Academic Council Meeting
February 15, 2024
3:30 – 5:00 PM
0012 Westbrook Building (Divinity School)
1. Welcome / Remarks from the Chair
2. Approval of the January 18, 2024 meeting minutes
3. [EXECUTIVE SESSION]: VOTE on additional Honorary Degree proposed for Commencement 2024
4. Two anonymous questions have been submitted for the Administration to address:
Question #1:
Duke recently settled a lawsuit alleging that it practiced illegally need-aware admissions:
We believe it would befit the administration to brief faculty on the lawsuit and the settlement and provide insight into their thinking regarding settling the suit instead of fighting it in court (since Duke denies wrongdoing).
Specifically, the news coverage leaves many questions unanswered and can be seen damaging to Duke’s reputation. Where are the funds coming from to pay the settlement and will it have any budgetary consequences for the institution or individual units?
Question #2:
The Chronicle of Higher Education (CHE) recently reported that Professor Dan Ariely told the CHE that Duke had completed its investigation of allegations of data fraud against Professor Ariely, and that Duke concluded that Ariely had not falsified data or knowingly used falsified data, although he should have been more careful in vetting data and more diligent in retaining records. Contacted by CHE, a Duke spokesperson reportedly stated that “we are not in a position to confirm or fact-check anything on this.” As CHE noted, this left “Ariely—the subject of the investigation—as the only source of information about the university’s findings.” In sharp contrast, Harvard has made it abundantly clear that it takes very seriously related accusations against Professor Francesca Gino, having gone so far as to place her on unpaid leave and seek to revoke her tenure. Could you please explain why Duke is “not in a position” to reassure the Duke community—and indeed the world—that Duke takes academic fraud seriously? Or, better yet, could you please reconsider your determination that Duke is not able to provide any information on this matter?
5. A conversation regarding Duke Athletics: Andrew Janiak, Chair of the Athletic Council and Linda Franzoni, Duke’s Faculty Athletic Representative for the NCAA & ACC