Latest Updates - Page 19 of 31 - Coronavirus Response

This message was sent to all Duke undergraduate students.

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

Message to Neighborhood Leaders

By Kristen Brown

On August 7, 2020

In Community Messages, Duke University

This email was sent to the leaders of Durham neighborhood organizations from the Office of Durham and Community Affairs.

Dear neighborhood presidents,

As neighbors of Duke, many of you have received some communications from Duke Student Affairs about student move-in beginning today, Friday, August 7. I am writing to share some additional details about steps Duke is taking to safeguard community health and make sure our neighbors know how to reach Duke with any concerns.

Duke is taking community safety very seriously, and this school year will look different than any other in the past, not only because fewer people are on campus but also because there are new expectations related to behavior. To start, all students, faculty and staff must sign The Duke Compact, which is a pledge to safeguard community health through key behaviors and adhere to local and state ordinances. Expectations specifically for studentsare housed in the Duke Community Standard, and this year there are also COVID-specific which have some additional restrictions. You can read the message outlining additional student expectations from Dean of Students John Blackshear and Jeanna McCullers, Director of the Office of Student Conduct.

Some specific changes include:

Spreading student move-in over two weeks to ensure students, staff, and families can maintain safe distancing.
Limiting the student population on campus and in Duke residences to primarily first-year and sophomore students.
Requiring and providing COVID-19 testing of all residential students before moving in.
Establishing processes to immediately and safely quarantine and provide medical, educational, and wellness support to any student in a Duke residence that tests positive.
Requiring daily symptom monitoring and health checks for all students, faculty and staff returning to campus.
Requiring masks in all public spaces, social distancing of 6-feet, and frequent handwashing.
With regard to Duke trails such as Al Buehler and the Duke East Wall, Duke is following Durham’s Safer at Home order, which does not require masks while exercising or walking outdoors as long as you maintain a distance of at least 6 feet from others.
If you are planning to visit the Duke campus, get more information at https://returnto.duke.edu/campus-visitors/
Supplying face coverings, hand sanitizer, and other protective materials for students, faculty, and staff on campus.
Limiting gatherings to 10 people indoors and outdoors, on- and off-campus, at all times for increased safety.
This is more restrictive than the city’s stay-at-home ordinance which limits gatherings to 10 people indoors and 25 outdoors.
It should also be noted that Duke has banned all in-person Duke-sponsored events on- and off-campus.

You can read details about how Duke is preparing for the new semester at returnto.duke.edu.

If you have any concerns or observe students whose behavior 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 department of Student Affairs. Submissions by phone and email will be sent to the appropriate department for follow up. Students whose behavior is found to be in violation of Duke or state/local standards will go through the Duke student conduct process.

Duke is working closely with Durham City and County to ensure our safety protocols remain aligned with local and state ordinances and respond swiftly to changing conditions. Duke is also involved in several important public health initiatives regarding COVID-19 including the Pandemic Response Network, Latinx outreach, and partnerships with local school districts. You can read more about Duke’s research and other efforts related to the coronavirus on our news site.

Finally, we invite you to stay connected with all that is going on at Duke by signing up for our daily email, The Duke Daily.

Sincerely,

Mayme & team

Expectations and Recommendations for Faculty

By Kristen Brown

On August 7, 2020

In Duke University, For Faculty

This email was sent to all faculty

August 7, 2020

Dear Faculty Colleagues,

On Tuesday, you received a message from President Price about a key dimension of our university’s response to the COVID-19 pandemic: the Duke Compact, as well as a link to attest to that statement of community expectations.

I write today to provide you with a document that describes in greater detail our requirements and expectations for faculty members who will be coming to campus at any point this academic year. We ask that you read this document in conjunction with the Compact. The goal of the provisions in both the Compact and associated document is to mitigate the public health risks created by the pandemic to every extent possible.

This document reflects extensive input from faculty members, school deans, and the Executive Committee of Academic Council, along with our public health and infectious disease experts. We know that many of you will have questions about aspects of these policies. Some of these may already be answered through the Compact’s Quick Reference Guide.

