Durham, NC - The Annual Meeting of the University Faculty will have a new location and look to it Wednesday, part of an effort by both administrators and faculty members to bring more energy to one of the key opportunities to discuss the state of Duke University.

The meeting is at 4 p.m. in the Nasher Museum of Art auditorium, the first time the event has been held at the museum. Complimentary parking will be available at the museum.

President Richard H. Brodhead will preside and open the meeting, introducing Academic Council Chair Craig Henriquez, who will give his remarks. Brodhead will then present a talk on the state of the university. A question-and-answer period will follow.

For several decades, the annual meeting -- which is required by university bylaws -- has been held in conjunction with the October Academic Council meeting. Henriquez said last year that the problem with that format is the annual meeting "loses its independence."

To separate it from the business of the council, both the president and the Executive Committee of the Academic Council agreed to move it to later in the academic year and to a new location.

Both faculty and administrators hope that the new set-up will increase interest in the event. Terry Chambliss, director of the Office of Special Events and University Ceremonies, said based on RSVPs returned by faculty members, she expects a larger-than-usual audience.