Durham, N.C. - Duke officials and members of the Terry Sanford Institute of Public Policy community marked a milestone Nov. 4 with the dedication of Rubenstein Hall, the second building in the Terry Sanford Institute of Public Policy complex. The celebration was underscored by a focus on the future, as university officials spoke publicly for the first time about creating a new Duke school of public policy.

The $12 million Rubenstein Hall opened in August, housing technologically up-to-date classrooms, computer labs, a resource room and on-campus space for the institute's growing research centers.

At last Friday's event on the lawn between the institute's two buildings, administrators thanked alumnus and trustee David Rubenstein for his $5 million gift to the project. The contributions of Sanford Board of Visitors members and other donors also were recognized.

Rubenstein, in turn, thanked the anonymous Duke admissions officer who admitted him 40 years ago, as well as university officials who provided financial aid so he could enroll. "Tuition was $2,000 a year then, but it seemed like $200,000 to me," he said.

Rubenstein, who heads up a leading private equity firm, said he hopes his contributions encourage more students to study public policy and spend time in public service. He called the four years he served as a White House aide "the most fulfilling of my career."

Among others recognized at the event was the Coca-Cola Foundation, whose gift funded the Susan B. King Multimedia and TechnologyCenter in Rubenstein Hall, named in honor of the former trustee.

The opening of the building capped the tenure of Sanford Institute Director Bruce Jentleson, who served from 2000 to 2005. Charles Sanders, chairman of the Sanford Institute Board of Visitors, praised Jentleson for leading the institute to a new level of recognition and excellence, advances that "brought the institute to the point where it has the opportunity to develop into a true school." Sanders also commended Director Bruce Kuniholm's leadership since July, which resulted in a task force report that "eloquently articulated" the case for a school of public policy.

The task force, appointed by Provost Peter Lange, recommended this fall that Duke take steps to initiate a school of public policy. Duke's public policy program is the only top-10 policy program in the nation that is not supported by a school structure.

Lange said a school structure would offer the institute "the opportunity for greater autonomy, and expanded ambitions, yet remain deeply integrated with the rest of the university." He noted that "hurdles to be overcome remain," including financing the school and resolving complex administrative issues.