PROJECTS
See what each committee is up to by clicking on the panels below.
ACADEMIC AFFAIRS
The Mental Health STINF project aims to address the lack of a clear-cut option for students to take a half-day or day in order to decompress due to mental health issues. Currently, the STINF is only to be used by undergraduates should they find themselves “incapacitated”; the form itself goes on to give the following examples of physical ailments only: “appropriate uses of the STINF might include such conditions as influenza, migraine, sinus infection, and strep throat.” This project would work
Roommate Pairing Reform (RPR) addresses the systemic issue with the random roommate combination process where, time and time again, students are being matched with another student who looks the same “on paper” – such as bed/wake up times, noise while studying, room type (i.e. single, double, suite) – but, in reality, nearly everything else about the roommate pair is opposite of one another. RPR would consist of examining the roommate matching survey, which goes out to all matriculated students i
With the recent move to reduce the semester FLUNCH allocation per undergraduate student to $70, and to allow students to FLUNCH as many professors as they’d like within that budget, there’s a unique opportunity for increased academic engagement which has presented itself. Instead of recapturing all unused FLUNCH funds at the end of each semester, students who are eager to FLUNCH more than ~3 professors in a given semester (based on the $70 allocation) should be allowed to add a one-time increase
As a part of the DSG Academic Affairs Committee’s strategic vision to improve accessibility of mental health services to the undergraduate student body – and, in turn, enhance the overall mental health of the student body – one of the first steps is to introduce and educate the first-year class about the variety of services available to them. In line with this vision comes the inception/implementation of East Campus CAPS Chats (ECCC). This initiative involves the following: a Counseling and
The Duke Course Cost Aid Program is designed to alleviate the financial burden on students (especially students from low income backgrounds) that is associated with elevated course costs. These costs can disincentivize low income students from taking certain classes or pursuing certain paths of study, and in order to provide each student the opportunity to maximize their potential in whichever field he or she is interested in, it is imperative to increase accessibility to courses. This can be ac
Reallocating Scholarship Award Displacement in Duke’s current Financial Aid policy would address the absorption of student scholarship earnings and the reduction of grants when outside aid surpasses that of the quantity of loans and work study offered. This policy would also implement a system in which the student can access scholarship funds through Duke within a certain timeframe. Moreover, this policy would be mutually be mutually beneficial to both the student and Duke, allowing students to
The Introduction to Engineering for Trinity Students addresses the need for a basic introductory engineering course for students in the Trinity School of Arts & Sciences. In recent history there has been a course, EGR 90: Introduction to Engineering, that was offered to all undergraduate students, however, due to the limited number of faculty and the priorities of the Pratt School needing to provide courses for the engineering students, the course is no longer offered. This project would address
The CAPS Dorm Representatives (CDR) initiative aims to assign a designated representative from the Duke Counseling & Psychological Services (CAPS) staff to each dorm as a part of the dorm network. Currently, despite all major student support resources being represented in the dorm network – such as academic dean, faculty-in-residence, peer advisor(s), etc. – there is a lack of CAPS on this list; CDR aims to ameliorate this issue. For reference to a first-year house’s dorm network, click here (ht
Campus Life
The Club Guide will provide students with easy access to information on all Student Organization Financing Committee (SOFC) recognized and chartered organizations on campus, both through a group of Student Consultants and through a searchable database. Such information will include meeting times, time commitment, annual events, interest areas, and more. As part of the project, we will work with SOFC and Duke Launch to create mechanisms to more effectively collect up-to-date information from stud
In order to improve the Krzyzewskiville community and make Krzyzewskiville a more liveable area, we propose a few improvements that will be made in coordination with Duke Athletics and the Duke University Line Monitors. The main improvement is the reestablishment of the K-ville Common Room, a popular space that was initially created last year for tenters to socialize, play games, attend programming, etc. Although the Common Room was introduced last year, it was destroyed in the chaos of the Caro
With Duke currently undergoing large-scale housing transitions, providing readily accessible detail about residential life has never been as important. Deciding where to live and with whom massively shapes the college undergraduate experience. So every student should have the facts of their residential spaces clearly presented and easily accessible. Implementing further website improvements like Duke Mobile/Maps integration, East-West linking information, dorm blueprints, and most of all expandi
Working with the relevant administration, we propose that Duke implement the RAD Training program in conjunction with the educational gender violence prevention programs that already exist on campus. We feel that the current offerings leave a major gap in providing students with practical and tangible skills for dealing with gender-based and other forms of violence. By looking at how other schools have used the RAD program and learning more about how it works, we have noticed that the benefits a
Outside of the educational training Duke requires during orientation week, there is a distinct lack of conversation about sexual assault on campus. As a university with high sexual assault rates relative to its peers and as part of larger national conversation, this is alarming. In collaboration with several groups focused on preventing gender violence and encouraging diversity in politics especially Women in Politics, Duke should bring a female politician to campus to discuss how sexual assault
