Looking Ahead

Yesterday, Duke hosted a Leadership Conversation for undergraduate students and families, featuring President Vincent E. Price, Vice Provost/Vice President Mary Pat McMahon, and Vice Provost Gary Bennett. The discussion was moderated by Duke Student Government President Tommy Hessel and touched on many frequently asked questions about Duke's planning for the spring and beyond. Families can watch the recording here.

Important Dates

February 2 • Class drop/add period ends
March 9-10 • No classes held
March 29 • Last day to withdraw with W from Spring 2021 classes
April 12 • Wellness Day
April 23 • Classes end
April 24-26 • Reading period
April 27-May 1 • Final examinations
May 7-9 • Commencement & conferring of degrees (details TBA) **

* All dates are subject to change.
** More details about commencement planning, visitor policies, and date confirmation are expected in late February.

Student Spotlight

Bass Connections bridges the classroom and the real world, giving students a chance to roll up their sleeves and tackle complex societal problems alongside faculty from across Duke. Above, Bryent Takayama ‘24 discusses the development of an automated test strip dispenser with teammate Alina Suarez ’23, designed to capture some of the health information that’s lost with the waste we flush away. The duo is part of a larger Bass Connection project developing a Smart Sampling Toilet under the leadership of Professor Sonia Grego in the Department of Electrical and Computer Engineering.

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 they are worried about their 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.

Upcoming Events

Spring Student Wellness Resources

As we head into a new semester, Duke remains committed to the wellness of students. Spring opportunities include Moments of Mindfulness (shown below); Counseling and Psychological Services (CAPS) Virtual Workshops and Discussions; Blue Devils Care, a 24/7 Telemental Health Service; prompts for personal reflection and writing; and more!

Follow Duke Student Wellness (DuWell) on Social Media to remain engaged: @DukeWellness on Twitter, Instagram, and Facebook.

Opportunities to Join a Fraternity or Sorority

There are opportunities this spring semester for students to join a fraternity or sorority! Especially during a physically distant semester, gaining this network and community can be helpful for student connection. Joining opportunities exist across all four of our councils: National Pan-Hellenic Council and the Multicultural Greek Council (open for first-years, sophomores, juniors, and seniors), and the Panhellenic Council and Interfraternity Council (open for sophomores, juniors, and seniors). For more information about their virtual activities and events, as well as a list of the organizations seeking new members this semester, click on their associated links or visit the Office of Student Leadership website. Many events will also be included in the DukeGroups calendar! Questions can be directed to leadership@duke.edu.

Isolation & Quarantine Student Care

Students in Durham with positive COVID-19 tests or those identified through contact tracing are placed into quarantine or isolation (Q/I). All students in Q/I are supported by the Isolation Care Team (ICT), a dedicated staff available 7 days a week to students. Learn more about the Q/I experience and the role of the ICT in these new spring ICT FAQs.

Career Everywhere

Leigh Ann Waring
Assistant Director, Employer Relations –Internships

Summer Opportunities

Did you know that Duke University offers a variety of summer experiences for undergraduate students? If your student is seeking a plan for the summer, please encourage them to visit the Summer Opportunities List. This list includes Duke-sponsored summer programs, projects, research, service, courses, and more. Diverse subjects and disciplines are represented and many opportunities are funded. Virtual options are available in many instances. Applications are now open for most programs.

Internship Funding Program

You will see that the Career Center Internship Funding Program is included in the list above. Through the generosity of corporate, individual, and class donors, we are able to offer students who accept unpaid or low-paying internships (summer 2021) with competitive grants of up to $3,000. Through this program, we aim to reduce the financial challenges associated with students participating in a wide range of low-paying or unpaid summer internships.

Vaccine Distribution

As COVID-19 vaccines roll out across the country, many continue to wonder when the larger Duke community, including students, will be vaccinated. It is important to acknowledge that Duke University does not own any COVID-19 vaccines. Duke is a steward of the vaccines received and must distribute as outlined by the state. The University will follow North Carolina's prioritization plan and health regulations when distributing vaccines. At this time, local health experts do not expect the majority of the Duke community to be eligible for vaccination this semester. Any updates for the Duke community will be posted here.

In Case You Missed It

Dr. Shruti Desai Named as New Campus Leader

Earlier this month, Duke announced that Dr. Shruti Desai will succeed Dr. Zoila Airall as the next Associate Vice President of Student Affairs for Campus Life. Dr. Desai will begin in her role at Duke in March, and her portfolio will include the identity and cultural centers, Greek life, student involvement and leadership teams, venue and performance teams, and student-facing communications. Learn more about Dr. Desai and the search for her role in the announcement from Vice Provost/Vice President Mary Pat McMahon.

Duke Commemorates MLK

Duke’s annual Martin Luther King, Jr. Commemoration occurred earlier this month. The 2021 theme was Voices of the Movement, and Rev. Starsky Wilson delivered the keynote address. Wilson is a nationally recognized children’s rights and racial equity champion who is also the president of the Children’s Defense Fund. A recording of the program is available. Other events included a virtual unity rally hosted by Duke Athletics and a panel discussion on the current wave of athletes’ social justice activism.

Class of 2025 - Early Decision

Duke released decisions to this year’s Early Decision applicants on Friday, December 18, 2020. In a year of record applications, 840 students were admitted as the first members of the Class of 2025. Read more.