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Dear Undergraduate Student:

The Office of Student Conduct staff welcomes you (back) to Duke!  We know your time is valuable, so with that in mind, here are 10 things to keep in mind this year.  For the overwhelming majority of you, this list will never apply directly to you, so we especially THANK YOU for reading through these items— and perhaps you can be a persuasive voice to your peers in steering them away from some of the negative behaviors described below, should you see them heading down a potentially perilous path.

Dear Duke Families,

As I look out my office window, I have the privilege of seeing our students walking (and rushing) by between classes, meals, meetings and study venues. So many things are apparent on the rare occasion that I get to just pause and admire the passersby. I notice that many seem either immune to the winter chill or in denial about the need to wear warmer clothes! I notice that rarely is anyone walking alone. Students travel in pairs, groups and masses! I notice that some kind of technological device is apparently welded to their ears or their palms (hopefully talking or texting with you). But, I also notice how remarkably different they are, reflecting the substantial and wonderful diversity within the Duke student body.

Dear Undergraduate Student:

The Office of Student Conduct staff welcomes you (back) to Duke!  We know your time is valuable, so with that in mind, here are 10 things to remember for a successful and full experience this year.  We want to help you avoid decisions that could lead to future anxiety as a consequence of regretted choices.

1.  You won't be able to study abroad or participate in DukeEngage in you are on disciplinary probation (DP), which is a mid-level response to concerning behavior.  DP is issued, for example, as a sanction for distributing alcohol, smoking pot, having a fake ID, disorderly conduct, and repeated misconduct.  

2.  If you are suspended from Duke, a permanent notation is made on your transcript and you have to apply for readmission, which is not guaranteed. 

The Office of Student Conduct is happy to announce the newest members of the Undergraduate Conduct Board for the 2013-14 year. These students were selected from an applicant pool of over 105 candidates, and will join the eight students from the Class of 2014 who will remain on the board from the 2012-13 academic year.

Please join me in congratulating these men and women.

Todd Adams, senior associate dean in the Dean of Students office, will be leaving Duke this January to become assistant vice president and dean of students for Student Affairs at Northwestern University.