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Parent and Family Newsletter
November 2021
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Families – As the semester comes to an end, we find ourselves reflecting on our amazing Duke families. We are grateful for your continued engagement with us and support of your Duke student. Wishing you all the best this holiday season.
- New Student & Family Programs
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| Update on Duke's Campus Climate Survey & Racial Equity Work
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Last week, President Price wrote to the Duke community providing updates on Duke’s first-ever campus-wide survey regarding equity and inclusion. All students, faculty, and university staff were invited to respond to the survey, answering questions designed to provide an understanding of the current state of the campus climate and identify areas of concern and priorities as Duke moves forward. Price wrote:
This survey is a critical benchmark—the first of many as we continue our racial equity work. Over the coming years, we will further refine the survey instrument and track our progress toward equity, together, as a community. These regular surveys will also serve as a means of informing our actions toward meaningful change and holding Duke administrators accountable now and into the future.
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Important DatesThanksgiving Break: November 24-28
Last Day of Classes: December 3
Reading Period: December 4-7
Final Examinations Period: December 8-13
Residence halls reopen: Sunday, January 2, 2022 (noon)
Spring semester classes begin: Wednesday, January 5, 2022
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Alexandra Fine is a senior in the Pratt School of Engineering from Kensington, Maryland. She is co-president of the Duke Engineers for International Development. Alexandra provided New Student and Family Programs with some engaging insight about her experiences at Duke and shared some of her favorite Duke traditions and memories below.
Q: What does your typical day-to-day look like on campus?
A: I live off campus, so I commute to campus for my 10:15 classes every day. I like to get lunch with friends on campus (usually Twinnies or The Brodhead Center). Then I usually go home and go for a run around East Campus, in downtown Durham, or on the Al Buehler Trail in the afternoon. Finally, I come back to campus for my 5:15 classes, get dinner on campus, and stay to do some work in Perkins before heading back to my apartment!
Q: What is your favorite memory from this semester?
A: This semester I got to go to an engineering conference at CU Boulder for an organization I work with called Engineers in Action (EIA). I’ve been project manager for two bridges in Bolivia, and our EIA chapter, Duke Engineers for International Development, was awarded EIA Team of the Year! It was really exciting to attend in person, meet engineering students from other universities, and also get recognized for our work over the last few years!
Q: What is your favorite Duke tradition?
A: Tenting for basketball games (especially UNC)! The atmosphere in Cameron Indoor and K-ville is unbeatable.
Q: What piece of advice would you give to first-year students?
A: Take advantage of office hours! Professors and TAs are here to help you, so get their help outside of class. This is how I’ve gotten through most of my classes and built great relationships with professors!
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Exit Testing, Leaving for Break, and Safety MessagingAs the holiday season draws near, we anticipate many students may be traveling over the upcoming breaks. The following information about exit testing, safety over the holidays, and booster shot information was sent to all students on Sunday, November 21.
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Study Away Applications Open
Study Away applications for summer and fall 2022 programs are now open! Deadlines are February 1 for Summer 2022 programs and March 1 for Fall 2022 and yearlong programs. However, many programs will accept students on a rolling basis. If students are interested in popular Duke-In programs, they are encouraged to submit their application sooner rather than later.
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HEERF III Funding Now Available
Higher Education Emergency Relief Fund III (HEERF III) funding is now available to eligible undergrad and graduate/professional students. Duke will distribute its third round of grants to eligible students in early December. Eligible students who complete an attestation in DukeHub will receive grants of either $1,750 or $3,000, depending on their enrollment status and level of demonstrated need, to help cover expenses for education and/or emergency costs that arise or have arisen because of coronavirus. Students can find more details on eligibility and how to apply in DukeHub.
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QuadEx Webinar RecordingThe Office of New Student and Family Programs recently launched an exciting initiative, the Duke Family Webinar Series. This month’s webinar highlighted Duke’s new residential model, QuadEx. If you would like to revisit the webinar or did not get the chance to tune in, you can find the recording here.
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 | Alicia Rhodes (she/hers), Assistant Director of Career Services
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Six Tips for Making the Most of Winter Break
With winter break coming up, I know you may be wondering how you can support your Blue Devil during the break. Well, the Career Center has 6 tips to help them make the most of winter break AND still have time to get rested!
- Relax and enjoy time with family, friends, and community.
- Reflect upon the fall semester. Think about what they learned about themselves and how they want to approach the spring semester.
- Begin working on their network of helpful humans. As your student begins to connect with and meet new people who may have an impact on their life, they can think about how they can contribute insights into personal and professional development. Doing so will allow for an opportunity to intentionally build their own support system.
- Explore areas of interest by connecting with family, friends, and friends of family through conducting informational interviews. Search and connect with alums through the Duke Alumni Directory or LinkedIn, or get a question answered on Ask A Blue Devil. This can also be a great time to volunteer within the community and job shadow in fields or industries of interest.
- Personalize their Career Hub and join a Career Community(s)! In doing this, they will have the opportunity to explore areas of interest and receive tailored resources that align with interests, goals, and career paths!
- Review the Resume Guide and update their resume. When connecting with individuals they may be asked for a resume, so it’s a good idea to make sure it is updated. Our videos and guides are the best way to get support for resumes. After winter break, Drop-in Career Advising and Resume Review appointments through Handshake are the next best thing.
Their rest and recovery are important aspects of this break between busy semesters. If your student has questions during winter break, they can schedule an appointment with a career advisor. We will be in the office throughout the month of December and would be more than happy to meet in person or via Zoom!
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Thanksgiving and Winter Break HousingResidence halls will NOT close for Thanksgiving Break. Students have received a message with a quick link to notify Housing and Residence Life if they plan to be on campus during the break. Residence halls WILL close for winter break. DukeCard access will be discontinued at 12pm on Tuesday, December 14. If students need winter break housing, the deadline to apply is 12pm on December 10.
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Duke Athletics Masking Policy Updates
In accordance with Duke University policy and local regulations, Duke Athletics has updated its mask mandate policy for students, fans, and spectators. See the updates outlined in detail here.
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Brodie Gym UpdatesBrodie Recreation Center has again expanded its hours of operation and will now be open from 12pm-9pm, Monday–Sunday. However, please note that Rec & P.E facilities and programs may have modified hours and offerings around the holidays in November and December. Check the facility hours webpage for details.
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Native American Heritage MonthNative American Heritage Month is celebrated throughout the month of November. This time serves to recognize and honor the significant contributions that Native Americans have made to the establishment and growth of the United States. Students hosted and attended programs that celebrated and brought awareness to the accomplishments, histories, and culture of Indigenous and/or Native American people.
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Duke Dining Thanksgiving Meal Last Wednesday, the Duke Dining team served their annual Thanksgiving meal to approximately 1,600 of our students. Due to some of the challenges presented by the pandemic, such as supply chain shortages, staffing shortages, and increased use in to-go boxes, this year required a tremendous amount of preparation and training. Find out more in this article.
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This fall, we are grateful for our families! Explore the beauty of Duke's campus and what we're grateful for as a community in this video of the sights, sounds, and colors of Duke.
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