Duke Welcomes Class of 2019 on Aug. 18

A first-year student moves into her residence hall during 2014 Orientation Week. Photo by Megan Mendenhall/Duke Photography

Classes don’t start until later this month, but when Duke’s new students arrive Tuesday, Aug. 18, they’ll start learning right away -- about life at Duke and in Durham.The group of 1,750 first-year students -- Duke’s second-largest freshman class ever -- will spend orientation week getting acquainted with academic and social life at Duke, getting a taste of their new hometown and hearing from guest speakers including novelist Alison Bechdel and television host Melissa Harris-Perry.“We’re excited about orientation week,” said Jordan Hale, assistant dean of students and director of new student programs. “We’ve made a lot of changes this year, and we’re looking forward to seeing how those changes pan out and impact first-year students’ experiences.”First-year students move into their East Campus residence halls from 8:30 a.m. to 2:30 p.m. Tuesday.West Campus residence halls and Central Campus apartments open for sophomores, juniors and seniors on Friday, Aug. 21. The Duke Class of 2019 is geographically and racially diverse. It includes students from 48 states and 79 countries, with international students comprising 10 percent of the group. Students of color make up 49 percent of the class. That includes a record number of Latino students, who comprise 10 percent of the class. African-American students make up 11 percent of the class and Asian students comprise 28 percent. North Carolina tops the list of states represented by the incoming class, with 12 percent of the class hailing from the state. Next in line are New York, California, Florida, New Jersey and Texas. Children of alumni represent 12 percent of the incoming class. “In reading and reviewing applications this year, my staff and I recognized early on that we had a particularly talented, engaged and enthusiastic group of students considering Duke,” said Christoph Guttentag, Duke’s dean of undergraduate admissions.“While enrolling a class this large presents some challenges, it’s also a reflection of the particularly strong interest in Duke among students who had many good colleges to choose from. I think the faculty and staff who work with these students will find them particularly engaged and ready to take advantage of what Duke has to offer.”Orientation for new students begins Tuesday after students move in and receive ID cards. The day’s events include an afternoon barbecue from 4 to 7 p.m. and the Class of 2019 Welcome at 8 p.m. At 10:45 a.m. Wednesday, President Richard Brodhead, undergraduate dean Stephen Nowicki and Guttentag will address new students at a convocation in Cameron Indoor Stadium. The event will be livestreamed at https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=x3Rc7VZbIAI.

A Wednesday afternoon program will introduce students to academic life at Duke, through presentations from staff of the Duke Marine Lab in Beaufort, N.C., a tour of the Duke Immersive Virtual Environment (DiVE) and other offerings. Students will also meet Wednesday with their academic advisers.Students will once again gather for their official class photo, lining up Wednesday in formation in front of Lilly Library on East Campus to spell out the numbers “2019.” Thursday’s events include two sessions of “True Blue,” a program about responsible student behavior, and a new session devoted to multicultural connections.On Thursday night, students will head to the Durham Performing Arts Center (DPAC) for a reading by Alison Bechdel, author of the bestselling novel and Tony award-winning play, “Fun Home.” Bassist John Brown, director of the Duke Jazz Program, will accompany the reading. “Fun Home,” an autobiographical graphic novel, was the Class of 2019 Common Experience summer reading selection.  Friday’s activities include sessions on campus safety and on creating an inclusive campus climate. On Saturday, faculty members will lead students on outings in Durham and the region. Students will also be invited to write a letter to themselves concerning goals for their upcoming Duke career. Melissa Harris-Perry, who holds a Ph.D. in political science from Duke and hosts an MSNBC news and opinion show, will address the new students in a closing speech at 7:30 p.m. Saturday.The full orientation week schedule for undergraduates can be found at https://studentaffairs.duke.edu/new-students/orientation/first-year-orie....

Duke graduate students also return to campus this week. Graduate student convocation takes place Wednesday afternoon, Aug. 19 in Page Auditorium. The event will be livestreamed beginning at 4 p.m. at: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=S_GmASsvDN4.