Onboarding Resources
Onboarding Resources

Orientation Schedule Spring 2026

MONDAY, JANUARY 5

Welcome

9:30 – 10:30 AM: Check-in and Breakfast (9 Circuit Drive, Grainger Hall, Duke University, West Campus)
  • Students are expected to participate fully in Orientation.
  • Location: 2107, Second Floor, Grainger Hall
  • Check-in & Welcome Packet: Stop by to pick up your welcome packet. Each student will be given their sustainable name tag and gift.
  • Breakfast: To help us reduce waste, please bring reusable water bottles, cups, and flatware if you have them. View breakfast menu.
  • Tour: Virtual Tour of Duke University’s West Campus
  • Photos: Share your orientation photos!
10:30 – 11:30 AM: Leadership Introductions (2107, Second Floor, Grainger Hall)
11:30 AM – 12:00 PM: Student-led Activity (2107, Second Floor, Grainger Hall)
  • Join a student-led interactive session designed to help you connect with peers and build community.
  • Student Volunteers: Lilianna Gross (CaMS/BE), Nicole Gutkowski (TFE/EAM), Hutch Hutchinson (TFE/CEEJ), Aadya Shukla (CaMS/CEEJ)
12:00– 1:00 PM: Lunch: Connect & Chat (Second Floor, Grainger Hall)
  • Lunch: To help us reduce waste, please bring reusable water bottles, cups, and flatware if you have them. View lunch menu.
12:50 – 1:00 PM: Transition
  • Transition to the afternoon sessions.
1:00– 1:50 PM: Course Registration and Master’s Projects (2107, Second Floor, Grainger Hall)
2:00– 2:15 PM: Group Photo & Break (Second Floor, Outside, Grainger Hall)
  • Students will gather for a group photo. Then, take a quick break. After the break, students should go directly to the Honor Code Orientation.
  • The group photo will be taken by the Nicholas School’s Communications and Marketing team.
2:15 – 3:15 PM: Honor Code Orientation (2107, Second Floor, Grainger Hall)
  • All new students must attend the Honor Code Orientation.
  • Presenter: Professor Grant Murray
  • After the Honor Code Orientation, all students must submit the Honor Code Statement by Tuesday, January 6.
  • Do not submit the Honor Code Statement before the Honor Code Orientation. Early submissions will not be accepted.
  • Holds/blocks will be placed in DukeHub for students who do not submit the Honor Code Statement before the start of classes on Wednesday, January 7.
3:30 – 4:30 PM: Afternoon Happenings
  • IMEP Students:
  • MEM Students:
    • Advising: Students should schedule time to meet with their advisor during this time.
  • Afternoon Guidance:
    • Students may use the remainder of the afternoon to visit the Duke Wellness Center, take a self-guided campus tour, or return home to relax and unpack.
    • For navigation and key resources, download the Duke Mobile App, which provides campus maps, transportation details, and access to essential services, including Canvas, Duke Card, DukeHub, Library, Safety, and Wellness.

