I want help from my department or school to address my concerns.

Students seeking department or school help to address a concern should follow the general process below. If, however, you feel uncomfortable bringing your concerns to the individual at one of the stages, then start with the next step in the process (e.g., if your DGS is the source of your concern, then start with your department chair).

Note: All the individuals listed on this page (DGS, chair, deans, etc.) are required to consult with the Office for Institutional Equity when they learn about potential violations of Duke's Policy on Prohibited Discrimination, Harassment, and Related Misconduct. If you want to avoid that, consider discussing your issue with a confidential option instead.

1. DGS Intervention

Discuss concerns with your director of graduate studies, including whether the concerns can be kept confidential, and consider options for intervention and possible outcomes and consequences.

Depending on the situation, the DGS may discuss your concerns with individual or all parties (e.g., your advisors, mentors, or labmates), or report the concerns to others (chair, dean, Office for Institutional Equity, etc.). There may be corrective or disciplinary actions.

DGS contact info

2. Department Chair Intervention

If concerns cannot be addressed after DGS intervention, discuss them with your department chair, including whether the concerns can be kept confidential, and consider options for intervention and possible outcomes and consequences.

Depending on the situation, the chair may discuss concern with individual or all parties (e.g., your advisors, mentors, or labmates), or report concerns to others (dean, Office for Institutional Equity, etc.). There may be corrective or disciplinary actions.

Department chair contact info

3. Dean Intervention

If your concern cannot be satisfactorily addressed by the DGS or department chair, you can bring it to the senior associate deans for academic affairs and graduate student affairs in The Graduate School. They will work with the leadership of the school in which your program is housed to address the issue.

Depending on the situation, this may entail discussions of the concern with individual or all parties, reporting of the concerns to others (Office for Institutional Equity, etc.), and possible corrective or disciplinary actions.

School leadership contact info