Gratitude from Dean Sue

In this season of giving thanks, Associate Vice President for Student Affairs and Dean of Students Sue Wasiolek paused to write a blog post on gratitude. Centering the conversation around wellness, Dean Sue discusses what gratitude and appreciation mean for her, how she sees it positively impacting students, and how practicing gratitude has affected her life.

Important Dates

November 27 - December 1 • Thanksgiving Recess
December 11 - 16 • Final Examination Period
December 17 - January 7 • Winter Break
January 4 • Residence Halls Open
January 7 • Spring 2020 Tuition Due
January 8 • First Day of Spring 2020 Classes
January 20 • Martin Luther King, Jr. Holiday - No Classes
March 7 - 13 • Spring Recess
April 27 - May 2 • Final Examination Period
May 8 - 10 • Commencement Weekend

Student Spotlight

Christina Zhang and Kacia Anderson, leaders from Duke University Union (DUU) Duke@Nite sat down with Parent and Family Programs to talk about campus programming and activities at Duke. Listen to the podcast here.

Moments with Mary Pat

Mary Pat McMahon, Vice Provost/Vice President for Student Affairs, talks about her wellness philosophy.

Upcoming Events

Parent and Family Webinar: Joining Fraternities & Sororities

Join professional staff members from Student Leadership and Parent and Family Programs to learn about the process for joining a fraternity or sorority at Duke, what support the university provides, how you can support your student during that process, and answers to common concerns parents and families have about fraternity or sorority membership.

The live webinar can be accessed here* on Tuesday, December 3 at 1:00pm EST by entering the password “ParentWeb.” If prompted, enter the following meeting ID: 831-237-051. A recorded video of the webinar will be posted on the Duke Parent & Family website by the close of business on Thursday, December 5.

*Please note that when launching this Zoom webinar, you will be given the option to view it in your browser or download the Zoom extension. The downloaded extension is recommended for optimal viewing.

New Marine Lab Vessel Delivery Underway

Newly constructed research and survey vessel R/V Shearwater is currently en route from Bellingham, WA, to the Duke University Marine Lab in Beaufort, NC. The 77-foot catamaran will expand teaching, research, and outreach capabilities for faculty and students. Learn more and watch a video of the "classroom at sea" in action from Coastal Review Online.

Thanksgiving Break Shuttle

Parking and Transportation Services (PTS) operates free shuttle service to and from RDU International Airport for Thanksgiving break. For dates and times, please visit their website. Reservations are required and seats are limited. Note: PTS does not offer this shuttle service for other breaks or at the beginning or end of semesters.

In Case You Missed It

New Faculty

This year, Duke University welcomes more than 100 new scholars, many hired to build on strengths in fields critical to addressing complex social, health, and economic challenges. “All of these faculty add to our ambitions to transform teaching and discovery, and to contribute to solving the world’s most pressing challenges,” says Duke Provost Sally Kornbluth. Learn more about Duke's impressive and inspiring new faculty members from Duke Today.

Duke Veterans Day Commemoration

Duke hosted a Veterans Day commemoration on Monday, November 11 inside Duke University Chapel. Learn more about how Duke works with military veterans both on campus and in the community at large from Duke Today. And, get to know the Duke Military Association, a networking affinity group for Duke employees and Duke students, from Working@Duke.

Family Weekend 2019

Thank you to all who attended Family Weekend 2019! It is with great gratitude that we can stop and reflect on the happy reunions we witnessed while families were on campus from October 25-27. Read a brief recap on the time we spent with families during the weekend, including a recap of the Duke Parents Advisory Council meeting.

Thank you to those who have filled out the Family Weekend 2019 survey. If you haven't yet told us about your experience at Family Weekend, this is your last opportunity. Were you unable to attend Family Weekend? If so, please take a moment to tell us why. Your answers will help the Office of Parent and Family Programs plan for future years.

Design Your Duke

Competencies for Career Management

The Duke Career Center encourages students to engage in Competencies for Career Management. These competencies help students in the Design Your Duke process and post graduate experience, increasing their intentionality each step of the way. They were informed by extensive research conducted by the National Association of Colleges and Employers (NACE) on career readiness.

Duke students develop seven of NACE's career readiness competencies through their core curricula, co-curricular engagements, and experiential learning, but the Duke Career Center further defines the eighth competency, Career Management. Duke students should engage with the foundational competencies, Reflect and Connect, while also working through the developmental competencies: Self-Awareness, Research, Adapt, Communicate, and Implement.

Students' support systems play an important role in helping them intentionally develop these competencies and "Design Your (Their) Duke." Support students in discovering what they are curious about and engaging with resources and individuals to learn more information. Encourage them to explore, research, and try out interests and practice skills that will enhance their career management.