Request for Proposals: Interdisciplinary Graduate Education Collaboratives

The Office of the Provost and The Graduate School solicit internal proposals for new Interdisciplinary Graduate Education Collaboratives (IGECs) for Ph.D. students. IGECs will provide opportunities for students to engage with a cohort outside of their primary intellectual community through interdisciplinary seminars, working groups, and projects. IGECs can be organized by a range of units partnering together but those units must include at least one Ph.D. program and must span at least two academic divisions of The Graduate School. Students will graduate with a Ph.D. in their degree program and an interdisciplinary certificate specific to their IGEC.

Two to three IGECs will be funded to start in Fall 2026. Each IGEC will receive $2.2 million over five years to support programming and partial funding for participating Ph.D. students. We seek proposals related to climate, AI and society, and other compelling interdisciplinary topics of strategic interest.

We strongly encourage individuals who are interested in forming an IGEC to join us on Wednesday, January 22, 2025, from 5:30-7:30 p.m. in the Bolton Family Tower Room (third floor of the Brodhead Center) for an ideation session. Please see the Learn More section for more information and RSVP by January 17.

Program Goals

Our world faces complex, urgent challenges that call for cutting-edge interdisciplinary solutions and leaders with the capacity to work across domains. IGECs will leverage our strengths in Ph.D. education, interdisciplinarity, and team-based experiential learning to better prepare Ph.D. students to address societal demands and stand out in both academic and non-academic job markets. At the same time, these programs will also allow us to develop a distinctive approach to Ph.D. education that has the potential to attract more talented Ph.D. students, drive innovative research collaborations across campus, and deepen Duke’s reputation as an interdisciplinary leader.

Specifically, we expect that IGECs will:

• Attract outstanding students interested in addressing complex societal challenges
• Prepare students for the demands of future employers, inside and outside the academy
• Provide faculty with the opportunity to pilot new interdisciplinary programs aligned with institutional priorities
• Foster interdisciplinary networks among students and faculty, driving new research collaborations
• Offer a flexible model that can address evolving university priorities and student interests, and adapt based on program uptake and performance

Program Description

IGECs will be formed around interdisciplinary areas of strategic interest (see “Themes” below). Each program should be co-sponsored by a unique mix of units that span two or more of the four divisions of The Graduate School (Biological & Biomedical Sciences; Humanities; Physical Sciences & Engineering; Social Sciences and include at least one Ph.D. program).

In the most basic sense, IGECs are analogous to an interdisciplinary certificate; however, they will be distinguished by their deep integration into existing Duke Ph.D. programs. To that end, these programs will limit the amount of additive coursework students undertake to earn the IGEC certificate while earning their Ph.D. degree.

Prospective students will continue to apply directly to an existing degree-granting Ph.D. program. If that program is part of an IGEC, the student will have the opportunity to simultaneously indicate their interest in an affiliated IGEC. We also expect that already matriculated students will have the opportunity to apply to join an IGEC. Once students matriculate, they will participate in a set of curated opportunities offered by the IGEC, such as interdisciplinary courses; work-in-progress seminars; journal clubs; specialized courses; collaborative projects; and summer experiences. The activities associated with the certificate should be appropriately aligned with the requirements of students’ Ph.D. programs to avoid lengthening time-to-degree.

IGEC programs should also encourage students to form an interdisciplinary Ph.D. committee to advise and support their academic progress, but each program should decide how to accomplish that goal without adding complexity to the dissertation process. To recognize their specialized training, IGEC students who complete all requirements will graduate with a Ph.D. in their primary degree program and an interdisciplinary certificate specific to their IGEC.

In addition to designated faculty leaders, all IGECs will also be supported by a program coordinator in the Office of Interdisciplinary Studies to ensure effective management of these programs. IGECs are a pilot initiative, and we therefore encourage innovation and learning throughout this process.

