Music Professor John Brown leads a class. New initiatives in the arts were among the highlights of 2007. | Duke University Photography
The Year in Review
Annual Report looks ahead by reviewing the year past
Wednesday, February 6, 2008
Durham, NC -- The beginning of the new year can only mean one thing – time for one last look back at last year.
Duke’s Year In Review, or annual report, is now available. Like past reviews, it is loaded with reports of accomplishments for the academic year 2006-2007 – such as faculty promotions and new appointments, student awards and achievements, and new programs and buildings.
However, the focus of the latest Year In Review is as much forward-looking as it is reflective of the past. One of the major milestones of the past academic year was the development of a $1.3 billion, eight-year strategic blueprint to guide the future of Duke.
As President Richard Brodhead wrote in his introduction to the Year in Review, this new strategic plan “reflects the collective boldness and thoughtfulness of many at Duke, and will help us focus the strengths and enthusiasm of people across the university to address real-world issues. The strategic plan has been dubbed Making a Difference. That is what we will do, by empowering students and faculty, by providing them the infrastructure to succeed, and by ensuring connection to the real world.”
The Year In Review goes into greater detail about five key initiatives within the plan: strengthening faculty, engaging students, transforming the campus, enriching the arts and opening opportunities for students to attend Duke. Taken together, achievement of these goals will transform the university into one that relies on multi-disciplinary collaborations, according to those who developed the plan.
Blueprint for Success
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The Year in Review looks at the goals set by Making a Difference, Duke's strategic plan. The goals include:
For more, click here for the strategic plan.
The report also details the activities and accomplishments within individual schools and departments, such as student and faculty awards, major gifts of support and significant research findings garnering media attention. The Year In Review also includes a detailed financial statement covering Duke University and Duke University Health System.
Some milestones of the past academic year include:
- The creation of African and African American Studies as an official academic department.
- The three-quarter mark was reached toward raising $300 million for financial aid.
- The French Science Center and the 40,000 square foot West Campus Plaza officially opened, and ground was broken for the new Duke National University of Singapore-Graduate Medical School Singapore.
- More than 1,500 surplus computers were given to the Durham public schools and community centers as a part of the Duke Computer Exchange Program.
- Duke Forest celebrated its 75th birthday.
