Renege Policy
What does it mean to renege on an offer?
Reneging occurs when a student accepts a job/internship offer and then declines it for another opportunity. The offer can be accepted via email, phone, or a signed contract.
What is the University’s position regarding a student reneging on an offer?
Once a student has accepted an offer from an employer, the University expects the student to honor their professional commitments. Reneging on an offer is a serious matter that the University does not condone as it will likely have negative implications and consequences for the student, for other Wake Forest students, and for Wake Forest alumni who work at the organization.
Individual
● The employer may respond to the student harshly, and the subsequent response could affect the
student’s reputation within the organization and potentially more broadly.
● A student sometimes has guilty feelings about compromising their integrity.
● Limited access to Wake Forest career coaches, resources, and programs (see below)
Wake Forest
● The employer will have less confidence in Wake Forest University, its students, and its alumni.
● The employer may decide to discontinue recruiting at Wake Forest University.
● Wake Forest alumni at the firm may be affected by being seen as attending a school that “lacks integrity.”
Reneging on a job offer violates the agreed-upon conduct standards (and user expectations) for access to Handshake and on-campus recruiting. Reneging on a job offer may violate the Student Code of Conduct and may be submitted for investigation, which would be referred to the Office of the Dean of Students.
If a student violates Wake Forest’s renege guidelines or other recruiting policies, the student may be subject to consequences including but not limited to:
● The revocation of on-campus recruiting privileges
● Temporary or permanent suspension of the use of Handshake (which includes applying for jobs or internships, attending career events, access to career coaches and resources) and the OPCD or MRE
● Limited or no access to the Alumni Personal and Career Development Center’s resources, staff, and programs
● Submission for investigation by Dean of Students for Student Code of Conduct violation (behavior which compromises the integrity of the University community)
What MUST a student do if reneging on a job offer is under consideration?
A student considering reneging on an offer is REQUIRED to meet with a career coach in the OPCD or the School of Business BEFORE reneging to discuss and determine the appropriate course of action. The career coach will provide the student with important information and guidance on how to handle this
highly sensitive matter.
Students should thoughtfully consider the following scenarios before reneging on an offer:
● If a student receives another internship or job offer opportunity and no longer wants the position already accepted, this is not considered a valid reason to renege on an offer. In this case, the student is in violation of Wake Forest’s recruiting policies and must meet with a career coach (in the OPCD or
MRE) to review this situation as soon as possible.
● If a student’s personal situation has changed (after accepting the internship or job offer) due to extenuating circumstances like a serious medical diagnosis, caring for a family member, or a partner’s job change, these could be considered valid reasons and should be discussed with a career coach first and then the employer. A career coach will provide guidance on how to handle this
situation best.
How can students avoid an offer renege situation?
1) Buy time and take time—Students should negotiate more time to decide about an offer before accepting it when they are not ready. Career coaches can provide students with methods to try to buy more time.
2) Gather information and perspective—Before accepting a job or internship offer, students should consider all job/internship opportunities carefully. Speaking to a career coach to assess the options is ideal since coaches have extensive experience and knowledge about careers and career decisions. We highly recommend that students meet with a career coach before finalizing
offer decisions, especially if they are unsure and need guidance with offer decision criteria.
3) After accepting an offer, stop looking for another one—Once a student has accepted a job/internship offer, the student should remove themselves from any pending applications or interview processes.
Additional information
All employers are asked to give a student at least two weeks from the written offer to accept or decline an offer. This will allow a student some time to review their options and make a decision. If employers give a student less time to decide on the offer, the student should discuss the offer with a career coach.
Who should I contact if I have further questions?
Dana Hutchens, Director of Employer Relations, Wake Forest University, hutchens@wfu.edu, 336-758- 4150.