Physical & Mental Wellness
The Division of Student Affairs is critically engaged in supporting the holistic engagement and personal growth of all students who attend Duke.
Students have access to a range of wellness resources and support through Duke’s Student Wellness Center. This site is a great starting place for accessing your wellness resources.
Also, check out the NSOE DEI reading list on Mental Health.
Student Health, Blue Devils Care, CAPS, DukeReach and DuWell
STUDENT HEALTH
Student Health is the primary source for a wide range of healthcare services for all Duke students, including prescription management and dental health, many of which are covered by the student health fee. (Dental services are not covered by the Student Health Fee.)
If you feel sick, you should call during business hours at 919-681-9355 and choose option 2 to speak to a triage nurse. After hours, call 919-681-9355 and follow the prompts to speak to a nurse.
- Choose Option 1 for COVID Hotline related concerns.
- Choose Option 2 or remain on the line for other health concerns.
- Medical emergencies should call 9-1-1
TIMELY CARE
24/7 telemental-health support to all students at no cost, through immediate and scheduled appointments. Visit https://app.timelycare.com/auth/login.
CAPS
Counseling and Psychological Services (CAPS) offers many services to Duke students, including telemental-health appointments. Any student can call 919-660-1000 to speak with someone, or for assistance with referrals in your local community.
DUKEREACH
DukeReach will help you identify support services from among the variety of resources across campus or in your local community.
- Anyone can submit an anonymous DukeReach Report.
- You can contact DukeReach at 919-681-2455 or by emailing dukereach@duke.edu.
- Use this form if you are concerned about a student's health or behavior, and your concern is not considered an emergency. If you believe you and/or someone else may be in any kind of immediate physical danger (if a weapon is involved, if you or others feel immediately and personally threatened, or if the students has a plan to do personal harm), call the police (9-1-1).
- “Two-Click to Connect” Form: In just two clicks, you can select the category of person who will reach out to you within 24-48 hours, be it a trained Peer For You responder or a DukeReach staff member. These individuals are here to discuss whatever’s on your mind, help guide you through stressful times, and connect you to resources. Visit https://duke.qualtrics.com/jfe/form/SV_bD9MR6Gt50PP8ah (log-in required).
DUWELL
DuWell engages students through a variety of wellness experiences across campus to manage stress and reduce anxiety while emphasizing self-care.
Duke Recreation
Duke Recreation offers a variety of trips and clinics open to the Duke community. Students, faculty and staff may sign up for hiking/camping trips, backpacking clinics, rock climbing lessons, horseback trail riding and mountain biking trips at a reduced cost.
Enhance fitness knowledge and skills, relieve stress, learn of health benefits and work towards realistic fitness goals through Duke Rec’s Fitness & Wellness programs. A variety of free and fee-based opportunities for the Duke community are available to explore different areas of fitness and wellness including free group fitness classes, personal training and small group programs. Participants must be a current Duke student and/or have an active Rec & P.E. Membership to participate.
Food Resources
At the Nicholas School
- NSOE stocks a food pantry with single-serve food items for those in the Nicholas School community who find themselves on campus without access to food. Grainger Hall, 3rd Floor Kitchen and LSRC, 2nd Floor Kitchen (A-Wing)
Across Duke
- Duke Community Pantry: Duke Graduate and Professional students can access non-perishable foods, baby and childcare items (food, diapers, wipes), personal and feminine hygiene products, school supplies, and gently used professional clothing and household items from the Community Pantry free of charge. Our mission is to ensure that all Graduate and Professional students and their families do not struggle with food insecurity in order to allow these students to focus on their education. NEW Location: Smith Warehouse, 114 S. Buchanan Boulevard, Durham, NC, 27701. Check current hours
- Any student experiencing food insecurity can request temporary funds for food through the Feed Every Devil (FED) program. FED can be used by any student that is currently enrolled at Duke if they are experiencing food insecurity. FED can be used even if the student does not have a meal plan. Learn more here: https://fed.oit.duke.edu/
In Durham, Beaufort and Beyond
- Durham Food Pantries: There are over 20 food pantries located through Durham that provide food and supplies to the Durham community.
- Carteret County Food Resources (Marine Lab): This resource provides a list of food resources in Carteret County as well as other online resources.