Eligibility

Each program should be cosponsored by a mix of units that span two or more of the four divisions of The Graduate School (Biological & Biomedical Sciences; Humanities; Physical Sciences & Engineering; Social Sciences). The list of sponsoring units must include a minimum of one Ph.D. granting program (we encourage proposals from multiple degree-granting programs) but can otherwise include units that support masters/professional/certificate programs and university-wide institutes, initiatives and centers. As a result, IGECs might include a range of configurations. Participating units may contribute in any number of ways, including developing and delivering new interdisciplinary courses, convening interdisciplinary working groups, supporting interdisciplinary research projects and experiences involving students, and hosting journal clubs and working groups. While the student funding must be used to provide Ph.D. student support, non-Ph.D. programs may benefit from the rich intellectual community that the IGECs are expected to yield and the opportunity to engage IGEC students in research projects.

Proposals should be submitted by a leadership team comprised of regular-rank faculty from participating units. IGEC proposals must be endorsed by the leaders of participating units.

As these funds are intended to foster new networks and student pathways, existing interdisciplinary certificates and Ph.D. programs are generally not eligible to apply. Proposals that are directly connected to existing interdisciplinary certificates/programs must involve significant changes, such as adding new disciplines and building out entirely new curricular programming. In such instances, we highly recommend contacting us for a discussion to assess if the envisaged plan meets this threshold.

Themes

Initially, we will fund up to three IGECs, one in each of the following broad, interdisciplinary areas:

• Climate: Exploration of climate-related issues such as – but not limited to – climate justice, health and climate, climate resilience, energy transformation, oceans, or climate policy and finance
• Artificial intelligence and society: Exploration of the impact of AI on society through the lens of a broad range of issues including – but not limited to workforce development, education, cultural production, political polarization, health, law, ethics, and climate
• Open: Any interdisciplinary topic of broad and strategic relevance that capitalizes on Duke’s assets and strengths

Timeline

IGECs must commit to recruiting students for at least two admissions cycles, with programming continuing at least until the initial cohorts graduate. Key milestones for rolling out IGECs are:

• Proposal deadline: March 19, 2025
• Decisions released: April 30, 2025
• Planning period: Summer 2025 – Summer 2026, including the following milestones:
  • Frame basic concept, develop certificate proposal, develop marketing materials for student recruitment: Summer 2025
  • Recruit/select incoming/continuing students, develop courses and programming: Fall 2025 – Spring 2026
  • Submit IGEC certificate for review and approval by the Executive Committee of the Graduate Faculty: Fall 2025 – Spring 2026
  • Develop courses and programming: Spring 2026 – Summer 2026
• Enroll first cohort of IGEC students: Fall 2026
• Enroll second cohort of IGEC students: Fall 2027
• Evaluate IGEC outcomes and impacts: Fall 2026 and ongoing
• IGEC programming will continue, at a minimum, until the initial cohorts graduate; additional cohorts will be contingent upon the success of the program and availability of external/internal funds

Funding and Budget

Each IGEC will receive:

• $2.2 million over five years (AY 2026-27 to 2030-31) to support Ph.D. student tuitions, fees and stipends (see below for more information)
• $30,000 in FY 2025-2026 to support program development and planning
• $12,000 in FY 2025-2026 to support a faculty program director who will lead the development of program activities, preparation of certificate proposal, and student recruitment strategy (will require engagement during summer 2025; funds may be split between two co-leaders if preferred)
• $30,000 per year for programming costs (AY 2026-27 to 2030-31)
• $12,000 per year to support a faculty program director to serve in a role akin to a DGS (AY 2026-27 to 2030-31)
  • Beyond these funds, and the annual programming funds, no additional compensation will be available from IGEC resources to support faculty collaborators who teach seminars and engage in cohort activities, as those duties are expected to be integrated into existing programming or supported by the unit
• One-third of a program coordinator’s time. This person will be hired centrally in the Office of Interdisciplinary Studies to support all three IGECs) (AY 2026-27 to 2030-31) and will effectively serve as a DGSA.
• $5,000 for marketing/student recruitment over the funding period (with the expectation that these funds will be front-loaded)

Uses of Student Funding

Recognizing that units have different needs in relation to Ph.D. student funding, the $2.2 million in student support may distributed flexibly, with regards to the amounts and timing, but these funds should be directed towards components of the TGS guaranteed funding package (tuition/tuition remission, stipends, health insurance, dental insurance and mandatory fees). When submitting a proposal, each IGEC should propose a plan for deploying these funds. For example, options might include, but are not limited to:

• Two years of full summer support per student
• One year, or 12 months, of full funding per student
• A semester of full funding per student

Proposals may also envisage a blend of such options. These funds can be applied at any point during a student’s first five years in the program (i.e., “funding years”). The remaining portion of any IGEC student’s funding will be covered by their degree-granting program or external grants.