Please send any queries not answered in the Guide to the Office of the Vice Provost for Faculty Advancement. We will be updating FAQs as new issues emerge.

As President Price noted in his Tuesday email, we remain appreciative of everything that Duke community members are doing to keep our university healthy and safe at this challenging moment.

Sincerely,

Sally Kornbluth
Provost

Neighbors Update: New Student Orientation, Move-In, and COVID-19 Updates

By Kristen Brown

On August 6, 2020

In Community Messages, Duke University

This email was sent to neighbors on August 6 from Clay Adams, Associate Dean of Students

Dear Neighbors,

We hope that this email finds you healthy and well. Today I am writing to our surrounding neighborhood association leaders to acknowledge the beginning of our upcoming 2020-2021 academic year. Normally, I write to acknowledge the energy of move-in day, traffic impacts, and share upcoming large-scale orientation programs. I still write to express our excitement for the coming academic year, but the process for move-in, orientation, and campus expectations will look significantly different this year.

In order to promote a safe and healthy environment for students and campus staff, incoming and returning undergraduate students will experience a phased return to Durham and campus, with our official move-in process for undergraduate students running from Thursday, August 6, through Saturday, August 15. Please note you may see additional traffic around campus during this time period. The normal orientation events that produce amplified sound will not be occurring this year, as almost all programming will be done virtually. For more information about new student orientation please visit the following:

https://studentaffairs.duke.edu/new-students/orientation/first-year-orientation

We have heard some concerns about how the return of students could impact the community and want you to know that Duke takes these concerns very seriously. The institution 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. To that end, I want to make you aware of the Duke Compact, which outlines the commitment all members of the Duke community make to one another and to our neighbors and community. The Duke Compact is rooted in our shared values and emphasizes our collective responsibility to wear face coverings in all public spaces, maintain distance of at least six feet from others, wash hands frequently and monitor symptoms daily, in addition to adhering to local and state ordinances to prevent the spread of COVID-19, including avoiding large gatherings.

There are also additional expectations for students, whether they live on- or off-campus, and these include special provisions limiting the size of gatherings, both indoor and outdoor, to ten people. Students must acknowledge, attest, and adhere to their individual school’s COVID-19 Policy Plans.

If you have any questions or concerns or observe students whose behavior does not adhere to these policies, please call 800-826-8109, option 3, the Duke “Speak Up” reporting line, 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.

Warmly,

Clay

Expectations for Undergraduates this Academic Year

By Kristen Brown

On August 4, 2020

In Duke University, For Students

This message was sent to all Duke undergraduate students.

Tuesday, August 4, 2020

Dear students,

It is our pleasure to welcome you to the start of the 2020 fall semester!

Duke University is a community dedicated to scholarship, leadership, and service and to the principles of honesty, fairness, respect, and accountability. These values, now more than ever, will be our guiding principles.

The honor code at Duke is named the Duke Community Standard (DCS) because community is at the center of our conception of what it means to act honorably, a value that defines Duke as an institution and as a student population.

The DCS establishes norms, policies, practices, and processes for our Duke undergraduate community. Regardless of whether you plan to spend this semester in Durham or will be in another location, as a member of the Duke community, the Duke Community Standard is applicable to you and your peers’ behavior and conduct.

Updates are made to the Duke Community Standard each year in order to enhance and uphold our values. You may access and review the full 2020-2021 Duke Community Standard in Practice: A Guide for Students at this link. However, we’re writing today to highlight key elements of the DCS and draw your attention to additional student expectations in light of COVID-19:

– In response to guidance from the Department of Education’s Office for Civil Rights, the University has centralized protected status discrimination and harassment matters within the Office for Institutional Equity (OIE). Effective August 14th, student sexual misconduct processes (both  Title IX and non-Title IX matters) will be governed by OIE’s Policy on Prohibited Discrimination, Harassment, and  Related Misconduct . Our team has worked closely with OIE to develop these policies and to provide seamless information and resources to students. The Office of Student Conduct (OSC) and OIE have been engaged with key stakeholders, including the Student Sexual Misconduct Prevention and Response Committee, to obtain feedback about the policy to address sexual misconduct. The new policy will be available on August 14, 2020.

