2: Issues

Strengthen the Engagement of the University in Real World Issues

Other Information:

We recommit to our flagship interdisciplinary programs and will advance new academic initiatives that build upon distinctive university strengths and enduring themes, particularly knowledge at the service of society. -- Top-tier private research universities have a remarkable similarity among their academic initiatives, and original, successful, ideas proffered by one or several are often quickly developed and nurtured by others, increasing institutional competitiveness. Our strategy must be to go beyond this traditional mold, to differentiate ourselves within the top group of schools by our capacity to innovate and lead, to seize opportunities that capitalize on our unique strengths. In this plan, we seek distinction and distinctiveness by creating and nurturing signature academic initiatives that strengthen our engagement of real world issues by anticipating new models of knowledge formation, applying knowledge to societal issues, and providing students with the skills to succeed and lead in these areas. School plans describe a rich array of academic initiatives that represent strategies for enhancing existing peaks of excellence and establishing new ones. In some cases, an individual school is the home of an initiative because of the schools high concentration of faculty connected to that area. In other cases, initiatives provide interdisciplinary and international opportunities, involving faculty both within a single school and collaborations between schools in a university-wide effort. As part of the Faculty Enhancement Initiative we have committed to provide initial support for programs and centers that advance university strategic priorities. It is our hope that some of these, over time, develop into signature initiatives that advance Duke's distinctiveness. Complementing the new institutes and centers supported by the Faculty Enhancement Initiative, we seek to define and advance our goal to engage in real world problems by pursuing two key strategies:

Objective(s):

2.1: Signature Initiatives

2.1.1: Institute for Genome Sciences & Policy

2.1.2: Social Science Research Institute

2.1.3: John Hope Franklin Humanities Institute

2.1.4: Kenan Institute for Ethics

2.1.5: Nicholas Institute for Environmental Policy Solutions

2.1.6: Sanford Institute of Public Policy

2.2: New Initiatives

2.2.1: Global Health Institute

2.2.2: Institute for Brain, Mind, Genes, and Behavior

Content