The Duke TIP Experience

Duke TIP courses are fast-paced and intense, often equivalent to one year of a high school course or one semester of a college course.  They are designed to provide challenge, not remediation.  Since you will be spending a great deal of time discussing and exploring these topics, you should select courses from subject areas in which you have a keen interest.

Duke TIP Instructors are committed to providing interesting, high-energy educational experiences that often differ from those that students encounter in their local schools. Duke TIP offers an ever-evolving curriculum that is driven by the expertise of our instructional staff, creating a setting in which our students can explore cutting-edge research and ideas. Instructors employ a variety of instructional strategies, including:

• Simulations of real-world activities.
• Peer teaching or presentations.
• Debates and roundtable discussions.
• Guest speakers.
• Laboratory experiences.
• Field trips.
• College level research in state-of-the-art libraries.

Instructors at Duke TIP’s Summer Studies Programs represent a diverse set of talented individuals who embrace their role in the academic development of young scholars.  Instructors are selected for their expertise in their field of study, and the instructional staff is composed of:

• Accomplished college and university instructors.
• Exceptional graduate students enrolled in master’s or doctoral programs.
• Outstanding teachers from public and private schools.

Each Instructor works with a Teaching Assistant (TA) to provide students with a unique learning experience. TAs are chosen from a competitive pool of candidates and may be outstanding college students or graduate students with a passion for teaching.

Duke TIP does not assign letter or numeric final grades.  Instructors evaluate students using educationally-appropriate and innovative criteria such as journal writing, presentations, creative writing, individual research, and the occasional test or quiz. The non-graded approach encourages a less competitive environment in which students will become comfortable taking intellectual risks that they might avoid in a stressful grade-driven environment.

At the end of the term, instructors will complete a rubric evaluation to assess your performance. This evaluation indicates your performance in intellectual processes, work habits, peer interactions, tests, essays, and visual projects. In addition, parents are strongly encouraged to schedule face-to-face or telephone conferences with course instructors on the last day of the term.

"TIP was an amazing experience that I highly recommend to anyone. It is an environment that promotes academic and social growth." —Summer Studies participant

Outside the rigorous classroom atmosphere, TIP students need time to decompress and make new friends in a variety of social and recreational settings. This opportunity to socialize and form bonds strengthens the TIP community both in and out of the classroom and results in lifelong friendships.

Outside the classroom, students will experience a structured version of college life, participating in social and recreational activities that offer the chance to bond with students from other classes and residential groups. The Residential Counselors (RCs) plan a wide variety of activities that appeal to the many different interests of Duke TIP students. Campus-wide events on the weekends bring together the entire TIP community, and the weeknight evening activity schedule is filled with options. No academic work is expected during scheduled activity times.

Recent offerings have included:

• Field day competitions
• Theme dances
• Lip sync events
• Ultimate Frisbee
• Swing dance lessons
• Creative debates
• Group art or craft projects
• Off-campus excursions
• Quiet reading time

While at Duke TIP students will live in college residence halls and assigned to double- or triple-occupancy rooms. Duke TIP students may live on floors with members of the opposite sex; however, all halls have adult staff supervision, same-sex residential groups, and same-sex bathroom facilities.  TIP students are only allowed to have same-sex visitors in their rooms, and participants from other programs are not allowed in Duke TIP residence halls or areas. All residential rooms, classrooms, and labs are air conditioned at the Academy for Summer Studies sites, except for a few classrooms at ASU. 

Students will eat meals in campus dining halls alongside residential and instructional staff members. Food is served cafeteria-style, and vegetarian meals are routinely served at all campuses.  With advanced notice, we can accommodate most specialized dietary restrictions.

In order to develop a positive and supportive community, TIP sets high academic and social standards for our students.  Residential and academic staff members supervise and help students understand and adhere to Duke TIP’s behavioral expectations. The Duke TIP Community Standard and other general behavioral guidelines can be found at in the Guide to Summer Studies.

Duke University prohibits discrimination, and provides equal employment opportunity without regard to race, color, religion, national origin, disability, veteran status, sexual orientation, gender identity, sex or age. The University also makes good faith efforts to recruit, employ and promote qualified minorities, women, individuals with disabilities, and veterans. It admits qualified students to all the rights, privileges, programs and activities generally accorded or made available to students. The university prohibits harassment of any kind. Pursuant to Title IX of the Education Amendment of 1972, Duke University prohibits discrimination on the basis of sex in any of its educational programs or activities. For more information, please visit www.duke.edu/web/equity.

Duke University TIP welcomes qualified students with disabilities. Under the provisions of the Americans with Disabilities Act (ADA), the University implements a consistent procedure to explore possible coverage and reasonable accommodations, such as auxiliary aids and services, academic adjustments, and classroom and housing accommodations. In order to ensure timely and effective accommodations, students or parents of students with disabilities must contact Brian Cooper, Director of Domestic Educational Programs, at (919) 668-9100 as soon as possible to initiate the University’s procedure to explore possible coverage and reasonable accommodations under the ADA. Duke TIP students are reminded that receiving services and/or accommodations in elementary or secondary schools does not necessarily qualify a student for the same services and/or accommodations at a postsecondary institution such as Duke University. For more information about disabilities policies at Duke, refer to the website of the Office of Services for Students with Disabilities.

7th grade students are an integral part of our program.  Paired with 8th graders, this group generates tremendous energy, enthusiasm and new ideas.  Age-specific programming allows us to plan courses and residential activities geared towards younger students, enhancing and enriching their Duke TIP experience. Often times, friendships are formed during the 7th grade year that continue throughout middle and high school. 

While many 8th grade students thrive in classes with other middle school students, others benefit from being in a program with current high school students.  As a result, 8th graders at Duke TIP are offered a choice as to which type of campus would be the best fit for them.

Duke TIP’s age-appropriate programming also benefits high school students, who will have the chance to build upon their coursework by taking courses specifically designed for them.  For this group, the structure of our sites allows us to offer a wide array of challenging, cutting-edge courses designed specifically for the high school level.