Duke University tentatively plans to spend $1.2 billion over a six to 8- year period for new programs, facilities and faculty targeted by the new strategic plan, Provost Peter Lange told the Academic Council May 11.
It was the council's first look at the interim plan, which will set university priorities for the near future. Faculty committees and administrators will continue working on the plan through the fall before presenting a final version in September. The trustees are expected to review a draft plan earlier in the fall semester.
The university's last strategic plan, "Building on Excellence," directed about $750 million, mainly for new initiatives such as photonics, the Franklin Humanities Institute, child health and policy, global change and other initiatives. Lange's said the success of the last plan underscored that at Duke, the planning process leads to results. "Building on Excellence," he said, was an important landmark in raising Duke's national reputation.
This time around, Lange said, the plan will not only fund new initiatives, but will focus on some long-standing problems that need attention.
"One of these issues is the state of our long-time facilities," Lange said. "For example, Page Auditorium as an arts facility is not worthy of the arts initiative that we are planning. The new plan will address this and other similar situations."
Lange listed six major goals of the plan:
* Faculty enhancement. While the university isn't planning a significant increase in the number of faculty positions, Lange said the plan will target priority areas where new positions can help Duke sustain current strengths or achieve greater prominence. In addition, Lange said he wanted departments to push for funds to go after the best scholars as they fill old positions opened because of retirement or departures.
"I don't want departments saying we can't get this person," Lange said. "I want them to go for the best, and we will help them do that."
* Engaging real world issues. Many new initiatives will focus on developing multidisciplinary approaches for critical policy issues such as global health, climate change and other Earth systems, and emerging academic fields such as imaging and brain sciences. The intent is that to generate knowledge that can be translated into effective policies or approaches that will affect lives.
* Graduate student support. Lange said Duke needs to be more competitive with its stipends to attract the best graduate students.
* Creating a passion for undergraduate learning. One focus of the plan is to replicate for sophomores the acclaimed learning experience of their first year. Lange said the first-year experience, highlighted by FOCUS and other programs that emphasize in-depth and interdisciplinary small group learning, needs to be continued not only in the second year but throughout the undergraduate curriculum.
* Strengthening the arts. Lange said Duke is committed to making the arts a more integral part of the Duke experience. The plan proposes to support new facilities and programming to allow diverse students and others to get more involved.
* Supporting innovations for the library system and classroom technology. The plan proposes to sustain the library's efforts to make more digital resources available to users and update classrooms with the latest technology. The plan will also continue support for the Duke Digital Initiative, (DDI) which promotes faculty and student use of technology in learning. The DDI's most famous project is the classroom use of iPods, but Lange noted it promotes a number of different efforts, from a partnership with Public Radio International to use audio content in class to the use of Tablet PCs in electrical engineering classes.