Residence Life at Duke TIP
Commonly Asked Questions, Student and Family Expectations, and Important Information
Who supervises the students outside of class?
A staff of Residential Counselors (RCs) is chosen
from a large group of outstanding undergraduate
and graduate students in a competitive application
and interview process. A background check is
also performed on each RC prior to the start of
the program. The RCs live in the residence halls
with the students, organize social and recreational
activities, serve as role models, and enforce Duke
TIP behavioral guidelines. Each RC supervises a
group of approximately 12 students. In addition, 2
to 3 Residence Hall Leaders and a Residence Life
Coordinator assist with supervision and programming
on each campus. These staff members are older
undergraduate and graduate students who have a
great deal of experience with the TIP program or in
educational administration.
What do students do when they are not in class?
In addition to having the opportunity to study
academic topics at the college level, Duke TIP
students experience a structured version of college life. RCs provide social and recreational
programming during evenings and on weekends.
Depending on the size of the campus, 6 to 10
different opportunities are offered each evening.
Because participation is mandatory, great effort
goes into planning a wide variety of activities that
will appeal to students with many different interests.
Recent offerings have included:
- off-campus excursions,
- ultimate Frisbee,
- quiet reading time,
- swing or salsa dance lessons,
- creative debates,
- cooking,
- and group art or craft projects.
Behavioral Expectations
Duke TIP sets high academic and social standards
for all students who attend the program. These
guidelines have been prepared with the health,
safety, and enjoyment of all program participants in
mind. Students will receive a copy of the Guide to
Summer Studies in their placement packets. The
Guide can also be found
online by clicking here. All policies are strictly
enforced, and students who engage in inappropriate
behavior may face consequences, from restriction of
activities to removal from the program.
We understand that some students may deal with
emotionally challenging issues. However, if a
student attends Duke TIP and exhibits behavior
that is destructive to others or him/herself, such
as self-mutilation, the student will be immediately
dismissed from Duke TIP. Unfortunately, Duke
TIP does not have the facilities or staff to assist
students experiencing serious emotional distress,
and unfortunately, TIP sometimes must ask a student
to leave the program.
"TIP is lead by responsible and caring people who don't hesitate to give a helping hand. "
—Summer Studies participant
Facilities at Duke TIP
Housing
Students are housed in college residence halls on each of the Duke TIP campuses. They are assigned to double or triple-occupancy rooms, based primarily on age and gender. Due to limited housing availability on each campus, some Duke TIP students may live on floors in their residence hall with members of the opposite sex; however, the students will have adult supervision, will live in same sex residential groups, will use same sex bathroom facilities, and will only be allowed to have same sex visitors in their rooms. Participants in other programs are not allowed in Duke TIP residence halls or areas. Some recreational and dining facilities are shared with other camp or conference participants, but at most sites, interaction with non-Duke TIP students is minimal.
Dining
Students eat their meals in campus dining halls with residential and instructional staff. Food is served cafeteria style at each site. Vegetarian meals are routinely served all campuses, and with advance notice, Duke TIP can make arrangements for most dietary restrictions. Kosher meals, requested, are commercially prepared frozen entrees.
Computer Access
Students will have access to library computers for class-related Internet research and word processing purposes. Access to e-mail may be available on a limited basis, but students should not expect to be able to check e-mail daily. Duke TIP discourages students from bringing their personal computers, as there will be little opportunity to use them. Duke TIP is not responsible for loss or damage to any personal property, including computers. For more information, see the Guide to Summer Studies.
Music and Athletic Training Facilities
Duke TIP provides some opportunities for students to engage in athletic and musical practice during evening and weekend activities, but these instances are not likely to be adequate for students involved in a serious training regimen. Duke TIP is unable to accommodate students who have specific training needs such as swimming, running, or tennis. Even if a parent arranges a training program with a host campus coach or trainer, Duke TIP will not be able to honor such agreements. Due to safety and liability concerns, none of the Duke TIP host campuses allow Summer Studies students access to weight rooms or equipment.
Music practice rooms are not available at every campus or on an everyday basis. Students may bring small instruments, such as a clarinet or trumpet, that can be stored in a residence hall room. Please do not bring large instruments, such as drums or a harp, as there is no storage space for them. Duke TIP is not responsible for loss or damage to instruments during the program.
Other Important Information
Health Services and Insurance
A student health fee is included in tuition charges. This fee covers the costs of visits to campus health clinics or the nearest physician’s office for minor injuries and illnesses, such as the flu, common colds, sprains, etc. This fee does not cover the cost of medications, x-rays, or visits to the hospital or emergency room. When the student health center is closed, students requiring medical attention will be taken to an emergency room. Personal health insurance is required to cover after-hours, emergency room, or other medical care not covered by the basic health fee. Once accepted into the program, students receive a packet of forms to complete and return to Duke TIP, including a form indicating health insurance coverage. Families that do not have health insurance will be required to purchase coverage for the student before arriving at a Duke TIP site.
Medications
Students are not allowed to keep medications in their rooms. All medications, including over-the-counter products, must be stored in the Duke TIP on-site office. (Serums and medications can be refrigerated, if necessary.) Students are expected to take responsibility for remembering to take their medications according to the schedule required, and must report to the office to self administer the medication in the presence of Duke TIP staff. The only exceptions to this policy will be for urgent need medication such as insulin, asthma inhalers, and epinephrine devices, which students may keep with them. Students may also keep acne creams in their room. Duke TIP staff members will not administer any medications.
4th Year Privilege
Students who have completed 10th grade are given privileges that allow them to travel outside of the designated Duke TIP boundaries during certain times of the day. This privilege is granted only if parents sign a release form. When leaving the TIP boundaries, 4th year students must travel in a group of 3 or more and follow all procedures for signing in or out. Because of location limitations, this privilege does not apply to the Duke University Marine Lab.
Special Requests for Arrival and Departure
Though we recognize that Duke TIP students often have other summer opportunities, we ask that students who plan to attend Duke TIP commit to remaining with the program for the full term. Duke TIP is an intensive academic program, and it is difficult for a student to miss class time and realistically expect to make it up. Permission to accommodate students who wish to attend another activity, such as an athletic tournament or debate contest, and then return to Duke TIP to complete the term must be granted by the Assistant Director of Educational Programs, who can be reached at (919) 668-9100, prior to arriving at the Summer Studies Program.
Students must arrive and depart within the designated time frames. Duke TIP will not be responsible for students wishing to arrive before or depart after the listed program dates, nor can Duke TIP provide housing, transportation, or supervision for students during the time between terms.
Duke University's Equal Opportunity Policy
Duke University’s Equal Opportunity Policy 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.