At a minimum, at least 12 students should receive direct funding support through the program across at least two intake cycles. Importantly, IGEC funding is intended to facilitate the IGEC programming at large, therefore proposers should articulate a plan for engaging additional students beyond just those who receive a portion of the funds. Students may apply to join the IGEC when they apply to Duke, or later in their time at Duke. Programs are also encouraged to open IGEC programming to master’s and other graduate/professional students, as appropriate, but IGEC funds cannot be used as direct funding support for this group.

Proposal Requirements

Proposals should be no longer than 12 pages (not including letters of support).

1. Executive Summary: Abstract of key elements of proposal, including description of the thematic focus of the IGEC, sponsoring units, and key programmatic activities (not to exceed 250 words).
2. Statement of Intellectual Vision and Focus: Overview of the thematic focus of the proposed IGEC including a description of its animating questions and how those questions will drive engagement across disciplinary lines; what methodological and epistemological approaches students will deploy as they explore those questions; and the rationale for investing in this configuration at Duke, including alignment with strategic priorities and comparative advantages of pursuing this topic here.
3. Discussion of Anticipated Activities: Delineation of key activities and offerings that will be integral to the IGEC including a description of coursework and sequencing; experiential learning and professional development opportunities; and intellectual community-building activities, with attention to plans for developing an inclusive and equitable community of learners and scholar researchers. IGECs are encouraged, where possible, to leverage existing programming, such as existing interdisciplinary seminars, journal clubs, internship offerings, and opportunities to lead and engage in collaborative projects through programs such as Bass Connections or a summer “plus program.” Because this description of activities will serve as the foundation for the request for approval process for new certificates, we recommend reviewing the parameters for that process when developing this description, particularly part II of the proposal template.
4. Student Engagement: Description of evidence indicating why students are likely to be interested in this IGEC, including any indications of student demand, and how participation in this IGEC will support students’ academic and career trajectories. Proposals should explain the student recruitment plan and how the IGEC will select students for participation and efforts to minimize bias in that selection.
5. Programs Involved and Bio-Sketches of Proposed Faculty Leaders: List the sponsoring units – noting that programs must represent two or more divisions of The Graduate School and must include at least one Ph.D. program. Provide brief bio-sketches of the faculty leaders and describe how they will contribute to the program (no more than 200 words per faculty leader). Please identify which faculty member will serve as the primary program director. Faculty leaders should be regular-rank faculty, but other faculty may contribute to the broader effort.
6. Letters of Support from Sponsoring Programs and Units: For each Ph.D. degree program involved, a letter of support from the chair and director of graduate studies should be included, addressing each of the four issues laid out below. For other partners such as non-Ph.D. programs and interdisciplinary institutes, a letter of support should be provided from the program/unit director that addresses the first two points.
   • How the IGEC aligns with the strategic goals of the program/unit and an indication of the extent to which the program/unit’s faculty body are supportive of this idea (such as a description of how the general faculty have been engaged in discussions about the proposed plan)
   • The program/unit’s willingness to provide organizing faculty with the time to engage in the IGEC
   • The program’s commitment to providing IGEC students with a degree of flexibility to accommodate IGEC courses and other requirements to avoid lengthening time-to-degree
   • The program’s understanding that IGEC funds will only cover a portion of participating students’ funding and that each student’s department will be expected to cover the remaining costs to ensure students receive their full five years of guaranteed support.
7. Evaluation Plan: Describe what success will look like in the first three to five years and how the program will seek to monitor its progress and impact.
8. Budget Plan: Submit a five-year budget plan that addresses how the IGEC will spend the $2.2 million in student support, as well as the $30,000 in annual programming costs from AY 2026-2027 through 2030-31. You do not need to submit a budget for the program director, program coordinator, or marketing. The student support budget plan should indicate how many students will be supported, the types of support they will receive (e.g., tuition, fees, stipend, summer support) and plans for how to award student support equitably. Include a narrative that explains and justifies this plan. Please estimate the amount of student support that will be allocated in AY 2026-2027 through 2030-31.
9. Sustainability: Indicate the potential avenues for sustaining the program long-term, including possibilities for external funding or integrating the program into internal budgets.

