Campus is bustling as another year begins. The annual return of students is accompanied this year by new faces in Duke’s leadership, faculty and staff across campus. From move-in and orientation for first-years to graduate and professional student welcomes and festivities marking the return of students to campus, the past week was a celebration of all things Duke.
“We want to bring the excitement”
- Julia Happel, Junior
A rush of sound—music, clapping and cheering—hit first-year students as they stepped out of vehicles and into their Duke experience. Enthusiastic crowds of student volunteers and university leaders welcomed them to campus and grabbed boxes, bags, mini-fridges and more from trunks to haul into the residence halls on East Campus.



Video scenes from move-in. A wall painted with, “Welcome Class of ‘27.” Someone gets out of a car and flashes the Durham bull horns sign. John Blackshear dances with orientation leaders. Orientation leaders drag bags into dorms. President price carries a set of drawers.
The students are just high energy. There's a lot of spirit, a lot of singing, a lot of dancing, a little bit of moving in. A few tears. It's just a classic college moving experience. And I couldn't be more excited to be here.
Gary Bennett, Dean of Trinity College of Arts and Sciences
“Just give it up for your parents and families one more time...”
- Jon Scheyer, Duke Men’s Basketball Head Coach
Later that day, students and families completed their first course in Duke spirit in Cameron Indoor Stadium. After words of welcome and wisdom from Duke leaders, there were hugs and a few tears outside as families departed. The first-years had officially arrived at Duke.



“A great time to connect with one another and explore together”
- Kaleb Jeffries, Class of 2027
This year's orientation week featured 21 experiential orientation programs that provided novel opportunities for first-year students to get acquainted with their surroundings through a variety of educational and recreational activities that foster a sense of belonging around shared interests.
Project Build Project Media Project Wellness Project Earth Project Earth Project Farm to Table Project Media Project Discover Project Earth Project Build Project Waves Project Farm to Table
“To finally be a part of the class of 2027, it’s just surreal”
An exhilarating week of activities with their orientation groups ends as the Class of 2027 comes together one more time to create this moment—the last time they’ll all be in the same spot until commencement.


“Moving forward, you are all, now, an important part of Duke history”
- Keanu Valibia, President, Graduate and Professional Student Government
Incoming graduate and professional students connected with each other at a reception with Duke administrators and faculty leaders.



Welcome2West Celebration
The students are back and ready to start off with a bang. Fireworks completed a night of fun and games on Abele Quad.
Video of fireworks over west campus with Duke Chapel in the background with clips of students’ reactions.



“Yes, this is the start of a new era for each of you; but it’s also the start of a new era for Duke”
Convocation is one of the university’s most treasured academic traditions. It introduces the newest members of the Duke Community and starts the new academic year—one that will be marked, in January, by the beginning of Duke’s centennial celebration.



Class of 2027 By the Numbers
1,739
Total First-Year Enrollment
225
From North Carolina
56%
Students of Color
90
Countries Represented
First Day of Class
Time to go to work. Campus was abuzz as classes got under way and incoming students got their first full serving of the Duke academic experience In classrooms, labs and performance spaces all over campus, the machinery of learning sparked back into life for the year ahead.

Video clips from the first day of classes. A timelapse of Bryan Center Plaza. Students walking through arches on campus. A group of students talking and laughing. A busy shot of people waiting for the bus.



“It’s fun to come in and see the old students and meet the new students and get a sense for what the class is going to be like, all the different levels they have.”
Professor Susan Greenberg on the first day of Class Piano



“I get to delve into those questions I want to learn the answers to.”
Senior Sanci Smith on the first day of Apartheid South Africa and Struggles for Democracy
