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New Program Development

Each Duke Immerse program consists of:

      • A cluster of four campus-based seminars focused around a significant global challenge (offered spring or fall semester)
      • An integrated curriculum reflecting the professors’ research and expertise
      • Two or more faculty members, within or across disciplines
      • Frequent and meaningful faculty-student interaction
      • Classroom learning connected with hands-on experience
      • Small enrollments (18 or fewer students)
      • Supplemental funding to support student research, fieldwork, and experiential learning
Professor leads group in a discussion around a table

Propose a new Duke Immerse​

Duke Immerse is a semester-long program for undergraduates grounded in faculty interests and guided by faculty voices. All Duke faculty are invited to propose a new Duke Immerse. Successful proposals are clearly articulated and build on the faculty team’s expertise. These may include proposals that are fully disciplinary or interdisciplinary, and that incorporate Service-Learning or complement an existing Bass Connections project, DukeEngage program, or FOCUS theme. Proposals that diversify recent Duke Immerse opportunities and reflect the expertise of Duke faculty receive priority.

Individual programs are often research-intensive and should include off-campus experiences to enhance the curriculum. Programs involving travel are expected to follow related university policies and meet with the Duke Immerse Program Director and the Office of Global Health and Safety (OGHS) to develop a risk management plan prior to the program offering. 

Deadlines:

      • New Spring 2024 Programs – Full proposals should be submitted by June 1, 2023
      • New Fall 2024 or Spring 2025 Programs – Full proposals should be submitted by August 1, 2023


Proposals are reviewed on a rolling basis. The proposal process is iterative; after the letter of interest is reviewed and approved, the faculty work with the Duke Immerse Director to articulate and develop the program details and budget. Below details the two-part process for developing a new Immerse program. Please contact the Duke Immerse Program Director, Susan Pratt (pratt.susan@duke.edu) for further discussion.

STEP 1 - Submit a Letter of Intent

To propose a new program, submit a letter of intent to Duke Immerse Program Director Susan Pratt (pratt.susan@duke.edu). Include in the letter a brief description of the following: 

          1. The overall concept and theme of the program 
          2. Who will be involved (instructors, staff), including the designation of the lead faculty director 
          3. Titles of all proposed courses (new or existing) to be taught 
          4. Target student audience 
          5. Field-based experience or travel components 
          6. Collaboration with community partner(s), if applicable 


After the letter of intent is reviewed by the Review Committee, the Duke Immerse program director will contact the lead faculty director for a consultation to articulate and develop the program details, budget considerations, and field experience aspects. Lead faculty directors should expect to be contacted by the Duke Immerse program director within 2 weeks of submission.  

STEP 2 - Submit a Full Proposal

Proposals are reviewed on a rolling basis. The proposal process is iterative; after the letter of interest is reviewed and approved, the faculty work with the Duke Immerse program director to articulate and develop the program details and budget.

Faculty will be asked to submit a Full Proposal after consultation about the Letter of Intent: 

          1. Detailed description of overall concept and theme 
          2. List of faculty and staff who will be involved in the teaching and mentoring
          3. Description of courses, including
                    1. Details of the student learning objectives
                    2. Course attributes (e.g., seminar, service-learning, modes of inquiry, areas of knowledge)
                    3. Description of how the community partner will be engaged, if applicable
                    4. Assessment plan
                    5. Sample syllabi
                    6. Designation of courses as new or existing and, if new, whether or not the courses have been approved
          4. Target student audiences
          5. Travel and excursion itineraries related to offsite fieldwork or field experience, if applicable
          6. Letter of support from community partners, if applicable 
          7. Letter of support from department chair(s) or program director(s)
          8. Budget (template available upon request)
          9. Budget justification  (template available upon request)


The Duke Immerse Proposal Review Committee will review full proposals. If a proposal is provisionally accepted, the Duke Immerse program director will engage the faculty team to strengthen and finalize details and any concerning areas. Once areas are addressed, the new Immerse program can commence promotion and program planning.  

Duke Immerse Proposal Review Committee

The Review Commitee is comprised of Experiential Education staff and experienced Immerse faculty.