Duke University is an American private institution of higher learning and considered one of the premiere medical research universities in the country.US News & World Report: Top Medical Schools (April 16, 2008)

Duke University has two undergraduate schools: the Trinity College of Arts and Sciences and the Pratt School of Engineering. It also has eight graduate schools, which include: Graduate School, Pratt School of Engineering, Nicholas School of the Environment and Earth Sciences, School of Medicine, School of Nursing, Fuqua School of Business, School of Law, and the Duke University Divinity School. In September of 2007, U.S. News & World Report ranked Duke as the 8th best university in the United States.U.S. News & World Report: 2008 America's Best Colleges Report (DATE)

The Duke athletic department offers a variety of varsity and intramural sports for both men and women. The basketball team is always in the top rankings. Led by head coach Mike Krzyzewski, the Blue Devils have won 3 national championships and appeared in 10 Final Fours. The team is also known for their home court advantage at Cameron Indoor Stadium, and the wildly raucous support they receive from the student body, known as the 'Cameron Crazies'.

Thanks to good leadership and support from the Methodist Church, Duke University evolved from a small rural school founded in 1838 to a degree-granting school called Normal College in 1851 to Trinity College in 1859. After the Civil War, a forward-thinking young Northerner became the President of Trinity College and began to change Trinity by revising the curriculum, establishing a research library, and convincing the Trustees to relocate to an urban setting. The college chose the city of Durham, influenced by the strong support of Methodists Washington Duke and Julian S. Carr, two local tobacco magnates.

By World War 1, Trinity was a leading liberal arts college in the South. Trinity College gradually became more influential, developing a reputation for independent thought and scholarship. In the 1920's, President William P. Few and philanthropist James B. Duke worked together to lay the foundation for the university. The Duke Endowment was created, Trinity College campus was renovated and expanded, and the name was changed to Duke University in 1924.

Under President Few's 30-year leadership, various schools and graduate schools were established, including the School of Religion, the Medical School and hospital, the School of Nursing, the School of Forestry, a reorganized Law School, and the School of Engineering. Duke became a member of the Association of American Universities in 1938. The Business School was created in 1969. http://library.duke.edu/uarchives/history/narrativehistory.html

Just like individuals and businesses, colleges and universities are devising strategies to cope with global recession. With declines in contributions and a shrinking endowment fund. Duke University has committed to reducing its budget by $125 million over the next three years. Duke President Richard H. Brodhead advised the staff that the financial picture today differs radically from the prosperity of recent years. http://www.universityworldnews.com/article.php?story=20090313110140377

Personnel compensation is Duke's largest budget item, comprising 60% of the budget. http://www.heraldsun.com/pages/full_story/push?article-Duke+makes+-progress-+on+cuts%20&id=3630897 Duke is attempting to save in this area by offering its employees the option to retire early and by implementing a moratorium on raises and filling vacancies. The workforce has been reduced by 400 positions. The strategy so far has saved about $25 million. About 200 more early retirement offers will be made in the coming months. http://www.heraldsun.com/pages/full_story/push?article-Duke+to+offer+more+buyout+packages%20&id=4040203

So far, unlike other prestigious universities, Duke has not resorted to layoffs. Avoiding layoffs seems to be a priority for the administration; Duke officials have repeatedly assured employees that no layoffs are planned. Any additional cost savings measures will probably not be disclosed until the officials know how many of the most recent wave of early retirement offers are accepted. The deadline is Dec. 8, 2009.