Onboarding Resources
Onboarding Resources

ePack #3

Topics Featured: Accommodations, Buddy Program, Coming Up, Diagnostic Exams, Meet Camber & Edward, Orientation RSVP, and Tech Prep

Welcome to the third summer ePack!
The Nicholas School’s Student Services office will continue to utilize ePacks to communicate important enrollment information to new students throughout the summer. ePacks will be posted on the Onboarding Resources website after distribution.

Checkout the Summer Onboarding Schedule! The Summer Onboarding Schedule includes a series of self-paced activities, synchronous sessions, and recordings designed to prepare new students for the start of fall. Additions and changes to the summer onboarding schedule will be noted as New or Revised.

We hope that you’re having a wonderful summer!

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ORIENTATION RSVP

Orientation will take place the week of August 18th. All new MEM and MF students are required to attend. The sessions will be held in person and will not be recorded. Both required and optional sessions will be held during that week.

We are currently finalizing the event schedule, and we will share the Orientation schedule in July.

In the meantime, we need a few details from you for planning purposes. Please complete the Orientation RSVP Form by Friday, July 11. It should take less than 5 minutes to fill out!

BUDDY PROGRAM

The Nicholas Schoolʼs Buddy Program pairs new students with current MEM and MF students who are eager to offer their advice and guidance on classes, housing, student clubs, networking, life at Duke and in Durham, and 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.

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

TIMELINE:

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.

The Buddy Program is led by the Nicholas Schoolʼs Student Council (NSSC). This summer, Camber Vincent and Edward McDonald are coordinating the Buddy Programʼs matching process. If you have any questions, please contact Camber and Edward directly.

MEET CAMBER & EDWARD

Hi all! My name is Camber Vincent and I’m a 2nd-year MEM student at Nicholas concentrating in Coastal & Marine Systems and Environmental Analytics & Modeling. I’m from Maryland and came to the Nic School straight from undergrad, where I studied Foreign Service at Georgetown University in DC. Throughout college, I’ve spent a couple of years working as a legislative affairs analyst, but have recently moved on to bigger and better things.

To that end, this summer I am working for the Duke Marine Geospatial Ecology Laboratory (MGEL) on some independent research projects, as well as keeping on with my other research commitments at the Duke Center on Risk and for a Bass Connections project on debt-for-nature swaps. At Duke, I also work for the NSOE’s marketing office and am involved in the Nicholas School Naturalists and Duke Water Network. Outside of school, I’ve picked up amateur triathlon training/racing and love anything that gets me outdoors. We’re excited to welcome you all into the Nicholas School this fall!

My name is Edward McDonald and I am a second-year here at the Nicholas School! I grew up in Kailua, Hawaii, but I’ve been living in Virginia the past 10 years. I also spent a summer working for the Forest Service out in Idaho, where I fell in love with Environmental Management. My MEM concentrations are in Terrestrial and Freshwater Environments (TFE) and Environmental Economics and Policy (EEP). But I am also a Forestry Student. Some of my favorite moments from this past year included working on the Duke Forest and camping out for Basketball season tickets!

This summer, I’m interning for a timberlands company in Eastern North Carolina! It’s been a wonderful experience so far but I’m already looking forward to the upcoming school year! Outside of the classroom I love running, reading, hiking, and trivia! Can’t wait to meet ya’ll in August! HAGS!

ACCOMMODATIONS

At Duke University, we prioritize accessibility and are committed to building an inclusive community for all our students. The Student Disability Access Office (SDAO) works closely with the requesting student to determine academic adjustments and provide auxiliary aids and services, also known as academic accommodations.

These accommodations aim to mitigate barriers that may affect a student’s access to campus facilities, programs, and activities. To learn more about setting up services with SDAO, please contact their office directly at sdao@duke.edu.

To start the formal request process, please follow the registration procedures provided by the Student Disability Access Office.

TECH PREP

In the Master of Environmental Management and Master of Forestry professional degree programs, students must be well-prepared for using various technologies in their classes and on special projects. New students are encouraged to spend time getting familiar with these platforms over the summer and reviewing the fundamentals.

The tech prep resources are divided into three sections. Over the summer, students should prioritize the tutorials in Part A—this section should be completed before Orientation.

DIAGNOSTIC EXAMS

All students must take and pass the calculus and statistics diagnostic exams, regardless of their Concentration. Testing takes place in Canvas. Access to the exam site will be provided closer to the start of the testing window.

SUMMER TESTING WINDOW 

  • Opens: Friday, July 18 at 12:00 AM (ET)
  • Closes: Friday, August 8 at 11:59 PM (ET)
  • Students may take the exams at any time during the testing period. 
  • There will be a late testing period for students completing their prerequisites closer to the start of the school year (August 15-19). 

TIP: If you have completed the calculus and statistics prerequisites, we recommend testing between July 18 and August 8. Completing the exams during the summer will make for a smoother start to the school year, and you will not need to worry about testing during Orientation Week.

TESTING IN CANVAS

  • Eligible to Test: Only students who have completed prerequisite courses in calculus and statistics may take the diagnostic exams this summer, including the late testing window in August. Therefore, if you have not met the prerequisites to take the exams this summer, your next opportunity to test will be late Fall 2025. If you do not take the tests this summer and are required to take a course(s) in the Fall that requires calculus and statistics, you will need to delay enrolling in the course(s) until Fall 2026.
  • Format: Exams consist mostly of multiple-choice questions, and calculators are not allowed. Exams are timed, and students have 1 hour and 15 minutes to complete each test.
  • Z Table: Download the Z table before you start the statistics exam and keep it handy. You will need the Z table for the statistics diagnostic exam.
  • Test When Ready: Wait to start the exams until you’re ready to test, and check your internet connectivity before you begin. Once you start, you cannot stop the clock.
  • Failing or Exams Not Taken: If you fail or do not take the tests this summer, you will need to wait until a later term to enroll in courses that require calculus and statistics.
  • No Retesting in August: If you fail the diagnostic exams, your next opportunity to retest will be late Fall 2025.

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COMING UP!

Additional sessions will be scheduled throughout the summer. Please refer to the ‘Upcoming Dates’ section and ‘Onboarding Schedule’ for updates.

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