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The message is being sent to all Duke undergraduate students.
Tuesday, August 31, 2021
Dear students,
We can't believe how quickly summer passed by, but we are very excited to have recently welcomed you all to campus for the fall semester, whether you just arrived at Duke for the first time, or are returning this fall.
We are writing today with a number of important updates from the Office of Student Conduct and Community Standards (OSCCS), including:
- Year in Review: 2020-2021 Academic Year Aggregate Conduct Outcomes
- Updated Duke Community Standard for 2021-2022
- Introducting the 2021-2022 Student Conduct Board
- Meet the Honor Council
Please read this important information in full, and note where there are action items for you, such as signing the attestation, in bold below.
We look forward to a year of building community with you!
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Year in Review: 2020-2021 OSCCS Annual Report
Each year, OSCCS gathers aggregate conduct outcomes for the academic year and shares these data with the Duke Community. You can read the full 2020-2021 academic year report on the OSCCS website.
As you can see in the overview shared here, this year was a particularly unique year due to COVID-19 and the associated conduct implications. Although there was a significant increase in the volume of cases and resolutions issued, the majority of these cases were related to COVID, and most matters were resolved with educational, developmental, and reflective conversations.
Over the past year, OSCCS has also begun to center its response in adaptable resolution practices; this includes restorative practices for all types of conduct matters, including sexual misconduct.
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Updated Duke Community Standard for 2021-2022
The honor code at Duke is named the community standard because community is at the center of our conception of what it means to act honorably. In other words:
Community is at the heart of what we do here at Duke.
Each year the Duke Community Standard guide is reviewed and updated. This year, we worked with a group of students, staff, and faculty to do a deep-dive into the DCS and gather feedback of how things could be more clear. We are pleased to share this year's updated version, which you can find posted on the Registrar's website. OSCCS will spend the next academic year doing a complete overhaul of the DCS Guide.
All students are responsible for knowing the policies outlined in the DCS guide, including those pertaining to alcohol, noise, and academic dishonesty. We encourage you to review this year's edition of the guide for details.
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COVID-19 policy plan, including masking
In addition to the DCS guide, students are also expected to abide by the university's undergraduate COVID-19 policy plan, including masking, participating in surveillance testing, cooperating with contact tracers, and abiding by isolation and quarantine protocols.
Please note that the university's updated masking guidance requires masks on the Duke campus in all indoor locations and outdoor locations, unless you are exercising alone, eating or drinking, or otherwise not around others. This guidance includes all areas of residence halls except your assigned room, and all indoor spaces from classrooms and labs to study spaces in the library or Campus Center buildings.
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Introducing the 2021-2022 Student Conduct Board
The 2021-2022 Student Conduct Board has been selected. The Student Conduct Board consists of students, staff, and faculty who work to ensure accountability, reflection, and adherence to campus policies and processes. The annual training for the Student Conduct Board is currently underway. Members of the Student Conduct Board advise OSCCS on policies and processes, participate in adaptable resolutions, and adjudicate allegations of policy violations. If you are interested in serving as a member of the Student Conduct Board or learning more please contact conduct@duke.edu.
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Meet the Honor Council!
The Duke Honor Council is a group of undergraduate students that works to promote thoughtful consideration of the Duke Community Standard in diverse settings within and beyond the University through events, policy work, partnerships, and outreach. In doing so, the Honor Council seeks to build an honorable community rooted in fairness, accountability, honesty, and respect that produces graduates who extend these values into society. The council hosts monthly events to engage with the greater Duke and Durham communities, and their capstone event is Integrity Week, which is held every spring. If you are interested in joining the Duke Honor Council, the recruitment process will take place in September. If you have any questions or want to learn more about the Honor Council, visit our website or email Devan Desai.
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Looking forward to a great year in community with you!
Jeanna McCullers
Senior Associate Dean & Director,
Office of Student Conduct & Community Standards
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