Faculty Senate Meeting Recap | September 17, 2025

The Faculty Senate held its regular monthly meeting on Wednesday, September 17, 2025, with an agenda that included University-wide updates and a presentation from President Wente and senior administrative leaders on the planned phased increase in student enrollment.

Enrollment Growth Plan

President Wente and University leadership outlined a plan to increase undergraduate enrollment to 6,200 students by fall 2029. Described as a moderate, phased expansion of 50 to 60 additional students per year, the initiative aims to generate new revenue to support strategic priorities focused on student engagement and academic excellence. With applications rising 70% over the past five years, the administration noted that strong student demand makes this growth both feasible and sustainable.

Vice President Travisano reviewed the University’s financial position and explained that enrollment growth is one of three strategies to strengthen resources. Increased enrollment will provide funding for expanded financial aid, faculty and staff compensation, new faculty positions, and initiatives to enhance the undergraduate experience. President Wente emphasized that this is an iterative plan that will be continuously assessed to ensure growth does not dilute the Wake Forest mission or experience.

Faculty raised questions about preserving the University’s identity, particularly its small student-to-faculty ratio and moderate class sizes. Administrators responded that the plan is structured to maintain the current student-to-faculty ratio of approximately 10:1, allowing for long-term planning to add faculty as needed.

North Carolina Gateway Scholarship Initiative

President Wente also announced the launch of the North Carolina Gateway Scholarship Initiative, a major step toward expanding affordability for North Carolina families. Beginning with the Fall 2026 entering class, scholarship support will be indexed to family income:

• Families earning under $100,000 annually will receive aid covering tuition and standard living expenses.
• Families earning $100,000–$200,000 will receive aid covering full tuition.
• Families earning $200,000–$300,000 will receive aid covering 50% of tuition.

This initiative builds on recent progress in access and affordability. This fall’s entering class includes the highest percentage of Pell Grant recipients (14%) in a decade, as well as 12% first-generation students.

Additional Updates

Other updates included:

• New communications initiatives in partnership with Ologie, a national marketing firm.
• Faculty are enhancing their impact by reaching a broader audience through The Conversation, where 50 Wake Forest faculty have collectively reached more than 3 million readers.
  

Next Meeting

Further details of the September meeting are available in the official minutes on the Senate webpage. The Faculty Senate will next convene on Wednesday, October 22, in Farrell Hall, Room 111, with a presentation on the athletics program on the agenda.