– In an effort to serve the diverse and evolving needs of the campus community, the Office of Student Conduct is increasing awareness of and opportunities for participation in adaptable conflict resolution and  restorative practices of conduct matters (page 33 in the DCS Guide). This supports the educational and developmental mission of Student Affairs and the OSC team, and supports our ability to build ongoing relationships with students across the Duke community.

– OSC has aligned its adjudicatory processes to a single standard of evidence for all types of conduct violations. A preponderance of information, a threshold of information meaning that it is more likely than not that an allegation of misconduct occurred (pages 34-37 in the DCS Guide), will now be the evidentiary standard for all decisions of responsibility in formal hearings. Additionally, unanimity will be required for hearing panels making a determination of responsibility.

– The Undergraduate Student COVID-19 Policy Plan, which you will receive later today, is an addendum to the DCS Guide highlighting student expectations. Any undergraduate who plans to utilize any campus resources this academic year will need to adhere to these important expectations. Durham-based students, even those who do not plan to access the Duke campus, will still need to be aware of and comply with Duke’s expectations for off-campus activity:

Students must complete daily symptom monitoring via the SymMon app;
All students must wear face coverings when on campus and in any non-campus public setting;
Students must follow physical distancing practices whenever possible;
All students living in on-campus or off-campus housing are expected to stay in the Durham area throughout the semester in accordance with public health recommendations;
All student events will initially be virtual. When student organizations are permitted to conduct any business (meetings, activities, events, or programs), whether hosted on-campus or anywhere off-campus, they will be required to be registered via Duke Groups;
Individual students hosting gatherings in their off-campus residence must comply with all policies within the Duke Community Standard and Covid-19 Policy Plan. At present this includes the Duke expectation of no more than 10 people permitted to gather indoors or outdoors.

Violations of these expectations may lead to referral for disciplinary action.

As we all adjust our habits and learn these expectations, many safety interventions will be educational and developmental in nature. But please note that actions that flagrantly disregard the safety of students, staff, faculty and our Durham neighbors will be subject to more serious disciplinary action, including possible suspension or expulsion.

The Duke Compact, a set of policies and protocols recognizing our shared responsibility for our collective health and well-being in light of COVID-19, will be shared with all members of the Duke community later today. All members of the Duke community—students, faculty, and staff— will be asked to enter into and comply with the Duke Compact.

The email you will receive today from the Duke Office of Audit, Risk, and Compliance will include instructions on how to formally acknowledge The Duke Compact, the 2020-2021 Duke Community Standard, and the Undergraduate Student COVID-19 Policy Plan.

The primary work of the Office of Student Conduct involves educational, developmental, thoughtful, and reflective conversations that promote student growth and community standards. Please reach out to us with any questions or concerns about student conduct and expectations. As we navigate the new and ever-changing norms together, our team is eager to serve as willing thought partners for the student community.

Duke is a community of extraordinary people. This year especially, we must come together as a community, exhibiting care and accountability for one another, and uphold the principles of the Duke Community Standard. Thank you for your attention to these expectations.

In community always,

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

John Blackshear
Dean of Students and Associate Vice President of Student Affairs, Associate Vice Provost of Undergraduate Education

Update for Undergraduate Students 8/1/2020

By Kristen Brown

On August 1, 2020

In Community Messages, Duke University, For Students

Dear students,

We’re writing at the end of a busy week to remind you of ways you can access the most up-to-date information about deadlines, testing protocols, and resources for Fall 2020.

We recognize that many aspects of the undergraduate experience are changing quickly, and that regardless of whether you will be returning to Durham or engaging fully remotely this fall, you need additional details, context, and timely information. Please know our teams in Student Affairs and the Office of Undergraduate Education are working round-the-clock with colleagues throughout campus on plans to support your experience this fall, and we will continue to share more information as we have it.

