Community & Student Life
Duke Divinity School is committed to the intellectual, human, social, spiritual, and vocational dimensions of student learning, formation, and experience. The Office of Student Life partners with the offices of the chaplain, spiritual formation, vocational formation, academics, field education, career development, admissions, alumni, and Duke graduate and professional services to support students and promote their flourishing. Duke Divinity’s Vocational Formation Team, which seeks to nurture the vocational identity and formation of students, includes offices of: student life, chaplain, spiritual formation, field education, career development, and thriving rural communities. Information pertaining to the offices of Admissions, Field Education, and Financial Aid is included in other areas of the bulletin and is also available on the Duke Divinity Website.
Office of Student Life
The Office of Student Life at Duke Divinity School is dedicated to fostering a vibrant and inclusive student community that supports all residential and hybrid students as they grow into their calling to serve the church, the academy, and the world.
The Office of Student Life strives for the flourishing of each student and seeks to nurture a community of belonging by creating space for students to be, belong, and lead. The Office of Student Life gives attention to the human, social, spiritual, intellectual, and vocational wellbeing of each student by encouraging their holistic wellbeing, involvement, and leadership.
The Office of Student Life oversees the orientation of incoming students and Duke Divinity's pre-orientation pilgrimage, Project BRIDDD)GE. The Office of Student Life offers programming that enhances the educational environment of the Divinity School through the cultivation of student leadership and the mentoring of students. It also oversees all student organizations, committees, and activities. The Office of Student Life provides the support structures and services necessary to offer all students opportunities for a well-integrated and formational community life experience. This includes connecting students to the broader Duke University resources. Students have access to a number of university programs, graduate and professional student services, and resources including but not limited to: health and wellbeing resources, food security resources, off campus housing support, international student services, identity, culture, and belonging centers, involvement and leadership opportunities, and employment opportunities.
For more information, contact the Office of Student Life at studentlife@div.duke.edu.
Confidentiality Policy
In this work, the resources of pastoral care and confidentiality often come into play. It is important for Duke Divinity students to know that University employees abide by FERPA (Family Educational Rights and Privacy Act), employing a policy of confidentiality, which protects student privacy while providing for collegial consultation among student life and academic program staff when necessary. To provide comprehensive, effective, and up-to-date services, a faculty or staff member may, only when necessary, consult with other colleagues in student life and/or academic programs about assistance/counsel for students. Otherwise, information revealed in counseling/conversation, even the information that a counseling appointment has been made, is not disclosed to persons other than those listed above unless the student provides written authorization for that information to be released. The following are exceptions to this practice of confidentiality:
when the faculty or staff member believes the student presents an imminent danger to self or others;
when the life or safety of a readily identifiable third person is endangered;
when a student identifies a situation of sexual or other abuse;
when the student life staff member believes that a child or vulnerable adult is being subjected to abuse, neglect, or exploitation; and
when disclosure is made necessary by legal proceedings.
In all other cases, what is discussed in counseling will remain confidential.
If any member of the Duke community has concerns about a Duke student’s behavior or health, resources and assistance are available through the DukeReach program at: students.duke.edu/wellness/dukereach. If you or someone else is in any kind of immediate, physical danger call Duke Police at (919) 684-2444 or 911.
Additional information on university and federal confidentiality policies may be found as follows:
Reporting responsibilities of “Responsible Employees” (e.g. faculty, employees with teaching or supervisory authority, graduate students with teaching or supervisory authority, with the exception of “resource persons” named below);
Resource persons for confidential conversations around matters of sexual assault:
Living Accommodations
Many Divinity School students live in off-campus apartment complexes and rental homes because of their proximity to the school and competitive rental rates. Duke Divinity encourages students to take advantage of the excellent services provided by Duke Graduate and Professional Services when procuring housing. Housing and local resources also are available on the Divinity School website at divinity.duke.edu/admissions/admitted-student-resources/housing-resources. For assistance with Divinity School roommates, contact the Divinity Office of Admissions.
The Friendship House program is a residential ministerial formation opportunity in which Duke Divinity School students and people with intellectual and developmental disabilities live together in community. The Office of Vocational Formation operates the program in which three students share a four-bedroom apartment with one person with a disability. See more information about The Friendship House on the school’s website at divinity.duke.edu/admissions/admitted-student-resources/housing-resources or on the program’s website at realityministriesinc.org/residential.
