Support for Academic Engagement Regarding World Events

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This message was sent to all Duke faculty.

Dear Faculty Colleagues,

The past few weeks have been heartbreaking for many people worldwide, including members of the Duke community who have been personally affected by the Israel-Hamas war.

In this moment especially, faculty members are called upon to do many things. In addition to teaching, research and other forms of scholarly service, many of you are also providing guidance and counsel to our students and others who rely on you for expertise, analysis and compassionate support as they cope with and respond to these distressing world events.

While we, as educators, are accustomed to helping students consider complex issues and explore divergent views, we also understand that this is a particularly challenging moment that is further complicated by the emotional pain that we are all feeling at the loss of human life.

I recognize the need to support faculty in navigating this time and as such, my office is working to develop additional resources to support you and your engagement with students and our broader academic community. I will soon follow up with more information about those offerings. In the meantime, I welcome your input regarding the types of support that would be most valuable to you. Please feel free to provide that input by writing to dukeprovost@duke.edu.

I thank you for your ongoing work in service to our academic mission, and your commitment to ensuring our campus community celebrates and honors freedom of expression while fostering and modeling scholarly discourse that supports an inclusive, respectful and safe campus environment.

Sincerely,

Alec

Alec D. Gallimore, Ph.D. 

Provost

Alfred J. Hooks E '68 Distinguished Professor