Liberal Arts Education

For this month's feature, Mary Pat McMahon, Vice Provost/Vice President for Student Affairs, talks about the value of a liberal arts education in today's world. Click the video above to hear from Mary Pat.

Important Dates

February 5 • 2020-2021 Housing Application Opens
March 7 - 15 • Spring Recess
April 22 • Last Day of Classes (LDOC)
April 27 - May 2 • Spring Final Examination Period
May 8 - 10 • Commencement Weekend 2020

Student Spotlight

In this month's Parent and Family podcast, Senior Angeli Sharma talks about her academic journey at Duke. Listen to the full podcast to hear about how Angeli chose a major in public policy and minors in neuroscience and economics, how this combination is helping her prepare for her post-graduation dreams, and Angeli's favorite classes at Duke!

Coronavirus Information

Duke officials continue to monitor and respond to the impact of the 2019 novel coronavirus, particularly with regard to travel and activities in China. Duke has launched a dedicated website that provides links to reliable sources of information on campus and worldwide and the latest updates from Duke.

Upcoming Events

2020-2021 Housing Process

The housing process for the 2020-2021 school year begins February 5th when the housing application opens. All current undergraduate students are required to complete the housing application. An overview of the steps and timeline can be found on Housing and Residence Life's website. The site is also a great tool to learn about the Duke housing lingo you might hear from your student, including linking and blocking.

Career Center Events

The new semester means a new calendar of Career Center events! Included in the calendar of events are:

Regular drop-in advising hours for students (see image)
Application timeline for the Internship Funding Program, which aims to reduce the financial challenges associated with participating in a wide range of low-paying or unpaid summer internships

Visit Duke's Event Calendar for a full listing of Career Center sponsored events.

Family Weekend Date Coming Soon

While the date for Family Weekend 2020 has not yet been determined, university staff are currently working to set the date. Parent & Family Programs will email all families a Save the Date as soon as we have confirmation.

Welcome New Fraternity & Sorority Families

Did your student recently join a Greek letter organization? In this letter, Emilie Dye, Director of Student Engagement, welcomes families and friends to the fraternity and sorority community and outlines some of the expectations of organizations.

Design Your Duke

This month's content is from Anne Lyford, Associate Director, Employer Relations, Duke Career Center.

Rarely is College Major a Predictor of Career

For many students, choosing a major is no minor decision. Unless your student knows that they intend to pursue a job in a STEM field, non-STEM majors and the skills developed in the Duke curriculum have the ability to transfer to most roles in the workplace. Case in point? This past fall the jobs and internships that were limited to students of a particular major were positions that required computer science or engineering degrees. Otherwise, major was not a category by which a majority of employers screened student applicants.

Duke Graduates' Work Sector by Major

For more about these graphs, data, and information, see the Career Center website.

The process of pursuing a major provides a lens through which to solve problems, think critically, collaborate with classmates, communicate expertise, and participate in cross-disciplinary projects. These soft skills are highly sought after by employers, according to the National Association of Colleges & Employers. In addition, applying these skills to an internship is a great way to continue to develop them in a work setting along with learning professionalism and exploring a career field. As academic and co-curricular experiences accumulate, your student will be better equipped to make informed career decisions and discover the range of opportunities afforded to them.

DukeReach

DukeReach directs students, faculty, staff, parents, and others to the resources available to help a student in need. Parents and family members can contact DukeReach directly if you are worried about your student, including for reasons related to sickness, mental health, and academic challenges. Staff members will connect students of concern and support them in managing all aspects of their well-being. Find out more on the DukeReach website.

In Case You Missed It

Annual Martin Luther King Jr. Commemoration

This month, Duke honored the legacy of Rev. Martin Luther King Jr. with events featuring learning, service, and the arts. Andrew Gillum, former Tallahassee Mayor and 2018 Democratic Florida gubernatorial nominee, delivered the keynote address at the event. He was introduced by Duke's Amandla Chorus. Read more about Duke's MLK commemoration events from Duke Today.

Cameron Indoor Stadium Becomes Sensory Inclusive

In December, Duke announced that Cameron Indoor Stadium had been enhanced to accommodate guests with sensory needs. Read more about the process and enhancements – including noise-canceling headphones, fidget tools, and verbal cue cards – on Duke Today.