The basis of our project is to gather research on the occurrence of sexual assault within the Duke community. By gathering the research Duke has already conducted within the community and documenting the programs and groups that work on the issue of sexual assault, we hope to get a better understanding of the nature of sexual assault on and off campus and provide a resource for accessing information about the issue and different groups involved in combating the issue of sexual assault at Duke. W
equity and outreach
The primary goal is to improve inclusivity in first-year pre-orientation programs by increasing participation and access to financial aid so that more students can have a welcoming experience and established community upon beginning their first year at Duke. Another goal is to increase awareness and information about the 1G Pre-Orientation program at Duke. Proposed revisions include: Increasing funding for financial aid for pre-orientation programs Improving visibility of the First Generation
I propose to create an effective and centralized form located on Duke Hub for the purposes of name change. This will provide transgender folk an easier way to communicate to Duke Student Information Services and Systems (SISS) that they desire to change their dead name to their preferred name across all Duke SISS such as Duke Cards, Duke Hub, Duke OIT (for duke email), and Duke Health. There is an urgent need for better communication between Duke’s student services in regard to name change since
Compile research about the financial aid process at Duke, the history of grant and loan based aid at Duke, and the financial aid policies at peer institutions in order to begin the push for loan-free financial aid as well as an equitable process for future changes in financial aid: ● Develop comprehensive research about financial aid at Duke ● Create a comprehensive research document about peer institutions that are currently loan free or have the intent of becoming loan free ● Utilize thi
I propose to create an a university wide initiative of increasing diversity in all departments across Duke’s campus, focusing on incorporating more of a Latinx presence among the faculty. Through this initiative I want to promote the inclusion of student committees in recruitment efforts of faculty, allowing students to play a more active and engaged role in their future educators and potential mentors.
Durham regional affairs
This project aims to establish an internship program tied to tax credits for Durham businesses. Accordingly, when companies move themselves to Durham, the precedent expectation will be for them to reach out to under-resourced youth, provide resources, trainings, and necessary experience. In order to reach this end, our program will recruit a team of students, faculty, and experts from areas across the University including but not limited to education policy, innovation and entrepreneurship,
Duke Student Government plans to add a section in the Blue Book, the book that first-years receive before coming to Duke, about Durham, its history, and ways to get involved in the community. Our goal is to increase awareness of Durham before students get to campus so they can start to familiarize themselves with the community that they are going to reside in for the next four years. We hope that by understanding Durham and Duke’s connection to it, students will be more inclined to venture out i
The Durham and Regional Affairs committee will review how the city of Durham is portrayed in information dispersed by Duke Admissions and make recommendations to Duke Admissions for how Durham can be better represented. Information from the admissions office is many student’s first glimpse into life in Durham, and the way it is presented affects how students interact with the Durham community. We believe that critically examining how the admissions office portrays Durham and discussing how the c
Duke Student Government wants to improve Duke’s relationship with Durham and increase student and faculty involvement with the community. One way to foster a greater sense of community is to have Durham’s flag flying next to the North Carolina flag in front of the Allen building. In addition, on Flag Day June 14th, members of the community will be able to see their flag on Duke’s campus.
Duke Student Government plans to create a partnership with North Carolina Central University (NCCU), through hosting events with their Student Government Association (SGA). To host these events, senators will work with NCCU SGA representatives to plan events that would have both student bodies meeting one another. Tentative events include: joint tailgates, community service in Durham, 5k color run, unity fest.
Our goal is to have the staff who man the floor and bar of these clubs/restaurants trained to intervene in sexual assault situations by the Women’s Center in a manner similar to the P.A.C.T. training they currently offer. To circumvent Cates resistance the project we plan to contact the owner of the other bar, Devine’s Restaurant & Sports Bar, and approach them first. If we make progress with them we’ll use it as leverage with Kim to get her staff trained as well and at the very least one of the
November 11-17 will mark Duke’s second annual Hunger and Homelessness Week. This week is dedicated to raising awareness, funds, and food and clothing donations for Durham’s homeless residents. There will be a variety of activities, including food and clothing drives, hot chocolate sales, and performances by dance, acting, and a capella groups. Three DRA senators will help organize these events, along with the HHAW Executive Committee and a variety of club leaders.
This proposal involves Duke’s recognition of public community colleges in regard to financial aid packages and family contributions. I propose a solidified effort to encourage the university to officially consider community colleges as legitimate academic institutions which place significant financial burdens on the student population. In turn, Duke would adjust financial aid packages accordingly.
Twice per year – once during orientation week and once again later on – we propose to organize “socials” on a campus-wide basis in which students meet their dorm/residence housekeepers and learn more about one another. This seeks to bridge the disconnect that exists between students and housekeepers on campus.
