Colleges and universities face many challenges, including issues of financial stability, student access, student and faculty recruitment and retention, racial inequity and technological change. Addressing these challenges requires reassessing the higher education model and reshaping the student experience. Since the four Endowment-supported institutions are different in size, academic focus and student backgrounds, we work to support the schools within their unique contexts.
As a contributing partner to Davidson College, Duke University, Furman University and Johnson C. Smith University, we aim to promote the long-term success of these institutions so that they may effectively serve their students and the Carolinas.
The Duke Endowment’s Higher Education program area strives to understand and support the selected priorities at each Endowment-supported school and help them learn from each other as they contribute to the higher education sector. We focus on advancing school priorities to continuously improve institutional health and strength, and share lessons learned. The long-term goal is advancing high-value education for students at each school.
We work with the schools to support select institutional priorities for long-term impact. We meet with leaders regularly at each institution to learn about and identify ways to help advance each school’s strategic priorities.
We connect the schools with each other, along with other institutions and potential partners, to enhance and share learning.
Recruiting, retaining and developing a diverse group of faculty is critical to delivering a high-quality education and is an important priority at each Endowment-supported institution. As a result, over the past 20 years, The Duke Endowment has awarded more than $200 million to Davidson College, Duke University, Furman University and Johnson C. Smith University to hire faculty, keep faculty salaries competitive and attract faculty who are experts in their fields, and provide professional and leadership development opportunities.
When he established his Endowment in 1924, Mr. Duke referred to education as “next to religion, the greatest civilizing influence.” As such, he specified that the greatest portion of the funds be awarded to four schools — Davidson College, Duke University, Johnson C. Smith University and Furman University — to help the institutions increase access to educational opportunities and become more affordable.
To derive full value from their college experiences, students must be equipped to handle the pressure and stress of college life. To help ensure that students can thrive, the Endowment has awarded $3.4 million in grants to support research and interventions through the Student Resilience and Well-Being Project on the four Endowment-supported campuses in North Carolina and South Carolina. The project aimed to understand and reinforce the conditions that strengthen college student resilience and well-being.
February 20, 2025 | Duke Chronicle
February 28, 2024 | Kristi K. Walters
