COVID Updates, Compact Compliance, & Enlisting Student Help

The message was sent to all Duke undergraduate students.

Dear undergraduate students,

Regardless of where you are this fall, we hope that your first days of fall classes are going well. Whether you’re in Durham or engaging remotely, please know that our teams, your faculty, and your advisors are here for you and eager to connect in the days and weeks ahead.

We’re writing to provide you with updates on confirmed and possible COVID cases in our student community, report the preliminary degree of Duke Compact compliance, and describe steps we can all take to help mitigate health risks in our community. Going forward, we anticipate sending you a bi-weekly message refreshing this information and sharing important updates, such as the number of COVID cases and trends in compliance and conduct outcomes. Regular updates will be important, as we know that the steps being taken today—both the decisions you make on a daily basis to comply with health guidance and educational and conduct-related efforts—will be reflected in lower COVID rates in the future weeks.

We need your help—every single one of you—to help keep our community safer.

COVID CASES AND QUARANTINE NUMBERS

As of Friday, Duke University’s comprehensive COVID-19 testing program has administered 5,765 tests to the undergraduate and graduate students who have returned to campus since August 2. Many more graduate and professional students will undergo their arrival tests over the next two weeks. Additional ongoing testing of asymptomatic students begins today.

We can report that the testing process identified 11 students as positive for COVID-19 as of last Friday (including the four who were announced last week). Those students are now in isolation and receiving support from Student Health and the isolation logistics team until cleared by medical staff.

As of Friday, another seven students were placed in quarantine on-campus and 66 were asked to quarantine off-campus. We ask students to quarantine when they have had contact with individuals who have tested positive either here at Duke or elsewhere. These students will need to stay away from others until Student Health determines if they have contracted COVID-19.

COMPLIANCE AND CONDUCT UPDATES

Overall, undergraduate compliance with wearing face coverings and several of the other Duke Compact expectations has been very high. Thank you to everyone who has adjusted to wearing face coverings continuously, washing hands often, reporting symptoms daily, and participating in testing protocols. The collective effort you’re making for yourselves, your peers, and our broader Duke and Durham community is precisely what we’d expect from every member of the Blue Devil team.

It has been more challenging for students to maintain a social distance of 6 feet and to gather in groups of less than ten people. Spreading out and reducing the total size of groups is absolutely critical to our community safety efforts. We recommend eating and hanging out outside on the lawns and plazas, where you will have better opportunities to engage with friends while staying apart. Thanks for working with us and for helping each other remember, too.

Many students, DSG, neighbors, community members, and faculty, have all raised concerns about the enforcement of COVID policy expectations. We assure all members of the Duke community that enforcement is indeed a part of Duke’s response and that our enforcement efforts are nuanced and hold students progressively accountable.

  • Since undergraduates have returned to campus, several hundred students have received verbal reminders, warnings, and other interventions from Residential Life, Student Affairs, and the Compliance Team (C-Team). The vast majority of these interventions have been reminders to stay distant and in smaller groups. We appreciate all the ways students have responded after talking with our teams.
  • Since August 2, the Office of Student Conduct has received approximately 100 reports of COVID-related conduct violations involving students on and off-campus; some number of these are multiple reports for a single event or violation. We are following up with all cases on and off-campus, working closely with Durham Police, community leaders, and local property managers to respond to the off-campus reports.
  • Since Friday, two dozen students have been referred for formal educational interventions and training for less severe infractions of the Duke Compact.
  • Finally, the Office of Student Conduct is currently addressing seven instances involving more flagrant misconduct and persistent non-compliance by individuals or groups of students. Consistent with individual student privacy regulations governed by federal law (FERPA), the Office of Student Conduct will not release identifying information for individual students who are formally sanctioned. If found responsible, these students and student organizations face a range of possible sanctions, including: disciplinary probation, suspension to be served in an upcoming term, immediate suspension or removal from campus, or permanent dismissal from Duke.

