Start Strong at Duquesne
Starting college is exciting, life-changing and can sometimes feel overwhelming. We're here to make sure you feel welcome, confident, supported and ready from day one.
Whether you're moving in, meeting new friends or navigating your first classes, you'll have a team—and a community—alongside you.
What You'll Get as a First-Year Student
From your first summer visit through your entire first year, we help you:
- Build connections with classmates and mentors
- Navigate academics with confidence
- Find tutoring, advising and support early
- Get involved in campus life and Pittsburgh experiences
- Stay on track toward your goals
Are you the first generation in your family to head to college? If so, you're in good company—about 30% of students at Duquesne are first-generation students. We're committed to helping you succeed.
Move-In and Orientation for New Students and Families: August 17-23, 2026
Orientation is where your college experience officially begins. Throughout the week-long program, you'll get to know Duquesne as a student, parent or family member, including specialized orientations for commuters and transfer students. Our program is designed by students, for students, so you'll have everything you need to succeed.
FAST is a must-attend program that helps you and your family walk into your first
week feeling prepared, not overwhelmed. You'll gain essential insights and resources
to prepare for your academic journey at Duquesne. Each school offers two specific
days for participation, and you only need to choose the one that fits your schedule.
FAST is your early-advantage opportunity to: FAST Dates:
First-Year Advisement Summer Transition (FAST)
We look forward to seeing you on campus!
Get Involved: Make the Most of Your First Year
College is more than classes—it's moments and experiences where lifelong friendships and memories are made.
Join your fellow first-year students on these weekend trips to discover cultural, entertainment and recreational attractions in the Pittsburgh region. The fun includes:
- Pittsburgh Pirates games
- Kennywood Park
- Pittsburgh Zoo
- Tours of Pittsburgh
- Fright Night at Kennywood
- Discounted Movie Tickets
Have suggestions for weekend excursions? Please email First-Year Development.
Phi Eta Sigma is a national honor society whose goal is to encourage and reward first-year students with a GPA of 3.5 or higher. It's one of the first ways your hard work gets recognized at the college level.
Phi Eta Sigma was founded at the University of Illinois on March 22, 1923 at the University of Illinois. The Duquesne University chapter was established on November 15, 1983. Today the national honor society has than 375 chapters throughout the United States and more than 1.1 million members.
Michael P. Weber Learning Skills Center
The tutoring request process is now easier than ever! Students can request tutoring via Starfish.
Our Learning Skills Center offers both in-person and online tutoring. In-person tutoring
will be held in our reserved classrooms, and online tutoring is conducted via Zoom.
We also offer an Exam Review Workshop via Zoom.
Students are able request for tutoring in three different ways:
- Come into the Center and request for tutoring in person. (Bottom Floor of Old Main/Administration Building)
- Request for tutoring through Starfish.
- Complete the Learning Skills Center - Tutoring Request Form.
Upon submission, a tutor will contact the student within 3-5 business days with details on how to schedule an appointment. At that time, students can specify whether they want in-person or online.
Supplemental Science Instruction
Additional tutoring or test preparation can be found in Mellon Hall for the following classes: Biology 111, Anatomy & Physiology, Biology: Intro To Life Processes, General Chemistry, Advanced General Chemistry, Organic Chemistry, and Physics.
Please consult the schedule for times and locations. Appointments or referrals are
not need for these sessions.
Writing Center
Our University Writing Center is here to help with your final projects and papers.
ESL Program Tutoring
If you are taking ESL courses (Basic A through UCOR 101E and UCOR 102E), we have tutors who can help you. Our ESL Program has trained tutors who can help you understand and improve your English skills.
You can make a tutoring appointment with an ESL Program tutor.
Other sources of tutoring:
Palumbo-Donahue School of Business
704 Rockwell Hall
(412) 396-6276
Athletic Academic Coordinators
1st floor, Mendel Hall
(412) 396-6565
Mathematics and Computer Science
440 College Hall
(412) 396-6467
Modern Languages Department
202 Fisher Hall
(412) 396-6415
Music School Advisement Office
303 School of Music
(412) 396-5744
NAP Coaching
(For students in nursing courses)
544 Fisher Hall
(412) 396-6347
Our DULA program is a six-day program for Catholic high school students that engages
them in challenging dialogue, motivating workshops and trainings, as well as community-engaged
and social activities designed to enhance academic learning, personal development,
faith development, leadership skills and civic identity development.
DULA highlights the University's commitment to community engagement efforts in target
neighborhoods, introducing students to key community leaders and agencies, encouraging
personal development and fostering spiritual growth of students looking to live out
their faith by serving others.
By participating in this program, students will:
- Understand contemporary and historical issues that affect Duquesne's key communities;
- Learn about how Duquesne University faculty, staff, and students reciprocally partner with communities and service agencies to address challenges and opportunities with the goal of building a more just and verdant world;
- Begin to develop the skill set necessary to constructively engage with diverse stakeholders in order to collaboratively achieve realistic resolutions to community problems;
- Assess their leadership style and craft a plan to recognize themselves as future change agents within their communities and the world;
- Nurture the fullest expression of the Gospel call to justice in a way that goes beyond charity or single charitable actions using the see, judge, act model to promote a holistic and systematic approach to peace and justice in our world
FAQs
Contact Us
Please feel free to contact us with any questions or concerns you may have!