Short-term Housing for Hybrid Immersion Weeks
Duke Divinity collaborates with local hotels to reserve rooms at a discounted rate for Divinity students. A list of participating hotels is provided to hybrid students prior to each term.
Alcohol & Other Drugs Policy
Divinity Alcohol Policy
Events officially sponsored by the Divinity Student Council and Duke Divinity School student organizations do not include the provision of alcohol.
University-Wide Policy
Duke University-Wide Policy for alcohol and other drugs can be found in the Duke Community Standard. It states that as a community of scholars and learners, Duke University expects those within its community to be responsible for their choices related to the use of alcohol and other drugs. In keeping with this principle and federal, state, and local laws, the University's Alcohol and Other Drugs Policy emphasizes individual and shared responsibility, healthy and informed decision-making, the maintenance of a caring environment, and the promotion of genuine dialogue. Students are encouraged to learn about the potential social, physiological, and psychological consequences of alcohol and drug abuse. Excessive and high-risk substance use can lead to negative consequences for the Duke community and its members, including assault, illness, injury, litter, noise, property damage, driving under the influence, arrest and/or criminal charges. All members of the Duke community share responsibility for creating an environment that limits dangerous substance use behaviors and, therefore, reduces the likelihood of these negative outcomes. Members of the Duke community are responsible for behaving in a manner that is not disruptive or endangering to themselves or others. Being under the influence of alcohol shall not be a mitigating factor for an individual’s behavior.
Alcohol. Reasonable use of alcohol is permitted on campus pursuant to the following guidelines:
Students aged 21 and over may consume and/or possess alcohol on campus (except East Campus). Students under 21 years of age are not permitted to purchase, possess, or consume alcoholic beverages. Student(s) and student groups are considered in violation of this policy if they facilitate the acquisition of alcohol by anyone under the age of 21. An exception may exist for students studying abroad in jurisdictions with different laws regarding the age of alcohol consumption. Students studying abroad must comply with the laws of the jurisdiction in which they are located.
Alcoholic beverages are not permitted in first-year residence halls or the surrounding grounds.
Licensed kegs (i.e., kegs obtained from a licensed retailer such as a brewery, ABC, etc.) are allowed for gatherings of 50 or more in the common spaces of residence halls on West Campus (not in private rooms) and other spaces on campus that have been reserved pursuant to the Guidelines for Events Involving Alcohol. Other common-source containers (including but not limited to: punch bowls, coolers, garbage cans, BORGS, kiddie pools, etc.) are prohibited except as specifically authorized by the University.
Except at events in which licensed service (i.e., a venue that holds a liquor license) is being utilized, hard or spiritous liquors are prohibited.
Student(s) and student groups are prohibited from engaging in actions that are harmful or potentially harmful to oneself or others involving the use of alcohol (i.e., illegal driving while under the influence of alcohol, attempted use of fraudulent identification or another’s identification to obtain alcohol, etc.). Actions while under the influence of alcohol that are disruptive to the on- and-off campus communities are also prohibited (i.e., disorderly conduct, damaging property, fighting, running away or hiding from university or public officials).
Any gathering (i.e., 25 guests or more present) where alcohol is present must be registered by the hosting student(s) or student organization(s) and is required to follow the Guidelines for Events Involving Alcohol. The Guidelines for Events Involving Alcohol are designed to promote safe events for community members and help student(s) and student organizations mitigate the risks of hosting an event. For more information regarding registering social events and/or events with alcohol, see the Guidelines for Events Involving Alcohol.
At its discretion, the university may prohibit specific calendar dates, individual(s), student groups, and/or events with alcohol.
Other Drug. Students and student organizations, regardless of age or location, are prohibited from possessing, using, selling, distributing, growing, manufacturing, and facilitating the use of illegal drugs, controlled substances, and other illegal substances, as well as substances that are used to impair.
This includes the improper use of an otherwise lawful substance. This includes substances covered under the North Carolina Controlled Substances Act, the North Carolina Toxic Vapors Act, the Drug-Free Schools and Communities Act and/or any other applicable law.
Duke prohibits the unlawful distribution, possession, social sharing, non-prescribed use, or abuse of prescription drugs. Altering, tampering, or forging a prescription is prohibited. Duke prohibits driving while under the influence of drugs, regardless of location or age, except as permitted by law.
Duke also prohibits the possession of drug paraphernalia, including but not limited to bongs, pipes, homemade equipment or THC vapes/cartridges.