Our Motto Means More

Wake Forest was founded on the principle of expanding the benefits of a formal education to young men in rural North Carolina. Over almost two centuries, the university has expanded access to include students from various backgrounds, experiences, and communities. As we move forward into our third century, we remain committed to sharing the opportunity of a liberal arts education to students from across North Carolina, the region, the U.S. and its territories, and around the globe.

This commitment creates and sustains a campus that supports the success and flourishing of all students. All students, faculty, and staff play a vital role in supporting each other, helping each other grow, and appreciating the benefits that come from understanding a broad range of perspectives. 

At Wake Forest, we are deeply invested in helping our students experience a sense of belonging in all of our learning and living spaces. Every student should see themselves as being vital members of our campus community. That sense of belonging leads to increased engagement inside and outside the classroom, and often reaches beyond our campus into our greater Winston-Salem community. We show others that they belong on our campus and provide fertile ground to live out Pro Humanitate – to leave the world better than you found it.

Our north star is our motto. Pro Humanitate is at the core of everything we do and everything we aspire to be. As an institution of higher education, we respect one another and support our students in the pursuit of their dreams. Students, faculty, and staff who join our university realize the centrality of our motto because they see the benefits of it across our campus, our community, and our world. Our motto is an invitation to explore how you – as a Wake Forest student – will share your talents with others, knowing that our campus is all the better because you have chosen to make it the next stop on your life-long journey.

We invite you to explore more about the Wake Forest Division of Campus Life, or any of its constituent centers and spaces that support our students’ success and flourishing.