The Academic Project Management Core (APMC) provides project management support to schools and units for academic, administrative, and strategic projects.
Project managers can be secured for short- and long-term projects at varying levels of effort, providing a flexible means of staffing special projects or other short-term needs. Please submit requests for support as soon as possible (at least one month in advance) so that we can ensure adequate lead time in assigning a project manager to work with you.
Fees for the service are on a cost-recovery basis. The Office of the Provost covers a portion of each project manager’s time to support professional development and leave time.
The APMC is a new initiative – started in spring 2025 – and currently includes two project managers who have a diverse set of project management skills and familiarity with the Duke environment. Project managers are supported and advised by Jamie Wylie – Director, Duke Office of Research Initiatives – and Laura Howes – Assistant Vice Provost, Interdisciplinary Programs and Strategic Initiatives. Project managers also collaborate with Duke’s Research Project Management Core, creating a community of practice for addressing common project management needs. For questions, please contact Jamie Wylie (Jamie.Wylie@duke.edu) or Laura Howes (Laura.Howes@duke.edu). To submit a request or discuss a project idea, please submit a request form and we will follow up to discuss your needs.
Example services the APMC can provide
GENERAL PROJECT OR PROGRAM MANAGEMENT
- Planning and implementation support for new academic and administrative programs, initiatives, centers
- Committee/working group coordination
- Strategic planning processes
- Process improvements
ACADEMIC INITIATIVES
- Departmental/program reviews
- Planning for new programs
- Curriculum assessment and redesign
- Coordination between units related to new academic initiatives, joint degrees, etc.
PROJECT TEAM AND PERSONNEL MANAGEMENT
- Team facilitation and elicitation of shared goals
- Short-term support to fill strategic, project-based gaps for new initiatives or due to vacancies
- Train and supervise student assistants
COMMUNICATIONS AND INFORMATION MANAGEMENT
- Strategic planning for internal and external communication efforts
- Inventorying and data collection to inform efforts
- Development of dashboards or other means of collecting uniform program information
Effort Costs and Allocations
Estimated costs for effort include the current fringe benefit rates and the salary of the assigned project manager. Project managers are assigned based on the complexity of the project and availability. Costs will vary based on the level of the project manager assigned.
Current monthly rates are $850-$1,160 per 10% effort (approximately four hours per week).
Effort may be allocated to sponsored funds (as allowable in the terms and conditions of the award), internal awards, or departmental/discretionary funds.
Example Effort Allocations and Associated Rates
| Effort Needed | Approximate Hours Per Week | Monthly Effort Rate (salary + fringe) | Example Engagements for this Amount of Effort |
|---|---|---|---|
| 10% | 4 | $850-$1,160 per month |
|
| 25% | 10 | $2,100-$2,900 per month |
|
| 50% | 20 | $4,200 - $5,800 per month |
|