Faculty Reflection

This month’s featured article is authored by Dr. Christopher Roy, Associate Professor of the Practice of Chemistry. Chris is also known on campus for his roles as a college advisor, pre-health advisor, major advisor, and faculty in residence on East Campus.

Read his reflection about the beginning of a new semester and what "time" means for him, students, and Duke families.

Important Dates

January 21 • No Classes (Martin Luther King, Jr. Day Holiday)
January 23 • Drop/Add for Spring 2019 Ends
February 6-8 • Fall 2019 Housing Application Open
February 18 • Summer Session Registration Begins
March 9-17 • Spring Recess
April 3-11 • Fall 2019 Class Registration Period
April 24 • Last Day of Classes (LDOC)
April 25-28 • Reading Period
April 29 - May 4 • Final Examination Period
May 6 • Residence Halls Close*
May 10-12 • Duke Commencement 2019

* For students participating in Commencement, Halls close on May 13

Student Spotlight

When Duke quarterback Daniel Jones broke his collarbone back in September, his senior teammates Clark Bulleit and Kevin Gehsmann had an innovative idea to get him back on the field. The student athletes were inspired by an independent study project to develop a protective device for Jones to wear on the field using a 3D printer. Learn more about the inspiring journey of these three Duke students from the video below.

2018 Recap

As students settle back into life at Duke for the spring semester, we are reminded of all the profound events and remarkable accomplishments that occurred on Duke’s campus in 2018. DukeToday has compiled a series outlining the speakers, innovations, and milestones that made 2018 such an exciting year for Duke.

Upcoming Events

Post-Graduation Planning Webinar

Join professional staff members from the Duke University Career Center and Parent & Family Programs for a virtual discussion about post-graduate planning. Parents of any class year are welcome! The live webinar can be accessed here on Wednesday, January 16 at 2:00pm EST. Please enter the case-sensitive password “DukeCareer” if prompted. A recorded video of the webinar will be posted on the Duke Parent & Family website 48 hours after the webinar airs.

Annual Martin Luther King Jr. Commemoration

The 2019 Martin Luther King Jr. Commemoration and Celebration at Duke will take place on Sunday, January 20 at 3:00pm in the Duke Chapel. Tarana Burke, founder of the “me too.” movement, will deliver the keynote address. Additional campus events include a talk by writer and civil rights activist Shaun King at 7:00pm on Wednesday, January 23 in Reynolds Theater.

Spring Breakthrough

Spring Breakthrough encourages students to explore new disciplines through a highly interactive four-day seminar over Spring Break. Seminar topics vary but include political polarization, puppies, and screen printed murals. There are no fees, no prerequisites, and no grades! The deadline to apply is this Friday, January 18. Learn more about students' experiences of Spring Breakthrough by watching this video.

2019-2020 Housing Process

All undergraduate students intending to live on campus for the 2019-2020 school year should apply for housing between Wednesday, February 6 and Friday, February 8. As a reminder, students are required to live on campus for six semesters. More information about Duke Houses and resources available to students can be found on these webpages:

Wellness Reminders

The start of the spring semester brings new activity to Duke’s campus: tenting has begun in Krzyzewskiville, many students are rushing Selective Living Groups (SLGs) or sororities and fraternities, flu season is here, and students are taking a new class load. Don’t forget that the Student Wellness Center and its services are available to all students! Student Health, Counseling & Psychological Services (CAPS), DuWell, and DukeReach are all intentionally housed in one building to help students lead healthy, balanced, and mindful lives this semester and every semester at Duke.

In Case You Missed It

Walk-On's Independence Bowl

Duke Football took home a 56-27 win in the Walk-On’s Independence Bowl on Thursday, December 27. This marks the Blue Devil’s third consecutive bowl game win and the most successful stretch for the program since 1938-1943!

Duke Professor Awarded Honorary Degree

Walter Mignolo, William Hane Wannamaker Professor of Romance Studies here at Duke, is an internationally known scholar of cultural history of the modern/colonial world system. In December, Professor Mignolo was bestowed an honorary degree from Goldsmiths, University of London. In presenting the honorary degree, Goldsmiths Professor Alan Downie said Mignolo’s work has influenced a generation of scholars by arguing for an intellectual life stripped of “the colonial matrix of power.” Read more about the great honor and Mignolo’s impressive work on DukeToday.

TBA - Family Weekend 2019

We are looking forward to seeing you on campus for Family Weekend 2019! Please note that the Family Weekend 2019 dates have not yet been set, as dates are chosen after the 2019 football scheduled is released. As soon as the date is confirmed, Parent and Family Programs will send out a save-the-date to families.