- North Carolina EBT program: North Carolina Food and Nutrition Services are available for all households with limited income and resources. A household may be one person living alone, a family, or several unrelated individuals cohabiting who buy and prepare meals.
Student Disability Access Office (SDAO)
The Student Disability Access Office (SDAO) recognizes disability as an aspect of diversity that is integral to society and to our campus community. Accessibility is an essential feature of the Duke campus, and we strive to create an inclusive community for our students. We strive to ensure that students with disabilities are provided the tools they need to fully access all aspects of student life inside and outside of the classroom. SDAO works with each student individually to establish academic adjustments and auxiliary aids and services, more frequently referred to as academic accommodations for the purpose of eliminating the environmental barriers impacting the student’s equitable access to the campus facilities, programs and activities. sdao@duke.edu, (919) 668-1267
Student Affairs On-Call Team
Student Affairs has a 24/7 on-call team to support urgent student matters. For urgent concerns after business hours, you may contact the Dean on-Call (cell: 984-287-0300), or if you are living in residential spaces, you may connect with the Residence Coordinator On-Call by contacting your Residential Assistant On-Call or directly through Duke Police (919-684-2444).
988 Lifeline for Mental Health Support
Call or text the 988 Suicide and Crisis Lifeline to connect with trained, compassionate, mental health counselors who can help with any kind of mental health challenge – including emotional distress, a substance use crisis, or thoughts of suicide. Help is available 24/7.
By calling or texting 988 (in the U.S.), people can reach a trained counselor at a crisis center near them. People can also visit 988lifeline.org to begin a live chat session.
Counselors provide immediate care and offer follow-up telephone support when needed. The service is free and private, and people will not be asked for insurance information. Call 911 in the event of any emergency.
Graduate and Professional Student Services
If you are a graduate or professional student at Duke, Student Affairs is here for you. Almost all of the programs, services and resources offered by Student Affairs are available to graduate and professional students. From health and wellness support to post-degree career planning to exploring cultural diversity to exercising your personal interests through student groups, we've got you covered. Visit https://students.duke.edu/info-for/students/graduate-professional/ for resources and Duke contacts.
Social & Spiritual Wellness
Identity and Cultural Centers
The Student Affairs Identity, Cultural and Religion Centers within Student Affairs provide education, advocacy, and support for Duke students. Centers include:
- Center for Multicultural Affairs (CMA)
- Center for Muslim Life
- Center for Sexual and Gender Diversity
- Duke International Student Center
- Jewish Life at Duke
- Mary Lou Williams Center for Black Culture
- Women’s Center
Religious Life at Duke
Religious Life at Duke offers a wide range of student supports, whether or not you are connected to a religious tradition at all. Visit their website to connect with leaders from any of Duke’s diverse faith groups, all of whom are experienced in offering emotional and spiritual care, and a non-anxious presence with a humanistic listening ear, to college-age students.
University Ombudsperson
The Office of the Ombuds is a voluntary, off-the-record resource for informal dispute resolution and problem-solving. The Office provides confidential, informal, impartial, and independent services to Duke students, staff, and faculty. As an independent resource, the Office operates independently from all other offices on campus and does not have the authority to make or overturn university decisions. The Ombuds serve as an impartial third-party available to help you to talk through your concerns and perspectives, ask questions regarding university policy and procedures, learn about available university and community resources, and strategize next steps for navigating your concern.
Graduate and Professional Student Government (GPSG)
The Graduate and Professional Student Government (GPSG) is the umbrella student government organization for Duke’s 9 graduate and professional schools. Every graduate and professional student is automatically a member of the GPSG. GPSG serves as a liaison to the Duke administration and hosts a variety of social networking events open to all graduate and professional students. GPSG resources include networking, community pantry, emergency travel funds, lawyer assistance program, and more.
The Graduate School
The Graduate School’s Student Health & Wellness Resources website provides additional resources available to PhD students.
Wellness Spaces on Campus
Wellness, Lactation and Prayer Rooms
At the Nicholas School
- We offer the Grainger Hall Wellness & Lactation Room (GH 4111), which also serves as a meditation space. The Wellness & Lactation Room in GH 4111 is listed in Outlook as Nicholas School Wellness and Lactation Room. Type “Nicholas School Wellness” in the "To" field of Outlook. If you find the door is locked, the room is likely in use; if you are using this space, we encourage you to slide the “Available/ Occupied” sign on the door to indicate that the space is occupied. The hallway doors automatically unlock from 8:00 AM – 6:00 PM on weekdays.
