Onboarding Resources
Onboarding Resources

ePack #1

Topics Featured: Buddy Program, Concentration Changes, Email & NetID, Events Coming Up, Financial Aid Next Steps, Housing, Immunization Compliance, Meet Emily Siegel, Prerequisite Letters, Summer Series

Welcome to the first summer ePack!
The Nicholas School’s Student Services office will use ePacks to communicate with incoming students throughout the summer. Each ePack will cover essential topics for students to focus on at specific times during the summer. These messages are designed to help students prepare for the start of the school year.

Summer ePacks will be posted on the Onboarding Resources website after distribution.

The Onboarding Resources website is a comprehensive resource for summer onboarding. Click on the heading to view general information for each topic, and hover over the heading to view subtopics. Be sure to pay special attention to the Upcoming Dates section. We will update this section with new virtual sessions and essential deadlines throughout the summer.

We look forward to welcoming you to campus in August.

HOUSING

It is not too early to start looking for housing options. Although there are many housing options available in Durham, you will want to start early so that you have a chance to choose a place that suits your living and economical needs. 

The director of Off Campus & Community Life, Student Affairs, recently held a virtual session on ‘Finding a Place to Live in Durham.’ View recording and slide deck.

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, carpooling, and commuting options at the Onboarding Resources website.

SUMMER SERIES

The university’s Graduate and Professional Student Services office is hosting the Summer Transition Series, which consists of a series of virtual sessions designed to help new students prepare for the start of the fall semester. Registration required. Presentation slides and recordings will be posted at the link above after each session. Day trips will occur in August/September.

  • Housing
  • Immunizations
  • Living on a Budget
  • Medical Insurance
  • Exploring the Bull City
  • Accommodations & Resources

BUDDY PROGRAM

The Nicholas School’s Buddy Program pairs incoming students with current MEM, MF, and dual degree students who want to offer their advice and guidance on classes, housing, student clubs, networking, life at Duke and in Durham, and much more! It is an excellent opportunity to make friendships and establish meaningful connections with the current student cohort before the school year begins. This is also a valuable time to learn what to expect when you arrive on campus and ask any questions you may have over the summer as you prepare for the semester.

Incoming students must opt-in to receive a Buddy – the application is quick and easy. Students are not assigned a Buddy automatically, so make sure to sign up by the deadline.

 Interested? Sign up now! The deadline is Friday, June 14.

Matches will be shared between mid and late June to give buddies ample time to e-meet over the course of the summer. Once you receive your match, please reach out to your second-year student Buddy via email to arrange a time to chat (their contact information will be provided to you). You may connect with your Buddy in person, by email, or Zoom. Matched buddies should make at least 1-2 connections before Orientation begins in August. Although not mandatory, it is encouraged to keep in touch with your Buddy once you arrive on campus.

The Buddy Program is led by the Nicholas School’s Student Council. This summer, Emily Siegel is coordinating the Buddy Program’s matching process. If you have any questions, please contact Emily directly at emily.siegel@duke.edu.

MEET EMILY SIEGEL

Hello! My name is Emily Siegel and I’m a second-year MEM student at the Nicholas School with concentrations in Terrestrial & Freshwater Ecosystems and Environmental Economics & Policy. I’m originally from South Carolina and went to undergrad down the road at UNC-Chapel Hill (I’m a winner either way during rivalry games 😊). After college, I moved to Idaho to work with the National Park Service (Craters of the Moon!) and then out to Seattle, WA where I worked with a conservation corps for two years.

This summer, I’m headed to Zambia where I’ll be researching elephants through a Bass Connections team! I love animals (including my cat, John John) and hope to work with communities to protect endangered species following graduation. During the semester, you can find me doing crossword puzzles at coffee shops, volunteering at the Duke Lemur Center, or exploring small towns around NC. Please don’t hesitate to reach out if you have any questions about the Buddy Program or just want to say hi! I can’t wait to meet you in the fall and have a wonderful summer in the meantime.

FINANCIAL AID: NEXT STEPS

Join Assistant Dean Cindy Peters on Thursday, June 13 at 10:00 AM (ET) for a presentation on next steps for financial aid. Make sure you have taken care of financial aid matters so that you will be ready to start your studies in the fall. She will review various forms, important dates and your responsibilities. There should be time for questions at the end. Please, no requests for re-evaluation of financial aid awards. The session will be recorded.

Later in the summer, Cindy Peters will hold office hours for non-confidential matters, such as questions regarding bills, payments, and general financial aid. The office hours will not be recorded.

CONCENTRATION CHANGES + DEGREE ADD

Students starting in the fall semester can request a change in their Concentration or request to add the MEM or MF degree before classes begin. The deadline is June 15. When submitting the form, students must provide a reason for the change/add, highlighting the academic and career benefits.

Students must indicate whether they have completed or intend to complete the prerequisites for the Concentration they want to switch to (or the degree they wish to add). Students cannot start in the fall semester missing more than one required prerequisite. Priority will be given to students who have already fulfilled the prerequisite requirements, although other factors may also be considered.

Students will be notified of approved requests by mid-July.

IMMUNIZATION COMPLIANCE

North Carolina State Law requires that all students entering college present a certificate of immunization that documents that the student has received all immunizations required by law. While your state or country of origin may have different immunization requirements, you must comply with North Carolina laws and Duke requirements. Although immunization records are due by June 15, it is most important to submit this information before the semester begins. So, please do not worry if you cannot meet this deadline. At the Student Health website, select Steps for Immunization Compliance. In Step #3, you will use the form for ‘Immunization Requirements for Graduate Students.’ Please do not send immunization records to the Office of Student Services.

The Student Health Office recently held an Overview of the NC Immunization Process. View recording and slide deck.

EMAIL & NETID

All new students should have received their Duke NetID and email address by now. Your NetID is needed to access most Duke portals, such as DukeHub, where you can register for classes and order transcripts. Please check your Spam or Junk folder if you cannot find the set-up instructions in your Inbox.

In case you are unable to find this information, you can contact the Office of Information Technology (OIT), by phone or live chat, 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.

PREREQUISITE LETTERS

All incoming students should have received their prerequisite notification letter by now. Check your Duke email. If you are enrolled or intend to enroll in a prerequisite course this summer, be sure to submit the prerequisite notification form.

COMING UP!

Should you have trouble accessing any of the information on the Onboarding Resources site, please contact me directly.

Welcome to the Nicholas School and Duke University communities!

Erika Lovelace-Young | MSc | Registrar and Director of Professional Programs and Administration
Office of Student Services
Nicholas School of the Environment
e.love@duke.edu