This message was sent to all students living on campus

Dear on-campus students,

We are writing to follow up on Mayor Schewel’s announcement that the City of Durham will enact a “stay at home” order effective Thursday, March 26 at 6 p.m.

All Duke students who are living on campus or in Durham must abide by this order, just as we expect Duke students to follow local and state laws. Students who are approved to remain on campus may not leave campus, and off-campus students may not come on campus.

For students who are approved to remain on campus at this point, Duke defines “home” as your current room assignment on West Campus or at 300/301 Swift Avenue or SmartHome. Students on campus must remain in their assigned residence hall and assigned room as much as possible.

You may leave your residential assignment in order to:

  • Take walks or get exercise on campus grounds. Please continue to practice social distancing and remain six feet away from others on campus.
  • Pick up to-go food orders or visit the University Store, again while remaining on campus grounds.
  • Exercise your approved emotional support animal on campus.
  • Attend to urgent medical needs, such as visiting Student Health or the Emergency Room. Please reschedule all non-essential medical appointments. If you are experiencing respiratory symptoms consistent with the onset of COVID-19, please call Student Health for instructions before visiting the clinic.

During the stay-at-home period, undergraduate students living in Duke residence halls may not travel off-campus for reasons unrelated to the above circumstances, and students living off-campus may not enter any Duke buildings.  Failure to abide by these expectations will result in disciplinary action through the Office of Student Conduct. This is in addition to any action that the city and law enforcement agencies may take.

If you have questions, please contact keeplearning@duke.edu. For urgent needs, students who remain on campus should contact the RA On Call or the Dean on Call at 984-287-0300. Additional reminders around existing resources are below.

Join Mayor Schewel’s call for young people to act responsibly for the sake of yourselves and other community members. As he said in this morning’s press conference, “We have to offer another kind of kindness now—the kindness of distance.”

Thank you for your attention to this information and for all that you are already doing to maintain social distancing, wash hands, and look out for yourselves and others. We are here to support you in the days ahead and appreciate that this is not easy for anyone.

Sincerely yours,

Mary Pat McMahon
Vice Provost of Student Affairs

Gary Bennett
Vice Provost for Undergraduate Education