Dear Colleagues,

As we transition into the vibrant autumn season, I am connecting about student support during this pivotal time. This semester at Duke may be the first time some of our students struggle academically; we can guide them toward academic resilience. 

Faculty are integral partners. Your active engagement in supporting our students in your learning community makes a difference. Beyond your classroom, Duke has a wealth of resources and caring teams to aid you and bolster our students' academic journeys. In this newsletter, we highlight the services and initiatives that can assist you in building our Duke community.

Please contact vpue@duke.edu if we can provide support or more information. We are grateful for your dedication to our students. 

Sincerely,
Candis Watts Smith, Ph.D. 
Interim Vice Provost of Undergraduate Education
Professor, Political Science

OUE seeks to lower barriers for faculty to engage with our students and to develop transformative relationships through their research and teaching.

In an effort to help faculty foster stronger connections with our students, OUE's Student Faculty Engagement Office is thrilled to unveil FacPass. FacPass provides an opportunity to see our students in their element beyond the classroom. 

Through a pilot partnership between OUE and Duke Athletics, FacPass provides Duke faculty with free tickets to home games for Olympic sports and football.

Request tickets through the online form linked below.

We know you've received multiple reminders about midterm grades, and now we're adding to the chorus. Why? 

Aside from the fact that the Faculty Handbook notes that they are required by the University, midterm grades can be an important trigger that connects students with the tutoring, advising, and mental health supports that they need to overcome obstacles and succeed academically.

Submitting accurate and reflective midterm grades is essential so support systems like the Academic Deans, the Academic Resources Center, and others can find students in need.

DukeReach provides individualized, whole-person support for students. Faculty and staff are important partners in identifying students who might need some help or TLC. If you are concerned about a student and the issue is not considered an emergency, please submit a DukeReach report. Example report-worthy situations include a student being unresponsive to your emails, concerning changes in a student's behavior, or unexcused missed classes.

When in doubt, contact DukeReach.

We are delighted to announce the Faculty Fellows and  Faculty-in-Residence for the 2023-2024 academic year. These colleagues play a critical role in our collective work to align Duke’s academic mission more closely with undergraduate students’ social and residential lives through the QuadEx model. Please join us in congratulating the Faculty Fellows and Faculty-in-Residence on their appointments and efforts to support students throughout the year.

The 2023-2034 Faculty-in-Residence are Nicole Barnes, Ph.D.(Bassett), History; Nima Bassiri, Ph.D. (Wilson/East House), Literature; John Blackshear, Ph.D. (Trinity), Psychology & Neuroscience; Samuel Fury Childs Daly, Ph.D. (Bell Tower), African & African American Studies; Kisha Daniels, Ed.D.(Gilbert-Addoms), Education Program; Nikki Lane, Ph.D. (Pegram), Gender, Sexuality & Feminist Studies; Johann Montozzi-Wood, M.F.A. (Brown), Theater Studies; Sandra Valnes Quammen (Blackwell), Romance Studies; Anne-Gaelle Saliot, Ph.D. (Giles/West House), Romance Studies; Gregory Samanez-Larkin, Ph.D. (Alspaugh), Psychology and Neuroscience; Candis Watts Smith, Ph.D. (Southgate), Political Science; and Leonard White, Ph.D. (Randolph), Psychology & Neuroscience.

The 2023-2024 Faculty Fellows are Lee Baker, Ph.D. (Keohane Quad), Cultural Anthropology; Shani B. Daily, Ph.D. (Craven Quad), Levitan Lead Faculty Fellow, Electrical and Computer Engineering; Didem Havlioglu, Ph.D. (Wanamaker Quad), Asian and Middle Eastern Studies; Chauntee’ Schuler Irving, M.F.A. (Edens Quad), Theater Studies; Yue Jiang, Ph.D. (Few Quad), Statistics; Gregory Samanez-Larkin, Ph.D. (Kilo Quad), Levitan Lead Faculty Fellow, Psychology and Neuroscience; and Sophia Santillan, Ph.D. (Crowell Quad), Mechanical Engineering and Materials Science.

Duke Immerse Faculty Proposals

The deadline for submission of a Duke Immerse proposal for Fall 2024 and Spring 2025 has been extended to November 1. 

Summer 2025 Faculty-Led Study Away Proposals

The Global Education Office (GEO) seeks new program models, program lengths, and course offerings that can meet departmental needs and major requirements. Faculty interested in developing and leading a U.S.-based or international study away program for Summer 2025 or beyond can find program development information via the linked button.  

Please send your emails to vpue@duke.edu and your feedback or ideas will be shared with the leadership team anonymously unless requested otherwise.