Community & Student Life

The community and student life areas of Duke Divinity School include six offices: chaplain, ministerial formation, student life, admissions, field education, and financial aid. These offices partner with the academic program offices of the school in the process of forming leaders for faithful Christian ministry in the name of Jesus Christ. Specifically, these offices seek to address, care for, and enhance the spiritual, physical, emotional, professional, and community life of students. Information pertaining to the offices of Admissions, Field Education, and Financial Aid is included in other areas of the bulletin and also is available on the Duke Divinity School website.

Confidentiality Policy

In this work, the resources of counseling and confidentiality often come into play. It is important for Duke Divinity students to know that the Community and Student Life areas 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 student life 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 student life 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 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.

Living Accommodations

The majority of Divinity School students live in off-campus apartment complexes because of their proximity to the school and competitive rental rates. 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 Office of Admissions at the school.

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 Ministerial Formation at the school 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 friendshiphousepartners.com.

Short-term Housing for Hybrid Residency 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 Policy

Divinity Alcohol Policy

Events officially sponsored by the Divinity Student Council and Duke Divinity School student organizations do not include the provision and consumption of alcohol.

University-Wide Policy

As a community of scholars and learners, Duke University expects those within its community to be responsible with the use of alcohol. This policy shall guide the role of alcohol everywhere on the Duke campus and at all events sponsored by Duke organizations, schools, or administrative units. Students, staff, and faculty members are encouraged to learn about the social, physiological, and psychological consequences of drinking and alcohol abuse. Excessive and high-risk drinking can lead to negative consequences for the Duke community, including assault, illness, injury, litter, noise, property damage, and driving under the influence. All members of the Duke community share responsibility for creating an environment that limits dangerous drinking behaviors and, therefore, reduces the likelihood of these negative outcomes.

The following shall guide the role of alcohol in the Duke community:

  • All possession, consumption, and distribution of alcohol at Duke University shall be in accordance with applicable North Carolina state laws;

  • 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;

  • When persons under twenty-one years of age can reasonably be expected to be present at an event, proper precautions must be taken to restrict distribution and consumption of alcohol to persons of legal drinking age. Student organizations shall also adhere to the specific guidelines for events outlined in The Duke Community Standard in Practice or the Graduate and Professional Student Alcohol Policy. Advertising or other communication that references the availability of alcohol at a function may neither promote alcohol as the focus of the event nor promote excessive drinking; and

  • Each community (e.g., Undergraduate, Fuqua, Law, etc.) may establish additional guidelines and policies governing the possession, consumption, and distribution of alcohol that reach beyond these minimal expectations. Violations of policies shall be adjudicated using existing procedures within each segment of the university.