Again, we want to thank the thousands of students who take the needed steps to keep themselves and others safer. Your safety and that of the Durham and Duke community remain our top priorities, and we are in this together.

Thank you and go Duke,

Gary G. Bennett
Vice Provost for Undergraduate Education

Mary Pat McMahon
Vice Provost for Student Affairs

Resources for Duke International Students

This message was sent to all undergraduate international students.

August 18, 2020

Dear international students,

We hope this message finds you healthy and able to find moments of peace during these unsettling times. While these have been stressful moments for all of our students, we know that the uncertainty you all have faced has been particularly challenging. We have said it before, but we want you to know that we see you, and we are here for you.

As we enter the drop-add period, we wanted to reach out to ensure you are equipped with information to access classes that best fit your circumstances.

COURSE DISCOVERY 

The best way to find accurate information regarding online asynchronous courses is through DukeHub, where students can easily search by this designation. Some faculty are willing to work with students studying remotely to ensure access to their class, even if the course is hybrid or in-person. We encourage you to contact faculty directly for more information about their courses. Many faculty are aware of the challenges faced by international students and expect to receive these types of messages.

COURSE ACCESSIBILITY 

Provost Kornbluth sent a message to all faculty several weeks ago indicating that if a student needs a particular course for a major or a graduation requirement, they can contact the instructor and academic dean to request an accommodation, allowing you to participate remotely. This class experience may not be identical to that of local students, but this is an option if you need a particular course to progress towards your degree.

PART-TIME POLICY

As you may have seen, we recently implemented a new part-time policy for juniors and seniors for the fall semester. We took great care to learn what this would mean for international students, and we encourage you to review the policy details here: https://trinity.duke.edu/undergraduate/academic-policies/graduation-part-time-status. As always, you should contact Duke Visa Services and your academic dean for more information.

CONNECTING WITH FACULTY

Please consider visiting your faculty members’ virtual office hours. These are a great way to get to know your instructors, seek support, and deepen your understanding of course content. Unfortunately, we’ve had to pause Flunch this semester, but the Office of Undergraduate Education (OUE) will soon launch VLearn, a new way to bolster faculty and student interaction this fall. You can learn more about VLearn at https://undergrad.duke.edu/programs/vlearn-hub.

ACCESSING SUPPORT 

During the semester, if feelings of stress, anxiety, or emotional state affect your daily activities, many resources are available to you (including those listed below). Duke encourages all students to access these resources, particularly as we navigate the transition and emotions of this time. Duke Student Government has worked with DukeReach and student advocates to create the Fall 2020 “Two-Click Support” Form, and Duke Reach has expanded its drop-in hours as well.

  • DukeReach. Provides comprehensive outreach services to identify and support students in managing all aspects of well-being. If you’re concerned about the physical or mental well-being of yourself or another student, visit the DukeReach website for resources and assistance.
  • Counseling and Psychological Services (CAPS). CAPS services available to international students include group counseling services and workshops and discussions. Due to licensure restrictions, individual counseling sessions are not available outside of North Carolina. Call (919) 660-1000 or visit https://studentaffairs.duke.edu/caps to learn more.
  • Blue Devils Care. Offers 24/7 mental telehealth support to all students at no cost. To get started, visit BlueDevilsCare.duke.edu. Register once using your @duke.edu email address and Service Key DUKE2020, then you’ll be ready to use the service, using your US-based phone number.

Duke offers students several resources to seek assistance on coursework and improve overall wellness, some of which we list below.

We hope this information is helpful, and we look forward to making this a successful semester—together.

Go, Duke!

Gary G. Bennett
Vice Provost for Undergraduate Education

Mary Pat McMahon
Vice Provost for Student Affairs

Testing Update: August 17, 2020

Duke University’s comprehensive COVID-19 testing program has administered 5,765 tests to the students who have returned to campus since Aug. 2, school officials announced Monday, the first day of undergraduate classes for the fall semester.

