Duke Launches AI Pilot, Faces Federal Probes, Announces Cost-Cutting, and Celebrates Basketball Wins in Major Campus Update

Good afternoon, Blue Devils! It's Monday, September 8th, and here's what's happening at Duke University. Currently in Durham, it's sunny with a temperature of 61 degrees Fahrenheit. Expect mostly cloudy skies this morning, transitioning to mostly sunny conditions by the afternoon, with temperatures reaching a high of 78 degrees. Duke University has launched a pilot project in collaboration with OpenAI to study the effects of generative AI, such as ChatGPT, on academic life. Since June 2nd, all undergraduate and professional school members have had free access to ChatGPT-4o, alongside the introduction of "DukeGPT," a university-run AI tool providing private and secure access to educational resources. The Provost’s Initiative aims to evaluate AI's academic implications and will provide recommendations by the end of the fall semester. In other news, the U.S. Department of Education has initiated a civil rights investigation into Duke University and the Duke Law Journal over allegations of race-based discrimination in editor selection practices. The probe focuses on claims that the university used race, color, and national origin as factors in selecting law journal members, potentially violating Title VI of the Civil Rights Act. Education Secretary Linda McMahon and Health Secretary Robert F. Kennedy Jr. have urged Duke to revise its policies and form a panel to address these concerns. Additionally, the Trump administration has frozen $108 million in federal research funding to Duke University due to allegations of racial discrimination via affirmative action practices. The National Institutes of Health halted the funding following a letter from the Department of Health and Human Services and the Education Department accusing Duke of racial preferences in hiring, admissions, scholarships, and more. The administration demands the university dismantle any race-based advantages and establish a new government-approved Merit and Civil Rights Committee to oversee reform. In response to financial uncertainties linked to federal funding challenges, Duke University has announced cost-cutting measures, including a hiring freeze, elimination of vacant positions, and voluntary employee buyouts. The university is implementing a "voluntary separation incentive program" aimed at minimizing the need for involuntary staff reductions. Executive Vice President Daniel Ennis acknowledged the difficulty of the situation. North Carolina's first standalone children's hospital is set to be established in Apex, a rapidly growing suburban town southwest of Raleigh. Jointly developed by UNC Health and Duke Health, the 500-bed pediatric facility will be part of a larger 230-acre campus that includes outpatient services, behavioral health beds, and a research and education center affiliated with Duke and UNC medical schools. Expected to generate around 8,000 jobs, the hospital will be integrated into the Veridea mixed-use development project. Groundbreaking is set for 2027, with completion anticipated after six years. The 2024–25 Duke Blue Devils men's basketball team, led by third-year head coach Jon Scheyer, finished the season with a 35–4 overall record. They secured the ACC regular season and tournament championships and advanced to the Final Four in the NCAA tournament. The team played their home games at Cameron Indoor Stadium as members of the Atlantic Coast Conference. On the women's side, the 2024–25 Duke Blue Devils women's basketball team, under fifth-year head coach Kara Lawson, concluded the season with a 29–8 record. They captured the ACC Tournament championship and advanced to the Elite Eight in the NCAA tournament. The team also played their home games at Cameron Indoor Stadium as members of the Atlantic Coast Conference. That's all for today's update. Stay informed, stay engaged, and as always, go Blue Devils!