- A reservable lactation pod is also available in Hug Commons, LSRC
In Beaufort
- At the Marine Lab, there is Wellness Space in the Library that is dedicated to personal wellness such as meditation, prayer and quiet reflection.
Across Duke
This map provides locations of meditation and wellness rooms across the Durham campus. Dedicated lactation rooms can be found via maps.duke.edu by clicking on the Lactation Room map layer.
- Check out the Murphy-Nimocks Meditation Garden, located just outside the Student Wellness Center.
- Looking for a place to meditate or relax? The three Oasis rooms provide quiet spaces to invite in calm.
- Oasis Perkins is tucked into a tower room on the fourth floor of Perkins Library (418).
- Oasis West is located in Room 129 on the first floor of the Student Wellness Center.
- Oasis East is located in Bell Tower residence hall on East Campus.
Gender-Inclusive Restrooms
- In Durham: A gender-inclusive restroom is available in the LSRC, on the first floor, near classroom 158. Full list of Duke's Durham campus gender-inclusive restrooms.
- At the Duke Marine Lab: The Marine Lab has several gender-inclusive restrooms: Lab 5, Dining Hall, Administration Building, and Facilities Maintenance Buildings.
Reporting & Safety
Not sure where to start?
The Reporting Harassment, Discrimination, and Other Concerns: An Interactive Guide for Graduate School Students helps Duke Graduate School students understand the options and processes for reporting harassment, discrimination, and other concerns. Choose a situation for guidance and resources. (Note: This guide is written specifically for students in Ph.D. and master's programs in The Graduate School.)
Discrimination, Harassment, and Related Misconduct
Office for Institutional Equity: Duke is dedicated to creating a work and learning environment that is free from harassment and discrimination.
Policy on Prohibited Discrimination, Harassment, and Related Misconduct: Duke’s policy applies to all operations of the university and protects all members of the Duke community. This policy prohibits discrimination and harassment based on any of these protected characteristics (also known as protected status): age, color, disability, gender, gender expression, gender identity, genetic information, national origin, race, religion, sex (including pregnancy), sexual orientation, and veteran status.”
- What is harassment? “A type of discrimination that occurs when unwelcome verbal, visual, physical, electronic, or other conduct, based on an individual’s or group’s protected status or characteristic, is sufficiently serious to significantly interfere with that individual’s or group’s ability to participate in or benefit from Duke programs or activities or their terms and conditions of employment.”
- What is discrimination? “When an individual or group is subjected to an adverse action based upon a protected status or characteristic. Discrimination can occur in either an employment or an educational context. Discrimination also includes failing to provide reasonable accommodations to a qualified person with a disability or failing to reasonably accommodate an employee’s religious beliefs or practices, as required by state and federal law.”
Confidential Resources & Non-Confidential Reporting Options
View this graphic to learn about your reporting options and resources at Duke.
Confidential Resources
- Student Health: 919-681-9355
- Counseling & Psychological Services (CAPS for students): 919-660-1000
- Gender Violence Prevention & Intervention: Confidential, non-confidential, and anonymous resources for support for survivors of gender violence or sexual assault. 984-569-0592 or gvicoordinator@duke.edu.
- Durham Crisis Response Center (DCRC): 919-403-6562 (English) | 919-519-3735 (Español) | 866-348-9473 (24-Hour Number)
- Ombudsperson: 919-660-2444 (students) | 919-668-3326 (medical school students) | 919-949-8687 or 919-681-7788 (faculty)
Non-confidential Reporting Options
Someone will reach out to you to provide information regarding resources, support, and how to file a complaint. You are not required to respond. You do not need to file a complaint to receive support.
- Office for Institutional Equity (OIE): 919-684-8222 | oie-help@duke.edu
- Office of Student Conduct and Community Standards: 919-684-6938
- Duke University Compliance and Fraud Line: 800-849-9793
- Duke Health Integrity Line: 800-826-8109
- Duke University Police Department: 919-684-2444 | Emergency: 911
- Responsible Employees: Most Duke employees – including professors, teaching assistants, RAs, and other staff – are Responsible Employees. This means they are non-confidential, and if you tell them about an incident of sexual misconduct, they must make a report to the university. This report does not automatically trigger a formal conduct process and/or law enforcement investigation. You will be presented with options on how you would like to proceed.
