Events
College Welcomes Largest Fall Enrollment Since Pandemic
RALEIGH, N.C. (August 15, 2022) – Wake Tech began a new academic year today with the largest fall enrollment in three years. The college welcomed more than 22,000 degree-seeking students for the first day of the Fall semester. The incoming class includes more than 3,000 2022 high school graduates, most of whom are taking advantage of free tuition.
Wake Tech President Dr. Scott Ralls greeted students on the first day and surprised a handful of them with $250 scholarships from the Wake Tech Foundation, including Denatta Woods, who was shocked and extremely grateful.
"This is going to help with books and everything else," said Woods, who is pursuing an Associate in Applied Science degree in Accounting and Finance. "I mean, this really set my day off. It set the tone to let me know that everything is going to work out here at Wake Tech!"
Staff and faculty are also out and about this week to welcome students, answer their questions and help them navigate buildings and find classrooms.
The college is excited to launch two new degree programs to help fuel the pipeline of talented workers in the region:
There also are several updates at Wake Tech campuses:
- The college is opening the Care Center on Southern Wake Campus to provide students with wraparound support to help them stay on track and achieve educational and career goals. Services include Student Success Coaches, emergency aid, Wellness Services, The Nest food pantry and technology and transportation assistance.
- New welding labs are complete, and renovations are ongoing for engineering and skilled trades programs at Southern Wake Campus.
- The Hendrick Center for Automotive Excellence at Scott Northern Wake Campus is fully open for Automotive and Collision Repair classes.
- The new Lilly Science and Technology Center, home to Wake Tech's Biotechnology program, RTP Bio and the Wake Early College of Information and Biotechnologies, is open on the RTP Campus, as is a new esports gaming lounge.
- An energy plant and Public Safety Simulation Center are under construction at Eastern Wake 4.0 in Wendell.
- The Pharmacy Technology lab has been renovated at Perry Health Sciences Campus.
- Campus upgrades have been made at all locations, including electronic building access control and new security cameras.
Wake Tech has planned several welcome back events for students during the first week of classes, including resource fairs, open house events at Individualized Learning Centers and free admission and popcorn at a women's volleyball game. There are several opportunities for students to chat with Ralls: He’s participating in "meet and greet" events throughout the week, including Pizza with the Prez and Handshakes and Hotdogs with the Prez.
"It's the first day of our academic year, and we're all excited – students, staff and faculty," said Ralls. "We can't wait to see these students achieve their academic goals and eventually walk across the stage at graduation!"