A total of 11 positive results have been reported and those students are in mandatory isolation. Any student who tests positive is required to isolate until getting medical clearance to access campus facilities. These 11 include the four positive results reported by Duke last week.

Read the full announcement on Duke Today.

Update to Trinity S/U Grading Policy this Fall Semester

The message is being sent to all Duke undergraduate students.

Dear Duke Students,

It is a privilege to write to you as the newly appointed Dean of Academic Affairs for the Trinity College of Arts & Sciences. I’m honored to work with you and our faculty and staff to ensure that we’re supporting you during your time at Duke.

Leaders of our faculty governing body, the Executive Committee of the Arts & Sciences Council, recently met to discuss urgent faculty proposals regarding Satisfactory/Unsatisfactory (S/U) grading policies for Fall 2020. The committee decided to allow Trinity departments to choose which of their courses—numbered 199 and below—should be graded as S/U this fall.

You can view the final list of fall courses in Trinity that will be graded S/U here:

https://trinity.duke.edu/undergraduate/academic-policies/unsatisfactory-satisfactory-grading-option

There are several things you should know about the Executive Committee’s decision:

  • The change for these courses is to a mandatory S/U grading basis, so no student in these S/U courses will be able to opt into receiving a letter grade.
  • As a special provision of this decision, courses converted to S/U under this policy will satisfy the requirements of any major, minor or certificate program as well as T-Reqs and other requirements for graduation.
  • Any S/U courses you take this fall will not count toward the number of S/Us allowable per year or upon graduation.
  • S/U grades are not factored into your GPA, and will not count toward Latin Honors.
  • No decision has been made in regards to S/U grading for Spring 2021, and any extension of this policy would follow further review by the Trinity Arts & Sciences Council this fall.

Please note that this decision applies only to courses that originate in Trinity. It does not apply, for instance, to courses that originate in Pratt or Nicholas or Sanford. However, as noted above, the S/U grading basis will apply to courses that originate in Trinity and are cross-listed in other departments or schools.

Faculty governance entities like the Arts & Sciences Council and the checks and balances they provide to administration are an important and necessary part of Duke operations. The details regarding these changes were long considered by our faculty leaders and are intended to alleviate stress and prioritize your well-being.

Over the past month, I have listened to and spoken with students enrolled in my summer school course, current Duke students, and even former Duke students regarding their concerns about COVID-19, police brutality, the upcoming election, students’ roles in protesting, student housing, graduation and careers, extracurricular activities, and college sports. These conversations have been challenging, thought-provoking, gratifying and eye-opening. I entered them understanding that many of you were feeling pressure due to the uncertainty of life in 2020, but I came away realizing that many of you are also deeply concerned about a myriad of other issues. I left these discussions hopeful and emboldened by the passion and voice of Duke students.

As someone who is deeply invested in the lives of Duke undergraduates, I know that you are all working through a very difficult year. As you prepare for Fall 2020, please understand that Duke University is a better place because you are here. I miss seeing all of you on campus and I am looking forward to having some of you in my class this fall. If I can be of any help, please do not hesitate to reach out.

Sincerely,

Martin P. Smith
Dean of Academic Affairs of Trinity College
Associate Vice Provost for Undergraduate Education
Assistant Professor, Program in Education
Duke University

Pool Testing for Undergraduate Students

Thursday, August 13, 2020

Dear undergraduate students,

We are writing to share information about additional measures the University is taking to protect the health and safety of the campus community during the fall semester. As undergraduate classes get underway next week, the University will begin ongoing testing of students and other members of the campus community who are here in the Durham area and not exhibiting any symptoms of COVID-19. These additional tests will be conducted regularly beginning the week of Aug. 17.

