Duke

Recession Spurs Library to Reinvent Itself - April 25, 2011
Duke University Libraries delivers new, more efficient services in an increasingly digital age

Strategic Thinking on Global Projects - February 17, 2011
President discusses international initiatives, budget, the humanities

Saving on Mobile - February 11, 2011
New program leverages Duke's purchasing power

DART Update: Speaking More, Spending Less - February 09, 2011
Communication expenses cut by $5.5 million

Planning to Reduce the Budget by $100 Million - November 02, 2010
Executive Vice President Tallman Trask III and Provost Peter Lange talked with Working@Duke about some issues and challenges in preparing budgets for the coming year.

Computer Purchasing Program driving significant savings for Duke - November 01, 2010
An analysis of computer purchases during the fourth quarter of fiscal year 2010 reveals that Duke is not yet taking full advantage of the savings promised by the Computer Purchasing Program.

Duke Expects to Meet Budget Goals Through Attrition, Non-personnel Cuts - September 24, 2010
Top officials caution faculty that the remaining $40 million in budget cuts will be difficult and will require continued work on part of the Duke community.

An Update from President Brodhead - September 22, 2010
Letter to Duke community discusses university's current financial situation

Timecards Go Online - September 20, 2010
5,000 employees moving to electronic time reporting

'Hot list' online ordering offers savings for office supplies - September 02, 2010
Procurement Services has introduced a discounted "hot list" of the 800 most common office supply products Duke purchases through E-way, Staples' online ordering system.

Cutting $100 million: A look inside the DART process - June 07, 2010
Since forming in February 2009, DART (Duke Administrative Reform Team) has directed efforts that have led to $60 million in projected savings – more than half of what is needed by 2012.

New Duke Budget Manages Costs While Pursuing Priorities - May 14, 2010
Duke University has adopted a budget for the 2010-11 fiscal year that will boost spending on financial aid and advance key institutional priorities while carefully managing costs in response to economic realities.

Answers to Questions about University's 2010 Compensation Program - March 19, 2010
Following are answers to questions about the University's compensation plan announced by President Richard Brodhead as part of his recent financial update.

Brodhead Says Duke About Halfway in Addressing Budget Challenge - March 19, 2010
Brodhead says Duke is about halfway in addressing budget challenge.

Duke to Centralize Computer Purchasing for Savings - February 16, 2010
The Duke Computer Purchasing Program was developed to take advantage of volume purchasing to negotiation better pricing and extended warranties through our preferred vendors: Dell, Lenovo and Apple.

Dean's Dialogue: Advancing in Challenging Financial Times - February 12, 2010
Working@Duke recently asked William L. Chameides, dean for the Nicholas School of the Environment, and David F. Levi, dean for Duke Law, how their schools are weathering the economic downturn, while advancing strategic priorities.

Academic Council Hears About Impact of Cost Savings - December 04, 2009
Committee chair warns hard work remains ahead

Working Smaller and Smarter - November 18, 2009
Across Duke, people are retooling for a shrinking budget and workforce. Call center staff members are cross-training to process benefits changes. New imaging technology in Accounts Payable is saving staff time – and positions. And facilities crews are changing how often they cut grass and perform non-critical maintenance.

Sizing Up a Smaller Duke - November 12, 2009
For years, Duke has been on a high-growth trajectory. With declines in endowment returns and philanthropic giving, the university—like most of higher education—is adjusting to a challenging financial reality.

Student Health Pharmacy to Close - November 10, 2009
University officials announced that the pharmacy in the Student Health Center on West Campus will close December 18, due largely to rising operational and drug cost.

New cost-saving policy will affect workplace temperatures - November 09, 2009
As part of ongoing administrative reform efforts to reduce expenses, Duke has adopted a new policy for building temperatures during regular and off-hours in university buildings on the central control system. The new policy will also discontinue the use of portable space heaters by employees at work. In all, the plan is expected to save Duke more than $600,000 a year.

Employees Learn More About Monthly Retirement Incentive - October 30, 2009
Kyle Cavanaugh, vice president for Human Resources, greeted a packed conference room on Wednesday for the first of a series of information sessions about the Monthly Staff Retirement Incentive.

Faculty Recruitment Remains Active Despite Recession - October 23, 2009
As part of a plan to spur new faculty recruitment, the university is planning to create a central fund to provide financial assistance for eligible faculty members who may be considering retirement but have faced downturns in their retirement funds because of the recession.

Duke Endowment Down in 2008 - October 07, 2009
Duke University's endowment declined by 24.3 percent last year, losing more than a billion and a half dollars in value.

