Blog

Email sent to all regular arrival residential (on-campus) upperclass students

Subject: Your Return to Campus: Check-In, Entry Testing, and Move-In

Monday, August 2, 2021

Good afternoon,

The fall semester is quickly approaching, and we are excited to see you back on campus soon. In this email, you'll find more information about your return to campus, including entry testing, check-in, and move-in. 

Please note that this email outlines the entry process for students returning during regular move-in from August 20-22. If you are an approved early arrival student, you will receive a separate email outlining your process.

STEP 1: SIGN UP FOR ENTRY TESTING (PRIOR TO DURHAM)

Email sent to all incoming first-year students, by East Campus residence hall

Monday, August 2, 2021

Email sent to current on-campus summer residents 

Monday, August 2, 2021

Subject: Fall Move-In and COVID-19 Entry Testing

Good afternoon [[Profile..First_Name]]

Unique ID: [[Profile..University_ID]]

The end of summer is quickly approaching, and so we're writing today to share more information about your transition from summer and fall. There are three sections to this email: (1) entry testing, (2) key/fob pick-up, & (3) moving.

STEP 1: AUGUST 2-6 (THIS WEEK) - ENTRY TESTING

Email sent to early arrival (new-to-campus) undergraduates on a rolling basis (dependent on program).

Subject: Fall Early Arrival Move-In and COVID-19 Entry Testing

Good afternoon [[Profile..First_Name]]

Unique ID: [[Profile..University_ID]]

The fall semester is quickly approaching, and as one of our early arrival students, we are excited to see you on campus soon. In this email, you'll find more information about your return to campus, including entry testing, check-in, and move-in. 

STEP 1: ENTRY TESTING

All Duke students must complete an entry test for COVID-19 prior to the Fall 2021 semester. Your DukeCard will remain inactive until you’ve completed this process.

Central Campus’s theme for this year; our one-word call to action is: SOLIDARITY. The concept of standing together in opposition to threats to the well-being and progress of our collective community. My hope, and this is where you come in, is that we as a campus can promote solidarity, in it's multidimensional nature, to the larger Duke and Durham community, and most importantly, to each other. 

East Campus

Stephanie Klein, N-1  (target starting date is July 20, joining us from NC State)
Samantha Babb, N-2 (new RC joining us from Clemson University)
Aneshia Wilson, N-3
Kevin Erixson, N-4

Central Campus

Briana Enty, C-1 (new RC joining us from Bowling Green State University)
Matt Bailey, C-2 (moved from N-2)

West Campus

Jeremiah Salois, Craven Quad
D'Najah Pendergrass, Crowell/Wannamaker Quads
Shelvis Ponds, Edens Quad
Jill Zalewski, Few Quad
Jeff Nelson, Keohane Quad
Charlie Clausen, Kilgo Quad

David Pittman Award
DSG has created a new award to honor Dr. David Pittman. The David Pittman Award, named for the Director of Student Life, is awarded to a member of the Duke University administration, faculty, staff, or student body whose work with the Duke Student Government demonstrates a selfless commitment to mentorship, fostering a supportive environment for character growth and contributing to the leadership development of its members.  

Coming to Edens, I was extremely nervous about how things would turn out. The majority of my dorm mates freshmen year were people I did not feel connected to, and my RA was usually MIA. More than that, people always talk about Edens as a sort of “black hole” of West Campus because of it being the farthest dorm from all the academic buildings and the Bryan Center.

Nominations are now being accepted for the Class of 2019 Duke Common Experience. As a piece of the coming changes to Orientation this summer, we have decided to enhance our Summer Reading program. While we will still have a book the incoming class will read, there will be a variety of programs connected to the book both during the summer and over the course of the fall semester. These will include:

• ​Virtual content sharing of key themes and ideas over the summer months
• Connection with Alumni Affairs in reading the selection
• Speakers and programs during the year connected to the selection
• One over-arching theme that connects the selection to programs here at Duke during the year

However, the biggest change is the format for hosting the author and discussion about the book and what we seek to do over the summer.

October is one of the hardest months of the fall semester, especially for freshmen. Up until midterms, the first few weeks of class are a time for settling in, meeting new people, and trying out new clubs at Duke. After about a month of wavering between friend groups and activities, many freshmen start to wear out and become frustrated with their experience. Around this same time, they are taking their first midterms and writing their first papers, adding to the overall stress of feeling uncomfortable here.