Message to Master of Engineering (MEM) Students-Campus Program

March 17, 2020

MEM Students,

We hope you are doing well as we all work to adjust to the COVID-19 situation. We know you may have many questions and concerns, and wanted to reach out with some updates and resources.

Our first priority is your well-being, and we urge you to take the appropriate precautions to prevent the spread of COVID-19 (see CDC recommendations).

One recommended precaution is social distancing to limit face-to-face interactions to minimize the potential spread of COVID-19.  As a result,

• You should not be coming to campus
• You should hold your team meetings using online collaboration tools
• You should refrain from hosting or participating in gatherings off campus

As you plan your activities, think about ways to limit your exposure to large numbers of individuals at close distances and when you do interact, take the appropriate precautions. I did want to mention that Carolyn is exploring ways to virtually engage and develop community. Please be on the lookout for communications from her.

Note: If you are still local and suspect you may have COVID-19, you should contact Student Health at 919-681-9355, option 2 and ask to speak to a triage nurse. 

Class Schedules

Pratt classes will resume in an online-only format on March 23, 2020. Please be aware that Fuqua, Law and Nursing School classes will resume on March 16, 2020. If you are taking a Fuqua course, Canvas will be your source for updated course information, and additional details will be available in the coming days. Additionally, the final day of graduate classes will not change and is April 15, 2020. 

In order to implement remote instruction, each faculty member will determine the format of their courses. Some may choose synchronous delivery, some asynchronous, and some a combination of both. Your professor will communicate to you the format and expectations for the class. Note that all synchronous classes will meet at your regularly scheduled class time. If you are in a time zone that will make attendance difficult, please let your professor know so that they can make arrangements to record the class for you.  Please be patient as your faculty transition to this new instruction format. 

Remote Learning Support

Duke has launched coronavirus.duke.edu to support students in the transition to remote learning. In particular, please prepare by accessing your Duke Zoom account at oit.duke.edu/help/articles/zoom-meetings-getting-started 

Let Us Know Your Location

During this time of transition, it is valuable for us to know where you are. If your local address or home address has changed, please make sure you update it on Duke Hub.

Also, if you are a Teaching Assistant (TA), there are rules that govern where you may work. You may only continue as a teaching assistant for the remainder of the semester if you are physically located in North Carolina. If you are not, please let Tracie Foust at tracie.foust@duke.edu know ASAP.

Resources and Contacts

As I mentioned at the beginning of my note, our goal is to keep you safe and to allow you to complete your academic studies. We appreciate your flexibility in responding to this difficult situation.

You can find links to FAQs on the Pratt coronavirus webpage at pratt.duke.edu/covid19. Please also be sure to check the Duke coronavirus website for the latest information from the university. 

If you have any questions or concerns or need support, please let us know—you can email us at pratt-masters-studentservices@duke.edu.

Best Regards, 

Brad Fox, PhD
Associate Dean, Master's Programs