In addition to the testing of all students coming to campus and the daily symptom monitoring, this additional step will help us identify and respond to the potential spread of the virus and limit the potential for local outbreaks. This ongoing testing process will begin with undergraduate students residing on campus. It will be expanded in subsequent weeks to include other Duke student populations and then faculty and staff who regularly interact with students on campus.

The self-administered process should take about 5 minutes, and testing sites will be established in multiple locations on East and West campuses for convenience. Collection of samples will involve a testing participant inserting a cotton swab into each nasal passage and rotating it against the inner nasal lining in a circle three times. The swab does not need to be inserted far—just enough so the cotton tip is no longer visible. The swab is then placed into a collection tube with a bar code, which will be placed in a bag and then deposited into a cooler at the collection station. Site coordinators at each location will ensure these tests are transported to a nearby lab and any positive test result will be communicated back to the student within 48 hours.

This testing process will be conducted throughout the fall semester. Duke hopes to make this as quick and convenient as possible for all participants, and it is critical that you participate to ensure we can maintain on-campus activities during the pandemic. Participants will need to bring their DukeCard ID or their mobile phone with the SymMon mobile app to one of the many testing sites that will be conveniently located across campus.

If you are selected for pool testing, you’ll receive an email and text message alerting you to your day. Please be sure to attend carefully to these texts and plan accordingly. You can find more information about the process, testing sites and answers to frequently asked questions on the Duke United website.

Thank you and go Duke,

John Vaughn, M.D.
Director of Student Health Services

Mary Pat McMahon
Vice Provost for Student Affairs

Gary G. Bennett
Vice Provost for Undergraduate Education

Student Testing Update: Aug 12

Duke University has launched its comprehensive COVID-19 testing program by administering 3,116 tests to the first  undergraduate and graduate students who have returned to campus since Aug. 1.

A total of four positive results have been reported. Any student who tests positive is required to isolate until getting medical clearance to access campus facilities.

Testing is continuing as students return to campus this week and through the end of the month.

Read the full announcement on Duke Today.

How to Retrieve Your COVID-19 Test Results

This message was sent to all Duke undergraduate students.

Sunday, August 9, 2020

Dear students,

As more students arrive to Durham each day, we write to remind you to please sign up for a MyChart account if you have not already done so. Signing up for a MyChart account will allow you to review the results of your COVID-19 test when they become available.

If you have not signed up for a MyChart account, please be on the lookout for another invitation from Student Health in the coming days, or check your email filter for a message from Duke_Health@duke.edu sent on 8/2/20. When you retrieve your activation code, you can visit https://www.dukemychart.org/home/ to complete your sign-up.

If you are having trouble setting up your account online, please call the MyChart Help Desk at 919-620-4555 or 1-800-782-6945, staffed M/T/W/F from 8 a.m. – 5 p.m. and Thursday from 8 a.m. – 4 p.m.

We look forward to seeing you soon,
Student Affairs

COVID-19 Testing for Graduate and Professional Students

This message was sent to all Duke graduate and professional students.

Saturday, August 8, 2020  

Dear Graduate & Professional School Students,

We’re writing to share with you the most up-to-date information about COVID-19 testing and symptom monitoring protocols for Fall 2020. Both are essential steps in keeping our Duke community safe and healthy, and we thank you for your continued cooperation and flexibility as we rise to meet the challenges of an unprecedented year.

Please read this email carefully and thoroughly so that you understand what is expected of you.

COVID-19 ARRIVAL TESTING

As President Price shared in his community message on June 30th, all students who plan to be on campus for approved academic purposes are required to undergo testing for COVID-19 upon their arrival to campus. Any graduate or professional student who will be arriving in August or who is returning to campus after time away must be tested. Please note that your DukeCard will only be activated after your COVID-19 test has been administered and you have attested to both the Duke Compact and the Student COVID-19 Policies appropriate for your degree program. You are also expected to complete the daily symptom monitoring survey before coming to campus (detailed below). You will be receiving links to the relevant attestation platforms soon.

