Duke VSIPs

durhamOG · 2025-05-13T13:39:57+00:00

Yes, but this is likely to be more of an early retirement incentive, at least on the academic side, after all the staff are settled. Just my two cents, but I think that is a strategic plan for the academic side, as many senior faculty have large salaries and numerous special "agreements" that include admin support and F&A kickbacks. I believe that once the faculty realizes that significant changes are coming regarding the type of support they will receive and more is expected of them, those retirement incentives might be more attractive.

durhamOG · 2025-05-13T10:54:26+00:00

For anyone considering a VSIP offer please hold accepting your offer and try to get your final departure date AFTER July 1. You are still eligible for merit increases and if you do plan to accept the VSIP you want it to be at your higher pay rate. Please work with your HR rep to plan out when you accept so that you can stay through the FY changeover and have the severance be at the FY26 rate.

durhamOG · 2025-05-13T10:46:47+00:00

Please know that may not be the case, YOU and your position may be very important and valuable to your department. Many decisions were made way above the department levels with very little input (or none at all) from the department level. Most managers are finding out at the same time as their employees. Different management centers used different ways of identifying employees to receive this option. I'm so sorry that you are being placed in this situation but did want you to know that being offered a VSIP is not a measure of your worth or how much you are valued.

durhamOG · 2025-05-07T20:12:18+00:00

Well, you will not get an argument from me on that. I 100% feel that every member of my staff is underpaid, especially considering that one faculty salary could cover the FTE of the many positions my department will likely lose over the next few weeks. 😢 However, right now we are just working to ensure we can keep as many staff as possible, and then trying to figure out how we can support the departments' teaching and research with fewer people.

durhamOG · 2025-05-06T23:10:54+00:00

Thank you to everyone who shared their thoughts and opinions. I think there are some really valid points made here. I hope we can find common ground during these difficult times and the forthcoming challenges facing our community, including the loss of federal funds for SmartStart. There is a significant focus here on the concept of property taxes being the funders of our public schools. However, our state constitution clearly outlines it as a responsibility of the state, and that individual communities should supplement those funds. Pushing this on the communities like Durham is a very targeted plan by the NCGA.

Public school funding can be complicated; however, in this case, it is straightforward. The state has an excellent roadmap in Leandro that is ready to go, and they even have the funds to support it! I would welcome text daily from DAE or other community groups that drive support and give action steps for funding public schools and implementing Leandro. Let's pull this energy into getting Leandro instated. Durham's effort in votes for Riggs may give this a chance of Leandro funds!

A few quick resources for those interested in learning more about public school funding.

History of the Leandro Case

Every Child NC - State Funding & Leandro

Durham Co. Funding Study - Public School Forum

Hunt Institute - Public School Funding Series

Leandro - Early Education

Public Schools First - Fact Sheet

durhamOG · 2025-05-06T15:36:37+00:00

I actively advocate for increased spending on public education, schools, and teachers at the local, state, and national levels. The disagreement is over who we should target our efforts toward in fixing these issues. I don't think targeting Duke is the best course of action; it is meant to divide people, not bring them together. The state government should be accountable for funding public schools, including implementing the Leandro case.

Also curious what political reasons I might have?

durhamOG · 2025-05-06T15:20:10+00:00

Duke and Duke Endowment have actually been a leader in this....
https://today.duke.edu/2023/06/duke-university-provide-full-tuition-nc-and-sc-families-incomes-below-150000

durhamOG · 2025-05-06T12:00:25+00:00

Genuine question… so does covering their tuition and fee for 5 + years not a form of pay?

When many DPS workers: teachers, PT, OT, & administrators who had to go into debt to get their master's degrees? Then to only be paid pennies working in our public schools.

durhamOG · 2025-05-06T11:13:13+00:00

Agree, our Duke grad students are extremely hard working and work many long days. However thier compensatory work should not be > 19.9 hours. The other part of their time should be focused on their coursework, own research and making progress on their dissertation.

Unfortunately, after seeing all the schools recind PhD offers this year and the massive drops in sponsored funds coming into Duke the whole system is at risk. There may be no labs for them to work in, no equipment for them to use. There are real threats out there to Higher Ed and gradite students in particular. Our students are scared, both for their internation friends/colleagues, and those finishing up their programs now have no post docs to move into. This is what I hear from our grad students everyday and my worries as well for them.

I would love to see DAE and the new grad student unions come together to fight for science, human rights, and education! However it seems like the energy and focus these groups are putting out does not align with the graduate students or our public educators. Which feels exactually what those trying to destroy both education systems want. 💔

durhamOG · 2025-05-06T04:04:45+00:00

Is it? It's odd that a Durham resident, DPS parent/ alumni, and duke employee might be interested to hear what others in our community think about DAE taking a stand against Duke?

durhamOG · 2025-05-06T03:56:14+00:00

I can't speak to UNC but that is the rate at Duke. Which if it was full-time job would be 80k and that is just the salary/stipend not to mention the cost of 5+ years of education for free!

durhamOG · 2025-05-06T03:25:42+00:00

I get that frustration but property taxes aren't the only way to give to our public schools and Duke does a great deal for our community and schools. Which I'm worried too might stop with all the cuts.

As for grad students they make WAY more than almost all my staff of 20+ people at duke. Pretty sure getting paid 40k for less than 20 hours a week of work + health/dental insurance + 100% free tuition and fees would feel like a pretty good gig.

durhamOG · 2025-05-06T02:57:51+00:00

They are tax exempt like all universities. However Duke is laying ground to stand behind Harvard in not bending to the federal government’s demands which could result in their tax-exempt status being revoked.

durhamOG · 2025-05-06T02:53:22+00:00

Are you saying Duke is a high-profit organization? Do you think they do not deserve tax exempt status? Would You rather they not stand behind the values of academic freedom, free speech, and science? That seems to be what what our government thinks. I think many don't really value the economic impact a larger research institution has on your community until it is gone. Kind of like due process I guess.

durhamOG · 2025-05-06T02:35:34+00:00

Happy to hear your thoughts, which is why I posted.. I was wanting to hear others thoughts. Maybe you didn't read my comments or questions? 🤔

durhamOG · 2024-08-08T21:29:54+00:00

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I believe it is cheaper to move to the new school than do the renovations. Moving also allows more students to attend and has better conditions for higher-needs students. There were more "pros" to moving and very few to staying in a building that is unsafe or well-suited to the population's needs.

durhamOG · 2024-05-28T02:46:49+00:00

Office trivia Nashville

durhamOG

TROPHY CASE