Although significant progress has been made, we aim to continue voter registration efforts at Duke in order to increase voter registration and turnout (i.e. greater civic engagement. I hope to expand the use of TurboVote across the undergraduate population as well as create standardized procedures for each election cycle to foster greater participation. In addition, collaborative efforts with DukeVotes would continue. However, in the coming year, we will focus efforts on midterm elections and ex
Services and sustainability
The responsible diner fee is a proposal that seeks to add a $0.25 fee to be added onto any undergraduate’s meal cost whenever a student chooses to get a non-reusable to-go container for their food from the Brodhead Center for Campus Life. At the end of each semester, 70% of the collected fee will be used by Duke Dining to fund projects (pilot projects, infrastructure updates, etc.) that will increase the sustainability of Duke Dining and improve the Undergraduate student experience. The other 30
Duke University students study hard and often. While studying is not a bad thing, spending too much time cooped up in a library is. The Duke campus spans 8,600 acres, but students consistently gravitate towards libraries and reading rooms to study. Many students spend hours, days and even entire nights sitting in front of a desk and under artificial light. Perkins and Lilly are more evocative of stress than productivity, yet libraries are still considered the “right” place to study—more outdoor
Duke Student Government will collaborate with Green Devils to host a pop-up shop from TROSA, a local thrift store. Our goal is to have a physical place where Duke students can donate items they no longer need, rather than simply throwing them away, as well as buy used items and participate in the environmentally-friendly movement of reusing. We also want to increase student engagement with the idea of reusing items rather than buying new ones. We want to implement multiple events a semester wher
Duke University has recently committed to adding 11 new composting bins around campus. However, people are not always knowledgeable about what items are compostable. We propose signage be added to these bins to help students, faculty, and visitors identify which waste should be disposed into corresponding compost, recycling, and landfill bins.
Encourage student engagement in more eco-conscious dining by handing out reusable metal straws and the accompanying brush cleaners at the same time as the reusable container program rollout. Ideally, students would consistently bring their own drinking utensils around with them to consume beverages instead of using plastic straws.
In order to combat socioeconomic disparities between undergraduate students, Duke University should adopt a “How to Not Be Rich at Duke” guide that offers incoming students of low-socioeconomic status valuable information from upperclassmen peers. This guide would include current advice in regards to managing finances, understanding true college essentials, navigating social life, and finding financial opportunities like jobs and scholarships. We propose that Duke create and maintain this guide
Executive Projects
Sexual health is a crucial aspect of many students college experiences because it influences student’s happiness, wellbeing, and performance on campus and for years beyond Duke. Given the importance of sexual health, Duke Wellness and Duke Student Government should work to: (1) provide low-cost or free STI testing for HIV, chlamydia, and gonorrhea (2) provide education and awareness about PrEP and its availability at Student Health (3) increase awareness and access for sexual health resour
Duke Student Government (DSG) should send out a survey to the entire student body via the Presidents Blast to gauge student interest and opinions on current DSG Projects and Proposals. The survey should also provide a way for Duke students to suggest projects of their own that they think are critically important.
Moving forward, at the end of each semester, Duke University Libraries should provide a space where students can donate their textbooks. At the inception of each new semester, a space within the library should be dedicated towards shelving these used textbooks, and, with the proper supplies, semester-long checkouts should be allowed.
I will be developing a more robust auditing process in tandem with my Vice Chair of Auditing, Daniel Kim, to ensure that SOFC can enable as many student groups’ programming initiatives as possible. We are still in the middle of crafting this process. So far, we have looked into 3rd party software like Expensify as a means of tracking expenses, as well as weighing the feasibility of a more manual method of combing through UCAE receipts by hand.
Food insecurity is a problem that students face throughout the year and it is only heightened during session breaks. The subset of students who remain on campus are often unable to afford three meals a day given their current meal plan and limited dining options. Duke should create a program that offers students extra food points if they are going to be on campus during Thanksgiving or Spring break. It should also extend the hours of dining locations so that students are able to dine on food poi
All undergraduate students with a meal plan who demonstrate sufficient need will have access to a bank comprised of donated, unused food points from other students. This bank will provide spending guidelines for students who do not have the financial ability to add additional food points, as well as work to alleviate any stress that food point shortages create for these students.
The Duke Mentorship Program (DMP) addresses cross-systemic gaps such as surplus of options for academic advising, lack of student-to-student advising, and lack of capacity for existing student-to-student advising through an integrated approach. Peer Advisors will train a number of students who would serve as direct point-of-contact and easily accessible mentors for assigned first-years who opt into the program. Not only will the DMP embed itself within the existing advising structure, it will en
To revise the Duke Career Center Internship Funding Program so that it may better serve students in need of its services. Proposed revisions include: ● Creating three different application deadlines (Early, Regular, and Extended) ● Providing priority consideration to all students on need-based financial aid ● Revisit program marketing plan; create strategic plan to reach out to student groups ● Other revision ideas that may arise out of conversations with and input from Duke Career Center Staff
Duke Student Government plans to co-host a pilot Duke-Durham Day for various community centered organizations to table on campus and to promote student involvement in Durham. Our goal is to build upon the Fall Duke Student Engagement Volunteer Fair by providing a similar opportunity to maintain involvement in the Spring. We believe that this event can help mitigate the semesterly turnover rate by providing a recurring opportunity for students to re-engage. Through partnering with the Center for