Please note that you should come to the Duke campus ONLY for your scheduled testing appointment and leave after your test is complete. Until your results are received and your DukeCard is activated, you will not have access to Duke facilities and should remain off campus.

COVID-19 testing for graduate and professional students will take place from August 17 through September 1 in Penn Pavilion, with appointment slots between 8 a.m.  –  4 p.m. each day. Some programs have unique start dates that are after September 1 and you will hear from your schools on the expected dates for testing. You should sign up for a 10-minute appointment slot using the Transact app. Instructions regarding downloading this app and signing up for your testing appointment will be sent to you by your respective school. Your schools will provide information about which days of the testing schedule you may sign up for a testing appointment. Questions about scheduling your appointment can be directed to keeplearning@duke.edu.

If you are a graduate student who has been on Duke’s campus continuously this summer working in labs or participating in other academic activities, you will NOTparticipate in this arrival baseline testing process. The same exemption holds for CONTINUING students in clinical degree programs within the School of Medicine and the School of Nursing, who have continued in-person rotations during the summer. If you are a graduate student, an SOM student, or a DUSON student who falls into one of these two categories, your DukeCard will remain active. You will, however, be included in ongoing surveillance testing and daily symptom monitoring throughout the semester along with your graduate and professional peers and undergraduate students. To keep your DukeCard active, you will also need to attest to the Duke Compact and the COVID-19 PhD Student Policy Plan.

Beginning Monday, August 10, all graduate and professional students will be able to check the status of their DukeCard at https://dukecard.duke.edu/statuscheck. Just enter your DUID or NetID, and you will receive a card access status of either “active” or “inactive.”  As a reminder, your status will show as inactive until you have:

  • Attested to the Duke Compact and COVID-19 policies
  • Completed the back-to-school testing protocol (for students required to do so)
  • Performed your daily symptom monitoring
  • Have been cleared of any reported symptoms by Student Health

DAILY SYMPTOM MONITORING

Tracking COVID-19 symptoms is another way Duke is working to keep the community safe as operations expand for the fall. 

All University students, faculty and staff who wish to participate in activities on Duke grounds or in Duke facilities are required to download the SymMon app to complete the daily symptom survey before arriving or participating in activities on campus. Students must complete the survey starting on or before the day of their campus arrival and testing appointment.

The app is available on the Apple App Store and Google Play under the name “SymMon” (known to some of you as REDCap). Learn more about how to download and how to use the SymMon app. Duke may use data collected in this process to develop approaches for understanding where the virus may be spreading, and who is at risk. Student Health follows all provisions within Duke’s Acceptable Use Policy, Data Usage During COVID-19.

Thank you again for your engagement, support for one another, and flexibility as the Duke family continues to navigate and pivot to plan for a safe, healthy, and fulfilling academic year. We look forward to welcoming you back to campus in the coming weeks. If you have questions, please visit https://returnto.duke.edu/ or contact keeplearning@duke.edu or your academic dean.

Sincerely,
Jennifer Francis
Executive Vice Provost

John A. Vaughn, MD
Director, Student Health
Associate Professor, Family Medicine & Community Health

Direction to Fraternity and Sorority Leaders about Social Events

This email was sent to the leaders of Duke’s fraternities and sororities on Friday, August 7, 2020.

Chapter Presidents & Council Leaders,

We know that for many of you, your first days and weekends back in the same vicinity are a welcome change from time this summer when you’ve been apart and isolated.  But if you are planning any kind of social event that gathers more than 10 people in one place—we need to pause your plans and to remind you that being off campus does not mean that Duke’s rules & expectations regarding COVID-19 safety do not apply to you. All students–those living on-campus or off-campus, undergraduate or graduate/professional–must abide by these expectations. 