In our conversations with students and families this week, we recognized that changes to Duke’s Fall plans symbolize an additional delay of post-pandemic life. Many students and families were essentially—or literally—mapping the trip to Durham and packing their things. We share in your disappointment that this fall may not look exactly as we thought it might. However, we understand, and we hope you can as well, that these decisions are centered on our core priority: protecting the health and safety of Duke students, faculty, staff, and the surrounding community.

Where to get direct one-on-one support:

As you navigate the transition and emotions associated with this time, please know that Duke resources are available to you wherever you are. Duke Student Government has worked with DukeReach and student advocates to create the Fall 2020 “Two-Click to Connect” Support Form. In just two clicks you will be able to select the category of person who will reach out to you within 24-48 hours— be it a trained Peer For You responder or a DukeReach staff member. Take this opportunity to connect with someone and discuss whatever’s on your mind. If you’d like to reach out, are feeling concerned or anxious about upcoming transitions, or simply want someone to chat with, please click the link above. It takes less than 30 seconds to submit the form and someone will follow up ASAP. As always, we also encourage you to utilize other Duke-provided mental health resources, listed at the bottom of this message.

Where to get updated information on academic deadlines, COVID testing, arrival information, and more:

To supplement the frequently asked questions published alongside President Price’s message on Sunday, we have partnered with student leaders to create new FAQs for undergraduates on the Keep Learning site. This includes information on topics like housing assignments, academics, and financial aid. Our teams add to and update these FAQs daily, so please continue to check this site for additional details in the days ahead. For specific questions not yet answered there, please write to keeplearning@duke.edu. Doing so will help us get you the information you need, and give us insights about what to add to the site to help others.

Testing information and health guidance:
If you are planning to return to campus or the Durham area this fall, please read in full the important updates on arrival testing, quarantining before returning to campus, and other health guidance included at the bottom of this message and on Keep Learning.

All students with a housing assignment will receive additional information walking you through the pre-arrival, arrival testing, move-in and sequester process early next week.

Thank you for your continued engagement, support for one another, and flexibility as the Duke family continues to navigate and pivot in this unprecedented time. Take care, and please don’t hesitate to reach out to our 2021 Student Advisory Board, Fall Plans team, or Keep Learning team with any questions, concerns or suggestions.

Go Duke,

Mary Pat McMahon
Vice Provost for Student Affairs

Gary G. Bennett
Vice Provost for Undergraduate Education

The message has been sent to all Duke undergraduate students.

RESOURCES FOR STUDENTS:

Latest Information:

Duke United – University information on campus reopening

Keep Learning – Hub for student-focused information and FAQs

Mental Health Support:

Blue Devils Care: 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 whenever you need it.

Counseling & Psychological Services: CAPS remains open and counselors are continuing to provide care remotely through telemental-health appointments.

DukeReach: Submit a report to DukeReach if you’re concerned about the physical or mental well-being of yourself or another student.

STUDENTS TRAVELING TO DURHAM THIS MONTH: HEALTH GUIDANCE

BEFORE ARRIVAL TO DURHAM

Self-Quarantine
In response to recent public health guidance, the President’s July 26th message asked that all students travelling to the Durham area this month observe 14 days of quarantine prior to their travels. During quarantine, you should limit your contact to immediate household members, take care to observe social distancing, wear face coverings if you must be outside the home, and wash your hands frequently.

Quarantining is a proven strategy to minimize the likelihood of a widespread outbreak when students arrive to start the fall semester. We know that you are invested in doing everything possible to make our fall semester as safe as possible, and we appreciate your cooperation with this effort.

For more information about travelling during the pandemic, please see CDC guidance on United States and international travel.

Pre-Arrival Testing
Students who are returning to Durham from other locations are encouraged to obtain COVID-19 tests if possible in their areas, prior to arrival.

If you are living on-campus or in Durham, we ask that you report any positive results to Student Health through Duke MyChart and observe isolation protocols before you return to Durham. If you do not have a Duke MyChartaccount, you will receive an activation code from Duke Health on August 3 including instructions on this process. If you are in quarantine due to exposure to others with COVID-19, please inform Student Health. You should NOT return to campus or Durham until your quarantine or isolation period has ended and you are symptom-free. If you are in isolation and cannot return to campus at the designated time, please complete the form listed above, contact Student Health and your academic dean.

