For Parents: Campus Safety

Is Duke safe?

While no college can guarantee that its campus is completely and absolutely safe at all times, Duke does take an aggressive view of campus safety, approaching it from a number of different perspectives. Our aim is to provide a safe and secure campus that allows for as much individual freedom as possible.

Some of the many safety and security programs and initiatives at Duke include: an on-campus police force with more than 100 sworn and security officers with patrols around the clock; a system for locking residence halls 24 hours a day and using Duke cards for entry; and nearly 400 "help" phones located around campus.

Duke Transportation Services provides rides to/from campus locations, rides to/from Duke Manor, Chapel Tower, Duke Villa Apartments and rides to off-campus campus residences within the service area. This service is intended to complement Duke's regular bus service and will not duplicate existing bus service. Service hours are 5 p.m. to 7 a.m. Transportation Services can be contacted by dialing 684-SAFE. In addition, the student-run group Duke Safewalks will provide two walking escorts for any member of the Duke community Thursday through Sunday evenings, from 10 p.m. until 2 a.m.

We're an attentive, alert community—administrators and students regularly check walkways and parking lots and report burned-out lights. Duke's police officers also offer crime prevention programs and work closely with the city of Durham's police department to ensure safety off-campus as well. The Duke Police Department provides coverage of the entire campus 24 hours a day, seven days a week and is available—and eager—to answer questions, provide information about campus security, and offer additional safety tips.

I don't want there to be too much partying.

Even with our stringent alcohol policies and the serious academic demands we put on our students, they will still find ways to have fun—usually, and thankfully, they'll do it well within the rules! Getting to know people from other parts of the world and from different backgrounds is part of what it means to become an educated person, and we want to support that at Duke.

While drinking alcohol is unfortunately not uncommon among American undergraduates, Duke has clear expectations and strict policies about breaking state laws and university rules. Breaking the rules has serious consequences. Please read about our policy.

In addition, Duke provides various opportunities to educate students about the many dangers of excessive drinking and substance abuse and we regularly offer alcohol-free socializing opportunities on campus. We also offer substance-free residence options, social events, group meetings, and student organizations.