Graduate Students are bound by a set of university-wide policies that are applicable to all academic communities within Duke. Alleged violations of these policies by graduate students are addressed using procedures established by The Graduate School.
Duke University expects and will require the cooperation of all its students in developing and maintaining high standards of scholarship and conduct.
Students are expected to meet academic requirements and financial obligations, as specified in the Graduate School Bulletin, in order to remain in good standing. Certain non-academic rules and regulations must also be observed. Failure to meet these requirements may result in summary dismissal by the appropriate officer of the university.
The university wishes to emphasize its policy that all students are subject to the rules and regulations currently in effect or which, from time to time, are put into effect by the appropriate authorities of the university. By accepting admission, students indicate their willingness to subscribe to and be governed by these rules and regulations and acknowledge the right of the university to take such disciplinary action, including suspension or expulsion, as may be deemed appropriate for failure to abide by such rules and regulations, or for conduct deemed unsatisfactory or detrimental to the university.
All faculty, staff, affiliates, and students at Duke University are expected to uphold and abide by the Duke Community Standard, a shared vision and expectation of personal and professional behavior.
Duke University is a community dedicated to scholarship, leadership, and service and to the principles of honesty, fairness, respect, and accountability. Citizens of this community commit to reflect upon and uphold these principles in all academic and non-academic endeavors, and to protect and promote a culture of integrity.
To uphold the Duke Community Standard:
- I will not lie, cheat, or steal in my academic endeavors;
- I will conduct myself honorably in all my endeavors; and
- I will act if the Standard is compromised.
Graduate students are expected to uphold the Duke Community Standard and to meet academic requirements and financial obligations, as specified elsewhere in this handbook, the Graduate School Bulletin and Best Practices: Core Expectations for Graduate Study at Duke University. Failure to meet these requirements may result in summary dismissal by the Dean of the Graduate School. Students are also subject to other rules and regulations of the university currently in effect. In accepting admission to the Graduate School, students indicate their willingness to subscribe to and be governed by these rules and regulations, and acknowledge the right of the university to take such disciplinary action, including suspension and/or expulsion, as may be deemed appropriate for failure to abide by such rules and regulations or for conduct judged unsatisfactory or detrimental to the university. Serious violations of the Duke Community Standard typically result in suspension or dismissal from the university. Students charged with crimes by Duke or municipal police are not normally suspended or dismissed unless their actions have suggested they may be a threat to other people or property. Such cases are evaluated with Duke Police, the University Behavioral Assessment Team and other relevant parties. Duke University takes very seriously the possibility that a student may endanger resources or people and works to ensure that this does not happen. If a student is convicted of a crime, the actions taken by the university will be determined in consultation with University Counsel.
Duke University, as a community of scholars, strongly relies upon the standard of academic integrity. Plagiarism and other forms of academic dishonesty represent a corruption of this integrity and, as such, cannot be tolerated. Ignorance of what constitutes academic dishonesty is no excuse for actions which violate the integrity of the community. In a community that builds on the notion of academic integrity, the threat of academic dishonesty represents an intolerable risk.
In order to promote a respectful and productive work environment, harassment of any kind is not acceptable at Duke. Duke also prohibits harassment and discrimination based upon an individual's age, color, disability, gender, gender expression, gender identity, genetic information, national origin, race, religion, sex, sexual orientation, or veteran status.
Harassment occurs when unwelcome verbal or physical conduct, because of its severity and/or persistence, interferes significantly with an individual's work or education, or adversely affects an individual's living conditions. Harassment also occurs when a person uses a position of authority to engage in unwelcome sexual advances, requests for sexual favors, or other verbal or physical conduct of a sexual nature.
The conduct alleged to constitute harassment is evaluated from the perspective of a reasonable person similarly situated to the individual complaining and in consideration of the surrounding circumstances and facts. It is important to know that harassment is distinguished from behavior that, even though unpleasant or disconcerting, is appropriate to the responsibilities of certain instructional, advisory, or supervisory roles.
Administrative responsibility for implementing Duke’s policies prohibiting harassment and discrimination rests with the Office for Institutional Equity (OIE). The Assistant Vice President and Director, Title IX Compliance is the University's designated Title IX Coordinator and responsible for implementing Title IX. Title IX is a federal law that prohibits sex discrimination, including sexual harassment. View OIE's website for more information about Duke’s harassment and discrimination policies, OIE, and Title IX. The website also provides contact information for the Vice President for Institutional Equity and the Director of Title IX Compliance.
Duke University prohibits discrimination and harassment and provides equal employment opportunity without regard to an individual's age, color, disability, gender, gender expression, gender identity, genetic information, national origin, race, religion, sex, sexual orientation, or veteran status. Duke is committed to recruiting, hiring, and promoting qualified women, minorities, individuals with disabilities, and veterans.