Proposals should be submitted by email to Laura Howes (laura.howes@duke.edu) by March 19, 2025.

Selection Criteria and Process

Proposals will be evaluated on the degree to which the achieve the following aims:

• Intellectual focus:
  • Alignment with university priorities, strengths, and research mission
  • Extent to which training would prepare students to address societal imperatives
• Student engagement:
  • Evidence of anticipated student interest
  • Strength of student recruitment and selection plans
• Interdisciplinarity:
  • Units involved in the proposal must span at least two divisions of The Graduate School, with a preference for those spanning three or more
  • Strength of faculty team, including the breadth and depth of expertise represented
  • Strength of the applicants’ argument that an interdisciplinary approach is needed to address the theme of the IGEC
  • Alignment of the proposed programs/ units with the theme of the IGEC
• Curriculum and programming:
  • Quality of proposed interdisciplinary training, including plans for shared coursework, collaborative projects, interdisciplinary dissertations/capstone experiences, seminars, etc. throughout students’ training at Duke
  • Extent to which the proposed program seeks to integrate and leverage existing university-wide interdisciplinary programs (e.g., Bass Connections, Data+) to create robust vertically integrated experiential learning opportunities
  • Commitment from participating degree programs to ensure timely progress through students’ selected degree program by integrating interdisciplinary coursework with the core program, as articulated by the curricular plan
  • Evidence of commitment to building an inclusive community of interdisciplinary scholars, learners and researchers
• Evaluation:
  • Robust evaluation plan that addresses expected outcomes for individual students and impact of the IGEC program overall.
• Budget and sustainability:
  • Articulation of a clear and logical plan for how the student support funds will be deployed to maximize the program’s reach and impact
  • Demonstrated commitment from participating programs to cover any remaining student support not covered by the IGEC
  • Viable sustainability plan

The Duke Interdisciplinary Strategy Council – a university-wide body that includes faculty from all of Duke’s schools – will review proposals. The selection will be overseen by the vice provost for interdisciplinary studies, the dean of The Graduate School and (for climate-related proposals) the vice provost/vice president for climate and sustainability, who will make recommendations to the provost for final decision-making.

Learn More

Join us on Wednesday, January 22, 2025, from 5:30-7:30 p.m. in the Bolton Family Tower Room (third floor of the Brodhead Center) for an ideation session. This will be an opportunity to learn more about the vision for IGECs, ask questions and talk with other faculty interested in proposing an IGEC in order to identify overlapping interests. We strongly encourage any faculty who are interested in forming an IGEC to attend, including those who have an IGEC concept and are seeking partners. For our planning purposes, please RSVP by January 17.

We will also host three drop-in office hours by Zoom to address questions:

• December 5, 2024, 10-11 a.m., https://duke.zoom.us/j/91957695376
• January 27, 2025, 1-2 p.m., https://duke.zoom.us/j/91957695376
• February 19, 2025, 3-4 p.m., https://duke.zoom.us/j/91957695376

Contact Information

For questions about the proposal process, contact Laura Howes, assistant vice provost for interdisciplinary studies, at laura.howes@duke.edu. To discuss possible proposal ideas, contact Ed Balleisen, vice provost for interdisciplinary studies, at eballeis@duke.edu or Suzanne Barbour, dean of the Graduate School and vice provost for graduate education, at suzanne.barbour@duke.edu. For IGECs relating to Climate, faculty are also encouraged to consult with Toddi Steelman, vice president and vice provost for climate and sustainability, at toddi.steelman@duke.edu.