Symptom Monitoring
Tracking COVID-19 symptoms is one of the ways 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 arrival/move-in.

The app is available on the Apple App Store and Google Play under the name “SymMon.” Learn more about how to download and how to use the app.

The symptom monitoring system should be used to report ANY symptoms, even if you think they may be related to allergies or some other issue. For a full list of symptoms, visit the Duke Coronavirus Response website. If you are unsure, err on the side of caution and report potential coronavirus symptoms.

Proof of Previous Diagnosis
If you have tested positive for COVID-19 in the last 3 months (June, July, August 2020) you should bring a hard copy of your test report with you to Penn Pavilion or submit your report through Duke MyChart. You may receive additional instructions from Student Health about your arrival procedure and screening testing if you have previously tested positive for COVID-19.

UPON ARRIVAL

Required Testing at Duke: Arrival & Move-In

As you know from President Price’s community message on June 30th, all students who will be living on campus or who plan to be on campus for approved academic purposes are required to undergo testing for COVID-19 upon their arrival to campus.

Students moving into Duke campus housing (“residential students”) must be tested immediately upon arrival to campus. Undergraduates living off-campus must be tested before they can begin fall classes, by August 15.

Undergraduate residential AND local off-campus students:

Testing and check-in for undergraduate residential and off-campus students will take place at Penn Pavilion from Friday, August 7, to Saturday, August 15, between 8 a.m. and 4 p.m. EDT each day.

To sign up for your 20-minute testing appointment, you will use the Transact Mobile Ordering app (available on Google Play and at the Apple App Store); this is the same app you use for mobile food ordering on campus. In the app, choose the first option, “Blue Devil Check-in.” If you are having trouble finding “Blue Devil Check-in” in Transact, please make sure you have selected “Duke Dine-In.” Do NOT select “Duke Health” as this is affiliated with Duke Hospital and not arrival testing. After a few setup questions, you should then see “Blue Devil Check-in” as the first option. If you have selected “Duke Health” instead of “Duke Dine-In” while setting up your account in Transact, please try to logout of Duke Health, and login through Duke Dine-In. If this does not work, you can contact dukecard@duke.edu for technical assistance.

When you pick your day and time, you’ll need to confirm in the app whether you are living on campus (meaning in Duke-provided housing) or off campus; this will help dictate what time slots are available to you.

When you arrive at Penn, staff from Housing & Residence Life, Student Health, DuWell and DukeCard will:

-Check you in, making sure that you are scheduled for that day and time;
-Complete your preliminary health checkAdminister your COVID-19 test;
-Activate your DukeCard (first-year students who have not submitted your DukeCard photo, please do so as soon as possible via the DukeCard website);
-If you are living on campus, you will receive your room key(s) and pertinent paperwork.

In order for this process to function smoothly, it is critical that you pay special attention to the date and time of your appointment. If you will be living on campus, you MUST sign up for a time on the day you let us know you were coming.

We understand that the timeframe of testing may prove to be a challenge for some of you. If you are arriving in Durham after 4 p.m., you will need to find off-campus accommodations for the night and check-in the following day. If you will be living off campus, you have more flexibility for your date and time, so we expect that you’ll be able to find an appointment that works for your schedule. In either case, you must check in and receive a test before going anywhere else on campus.

Please park in the Card Lot during your appointment if you are driving to campus. Students may be accompanied by up to two individuals to assist with move-in. These individuals will NOT be permitted to go to Penn Pavilion with you so will need to remain in their vehicle for the duration of the appointment. These individuals will also be expected to wear face coverings, wash hands often, and maintain social distance. Individuals experiencing possible symptoms of COVID-19 are asked to stay away from campus during move-in.

