Duke Universities newest eating facility to open Saturday

The renovated West Union building on Duke's West Campus will reopen this Saturday, 8/27. The campus' newest eating facility houses 13 venues with 12 operated by local restaurateurs and include choices such as southern comfort food, Chinese dumplings, ramen, pizza, pasta, Indian cuisine, steak, sushi, and a wide array of vegetarian and vegan options throughout. 

Duke University to increase minimum wage to $13 per hour

Duke University and Health System will increase its minimum wage to $13 per hour for all regular staff; those who work at least 20 hours per week and 36 weeks per year, effective Jan. 1, 2017,Duke’s current minimum wage of $12 was last adjusted in July 2015.

Duke University receives grant to expand career opportunities for Ph. D students

A $350,000, three-year grant from the National Endowment for the Humanities (NEH) has allowed Duke University to create a program that will enhance the curriculum and expand career opportunities for doctoral students in the humanities. The program will support skills training relevant for both academic and non-academic career paths, a wide array of new internship opportunities, and curricular innovations that incorporate collaborative research, computational humanities/media, and engagement with policy analysis.

Duke University to construct new alumni building

Duke University will begin construction on their new alumni building in the fall. The building, currently occupied by the Office of News and Communications, located at 615 Chapel Drive, will be renovated into administrative offices and meeting rooms, adding approximately 7,400 square feet. A new 16,900-square foot alumni office building will be constructed next to it. Also, a new events building and meeting pavilion will feature events spaces, restrooms, a catering kitchen, a reception area and a dedicated meeting space. The goal completion date is December 2017.

Duke University to build a third Medical Sciences Research Building

Duke University has revealed plans to build a third Medical Sciences Research Building ,MSRB III. Preliminary site work began over Memorial Day weekend in anticipation of approval to construct the new $103 million, six floors above ground and one below, 155,000-square-foot building that will exclusively house bench lab research. MSRB III will be located on Research Drive between the Occupational & Environmental Safety Building and the Medical Sciences Research Building II. Construction is expected to begin immediately and completed in the late summer/fall of 2018.

NCCU recieves a $1.1M grant from the Institute of Education

The N.C. Central University School of Education has received a $1.1 million grant from the Institute of Education Sciences (IES) to broaden participation of underrepresented groups in the scientific community. NCCU will create training programs to develop a more diverse field of top-quality education researchers. In partnership with Duke University and UNC-Wilmington, NCCU will launch the Research Institute for Scholars of Equity (RISE). The program will enroll 60 upper-level undergraduate students to study inequities in American education, especially those affecting African-American and Hispanic students.

Duke University professor produces manual of best practices for police departments

David Schanzer, associate professor at Duke University’s Sanford School of Public Policy and director of the Triangle Center on Terrorism and Homeland Security has produced a new manual designed for police departments that identify a set of promising practices for using community policing to prevent violent extremism. The manual is based on a research project led by Schanzer and funded by the National Institute of Justice, United States Department of Justice.

TEDx event to be held July 9 at The Carolina Theatre

Durham’s first TEDx event will take place on July 9 at The Carolina Theatre from 9:30 a.m. to 6:30 p.m. 20 presenters (five in total are Duke University employees), will share their ideas during the event. TEDxDurham organizers received about 180 nominations for local speakers, which were then narrowed down to 21 people after an interview process. Talks will range from the arts to wearable, electronic textiles to social media.

Duke University unveiled the new name of their updated on-campus accommodations

Duke unveiled the new name of the updated on-campus accommodations, announcing the former R. David Thomas Center will reopen in January 2017 as the JB Duke Hotel.The space has been undergoing renovations since March 2015. Crews are making extensive upgrades to modernize the building, which will feature 198 guestrooms, including 11 unique suites, to be used by visitors to Duke and Durham. Duke’s Science Drive/Cameron Boulevard parking garage is also scheduled to be completed in January next year, and will accommodate 2,320 vehicles.

Construction starts on Duke's new softball stadium

Duke athletic officials broke ground on the new softball stadium construction project Monday. The future softball stadium is located at the corner of Broad and Markham streets.Duke is in the process of adding softball as a varsity, scholarship sport for the spring 2018 season.Construction is scheduled to last 12 months so the team should be able to use the facility next summer in advance of their first season in spring 2018.

Duke Names New Assistant Director

Leslie Parkins has been named assistant director of the Duke Office of Civic Engagement, which serves as the campus hub for university collaborations with communities on pressing social challenges.

Duke University appoints new Dean of Humanities

Duke University has appointed art historian Gennifer Weisenfeld as the Dean of Humanities. She has been a professor in the Department of Art, Art History & Visual Studies, and will now serve as dean through June 2019.

Duke University Chapel to reopen May 11

The Duke University Chapel is scheduled to reopen on Wednesday, May 11, with a daylong celebration beginning at 10 a.m.

Duke University launches new website to introduce potential newcomers to Durham

Duke University launched a new website in February called Duke in Durham. The website was developed by the Office of Public Affairs and Government Relations to introduce Durham to people who are considering coming to work or study at Duke. It provides information about housing, schools, safety, health care and transportation. In addition, it lists attractions and places worth visiting in the city.

Duke University names West Campus quad in honor of Julian Abele

Duke University has recently named the main quad on West Campus for the black architect Julian Abele, who designed most of the university’s most iconic buildings such as Duke Chapel, Cameron Indoor Stadium and the Allen Building.

Duke will be first major tenant in the 27 story Durham tower

Duke University has signed on as the first tenant in the 27 story One City Center tower. The lease includes 55,000 square feet of the building's 130,000 square feet of office space. The building project has about a 27-month construction timeline and is now on track to open the street-level retail spaces and the office floors by late 2017. 

Several Durham venues to host 2016 Powerade State Games

The Powerade State Games of North Carolina, the largest multi-sport, amateur athletic sporting event will be held in the Triangle, will host events in Raleigh, Cary and Durham from June 4 - June 26, 2016.  Over 12,000 athletes will participate in athletics ranging from table tennis to wrestling. Durham will have several venues that host events such as Duke University, Durham Parks and Recreation locations and new this year, the American Tobacco Campus, which will host a one-time-only “pop-up” disc golf course that will wind its way through campus, including the Durham Bulls Athletic Park.

Duke University's new partnership increasees access for high-achieving, low-income students

Duke University is partnering with QuestBridge, a California-based nonprofit that helps connect high-achieving, low-income students with selective universities by providing a single, digital meeting point where prospective students can find member universities, scholarship providers, enrichment programs, and employers. Students who apply and are accepted to Duke through the QuestBridge application process will receive full scholarships.

New Bull City Connector stops along Duke University's campus have increased usage

New Bull City Connector stops along Duke’s campus added in August; helped increase Duke-related ridership by 12 percent, according to a survey by GoSmart. That percentage represents a jump of about 30 more passengers, now about 210 each weekday.

Duke University to replace three dorms

Duke University plans to replace three 100 year old dormitories on East Campus.The $25 million project will yield a new, 250-bed dorm that will house more students than the Epworth, Jarvis and East residence halls combined. It will also become the final piece of the new quad Duke has been developing in the southwest portion of what’s now its freshman campus. Decisions are still pending on the fate of the existing structures.