The Board of Trustees wrapped up several pieces of business and discussed priorities for the future at meetings Friday and Saturday. They approved the 2005-06 fiscal year budget and the construction of two new health facilities as well as selecting a new chair.
The $1.598-billion budget for the 2005-06 fiscal year includes a 5.1 percent increase to $41,239 in the total cost of undergraduate tuition, room and board; the increase was passed at the Board’s February meeting. Almost all of the $54.8 million allotted to institutional support will go toward need-based aid, marking a 7.5 percent increase over the current budget’s provision. Salaries and benefits are expected to increase by $23 million.
University officials said the budget will continue to provide support for the aspects of Duke’s strategic plan. The plan, called “Building on Excellence,” was adopted in 2001 and expires this year. It includes priorities such as the construction of new facilities, faculty development and collaboration among schools and departments.
Board Chair Peter Nicholas noted that because the University is standing at a juncture between strategic plans, outlines for institutional development will take into account both recent growth and future goals. The next plan, he said, will be aimed at putting the developments of the current plan to use.
“We are at the point where we have taken a sense of pause and will think strategically about the future and make sure all of these assets, all of these investments we’ve made now will enable programmatic initiatives,” Nicholas said.
Board member Robert Steel, Trinity ’73, who was elected as the Board’s new chair Saturday and will take office in July, echoed Nicholas’ thoughts. He noted the smooth transition between former President Nan Keohane and President Richard Brodhead established a “platform for success” for the next phase of strategic planning.
Steel said Brodhead will provide particular insight during the planning process into improving students’ experiences as undergraduates. “If you design the perfect person to help you think about issues related to undergraduate life, that person would be Dick Brodhead,” Steel explained.
In addition to the budget, the board approved the construction of the Duke Global Health Research Building. The GHRB will be the main laboratory facility of a six-university consortium that will research methods of combatting infectious diseases. The building will include biocontainment facilities for research as well as space for educational and training programs. Construction of the 33,145-square foot building will cost no more than $18 million, $6 million of which Duke will contribute.
The Board also approved the construction of the Duke Center for Integrative Medicine—a facility that will promote patients’ involvement in their own health care. The DCIM will be built on the campus of the Duke Center for Living off Erwin Road.
Funding for the $10-million project will be provided by the C.J. Mack Foundation, which is the charitable organization of Board member John Mack, Trinity ’68, and his wife Christy King Mack.
Construction of the projects is expected to begin shortly.
In other business:
The Board also approved the creation of a Ph.D. program in public policy studies. The interdisciplinary program will draw faculty from several departments in the College of Arts and Sciences as well as the University’s professional schools.
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