Graduate and Professional students:

Testing for graduate and professional students will take place at Penn Pavilion from Monday, August 17, and Tuesday, September 1. Graduate and professional students who are coming to campus for classes, research or other activity must be tested. The process listed above for undergraduates will apply to graduate and professional student testing; Duke Cards will only be activated following the administration of a COVID-19 test at Penn Pavilion.

Post-Arrival Sequester Period

After students go through the check-in and testing process at Penn Pavilion and move into their housing, students will be required to sequester in their residence hall or off-campus home until results of their arrival tests are available (this will likely take 24-48 hours). Results will be communicated through Duke MyChart. While waiting for test results, students are expected to limit any unnecessary movement and activity outside of their room.

During this sequester period, students living on campus are permitted to retrieve food from Duke Dining locations, run essential errands, and spend time outdoors in a manner that does not increase the potential spread of COVID-19, but should avoid other students/staff during this time.

Non-symptomatic students living off-campus should make appropriate arrangements for food and necessary supplies during the sequestering period.

Isolation for COVID-Positive Students

Students who test positive will be placed in isolation on campus.

-Isolation is for students who have already been diagnosed positive with COVID-19.
-Isolated students will be under the care of Duke clinicians during an isolation window.
-A Duke clinician will determine when a student’s isolation period is complete. The average time spent in isolation is 14 days.
-For students in Duke-provided housing, isolated students will be moved to East House, Jarvis, or The Lodge near Duke Hospital.
-If isolated, students should not leave their assigned rooms other than to take strolls outside to get air. Meals will be delivered.

Contact tracing will be used to identify other potential positive cases.

DURING THE SEMESTER

Testing, quarantine, and care operations are being coordinated by healthcare professionals from Student Health, the School of Nursing, the School of Medicine, and Duke Hospital.

Quarantine

Quarantine separates and restricts the movement of individuals who have been exposed to COVID-19, to see if they become sick or test positive. Students who are identified by our contact tracing team or who have a test ordered by a clinician for some other reason, such as COVID-19 symptoms, will be asked to quarantine.

Quarantined students may receive a new temporary housing assignment. If a test comes back positive, quarantined students will be moved to isolation.

Students in quarantine should limit in-person contact and have all meals delivered. Once a negative test result is received, the student may resume normal activity following social distancing and masking guidelines. If they had been provided a new quarantine space, students will be allowed to return to their original housing assignment once a negative result is received.

Surveillance testing of asymptomatic students, faculty and staff during the semester

Residential students, students who will be attending classes or working on campus, faculty, and staff who frequently interact with students will be subject to regular surveillance testing during the semester. More detailed information will follow.

Testing for symptomatic or exposed individuals during the semesterAny student, faculty, or staff member who becomes symptomatic or is referred by either Employee Health or Student Health will be tested at one of five local testing sites, two of which are located on Duke’s campus.

How to get care

Symptomatic or exposed individuals should call the Duke COVID-19 Hotline at 919-385-0429 in order to receive instructions on how to receive your care. After assessing your symptoms, a provider may schedule a telephone or video telehealth visit to determine if you should:visit a COVID-19 drive-up/walk-up testing sitebe seen in-person at a Duke Health Respiratory Triage and Care clinic. These clinics are available throughout the Triangle to treat people with respiratory symptoms.

Students may invite a third-party (e.g. parent or guardian) to join them for a telehealth visit, as long as it is requested by the patient (student).

There are five drive-up/walk-up testing sites located throughout the Triangle for the convenience of all students, faculty, and staff. Appointments are required and will be set up for you during your telephone or telehealth visit:
-Parking lot at the corner of Flowers Dr. and Erwin Rd. (across from Duke Family Medicine Pickens Building); HOURS: Monday – Friday 8:30am – 4:30pm; Saturday 10am – 4pm; Sunday 10am – 2pm
-Duke Raleigh Hospital
-Pickett Road (transitioning to University Ford)
-Morrisville (transitioning to Arrindgon Rd) (Additional site coming soon)

Services for families of graduate and professional studentsThe families of graduate and professional students are valued members of our Duke community. Families of graduate and professional students may utilize the Duke COVID-19 Hotline at 919-385-0429 to schedule walk-up/drive-up appointments for testing at Duke’s testing sites and receive appropriate follow-up care.