Anonymous Reporting
If you’d like to make a report anonymously, consider the following resources: DukeReach, Gender Violence Prevention & Intervention at the Duke Women’s Center, the Speak Up line, and the Duke Police’s Silent Witness Program. In general, anonymous reporting does not guarantee person-specific follow-up.
Please note that if you report incidents of sexual misconduct, even anonymously, faculty and staff are obligated to make a report to either the Office of Student Conduct and Community Standards or the Office of Institutional Equity, depending on the case. The only exception to this policy is for when you have used the “confidential” resources listed above.
Report an Incident Through the Office of Institutional Equity (OIE)
Need to File a Complaint or Report an Incident?
Contact OIE to Report Discrimination, Harassment, and/or Sexual Misconduct:
- Phone: 919-684-8222
- Email: oie-help@duke.edu
- Email: TitleIX@duke.edu
- Additional information: https://oie.duke.edu/complaints-and-concerns
Reporting an Incident through OIE
Use the confidential online Incident Reporting tool to provide OIE with preliminary information concerning incidents of protected status harassment, discrimination and related misconduct involving students, faculty, or staff. OIE will respond to all submissions regardless of the nature of the report, and will forward it to the office responsible for addressing it, as appropriate. The information you provide will be kept confidential to the extent permitted by law.
- OIE Reporting Process: OIE addresses every report that is brought to its attention. The purpose of reporting is to ensure safety and prevent further harm, understand the scope of the problem, offer support resources, and explore resolution options. Even if an individual chooses not to move forward or participate in an adjudicative or disciplinary process (through Duke or law enforcement), they can contact OIE for information and assistance with accessing support measures, such as changes to academic, living, transportation, and working situations. If an individual discloses alleged misconduct to a Duke employee who is a “responsible employee” (e.g. faculty, employees with teaching or supervisory authority and graduate students with teaching or supervisory authority, among others), the responsible employee is required to consult with OIE about an appropriate response.
- Students, staff & postdocs, and faculty have several resources available to them for reporting harassment or sexual misconduct. OIE has consolidated information under the Title IX FAQ and Reporting Resources to help members of the Duke community know where to report and find support.
Report a Bias Incident
Report a Bias Incident: As one of many campus resources available, the Center for Multicultural Affairs would like to facilitate your reporting bias incidents. We value difference greatly but recognize that the vast diversity of our student population presents equal opportunities for understanding as well as misunderstanding.
Reporting Unprofessional Behaviors at the Nicholas School
If any member of the Nicholas School community has experienced unprofessional behavior by another Nicholas School community member, including faculty, staff, or students, please use this form to submit a report. If the behavior you would like to report falls under University definitions of harassment or discrimination, refer to University-level reporting resources above.
NSOE Coffee Conversation Corps
The NSOE Coffee Conversation Corps aims to improve inclusivity and workplace quality by promoting a positive and safe work culture among faculty, staff, and students. Specifically, the Coffee Conversation Corps trains Duke faculty and staff to become Peer Messengers to help their colleagues uphold Duke’s core values (Excellence, Safety, Integrity, Diversity and Teamwork) in their day-to-day behaviors. When unprofessional behavior is reported, instead of seeking immediate punitive actions, Peer Messengers foster improved professionalism through awareness, understanding and support. Programs like the NSOE Coffee Conversation Corps report enormous success!
Incidents that constitute a violation of Duke Policy must be reported to the appropriate offices, such as Human Resources the Office of Institutional Equity (see above for more information). The Coffee Conversation Corps cannot be considered a completely confidential resource for resolving unprofessional behavior.
How do we define unprofessional behavior? Unprofessional behavior is any behavior counter to Duke University or Nicholas School of the Environment policies, standards of conduct, or values, including behavior that is disruptive, intimidating, inappropriate, illegal, or creates a decreased sense of inclusivity and belonging in the school.
How are incidents reported and tracked? Incidents of unprofessional behavior can be reported on this form or by contacting Dr. Nicki Cagle directly (nicolette.cagle@duke.edu). A record of reported incidents is kept by the Associate Dean of Diversity, Equity, and Inclusion.