Pursuant to Title IX of the Education Amendment of 1972, Duke prohibits discrimination on the basis of sex in any of its educational programs or activities.
For detailed information please visit Duke University’s Policy on Prohibited Discrimination, Harassment, and Related Misconduct
It is the responsibility of the DPHS Director of Graduate Studies to inform each graduate student of the appropriate channels of appeal. In normal circumstances, the Director of Graduate Studies is the first to hear a complaint. If the complaint cannot be resolved satisfactorily at this level, the student may address, in turn, the department chair, the senior associate dean of The Graduate School, and the dean of The Graduate School, who shall be the final avenue of appeal. An appeal must be filed in writing with the next appropriate university officer within 10 days after a decision has been formally rendered by any of the university officers mentioned above.
Grades in the Graduate School are as follows: A, B, C, F, and I. An I (Incomplete) indicates that some portion of the student’s work is lacking, for an acceptable reason, at the time the grades are reported. The instructor who gives an I for a course specifies the date by which the student must make up the deficiency. If a course is not completed within one calendar year from the date the course ended, the grade of I becomes permanent and may not be removed from the student’s record. The grade of Z indicates satisfactory progress at the end of the first semester of a two-semester course. A grade of F in a major course (courses within a student’s department or field) occasions dismissal from a degree program, except in extraordinary circumstances beyond a student’s control. A grade of F in any other course occasions at least academic probation and may also occasion dismissal.
All new international students whose first language is not English must demonstrate proficiency in speaking and writing English. See the English Language Support Program (ELSP) webpage for further information on how competency is certified. ELSP courses do not count towards the minimum number of graded courses required for the degree.
Students are expected to meet academic requirements and financial obligations to remain in good standing. Certain non-academic rules and regulations must be observed also. The Duke Community Standard and Graduate School standards of conduct must be met. Failure to meet these requirements will ordinarily result in summary dismissal by the appropriate officer of the University.
The University reserves the right, and matriculation by the student is a concession to this right, to request the withdrawal of any student whose academic performance at any time is not satisfactory to the University. A student who wishes for any reason to withdraw from the Graduate School during the Fall, Spring, or Summer session must notify in writing both the Director of Graduate Studies in the major department and the associate dean of the Graduate School prior to the date of the expected withdrawal and no later than the published last day of classes for that semester or Summer session. For information regarding refunds upon withdrawal, please see The Graduate School’s webpage.
A student who must withdraw before completion of a graduate program after successfully completing at least one semester of graduate study, may, with the approval of the major department, request that the dean issue a certificate of graduate study.
A leave of absence for a total period of time no longer than two semesters may be granted because of medical necessity, family obligations, receipt of an external award, employment related to the student’s research project, or other acceptable reasons. A request for a leave of absence in a given semester should originate with the student, be endorsed by the student’s faculty advisor and Director of Graduate Studies and be submitted to the Associate Dean of the Graduate School for consideration prior to the beginning of the semester for which the leave is requested. Leaves are normally granted for only one semester, but a second semester’s leave may be requested. A student is eligible to request a leave of absence only if in good academic standing and only after having completed at least one semester at Duke. Time limitations which pertain to the various degrees and the completion of courses that have received a grade of I (incomplete) are not waived.
Generative AI tools like ChatGPT can enhance learning, productivity, and creativity — but must be used responsibly, ethically, and transparently. These guidelines apply to all DPHS faculty, staff, and students. AI should support your thinking, not replace it.
Core Principles
- Support, don’t replace: Use AI for brainstorming, research assistance, and problem analysis — not to complete assignments for you.
- Engage critically: Always evaluate AI outputs for bias, inaccuracies, and ethical implications.
- Own your work: You are responsible for the final product, including any errors from AI.
- Be transparent: Clearly document and disclose all AI use in assignments or projects.
- Follow instructor rules: Course-specific AI rules override this guidance.
Allowed Uses (with Documentation)
- Drafting outlines, sections, or ideas
- Translation (must be reviewed and corrected for accuracy)
- Multimedia content creation (images, audio, video)
- Calculations, coding, or analysis (must be verified)
- Brainstorming topics, analyzing readings, supporting research
Not Allowed Unless Explicitly Permitted
- Using AI during written/oral exams
- Copying AI-generated text directly into assignments without modification or attribution
Documentation & Citation
- State how and why you used AI, and what changes you made.
- Verify all facts and sources independently.
- Cite original sources — not AI output — whenever possible.
- See the Duke University Libraries guide on citing AI for proper formats.
Key Reminder: Overreliance on AI can reduce your engagement with your work, peers, and community. Use it as a tool, not a crutch.