Billing for students

Undergraduate, graduate, and professional students will not be charged co-pays for COVID-19 testing.

Cleaning and Safety

For the safety of our housekeepers, healthcare professionals, students, faculty, and other staff, high-touch surfaces at testing and care sites will be cleaned by the clinical team, not housekeeping staff. Student Health clinic cleaning procedures are in line with Duke Health and infection prevention practices.

In the days ahead, we will continue to provide all students with further details around the Fall semester and our shared community expectations. Thank you for your attention to this message and for all that you are doing to support a safer return to campus and fall semester at Duke.

Update on COVID-19 Testing for Student-Athletes

By Kristen Brown

On July 31, 2020

In Community Messages, Duke University, Testing & Reporting

Duke University’s COVID-19 testing program has administered 700 tests to 309 student-athletes, coaches, and staff in the first three weeks since student-athletes began returning to campus for voluntary practice.

Read the full story on GoDuke.

Duke Updates Plans for Fall Semester

By Paul Grantham

On July 26, 2020

In Uncategorized

With the growing numbers of new COVID-19 cases in both North Carolina and the country, Duke University is adjusting plans for the residential component of its fall semester.

In a message sent to Duke students, faculty and staff Sunday, President Vincent E. Price said the university will limit Duke-provided housing in the fall to first-year students, sophomores and students who require special accommodations because of personal, academic or other reasons. Juniors and seniors will receive priority for the spring semester, Price added, with first-year students and sophomores to join them if conditions improve.

(The full message, along with an FAQ on residential life, safety measures, and COVID-19 testing, can be found on Duke Today.)

Guidance Regarding Public Events for Fall 2020

By Kristen Brown

On July 25, 2020

In Community Messages, Duke University

TO: Deans and Senior Leadership

FROM: Kyle Cavanaugh, Vice President for Administration and Jennifer Francis, Executive Vice Provost

RE: Public Events for Fall 2020

After careful consideration of local and national conditions, the university has made some difficult decisions regarding events and activities for the fall 2020 semester:

No in-person public events will be permitted on the Duke campus until further notice. This includes performances, concerts, lectures, reunions, alumni and development programs, conferences, symposia, tours, board meetings and any other event to which individuals who are not Duke students, faculty or staff would be invited or expected to attend. Schools, units and administrative departments will receive separate guidance about protocols that must be observed for internal events, such as departmental meetings and workshops, as part of the return to the workplace process.
No in-person events hosted, sponsored or paid for by Duke will be permitted to take place off-campus, both in Durham and elsewhere in or outside the U.S.
Student Affairs will be providing guidance to students for events and activities that will be permitted.
Further guidance will be forthcoming on religious services.

The reason for this decision is simple: we need to remain focused on safely fulfilling Duke’s core missions of education and research. While public events and engagement are knitted into the fabric of the university, we need to limit public access to the campus and cannot accommodate the added demand on space, resources, and health care services that would be required to run even a severely limited schedule of public events.

We also recognize that, even with these restrictions, you may still want to propose public events and activities. To that end, there is an appeal and review process that Mike Schoenfeld will oversee in consultation with the appropriate university leaders. For more information see: http://events.duke.edu/2021request.

Thank you in advance for conveying this information to your faculty, staff and departments. As much as we would like to think of the fall semester as “normal,” our need to safeguard the health and safety of our university community, and in turn the wider Durham community, means that we will need to forsake many activities that would otherwise be routine. We will continue to monitor conditions closely and look forward to returning to our regular schedule of broad public engagement as soon as it is safe to do so.

President Price Provides Update on Plans for Fall Semester

By Paul Grantham

On June 30, 2020

In Community Messages, Duke University, For Faculty, For Staff, For Students

President Vincent Price updated the Duke community on safety and health plans for the fall semester, reporting that Duke would continue on the path to resuming residential activity and outlining the changes in student and campus life that will enable students to safely return to classes on campus.