Board OKs academic plan, expands financial aid

The trustees' business this weekend mapped the long-term path of Duke's academics along with its short-term finances. After unanimously approving "Building on Excellence," the University's new five-year academic plan, trustees passed significant financial aid increases, which include extending financial aid to cover one full summer and giving aid to international students. They also approved a 4.4 percent tuition and fees increase for Arts and Sciences undergraduates, a 4.1 percent increase for Pratt School of Engineering undergraduates and boosts of between 3.5 and 6 percent for graduate and professional students.

The $727.1 million long-range plan sets out priorities for all Duke's academic functions and maps growth of the faculty, integration of technology into education, spread of global reputation and influence, formation of new leadership roles in the Triangle and the state, and even definition of student social life and diversity.

"Most of our discussion was very academically oriented," said board chair Harold "Spike" Yoh, Engineering '58. "There was complete satisfaction. We were very positive about the stated goals."

At their December retreat, which was devoted almost entirely to review and critique of the plan, the trustees were largely supportive, but asked Provost Peter Lange, the 175-page document's author, to rewrite sections on student affairs and technology.

At the most recent meeting, the trustees outlined a schedule for monitoring and assessing the plan. Standing committees will bear much of the oversight burden until the full board takes on an extensive review in 2003.

The board's business and finance committee talked extensively this weekend about financial aid changes and the tuition increase, which is proportionally larger than increases over the last two years. Previously, tuition was boosted by 3.1 percent. Mandatory tuition and fees will increase to $26,768. Total cost, which includes room and board, will increase by 4.2 percent to $34,416. The increase, President Nan Keohane said, is a direct result of salary increases. "We are very people intensive; it's a labor intensive enterprise," she said. "That was one of the main drivers. At the same time, we're taking some significant steps in financial aid.... The trustees made clear that financial aid will increase at least as much if not more than tuition."

Trustees voted to extend undergraduate financial aid to include two summer session terms and waive summer earnings requirements for students in summer school or studying abroad. Also, international students who matriculate beginning in fall 2002 will be eligible for financial aid. "It's very hard to predict the future because it's hard to predict the economy. We try to be sensitive to the economic pressures on our families," Keohane said, vowing to keep a close eye on the faltering economy. "We're not trying to get too much across the consumer price index, but you're not going to see a tuition freeze or a major jump."

IN OTHER BUSINESS: The academic affairs committee briefly revisited a report on admissions and financial aid that revealed that one in five Duke students, who otherwise would not have been admitted, were admitted because of their wealth or their athletic ability. The committee reaffirmed its commitment to reducing the number of fundraising slots and discussed new admissions criteria that place emphasis on "intellectual yeast." The new criteria is expected to affect the admission of about 30 incoming students.