Welcome back and welcome!  

Returning students, it was great to see you back in Durham this weekend! Your energy is recharging campus and we missed you this summer! Class of 2029 and transfer students, you’ve *already* made this campus yours in a matter of days, and we are so glad you’re here, too. 

I am writing with a couple of updates to help you navigate resources across campus this fall. A lot of things will be very familiar, but some resources are newly configured, namely:

Going forward, more resources for undergraduates will be similarly structured to align with the Quads. Our aim is to bring more clarity and coherence to the way you connect with your advisors, deans, faculty, and student organizations, and student feedback and input will be essential as we iterate from here.

More details on the shifts are below, and there’s also information on upcoming class welcome events, academic resources, the Duke Groups fair, and the Majors Fair. 

If you moved in last Saturday…or your move in was a while ago…I hope you’re taking some time to connect with faculty and friends today and that you’re setting some goals for the fall term.   

Go Duke and happy FDOC!

Mary Pat McMahon

Vice Provost and Vice President for Student Affairs

Trinity Academic Deans By Quad:

Each Quad has a dedicated academic dean (or deans) who support you during your time at Duke. Your dean ensures you are on track to graduate and works with you in more complex situations that may impact your academic progress. If you don’t know who your Academic Dean is you can find that in Duke Hub and you can find more information on your Quad’s Website. 

Trinity Pre-Major Advising by Quad

Pre-Major Advisors, now called Quad Advisors, are full-time, dedicated advisors assigned by quad who work alongside their pre-major advisees in the process of course selection and discernment, as well as decisions around drop/add, course grading options, and withdrawals. Once you declare your major, you will be assigned to a faculty advisor in your department. To find your Quad Advisor, visit Duke Hub and more information can be found on your Quad’s Website.

Pratt Academic and Advising Resources

Your academic dean is assigned to you upon matriculation and remains the same throughout your four years. Your dean can advise you on graduation requirements, supplement advising within the departments, and connect you with opportunities and support services. Your first-year academic advisor is assigned by mid-September and helps support your transition to Duke through awareness of academic and support resources available to you. Once you declare your major, you will be assigned to a faculty advisor in your department. To find your Academic Dean and First-Year or Departmental Faculty Advisor, you can visit DukeHub.

The Academic Resource Center (ARC) is here to support you throughout your academic journey. ARC services are free and open to all undergraduate students, in any year and any program. Whether you’re looking to improve your time management, strengthen your study skills and strategies, connect with a peer tutor, meet with a learning consultant, or join a SAGE learning community, we’re here to help. Visit arc.duke.edu for more information and to book an appointment.

Duke Groups Fair

The annual Duke Groups Fair will be held on Friday, August 29, 2025 from 4:00pm-5:00pm on East Duke Lawn. The event will feature over 200 of Duke’s undergraduate recognized student organizations and is open to all Duke students. This is a great opportunity to meet new people, explore interests, and connect with the many clubs at Duke. The event will include sport clubs, career-focused clubs, performance groups, hobbies, academic organizations, and much more.

Majors Fair 

The fall 2025 Majors Fair, hosted by the Academic Advising Center, will take place on Tuesday, October 21, 2025 from 1:00pm-4:00pm in Penn Pavilion. This event is a great opportunity to meet and talk with faculty and staff from Duke’s academic departments to learn about the majors, minors, and certificates offered here. This is a unique event that allows you access to multiple academic programs all in one location. If you are curious about a major but need more information, this is a great place to start. 

Welcome Back Class Events

This week, the classes of ‘26, ‘27, and ‘28 will host welcome back events on West Campus. Come connect with friends and learn what you can expect from the upcoming year.

Student Organization Support: 

Student organization consultants are available to provide guidance and advice on a variety of topics ranging from starting a new organization to finding campus resources. In addition to student organization faculty/staff advisors, staff within the QuadEx and Dean of Students teams will be available to help with more complex solutions and navigate sensitive topics. Students can find self-service materials on the Student Organization Resource Hub or schedule time to meet with a consultant by emailing leadership@duke.edu. 

The Identity and Cultural Centers also serve as important resources and places of connection and support. The centers include: Center for Multicultural Affairs, Center for Muslim Life, Center for Sexual and Gender Diversity, Duke International Student Center, Jewish Life at Duke, Mary Lou Williams Center for Black Culture, and the Women’s Center.

Duke Chapel and Religious Life at Duke offers a wide range of student support, whether or not you are connected to a religious tradition at all. Visit their website to connect with leaders from any of Duke's diverse faith groups.

QuadEx Chaplains offer presence, care, space for emotional processing, and spiritual reflection for students and staff in times of need. Chaplains work within the community to offer accompaniment for individuals, no matter their belief system.

Did you make it down this far? Class of 2027 and Class of 2028 we didn’t forget about your move-in weekends! 🥰

Support Resources:

In case of an emergency in which your or another's immediate safety is at risk, please call Duke Police at 919-684-2444. If calling off-campus, dial 9-1-1.

CAPS: Counseling and Psychological Services (CAPS) offers counseling services to Duke students including virtual appointments, and referrals in the community. You do not need an appointment for an initial assessment. You may walk in or call 919-660-1000 to get started. Hours: Monday-Friday 9:00am - 4:00pm.

CAPS AFTER-HOURS CARE: After hours counseling services are available at no additional cost to students. Clinical crisis services are also available Call: 919-660-1000 Option 2. You may call 911 or Duke University police also. Additionally, students may access mental health support 24/7 via BlueDevilsCare.duke.edu 

DUKEREACH: DukeReach will help you identify support services from among the variety of resources across campus or in your local community. You can contact DukeReach at 919-681-2455 or by emailing dukereach@duke.edu. 

STUDENT AFFAIRS ON-CALL TEAM: Student Affairs has a 24/7 on-call team to support urgent student matters. For urgent concerns after business hours, you may contact the Dean on-Call (cell: 984-287-0300), or if you are living in residential spaces, you may connect with the Residence Coordinator On-Call by contacting your Residential Assistant On-Call or directly through Duke Police (919-684-2444).

DukeLine - DukeLine is a resource for support and referral, created by Duke students and a team of mental health professionals and community leaders. DukeLine team members are trained by experts in empowering those experiencing emotional dysregulation, sexual violence, financial insecurity, and more. Whether you need someone to listen or want help exploring your options, we're here for you - just text the team at (984) 230-4888. To learn more about the types of situations DukeLine can assist with and for a comprehensive user's guide, click here. 

Attend an event

Resources

Recent Messages

305 Towerview Road
Durham, NC 27710
(919) 684-3737