Things to Remember
As you prepare to enroll in the Fall, we have outlined a few key topics for your attention over the summer.
Early to Mid-Summer
Email, NetID & Listservs
- Students who have submitted their tuition deposit will receive a Duke NetID (network identification) within 2-3 business days of confirming their Fall enrollment. They do not need to request one. This NetID is necessary for accessing various university portals and systems, so it’s essential to keep it and the password secure. It’s crucial to note that the NetID is not the same as the Duke Unique ID (DUID), and both can be located in DukeHub under My Profile.
- Please ensure that you have checked your personal email address for any initial instructions and login details that you may have missed. It is also recommended to check your SPAM and Junk folders just in case. In case you are unable to find this information, you can contact the Office of Information Technology (OIT) to request that the initial setup instructions be resent to you. Please be prepared to provide some personal identification markers such as your date of birth, permanent address, and so on.
- Furthermore, your Duke email address will be added to the appropriate Concentration listserv by mid-summer. Please note that these listservs are intended for academic purposes only. We will add students to the listservs using their Duke Alias email address. In case you change your Duke Alias email address, kindly inform the Student Services office. The Concentration listserv addresses for first-year students are:
- Environment Concentrations: firstcams@nicholas.duke.edu (Coastal and Marine Systems); firstee@nicholas.duke.edu (Energy and Environment); firsteeh@nicholas.duke.edu (Ecotoxicology and Environmental Health); and firsttfe@nicholas.duke.edu (Terrestrial and Freshwater Environments).
- Management Concentrations: firstbe@nicholas.duke.edu (Business and Environment); firstceej@nicholas.duke.edu (Community Engagement and Environmental Justice); firsteam@nicholas.duke.edu (Environmental Analytics and Modeling); and firsteep@nicholas.duke.edu (Economics and Environmental Policy).
- Forestry: firstmf@nicholas.duke.edu (Master of Forestry)
- Program Lists by Enrollment Year: proffirst@nicholas.duke.edu (first year), profsecond@nicholas.duke.edu (second year), and profstudents@nicholas.duke.edu (first and second year students)
ePacks
- Over the summer, new students will receive email messages known as ePacks via their Duke email. ePacks are carefully designed messages will highlight different topics important for enrollment at various times during the summer, and we hope that students will find them helpful as they prepare for enrollment. Email is Duke University’s official form of communication. Remember to check your email regularly.
Health Insurance
- All Duke students must carry major medical insurance.
- Duke University provides a highly rated medical insurance plan for its students. Unless waived, all students are required to enroll in the Duke Student Medical Insurance Plan (SMIP). The open enrollment period is typically announced by mid-June, so it’s important to regularly check your Duke email for updates.
- During the open enrollment window, which usually begins around mid-June, you’ll have the opportunity to view the Plan Benefits for the upcoming school year. To make a decision on whether to waive or enroll in the Duke SMIP, you’ll need to log into your DukeHub account. It’s important to note that the coverage period is from August 1 through July 31.
- To enroll in or waive the plan, please visit the Student Health website for additional information and instructions. If you decide to waive the Duke SMIP, you must provide adequate proof of coverage under another health insurance plan. You can review the criteria for waiving the plan on the same website. If you fail to make a decision by the open enrollment deadline, you will automatically be enrolled in the Duke Student Medical Insurance Plan and will not be able to waive it. The insurance charge will remain on your Bursar account, and you’ll receive your enrollment information and insurance card by mid-September.
- International Students: International students at Duke on the F-1 or J-1 Visa are required to purchase Duke’s plan. US students may waive the plan if they can provide proof of comparable coverage.
- Questions about health insurance should be directed to insurance@studentaffairs.duke.edu or call 919-684-1481. Due to volume, allow 2-3 business days for a response.
Housing
- Start your housing search early!
- Off-Campus Housing in Durham (Duke Student Affairs)
- Durham, North Carolina will be your home for the next few years. Students are strongly encouraged to secure housing arrangements as early as possible during the summer. It is best to have housing arrangements finalized before the beginning of your Orientation Week activities. Moving to Durham at least a week before Orientation will help to ease your transitioning process as well as allow you to familiarize yourself with Durham, your new home.
- The process to secure housing may prove to be one of the most time-consuming aspects of your transition to the area. Begin your process early and take advantage of available resources in order to make the most of the experience. Note: Most new graduate and professional students must secure off-campus housing; limited on-campus housing options are available at the link below.
- Graduate and Professional Student Housing: Graduate/professional students will be able to apply for both graduate housing locations (300 Swift and Lancaster Commons) on ONE application. Assignments will be based on availability and financial need. It is not a guarantee that students would be able to select an assignment from their top housing location. Assignment priority will be given to graduate/professional students who demonstrate significant financial need and are applying for an entire year (July 1 through June 30).
