Duke University Pratt School of Engineering

What's next in Development in Pratt School of Engineering?

A TV celebrity I watch regularly would say "Boo Yah" for the Financial Aid Initiative (FAI) if he knew that such a program was currently underway at Duke Unversity. I can think of no finer gift you might make than a scholarship or a fellowship endowment for a deserving student who is attending Duke.

Many of you have come to the realization that there is always some type of special develoment program going on at Duke. And you are correct! Whether we are campaigning for the annual fund, endowment dollars or capital supprt for buildlings, Duke is always in some type of fundraising campaign. This year is no exception, but we are not calling it a campaign. Instead, we are calling it an "Initiative."

The Financial Aid Initiative (FAI), when successfully completed, will raise over $300 million in new endowment support for undergraduate and graduate students at Duke University. What is additionally exciting about this program is we have $100 million in challenge funds (matching money) to encourage you to participate. For every dollar you commit to at the $100K level and greater, the FAI will match your dollar with another dollar. Matching money is available for gifts of $100K up to $1M! Therefore, a gift of $100K will be $200K with the match and a gift of $250K will be $500K with the match, etc.

Each individual school at Duke has a part in the overall goal of $300 million. The Pratt School of Engineering's goal is $20 million including the matching money. As of December 2006, we have raised half of our goal. The Initiative ends on December 30, 2008, however the matching funds could be used up before then.

Engineering Scholarship providers are recognized and honored twice a year at Duke with their respective students. The University has a scholarship luncheon or dinner on campus in the fall, and the Pratt School of Engineering has its annual Alumni Association Awards Banquet usually the third weekend in April. This is a wonderful event where in addition to recognizing scholarship donors and recipients, we also recognize and honor our Distinguished Alumnus, Service, Young Alumnus, Teaching and Research Award winners.

What can I say to urge you to be part of this special Financial Aid Initiative? I wish you could be here to see our amazing students in action. Day after day I meet young people who want to make a difference in the world. Pratt is experiencing what you might call a "grass roots movement" to improve the quality of life and health care for people in the developing world. From demanding more design courses focused on real world problems of developing world hospitals annd clinics, to participating in Duke's chapters of Engineers Without Borders and Engineering World Health to launching new non-profit social venture companies, our students are involved.

It is heartening to see so clearly that we are moving our school of engineering in the right direction. At a recent faculty meeting, our professors voted unanimously that our top priority is to increase our investment in the education of our undergraduate students. Over the next year, you will learn more as our plans unfold about exciting new undergraduate "classatories" that blur the lines between classroom teaching techniques and hands-on laboratory learning.

I hope you recognize that you make our success possible. We in engineering are the jewel and envy of Duke's alumni. We have the highest percentage of participation in the annual fund of any school at Duke by a very wide margin. I am so pleased and grateful that you continue to share your enthusiasm for your alma matter. Thank you!

Robert W. "Judge" Carr, Jr. E'71
Senior Associate Dean
Development and Alumni Affairs
Edmund T. Pratt, Jr. School of Engineering