TUESDAY, JANUARY 6

9:00 – 9:30 AM: Breakfast (First Floor, Grainger Hall)
  • Breakfast: To help us reduce waste, please bring reusable water bottles, cups, and flatware if you have them. View breakfast menu. Breakfast will be available until 10:15 AM.
9:30– 10:15 AM: Student Q&A Panel (Field Auditorium, First Floor, Grainger Hall)
  • Come hear from current students about their Nic School experience and living in Durham.
  • Student Volunteers: Alyssa Briggs (MF), Nicole Gutkowski (TFE/EAM), Mara Michel (EAM/EE), Rajas Raje (EE/EEP), Aadya Shukla (CaMS/CEEJ)
10:15 – 10:30 AM: Transition
  • Transition from Grainger Hall to Perkins/Bostock Library Tour.
  • Student Volunteers: Alyssa Briggs (MF), Nicole Gutkowski (TFE/EAM), Mara Michel (EAM/EE)
10:30 – 11:45 AM: Duke Library Tour (Perkins and Bostock Library, West Campus)
  • Take a tour of Bostock and Perkins Libraries, West Campus. Learn about the suite of library resources you will have access to while at Duke.
  • RSVP in Advance: If you plan to attend the library tour, remember to register online by Wednesday, December 31.
  • Location: Meet tour guides in the Edge Workshop Room on the 1st floor of Bostock Library (Room 127). It is the large classroom along the Northern wall of Bostock.
  • Staff Facilitators: Ryan Denniston and Jenna Strawbridge
11:45 AM – 12:20 PM: Lunch on Campus
  • Students will receive a Duke Dining Card at check-in on Monday in order to grab lunch on campus. Duke dining cards are accepted at the Brodhead Center and other on-campus eateries. University dining locations and menus.
  • To help us reduce waste, please bring reusable water bottles, cups, and flatware if you have them.
12:20 – 12:30 PM: Transition Time
  • Transition from lunch to afternoon activities.
  • Student Volunteers: Hutch Hutchinson (TFE/CEEJ), Eric Su (TFE/EAM), Anli Raymond (EEP/EE)
12:30– 2:00 PM: Concurrent Happenings (Sanford and NSOE)
  • IMEP Students:
    • Join your fellow iMEP students for a visit to the Sanford School of Public Policy. We will walk to Sanford as a group. While at Sanford, you will have an opportunity to learn more about the school and hear from Sanford faculty, staff, and students.
    • Location: Rhodes Conference Room, 223, Sanford Building
    • 12:30 – 1:25 PM: Faculty/Admin Presentations:
      • Mackenzie Phillips – Overview of Events and Resources
      • Dean Storelli – Welcome to Duke/Sanford
    • 1:25 PM: Tour the Sanford School of Public Policy:
      • Sanford’s Student Council members will lead a tour of the buildings and facilities.
      • Student Tour Leaders: Pauline Wakudumo (MPP) and Pragna Shekar (MIDP)
      • Location: Meet outside of Rhodes Conference Room, 223, Sanford Building [MAP]
  • MEM Students:
    • Coaching Appointments: MEM students should use this time to meet with their career coach. Students must schedule an appointment in advance.
    • Location: Suite 135C, LSRC-A Wing, NSOE Career and Professional Development Center
  • Afternoon Guidance:
    • Students may use the remainder of the afternoon to visit the Duke Wellness Center, take a self-guided campus tour, or return home to relax and unpack.
    • For navigation and key resources, download the Duke Mobile App, which provides campus maps, transportation details, and access to essential services, including Canvas, Duke Card, DukeHub, Library, Safety, and Wellness.

WEDNESDAY, JANUARY 7

Spring Semester Begins

Classes start on Wednesday, January 7 at 8:30 AM (ET). Treat this day like a Monday. Details below.
  • The first Wednesday of the spring semester follows a Monday meeting schedule to ensure an equal distribution of class meetings. In other words, treat this day as if it were a Monday. Only Monday classes meet on the first Wednesday of the Spring semester. All other days follow their regular schedule.
    • A Monday-only class will meet for the first time on the first Wednesday of the semester (January 7).
    • A Mon/Wed class will meet for the first time on the first Wednesday of the semester (January 7).
    • A Mon/Wed/Fri class will meet for the first time on the first Wednesday of the semester (January 7).
    • A Wed/Fri class will meet for the first time on the first Friday of the semester (January 9).
    • A Wednesday-only class will meet for the first time on the second Wednesday of the semester (January 14).
January 21: Drop/Add ends in DukeHub for Spring 2026.
January 29: Resource Fair at 1:00 – 4:00 PM
  • The Spring Resource Fair is hosted by the university’s Graduate Professional Student Services office from 1:00 PM to 4:00 PM, at Penn Pavilion, West Campus.

RESOURCES

School and University Resources

For additional information and resources related to onboarding at the Nicholas School, please refer to the websites below.

We hope that your Orientation experience was welcoming and informative as you begin your journey at
Duke University’s Nicholas School of the Environment.