Fall ePack #5 – Onboarding Resources

Welcome to the fifth fall ePack!
Orientation begins on Monday, January 5, and we are excited to welcome you to campus as you start your Nicholas School journey. Exciting times are ahead!

FALL CHECK-IN

By now, you should have completed the following or have a plan to finish these things soon.
1. Secure housing arrangements and touch base with your roommate (if you have one)
2. Confirm parking and identify alternative transportation options
3. Submit immunization records
4. Upload official proof of completion of your undergraduate degree and prerequisites
5. Take the diagnostic exams and complete prerequisite courses. Diagnostic exam testing continues in Canvas through January 6
6. Upload your photo and download the mobile app for your Duke Mobile ID Card
7. Register for classes
8. Review the onboarding schedule to make sure you’ve completed all to do items

ORIENTATION

Orientation is one of our favorite times of the year, and it is our opportunity to welcome you to the Nicholas School of the Environment and the Duke University communities. During orientation, you will have opportunities to connect and build community with incoming and current students, establish relationships with staff and faculty, meet with your faculty advisor, and explore resources across campus. As the semester unfolds, you will have additional opportunities to explore everything the university and the Nicholas School have to offer.

To get an idea of what to expect during orientation, we invite you to check out the Spring Orientation Schedule. Orientation is led by the Office of Student Services at the Nicholas School of the Environment, and we look forward to working with you throughout your academic career.

Meet the Student Services Team

INTERNATIONAL STUDENTS

All F-1 students are required to register with the Duke Visa Services Office (DVS) before the start of classes. Due to the large number of students reporting for registration and the time required to complete the registration process, the Duke Visa Services Office has created an electronic registration process. To access the F-1 E-Registration, log in with your Duke NetID and password. Questions should be sent to visahelp@duke.edu.

Entry into the U.S.: A valid visa does not guarantee entry to the U.S. Customs & Border Protection (CBP) has the power to deny entry, even to valid visa holders, for a variety of reasons that can change without notice. Students and their electronic devices may be subject to search when entering the United States. Duke can verify your enrollment at the university if a CBP agent asks. Please contact Duke Visa Services or the Dean on Call if you need to connect with someone from Duke while entering the US. After business hours, the Dean on Call can be reached 24/7 at +1-984-287-0300 to help connect you with Duke Visa Services. Between 8:30 AM-4:30 PM (ET) Monday-Friday, we recommend calling Duke Visa Services at +1-919-681-8472.

WELLNESS RESOURCES

Duke University offers a comprehensive range of health and wellness resources to address various aspects of student health, including mental, physical, and emotional well being. As you begin your journey at the Nicholas School, we wanted to share a collection of wellness resources, services, and supports available to students:

GO PASS

All Duke students can receive unlimited free rides on GoTriangle buses by enrolling in the GoPass program sponsored by Duke Parking & Transportation Services. Eligible users must have a Duke NetID and Duke email address that ends in duke.edu to qualify for the free GoPass program.

No-cost access to the GoPass program is part of Duke’s array of alternative transportation resources, including resources for carpooling and vanpools, aimed at alleviating parking demands around Duke and creating a more sustainable campus. For additional information, check out the announcement in the Duke Today article.