Resources for Fuqua Partners

The Fuqua Career Management Center is pleased to provide job search support to the partners of students in the Daytime MBA program. These services include access to the Job Search Quick Guides, a professional résumé review, and up to 2 hours of coaching with an executive coach. Please note that partners should be authorized to work in the United States. 

For partners of incoming daytime MBA students, the student should have made their deposit and be committed to enrolling at Fuqua. These services are available to the partners of incoming students beginning April 1. For partners of second-year daytime MBA students, the partner’s request should be received within one month of graduation. 

For more information and to engage in these services, please email cmc-info@duke.edu. Please include the name and graduation year of the Fuqua Daytime MBA student you are affiliated with. 

Partners can also join the FuquaPartners Group on LinkedIn for career opportunities and connections within the community. This group serves to connect Fuqua Partners past, present, and future to the various career and professional development opportunities in the Triangle. Each partner has a unique set of skills, needs, and goals. We hope that this group serves as a community to help each partner find their place in the Triangle.

There are a number of resources that we recommend to partners looking to volunteer or serve the Durham community:

• Duke Office of Durham & Regional Affairs: Connecting Duke to the local community! One-time and ongoing volunteer opportunities are posted here.
• The Triangle Nonprofit & Volunteer Leadership Center: Aggregates many one-time and ongoing volunteer opportunities across the Triangle.
• Duke University Hospital: There are more than 30 volunteer programs through Duke University Hospital with a wide variety of opportunities from working with cancer patients, to art therapy, to comforting patients, to assisting with educational programs and more!

Partners are not able to enroll in classes at Fuqua but they are allowed to sit in on classes with permission from the instructor. There are many other educational opportunities available to partners through 

• Durham Tech
• Duke Continuing Studies
• Duke Continuing Studies: Osher Lifelong Learning Institute (OLLI)

Want to explore outside of the Triangle? Durham has the resources to help you explore the rest of the state or go beyond!

• Visit North Carolina is the official hub of resources if you want to visit the mountains of Western NC, the beaches along the east coast, and anywhere in between.
• The Raleigh Durham International Airport (RDU) is located less than 30 minutes away from Duke’s campus. Flights from RDU connect Durham to the rest of the US and there are many non-stop international destinations.
• Durham has an Amtrak station located less than 15 minutes away from Duke’s campus. This station serves the Carolinian and Piedmont Amtrak train lines which connect Durham to Raleigh and Charlotte.

Fuqua Partners Club includes everyone, including the very youngest members of the Fuqua family! No matter what stage your family is at, Fuqua Partners is here to support you. 

Join the Fuqua Families Whatsapp to stay connected with other Fuqua families. Find information for how to join the Whatsapp chat through the FuquaConnect page.

• If you are in need of daycare options, Duke has a list of recommended daycare facilities for its employees that in the past has also served as good options for students. Fuqua Partners club also has a resource for recommended daycare providers which can be found in the Fuqua Families Whatsapp.
• If you are in need of K-12 schooling, there are several public school districts in the area including Durham Public Schools, Wake County Schools, Orange County Schools, and Chapel Hill-Carrboro City Schools. If you would like to learn about all options for K-12 schooling, including those for charter and private schools, this resource has information for all types of schools across North Carolina.
• If you are looking for family centered fun, Raleigh Family Adventure provides resources for families looking for activities in the Triangle.

If you need to get an NC Driver’s License, be ready to plan ahead! The summer is the busiest season for the DMV. If you are going to the DMV here are some helpful tips:

• Arrive as early as possible to the DMV – wait times can be very long and it is often challenging to schedule an appointment last minute. If you can, schedule an appointment ahead of time.
• Avoid going on the last day of the month.
• If you can, go to a DMV office outside of Durham for shorter wait times. See a list of all DMV office locations here.
• Some DMV offices have extended hours in the summer.
• Be prepared with all of your documents, including proof of car insurance in North Carolina.
• If you need to get new license plates, be prepared for that to be a separate visit to another office. North Carolina has DMV offices just for licenses and road tests, and separate offices for getting your license plates and registration.
• If you already have a NC license and need to renew, Harris Teeter now has self-service kiosks.

