The new dean of the School of Medicine is a nationally respected physician-scientist. Tons of medical equipment is shipped from Duke to a needy Ugandan hospital. A political science professor researches the political climate and relationships between blacks, whites and Latinos in Southern states. Undergraduate students meet in groups with faculty, staff and community members to discuss The Best of Enemies, a book about the strange friendship between a Durham Klan member and a civil rights activist during the turbulent period of school desegregation.
All these recent items reflect Duke's goals in the classroom, scholarship and patient care, but they also underscore the value and importance of diversity in fulfilling these goals. That message can be found throughout the university's most recent strategic plan, and now it is also part of Duke's online presence.
A new website, www.diversity.duke.edu, will serve as a way for members of the Duke community, and for prospective students, to learn about the many aspects of diversity at Duke. The developers of the site say it is another step in Duke's engagement with issues of diversity.
The site, which includes a message from President Richard H. Brodhead, includes profiles of faculty, staff and students, quick reference to the key diversity policies at Duke, data and program links related to diversity issues. One section also looks off-campus to highlight's Duke's relationship with Durham and the greater community.
"In recent years, universities have paid attention to many facets of diversity -- gender, race/ethnicity, socioeconomic, international status, religious," said Dr. Nancy Allen, vice provost for faculty diversity and development. "They realize that a diverse community enriches the educational experience for all involved. It seems important for us to recognize the benefits and pull together what Duke offers in the broadest sense of the word."
Allen, Vice President for Institutional Equity Benjamin Reese, Associate Vice Provost Jacqueline Looney and Political Science Professor Paula McClain helped organize the website, which was designed by a web services team at Duke's Blackwell Interactive. The idea for the site originated with McClain, who took it to Provost Peter Lange for support.
McClain said the site is modeled after one done at the University of Virginia. Through policy, profiles and news, that site reinforced the message that diversity isn't just a buzz word as it was intrinsic to the basic purposes of the university.
"The University of Virginia website put the concept of diversity at the center of the life of the university," McClain said. "That's what we wanted to say with the Duke website. We wanted to explore the different ways Duke is showing its commitment to diversity and putting it at the center of the university mission."
Organizers said they hope the website can attract prospective students, staff and faculty and inform everyone about the range of diverse individuals and opportunities.
This site can showcase what we are doing here and afar -- through DukeEngage, Global Health, Neighborhood Partnership, and other programs," Allen said. "We tried to conceive of this site broadly and hope that we have captured many ways Duke is diverse already.
"The website is just a start. We hope that, through comments from those who visit the site, we will learn what interests people and what new information they like to see included in the site."