We need your help in being part of the solution, not a source of unintended danger–for Duke, as well as also for our Durham community. A few reminders on this front:

  • The pandemic does not care where you live. On campus, off campus, a bus, the grocery store, your apartment — stopping the spread means following safety precautions everywhere.
  • ANY social event with more than 10 people (indoors or outdoors) presents a serious public health risk and is prohibited by Duke policy until further notice. As outlined in communication you’ve already received, ALL student organization activity has been directed to be virtual for the time being. Violations of this could result in both individual and organization suspension from Duke, and that is if you host or even just attend an event that does not follow policies.
  • We’re sure you’ve seen peers at other institutions’ failure to follow safety guidelines.  This has resulted in virus spread and students being suspended from their universities.  In addition to any proceedings with Duke, a large gathering could draw a public response (neighbors, media outlets, Durham police, etc.) that could amplify the difficulties event hosts and attendees experience.

Some of you may be feeling pressure to host events to provide a social outlet for others. We have heard you ask that our offices be more clear regarding consequences for students who violate policy, so please forward this to whoever needs to see it. Help us tell your members: if you host or attend a gathering that violates University rules and /or presents a public health risk, you may jeopardize your standing as a Duke student. 

Before you invite others to your house or apartment, or before you show up to someone else’s house or apartment — take a moment to think about if it’s worth losing the opportunity to remain at Duke. Please know that the University does not take violations of these policies lightly, and we need to demonstrate that we care and respect ourselves and our community by supporting these efforts, not diminishing them.

As a reminder, any member of the Duke community can share a concern regarding violations of Duke’s COVID-19 policies and expectations via email at conduct@duke.edu or anonymously by calling 800.826.8109 or completing an online form.

Thanks!

Emilie Dye

Director of Student Engagement, Leadership, UCAE
Michele Armstrong

Assistant Dean of Students, Student Conduct

Policy Reminder : On and Off-Campus Social Gathering

This message was sent to all Duke undergraduate students on Friday, August 7, 2020.

Dear students,

Many of you are returning to Durham over the coming weeks. We are truly excited to welcome you back to the community. As exciting as this time is, the unprecedented nature of this opening necessitates our collective efforts to support the health and safety of the community.

We want to remind you that being a member of the Duke community also means being a member of the Durham community.

Regardless of whether you plan to spend this semester in on-campus housing or elsewhere in Durham, as a member of the Duke community, the Duke Community Standard and Undergraduate Student COVID-19 Policy Plan is applicable to your behavior and conduct. 

Duke has worked closely with city and local health officials in developing the plans for resuming educational operations this fall, and developed a number of new policies and programs to support community health measures. One of these critical policies relates to social gatherings.

ANY social event with more than 10 people (indoors or outdoors) presents a serious public health risk and is prohibited by Duke policy until further notice. 

Individual students hosting and/or attending gatherings off-campus must comply with all policies within the Duke Community Standard and COVID-19 Policy Plan, including the limitations on social gatherings. As always, proper masking and physical distancing must be observed. Additionally, all student organization activity has been directed to be virtual for the time being.

Let us be clear—we are taking student behavioral conduct seriously, and flagrant violations of our COVID-19 student expectations will jeopardize your status as a Duke student. 

Please know that the University does not take violations of these policies lightly, because we care and respect ourselves and our community by supporting these efforts. Before you invite others to your residence or visit someone else’s residence, make sure COVID-19 policies and expectations are being followed.

If you have any questions, concerns, or observe student behavior that does not adhere to these policies, please call  the Duke “Speak Up” reporting line at 800-826-8109, option 3, or email conduct@duke.edu, which goes to the Office of Student Conduct in the Division of Student Affairs. Submissions by phone and email will be sent to the appropriate department for follow up.

We know you know that this year is atypical in many ways, and we thank you for your efforts to get the semester started safely.  We are looking forward to a great academic year! Thank you for your support and effort in helping create a healthy and safe environment.

Sincerely,
Clay Adams
Associate Dean of Students

Jeanna McCullers
Senior Associate Dean of Students, Director of the Office of Student Conduct

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