Duke University
ER-19: Interdisciplinary Research in Tenure and Promotion

Duke emphasizes the importance of interdisciplinary research in the 2006 Strategic Plan (http://stratplan.duke.edu/pdf/plan.pdf), which identifies interdisciplinarity as an enduring theme for the University. A fundamental planning mandate of the plan is to “further develop our capacity to support creative, entrepreneurial, interdisciplinary teaching and research among our faculty and students,” which fed into the development of 2 strategic goals focused on interdisciplinarity. The first goal seeks to increase the capacity of Duke’s faculty to develop and communicate disciplinary and interdisciplinary knowledge, which calls for the creation of a Faculty Enhancement Initiative that "foster[s] shared searches between schools and institutes and centers" and "enable[s] accelerated and cluster hiring for school and university strategic priorities." A second goal is to strengthen the engagement of the University in real world issues by recommitting to flagship interdisciplinary programs. This high-level emphasis on interdisciplinary research is also present in the tenure and promotion process; internal and external candidates are required to submit “synops[es] of…intellectual interests, especially concerning interdisciplinary research” (located at the URL below under "Solicitation of Dossier Items from Candidate").

Additionally, Duke's Vice Provost for Interdisciplinary Studies works with faculty members and administrators from Duke's nine schools to instigate and facilitate interdisciplinary research, collaboration, and instruction. The VPIS's work includes organizing incentives for interdisciplinary research and working to find solutions to obstacles that inhibit interdisciplinary teaching and scholarship. More information: http://provost.duke.edu/