As of May 7, 2025, you will need to have a REAL ID to be able to board commercial airlines and enter federal buildings. NC DMVs are able to provide you with a NC REAL ID if you provide 2 documents that verify your physical address in North Carolina. For more information about getting a NC driver’s license go to the NC DMV website – New Residents page. If you need information about getting a NC license plate, visit the NC DMV website – License Plates page.  

Duke’s Counseling and Psychological Services (CAPS) has put together some useful advice for maintaining a committed relationship during graduate or professional studies.

Students can support partners in purchasing a Duke recreation account (gym membership) through Duke Recreation and Gym Facilities, (scroll down to Spouses and Families section). Note that many partners choose to use non-Duke gyms, as parking options on campus are limited (to learn more about parking on campus, see the section about Partner DukeCards). O2 Fitness locations are popular and offer childcare options.

All students enrolled at Duke University are required to have health insurance. All students are automatically enrolled in the Duke Student Medical Insurance Plan (SMIP) unless they choose to waive the coverage by providing proof of alternative coverage. The Student Medical Insurance Plan can cover spouses and children as well.

>> Learn more about the Duke SMIP today <<

Tip! Whenever possible, try to make medical appointments at external clinics, instead of on-site at Duke hospital locations. For example, if you need to see a specialist, ask if there are appointments available at a non-hospital location. Any in-person visits held at a hospital facility carry additional “hospital fees—” sometimes at twice the cost.  

Duke Student Affairs has a website to help students search for off campus housing options, including apartments and houses. Fuqua students and families live all around the Triangle (including in Raleigh and Chapel Hill). If you want to live in Durham, this website from Duke Student Affairs can help you learn more about Durham’s neighborhoods (especially if you are considering buying/renting a house). Fuqua is located on Duke’s West Campus and several students and families live in nearby neighborhoods such as 9th Street, Old West Durham, Erwin/LaSalle, and Downtown Durham.

Whether to improve your English skill or make friends, there are many activities you could participate in, and they are all free! Examples are the International Spouses Book club, Global Cafe, and Global Conversations. These are held almost every week during the school year, and you could attend whenever you want to.

Global Conversations ~ Our weekly conversation gatherings are held during fall and spring semester. Join us for casual conversation about life, culture, and current events! In fall 2025, we’ll resume on September 2nd in Wellness Center room 147. All are welcome. No pre-registration. Learn more here! 

• Questions? Contact: Rene Caputo, caputo@duke.edu

Welcome to Durham! Durham is a city with a rich history, culture, and community. We hope you take the time to explore Durham and the Triangle area while you are at Duke. Here are some resources to get you started:

• Duke Student Affairs has put together a resource about central resources in Durham including how to vote, get a library card, and learn about Durham’s history.
• Discover Durham posts about events happening each week in Durham along with recommendations for dining, entertainment, culture & community, and family oriented events.
• Raleigh Family Adventure provides resources for families looking for activities in the Triangle.
• Triangle on the Cheap is a resource to learn about fun and low-cost events in the Triangle.
• How to Make Friends in Durham is a fun website with information about local clubs and groups to build your connection to the larger Durham community.

Students are not able to sponsor DukeCards for their spouses or partners, and spouses or partners are not eligible for Duke NetIDs. While the DukeCard website includes an option for “sponsored guests,” this process is limited to contractors, visitors, or volunteers who are working directly with a Duke department. Please note that Duke and Fuqua departments are not permitted to sponsor DukeCards for student spouses or partners.

Students can support their partners in purchasing a Duke recreation account (gym membership), accessing the library, and getting a parking permit. Details are available here:

• Duke Recreation and Gym Facilities (scroll down to Spouses and Families section)
• Library Access (follow process for spouses and domestic partners)
• After-Hours Permit (Night Permit): Visitors (partners) can purchase an after-hours permit by creating a Guest login.