- Additional Resources:
ID Card
- All students are required to possess a Duke Student ID card. To get your ID card, you need to upload your photo by mid-summer. Please watch the video that provides submission instructions. If you need more information about your Duke Card, please visit the Duke Card office website.
- The Duke Card Office issues Mobile Duke Cards, which are easy to use and keep up with. However, students must have their mobile device with them at all times to access facilities on Duke’s Campus. If you don’t have a smartphone, you can request a physical card, but only by appointment. The Duke Card Office is always ready to help new students with any issues they may have in provisioning the Mobile Duke Card, either by phone or by appointment.
Immunization
- Compliance is required for all Duke Students.
- All incoming students must provide Duke University with a copy of their current immunization records. Typically, the deadline to submit your immunization records and health history information is due in June. Although the deadline is in June, the most important thing to remember is that you must have your immunization records submitted prior to the beginning of the fall semester. Failure to submit within 30 days of the start of the term, will mean that you will not be permitted to continue attending class.
- Resources & Questions:
- Immunization Requirements for Graduate Students
- Immunization Compliance FAQs
- If you have additional questions about the immunization requirements/compliance, we encourage you to contact the Immunization Compliance Coordinator at immunizations@duke.edu. Immunization records should not be sent to the Office of Student Services at the Nicholas School of the Environment.
Lockers & Mailboxes
- Mailboxes. Students should plan to use their residential address to receive personal postal mail. If you need postal mail services, contact Duke’s Campus Mail Services for assistance.
- Lockers. Nicholas School students may use a locker to store their books and other small personal possessions (at no cost) until they graduate from the program. There is no charge. Lockers are also located in the basement of Grainger Hall. Students must bring their own lock. Please do not place valuable items in your locker, such as laptops, video equipment, cell phones, etc. The school is not responsible for any stolen or lost items stored in your locker, nor responsible for any vandalism or damage done to your locker.
- Questions should be directed to: Facilities Office, Nicholas School, 3110A Grainger Hall.
Orientation Champions
- We will separate the incoming class into small groups during the Orientation. Groups are assigned randomly, i.e., not by Concentration, age, background, gender, professional interests, etc. The Orientation Champions are a group of second-year/returning student volunteers who will serve as the small group leaders during Fall Orientation Week. Your Orientation Champion will be here to welcome you on the first day of Orientation Week, join the academic advising sessions, and have been invited to attend lunches and social outings. We hope that you will take this opportunity to get to know other incoming students and your group leader.
- During the program, you will have numerous opportunities to connect with fellow students in your Concentration. We hope your Orientation experience will be an early opportunity to expand your academic, professional, and personal networks. Throughout Orientation Week, your Orientation Champion will be available via email and in person to answer any questions you may have about the Nicholas School, Duke University, and the Durham area.
Parking & Transportation
- Students who wish to park a vehicle on Duke’s campus must display a valid parking permit. Graduate and professional student parking passes will be available at My Parking Account beginning on June 17, 2026.
- Alongside your housing search, it is also important to consider an array of alternative transportation options available at Duke and in Durham. Learn more about transit, walking/biking, carpool, carshare, and commute planning at the onboarding resources and parking and transportation websites.
Tech Prep
- As a student in the Master of Environmental Management and Master of Forestry professional degree programs, tech preparation is essential. Students will need to use several different technologies in their classes and on special projects. Incoming students are encouraged to spend time over the summer getting familiar with these platforms and reviewing the fundamentals.
Tech Prep
- As a student in the Master of Environmental Management and Master of Forestry professional degree programs, tech preparation is essential. Students will need to use several different technologies in their classes and on special projects. Incoming students are encouraged to spend time over the summer getting familiar with these platforms and reviewing the fundamentals.
Mid to Late-Summer
Checklist
As you wrap up your summer preparation, make sure you take care of the following before Orientation gets underway.
Summer Checklist
- Housing: Finalize your housing arrangements and contact your roommate (if applicable)
- Orientation: Complete the Orientation Event Registration Form.
- Prerequisites: Submit proof of completion of prerequisite requirements.
- Transcripts: Submit your final official undergraduate transcript.
- Diagnostic Exams: Prepare for and take the calculus and statistics diagnostic exams.
- Course Registration: Review the course registration guides circulated by the NSOE Registrar.
- Enroll in Classes: Register for Tier One Fall classes in DukeHub.
- Stellic: Familiarize yourself with the degree audit tool known as Stellic.
- Assistantship: Review assistantship positions (if applicable).
- Financial Aid: Resolve any outstanding financial aid issues and pay your Bursar bill.
Onboarding Schedule
Check out the Summer Onboarding Schedule, which includes asynchronous and synchronous sessions scheduled throughout the summer.