For what kinds of incidents will a Peer Messenger be utilized? Peer Messengers provide support and guidance around behavior that is reported to be disruptive to colleagues or learners. More serious behaviors are referred to NSOE leadership or the Duke University Office of Institutional Equity – serious behaviors include harassment and discrimination, which are defined below.
Marine Lab Resources
Additional Marine Lab specific resources:
- Students in Beaufort can utilize local mental healthcare providers. Please review the provider list Mental Health Care Providers for Duke Marine Lab Students. To utilize this service, contact the Durham-based Referral Coordinator Lia Gilmore, LCSW, Duke CAPS at 919-660-1012 or liadainn.gilmore@duke.edu. Contact Katie Wood (Katie.wood@duke.edu) if you have questions or concerns about the providers or the process.
Emergency Services
Duke partners with the free LiveSafe app and we encourage all members of our community to download this safety tool. LiveSafe allows you to send real-time tips through the touch of a button to Duke University Police, which monitors messages 24/7. With the popular “SafeWalk” feature, you can invite friends to “virtually escort” you to a destination on a real-time map. Download the LiveSafe app to your smartphone and visit emergency.duke.edu for more safety tips and helpful information.
Durham campus
Durham Campus
- Call 911 in the event of any emergency.
- Duke maintains its own police department, Duke University Police Department, and supplemental security staff. They are on duty 24/7, 365 days a year. Officers are well trained and resourced and have the same authority as law enforcement officers across the United States. Duke Police can be reached at 919-684-2444 or by dialing 9-1-1 from a campus phone.
- Silent Witness Program: Report a crime anonymously.
- Duke Police Victim Assistance: DUPD Victim Assistance works to make sure all crime victims get the assistance and information they need, and we are committed to doing our best to help you. 919-684-2444
- Duke University Hospital, Emergency Room: Our team of registered nurses, board-certified emergency medicine doctors, emergency medicine nurse practitioners, physician assistants and technicians are trained to provide all aspects of emergency care 24 hours a day, 7 days a week. 2301 Erwin Road, Durham.
- Duke provides transportation offerings. Many of these are available both on and near surrounding parts of campus. Visit parking.duke.edu/bus to learn more information about the Duke bus system. Duke Vans, which provides free on-demand transportation for students within a 2.5 mile radius from Duke (map), operates 6:30 pm – 2:00 am, Monday through Saturday, with last request at 1:45 am, when the Duke bus system is not in operation. More information at Duke Parking and Transportation services, parking.duke.edu.
Carteret County / Beaufort campus
Carteret County / Beaufort campus
- Call 911 in the event of any emergency.
- Carteret County Emergency Services: Emergency services in Carteret County encompass a range of emergencies including environmental, medical, and weather emergencies.
- Carteret Health Care: Carteret Health Care Hospital is an independent, 135-bed not-for-profit hospital serving eastern North Carolina and a member of the Mayo Clinic Care Network. 3500 Arendell Street, Morehead City, NC 28557. 252-499-6000
- The Marine Lab’s website: The ML website provides island-specific information with respect to weather preparedness, hurricane planning and response, and crisis management.
Diversity, Equity & Inclusion at the Nicholas School
At the Nicholas School, we believe lasting environmental change depends on embracing the rich diversity of talent, perspectives and experiences brought to our field by faculty, staff, students and alumni from all backgrounds. To that end, we have been working as a community to actively meet our DEI goals and hold ourselves accountable to those goals.
01 / 03 • at the Wellness Center
Murphy-Nimocks Meditation Garden
Designed as a counterbalance to the bustling communal spaces on campus, the Murphy-Nimocks Meditation Garden offers a contemplative space with private egg-shaped chairs, a fountain, tucked-away wooden benches and a walking labyrinth.
02 / 03 • DUWELL
Resources for managing stress and anxiety
DuWell engages students through a variety of wellness experiences across campus in an effort to manage stress and reduce anxiety while emphasizing self-care.
03 / 03 • Duke Gardens
Finding a moment of quietude
Offering 55 acres of specialized gardens in the heart of Duke University, Sarah P. Duke Gardens creates and nurtures an environment for learning, inspiration and enjoyment through excellence in horticulture and community engagement.