A $16 million grant from The Duke Endowment will amplify 老牛影视鈥檚 efforts to recruit diverse faculty and develop programming that enhances an inclusive environment, President Vincent E. Price announced Thursday.
As part of Duke鈥檚 , the grant allocates $10.5 million toward recruiting and retaining diverse faculty and $5.5 million to support programming to increase the university community鈥檚 understanding of historical and current racism, to combat racism and to create a more inclusive environment.
鈥淚ncreasing faculty diversity is a critical component of our efforts to advance racial equity at Duke, and this grant will help us recruit and support the faculty leaders of tomorrow,鈥 said Price. 鈥淲e are very grateful for the support of The Duke Endowment as we work to build an even brighter future for Duke.鈥
Through a model developed by Duke鈥檚 Office of Faculty Advancement, the university will provide funds to schools seeking to recruit underrepresented faculty. In addition, the office will enable training programs and resources for search committees to ensure that their searches are rigorous and inclusive.
A second component will be the recruitment of diverse faculty in specific scholarly areas. Managed by an interdisciplinary committee appointed by the provost, this approach will connect faculty across schools, promoting community and intellectual synergies.
鈥淭he Duke Endowment is a wonderful partner in helping us achieve even greater faculty excellence,鈥 Provost Sally Kornbluth said. 鈥淭hese funds will enable us to continue to build that excellence in all our academic programs across the university.鈥
Additional university funding and private philanthropy will add to The Duke Endowment award.
鈥溊吓Ｓ笆 is committed to advancing diversity, equity and inclusion 鈥 not just for its own community, but for North Carolina and beyond,鈥 said Minor Shaw, chair of The Duke Endowment鈥檚 board of trustees. 鈥淭he Duke Endowment has been a partner in this effort for many years, and we are particularly pleased to support the university鈥檚 ambitious and inspiring plans to prepare a new generation of students and scholars.鈥
In addition to seeking to recruit more diverse faculty, the funding will help Duke create a more inclusive environment for faculty, students and the broader university community through a variety of education programs. This will include the enrichment of curricula in its schools, and enhanced community building among underrepresented faculty.
On Thursday afternoon, President Price updated the Duke community on the school鈥檚 anti-racism agenda. This forward-looking plan includes funding for the expansion of the diversity hiring program, a comprehensive climate assessment to address disparities in the workplace, and the removal of a building name, among other notable initiatives.
Price鈥檚 message can be found on Duke鈥檚 new anti-racism . A media kit is available .