New Retirement Incentive To Be Offered - September 14, 2009
Duke University announced that a voluntary retirement incentive will be offered to salaried (monthly paid) staff members who meet specific criteria.

Nearly 300 Staff Accept Retirement Incentive - July 08, 2009
When Duke offered a retirement incentive to University staff earlier this year, the decision to accept was easy for Kenneth Sanders.

Questions and Answers About Retirement Incentive - June 09, 2009
The staff retirement incentive plan offers a larger pension and earlier eligibility for retiree health insurance for those who accept it.

Economic Outlook Clouded by Uncertain Market Forces - June 09, 2009
The university has worked deliberately since last fall to close a $125 million budget shortfall over three years, but unknowns exist: the depth of the recession, the future value of Duke’s investments and the full effects of cost-saving measures underway.

Duke Moving to Online Pay Statements - May 28, 2009
In July, Duke University and Health System will transition to full adoption of online pay statements through the Duke@Work self-service website for those employees participating in direct deposit.

DART: Targeted Cost Savings - May 27, 2009
Changes such as online pay statements reflect the beginning of a three-year process of reducing the University's budget by approximately $125 million as a result of the global economic slowdown.

Information Sessions Offer Details on Staff Voluntary Retirement Incentive Plan - May 19, 2009
55 Duke employees attended information sessions last week to learn more about a staff voluntary retirement incentive plan that offers an enhanced pension and earlier eligibility for retiree health insurance. The incentive is available to 825 university staff members who participate in the Employees Retirement Plan, a pension plan.

Trustees Approve Flat 2009-10 Budget - May 09, 2009
Continuing its efforts to respond to the tight economy, Duke University’s Board of Trustees on Friday approved a flat $1.8 billion budget for the 2009-10 fiscal year beginning July 1.

A Smaller Duke - May 05, 2009
As North Carolina’s unemployment hovers at nearly 11 percent, the number of people looking for work at Duke has hit an all-time high: 10,367 people applied this January – a 52 percent increase over the same month last year. But applicants face increasingly long odds of landing a job at Duke.

Administrators Discuss Plans to Deal with Budget Shortfall - April 22, 2009
Nearly 500 faculty and staff turned out for the Primetime employee forum on Tuesday to hear plans for how Duke was dealing with the recession, which has left a $125 million hole in its budget.

University Announces Retirement Incentive for Staff - April 21, 2009
Duke University has announced a special retirement incentive plan for about 600-700 staff to help reduce the size of the workforce as part of continuing efforts to address its $125 million budgetary shortfall.

Questions for Duke on the Economy - April 19, 2009
As university employees hear more about plans for a smaller Duke, two questions are on the minds of many: Will there be a retirement buy-out package and will there be layoffs?

Peter Lange Charges Deans to Review Strategic Plan - March 31, 2009
In a memo to Duke University deans, Provost Lange asks all schools to review the Strategic Plan, Making a Difference and report back on how they can best pursue their objectives amid tighter constraints. The goal is to have a final plan by late winter 2010.

New University Process to Review Hiring for Staff Vacancies - March 20, 2009
As part of the effort to address its budgetary challenges, the university has initiated a process to better manage existing vacancies and recruitment of all staff positions.

Duke Committee Seeks Administrative Reforms - March 19, 2009
As part of Duke’s ongoing efforts to manage costs, the university has established a team of faculty and staff to identify opportunities to redesign major processes and services that span the institution in an effort to reduce costs while strengthening support for the academic mission.

Creative cost-cutting ideas from Duke community - March 13, 2009
Many faculty and staff have submitted cost-cutting suggestions through a new Duke website, "Enduring A Troubled Economy," which serves as a central location for information about Duke’s efforts to manage expenses.

In Letter to Staff, President Brodhead Outlines Duke's Response to Economic Downtown - March 01, 2009
President Richard H. Brodhead described how the economy is affecting Duke University and the steps being taken to keep Duke strong in the future.

A Time of Challenge, Not Retreat - December 17, 2008
President Richard H. Brodhead sent a message to Duke faculty and staff Wednesday that said even though Duke continues to enjoy “great strength and stability,” he has asked deans and administrators to begin preparing scenarios for future savings.

Following Duke's Financials - November 10, 2008
The fallout from the failure of financial institutions and declines in the stock market have fueled concerns about the economy and raised questions among faculty and staff about the impact on Duke. Executive Vice President Tallman Trask III sat down with Working@Duke recently to discuss the University’s financial position and impact of the financial crisis on operations and Duke’s future plans.

President Brodhead's Email to the Duke Community - October 23, 2008
The continuing news about the economy has made this a time of uncertainty and painful prospects for virtually every family in America. I want you to know how these developments are affecting Duke.