Congratulations! You are now a Duke Parent. You also now have one of the most difficult jobs of your parenting life: letting your child find his or her own way. We know it's tough, but there are many ways that you can still be involved. We encourage you to become active in Duke's Parents & Family program, which sponsors events such as Parents Weekend to enhance the family experience of a Duke education.
Help with the Transition to College
The students who come to Duke were at the top of their class in high school and are accustomed to good grades--this is part of why we want them at Duke. But, many students find themselves really challenged by their classes for the first time and discover they need to "learn" how to study. This is very common, and Duke offers a range of supportive services to help students through this transition, including a peer tutoring program. Duke’s Academic Skills and Instructional Program also provides individual conferences and group workshops on academic skills and strategies. ASIP provides learning and information processing training for students who often ‘understand’ course material but have difficulty applying it on exams, as well workshops in time and task management, stress management, and test preparation strategies. We also encourages students to form study groups with the other students in their classes, which will also help them develop a strong and support social network.
One last note, professors expect students to take responsibility for turning in assignments and won't remind and nudge students as frequently as high school teachers generally do. Understanding this up front can help a student keep his or her grades under control.
Who to Call in Emergencies
The Duke University Dean of Students Office handles general undergraduate student issues, including disciplinary action, and is on call in case of emergency. The Dean of Students Office Web sites includes links to Duke Offices you may need to contact, information about publications that will help you learn more about life at Duke, and information about visiting Duke University.
Students share responsibility with Pratt faculty for the quality and richness of their education. Encourage your students to be their own best advocates: encourage them to get the advising they need, to ask for help when needed, and to get involved in Pratt and university activities. Multiple avenues exist for students to explore their interests.
Grades and Course Schedules
Final course grades are sent to students only, so parents will need to discuss academic standing with their student. Additionally, because of privacy issues, Pratt administration cannot provide course schedule information to any person other than the student.
Helping You Stay Informed
The following is a short list of publications at Duke that you may want to read to stay informed about what is happening on Duke’s campus, and at the Pratt School of Engineering.
- Pratt Press Newsletter, Pratt’s monthly engineering newsletter
- The Chronicle, the student-run daily newspaper
- Duke Today, a daily news site primarily for Duke employees and faculty, featuring events and happenings
- Duke Magazine, with features and profiles of exceptional alumni, students and faculty
Duke’s Parents’ Program
The Duke Parents' Program raises unrestricted gifts from non-alumni parents. A key part of the Duke Annual Fund, the Parents' Program delivers flexible dollars that allow the University to support the unique programs and opportunities that make the Duke experience so special. With the support of Duke parents as well as Duke alumni and friends, the Annual Fund provides a reliable source of immediately expendable income to develop new academic initiatives, update laboratory equipment, build library resources, maintain campus facilities and attract respected faculty.
Student Health Center
The Student Health Center site posts answers to commonly asked questions by parents regarding health care information for your Duke student, including privacy and insurance issues, vaccinations, etc.
Tuition and Fee Information
The Bursar’s Office is your source for information about tuition, fees, insurance, billing, refunds, and study abroad payment arrangements.
Visiting Duke University
Duke has posted basic information about visiting the campus, and additional information about attractions near the University. Maps are available online. Visit the tours and information site about structured tours of duke.
Note: At this time, Pratt cannot offer individualized tours on a regularly scheduled basis. Over the next year, we hope to establish a tour schedule that will accommodate both prospective students and parents who want to learn more about our thriving engineering school.