Thinking BIG: Pratt 2039
In anticipation of our centennial in 2039, the Pratt School of Engineering conducted an aspirational visioning exercise to identify strategic priorities for the decades ahead.
Executive Summary
We sought and received input from key stakeholder groups, including students, faculty, alumni, staff, leadership across Duke and representatives from industry.
Our efforts were concentrated on identifying key actions, processes, and initiatives to advance the Pratt School of Engineering’s research enterprise, educational mission, and the cultural and societal impact of the school.
The committee received near-unanimous encouragement from all stakeholders to think big and propose bold, actionable initiatives.
Thinking big is inherent to several recommendations to undertake major research initiatives, extend our emphasis on design and real-world experience throughout our students’ educational experience, and take bold steps to increase our connectivity with our alumni and with industry.
We recognize that the success of any future initiatives will hinge upon our ability to retain, attract, and recruit students, staff, and faculty who feel valued and that their
careers are continually enhanced by their experience.
This includes ensuring that the Pratt School of Engineering builds a culture of diversity, inclusion and respect for all community members.
It also includes ensuring that all employees have opportunities for career advancement, for example by supporting professional development opportunities for staff and developing stable and attractive career advancement models for non-tenure-track career research and teaching faculty.
Think Big
Propose bold, actionable initiatives—Duke Blue Sky Ideas
Seek Interdisciplinarity
Leverage our position as part of a world-class, academically diverse university in both research and education
Reach Outward
Build outreach and partnerships with alumni and industry to increase societal impact
Value Our People
Nurture a culture of diversity and inclusion; provide pathways for careers to flourish
High-Impact Research
Invest in pursuit of new avenues and talent
Best-in-Class Educational Experience
Be a thought and practice leader in engineering pedagogy
Diversity, Equity & Inclusion
Be committed to creating a diverse community, at all levels
Meaningful Alumni Relationships
Engage our graduates as partners in advancing our missions and vision
Industry Connections & Investments
Develop new opportunities, including in the dynamic Research Triangle Park community
An Outstanding Place to Live and Work
A supportive environment and work-life balance are crucial for attracting faculty and staff
Our Physical and Virtual Plant
Continue strategic investment in physical and virtual spaces
Global Impact and Branding
Essential to our vision of engineering in service to society
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The Pratt 2039 Steering Committee was charged in early 2020 by Dean Ravi V. Bellamkonda and the Engineering Faculty Council (EFC) with leading our community in an aspirational visioning exercise with the goal of answering two questions so we can realize our mission of positively impacting society in the decades ahead:
- How can we best position Duke Engineering to maximize the long-term impacts of our educational programs and research enterprise?
- Who do we want to be in 2039, as a school and as a community, in service to society?
The process was intended to have two phases. In the first, the Pratt 2039 Steering Committee worked with members of our community to think big about what Duke Engineering could be when we celebrate our centennial in 2039 and to propose ambitious goals and initiatives that will help us reach that vision. In Phase 2, we will chart our path toward those goals by creating deliberate steps including financial modeling and implementation plans.
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The committee’s work began in early March 2020. Shortly after the first meeting, Duke issued university-wide work-from-home requirements for all faculty and staff and announced that the remainder of the spring semester would be taught virtually due to the worldwide COVID-19 pandemic.
To allow the faculty to adjust to this new and sudden situation, the group’s work was temporarily paused. Work resumed in mid-April and progressed through mid-October, at which time the group delivered its final report to Dean Bellamkonda and EFC Chair Craig Henriquez. A period of community review followed, with opportunities for feedback to be shared both online and at community meetings held through March 2021.
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The committee outlined a methodology by which they would review data, gain input, and ultimately determine recommendations. First, the committee received presentations from school leaders in the areas of education and research. These presentations provided committee members with baseline data about the school’s past and current performance and reviewed the leadership’s immediate-term goals and objectives in these areas.
Next, in order to seek ideas and input from faculty, staff, students, alumni, board members, and other stakeholders, the group held a series of focus groups. These focus groups were designed to ensure that representatives from all engineering units and stakeholder groups had an opportunity to participate in the process.
Focus groups were held with tenure-track faculty, other regular rank faculty, undergraduate and graduate students, staff, members of our Board of Visitors, and deans of all other Duke Schools. Committee members invited and received input from colleagues in faculty meetings and individual conversations. The committee consulted with leaders of the Engineering Alumni Council (EAC) to better understand the alumni perspective. Finally, the committee underwent more typical strategic planning activities including preparing a SWOT (Strengths, Weaknesses Opportunities, Threats) analysis, participating in a long-term visioning exercise, and identifying broad themes and specific recommendations for achieving that vision.
The Committee
Vinik Dean of Engineering Ravi V. Bellamkonda and Craig Henriquez, chair of the Engineering Faculty Council, formed the Pratt 2039 Steering Committee with input from the department chairs. Membership was intended to be representative across departments, ranks and fields, as well as gender and background.
Joseph Izatt of Duke BME served as chair. Staff from the school’s Administration, Finance, and Communications & Marketing teams provided invaluable service to the committee.
Ana P. Barros
Edmund T. Pratt, Jr. School Distinguished Professor Emeritus of Civil and Environmental Engineering
Kenneth R Brown
Michael J. Fitzpatrick Distinguished Professor of Engineering
Warren M. Grill
Edmund T. Pratt, Jr. School Distinguished Professor of Biomedical Engineering
Lisa Gresham Huettel
Associate Dean of Undergraduate Education, Edmund T. Pratt, Jr. School Professor of the Practice of ECE
Christine K. Payne
Yoh Family Professor of Mechanical Engineering and Materials Science
Guillermo Sapiro
James B. Duke Distinguished Professor of Electrical and Computer Engineering
David E. Schaad
Interim Chair of Civil and Environmental Engineering, Professor of the Practice of CEE
Tatiana Segura
Professor of Biomedical Engineering
Michael Zavlanos
Professor in the Thomas Lord Department of Mechanical Engineering and Materials Science