private research institution in Winston-Salem, North Carolina, covering roughly 340 acres with academic buildings, residence halls, and research centers connected by brick pathways. The institution offers programs in business, law, medicine, and liberal arts, plus a medical school located at a nearby health sciences campus.
Founded in 1834 as Wake Forest Manual Labor Institute, the school moved from Wake Forest to Winston-Salem in 1956 with backing from the Z. Smith Reynolds Foundation. The relocation allowed expansion of academic programs and development of new facilities for research and student life.
The motto "Pro Humanitate" shapes daily campus life through volunteer programs and community partnerships that students and faculty pursue together throughout the academic year. Athletic events and cultural gatherings bring together students from various academic disciplines, creating a sense of shared purpose and connection across the campus.
The campus is open to the public and allows visitors to explore the architecture, green spaces, and various public areas, though some buildings are restricted to students and staff. The institution maintains an 11 to 1 student-to-faculty ratio, enabling interactions in smaller classroom settings for undergraduate and graduate programs.
Edward Reynolds enrolled in 1962 as the first Black full-time undergraduate student, making this the first major private Southern university to desegregate. The original 19th-century Wake Forest site remained after the move and now houses a southeastern Baptist theological seminary.
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