Duke Welcomes Class of 2018

The newest batch of Duke students arrives Tuesday. They'll be busy.

New first-year students get campus to themselves for much of their first week as college students, a strategy aimed at building community among the class of 2018.

"We are thrilled to welcome a new group of more than 1,700 students to Duke," said Jordan Hale, assistant dean of students and director of new student programs. "We want to set a welcoming tone to their new academic, social and educational communities. We have an informative, intellectual program to help students make an effective transition to college."

First-year students will move into their East Campus residence halls Tuesday, Aug. 19, and spend much of the week taking part in social activities.

On Friday, Aug. 22, West Campus residence halls and Central Campus apartments open for upperclassmen.

The class of 2018 represents 48 U.S. states and 47 countries. The most hail from North Carolina and California -- contributing 195 and 144 members to the class, respectively. Other top contributors include New York with 138 students, Florida with 136 and Texas with 101.

This class includes a record number of students of color, representing 50 percent of the incoming class, with 495 Asian students, 159 Latino students, 185 African-American students and 19 Native American and Native Hawaiian students. And 224 new students come from other countries -- 13 percent of the class.

"My colleagues in the admissions office share my excitement about the Class of 2018," said Christoph Guttentag, dean of undergraduate admissions. "Their applications reveal how talented they are, but we also learned just how engaged they are in their communities and how enthusiastic they are about Duke. There's no doubt they'll be a wonderful presence in the Duke community."

On Tuesday, students will move in, get their ID cards and begin getting acclimated. At 4 p.m., Duke will sponsor A Taste of Duke, a southern-style dinner for students and families on the East Campus Gazebo Lawn.

On Wednesday at 11 a.m., President Richard Brodhead and Steve Nowicki, dean and vice provost for undergraduate education, will welcome students to campus during Duke's annual convocation. It will be held at Duke Chapel and streamed live.

"It's one of my favorite times of the year," Nowicki said. "Our newest students bring such energy and excitement as they start this important chapter in their lives. It's not always so easy for our parents to say goodbye, though."

An informal lunch for new students and their families will follow convocation on the Chapel Quad on West Campus.

Also on Wednesday, a religious life open house will be held from 3 to 4 p.m. on the second floor of the Bryan Center. And at 7 p.m., new students will take part in a long-standing Duke tradition by spelling out "2018" en masse for a group photograph on East Campus. It will be streamed live on Duke's YouTube channel.

On Thursday, new students will attend one of two sessions of True Blue, an interactive program detailing responsible social decisions. That day, they will also attend one of two sessions to discuss "Americanah," a novel from Nigerian author Chimamanda Ngozi Adichie that was chosen for this year's summer reading program.

On Friday and through the weekend, students will meet with academic advisors. And from 10 a.m.-2 p.m. Saturday, faculty will lead outings that provide first-year students a chance to learn about Durham through themed excursions (historic, tobacco warehouse district, canoeing, cycling, Frankie's Fun Park), and an opening welcome with city and university leaders. 

Classes for all students begin Monday, Aug. 25.

The Orientation Week schedule can be found at http://studentaffairs.duke.edu/sites/default/files/legacy-files/legacy_files/u110/2014%20NSO%20Schedule.pdf.

 

CAMPUS PARKING ON TUESDAY

On move-in Tuesday, special parking rules will be in place to facilitate the heavy vehicle traffic, particularly on East Campus.  No parking will be allowed on Tuesday on East Campus, and access to several roads on West Campus will be limited.  For a complete list of traffic advisories for Tuesday, click here.