Robertson Scholars Program

The Robertson Scholars Program is a joint full-ride merit scholarship and leadership development program at Duke University and the University of North Carolina at Chapel Hill. The scholarship offers participants a unique “dual citizenship” at both Duke University and UNC-Chapel Hill to approximately 36 students selected from among the more than 39,000 applications to the two schools each year. [ [http://www.unc.edu/news/archives/apr07/robertsonscholars041007.html UNC, Duke announce winners of Robertson Scholarships] . UNC-Chapel Hill News Services.]

The program also runs a bus service connecting the Duke and UNC-Chapel Hill campuses. [ [http://news.duke.edu/2008/02/robertson.html The Robertson Bus: Not Just for Students] . Duke University Office of News & Communications.]

History and Background

The program was created in 2000 by benefactor Julian Robertson, a 1955 graduate of UNC-Chapel Hill. Mr. Robertson sought to increase collaboration between Duke and UNC-Chapel Hill as well as to recruit students to the two universities. [Strachman, D. A. (2004). Julian Robertson: tiger in the land of bulls and bears. Hoboken, N.J.: Wiley.] [ [http://www.forbes.com/lists/2005/54/GK7Q.html "Forbes" 400 Richest Americans—Julian Robertson] ] His initial $24 million gift as well as his subsequent gifts to the program and the universities are overseen by a Board of Directors including Duke University President Richard Brodhead, UNC-Chapel Hill Chancellor James Moeser, and Julian Robertson himself. [ [http://robertsonscholars.org/index.php?type=static&source=2 Board of Directors] . Robertson Scholars Program.]

In 2008, the Robertson program announced plans to construct a permanent building at UNC-Chapel Hill with an auditorium, library, study lounge, student café, and program offices. [ [http://media.www.dailytarheel.com/media/storage/paper885/news/2008/04/08/University/Robertsons.Eye.Campus.Space-3309211.shtml Robertsons Eye Campus Space] The Daily Tar Heel.] The preliminary site design was approved by the UNC-Chapel Hill board of trustees at their March 2008 meeting. [ [http://www.unc.edu/depts/trustees/March%202008%20Design%20Reviews.pdf March 2008 Design Reviews] UNC-Chapel Hill Board of Trustees.]

The program covers all college costs (tuition, room and board, a laptop, plus a living stipend) and provides recipients full funding for three summers of global travel, research, and internships. [ [http://dukefinancialaid.duke.edu/merit_robertson_scholars.html Robertson Scholars Program] . Duke University Undergraduate Financial Aid Office.] [ [http://www.news-record.com/apps/pbcs.dll/article?AID=/20080407/NRSTAFF/62601376 Greensboro student wins UNC-Duke scholarship] . Greensboro News-Record.] The summer components of the program have served as a model for DukeEngage, an initiative to offer the opportunity for summer research and internships to all Duke undergraduates [ [http://www.nytimes.com/2007/02/13/education/13service.html Duke Program Seeks to Expand Service Work] . The New York Times.] [ [http://www.insidehighered.com/news/2007/02/13/duke New Support for Community Service] . Inside Higher Education.]

Program participants have regularly won Truman Scholarships and Fulbright Fellowships. (2005). [Peterson's smart choices: honors programs & colleges. Princeton, N.J.: Peterson's.] [ [http://www.dukenews.duke.edu/2007/03/truman07.html Duke junior named Truman Scholar] . Duke University Office of News & Communications.] [ [http://www.unc.edu/news/archives/mar05/truman032905.html UNC’s Lauren McAlee wins $30,000 Truman Scholarship] . UNC News Services. ] [ [http://www.robertsonscholars.org/index.php?type=dynamic&source=newsDetail&id=942 Robertson Scholar E. Mary Williams wins Truman Scholarship] . Robertson Scholars Program.] [ [http://www.robertsonscholars.org/index.php?type=static&source=71 Frequently Asked Quesitons] . Robertson Scholars Program. ] [ [http://www.truman.gov/scholar_listing/scholar_listing_list_more.htm?year=2007 2007 Truman Scholars] . The Harry S. Truman Scholarship Foundation.] [ [http://media.www.dukechronicle.com/media/storage/paper884/news/2008/02/05/Features/The-Power.Of.One-3188681.shtml The Power of One] . The Duke Chronicle.] [ [http://nl.newsbank.com/nl-search/we/Archives?p_product=MCNP&p_multi=RHDB&p_theme=mcnp&p_action=search&p_maxdocs=200&p_topdoc=1&p_text_direct-0=119BAF7D372EBD50&p_field_direct-0=document_id&p_perpage=10&p_sort=YMD_date:D&s_trackval=GooglePM Rutland graduation speaker is just 21] . Rutland Herald.] [ [http://www.nytimes.com/2007/02/13/education/13service.html Duke Program Seeks to Expand Service Work] . The New York Times.]

Controversy

In December 2006, the Duke Student Government banned UNC-Chapel Hill based Robertson Scholars from participating in tenting for the Duke game versus UNC-Chapel Hill, although they can still get in via the walk-up line. This caused considerable controversy on the campus and garnered national media attention. [ [http://www.usatoday.com/sports/college/mensbasketball/acc/2006-12-11-duke-unc-krzyzewskiville_x.htm Krzyzewskiville closed to joint scholars from North Carolina] . "USA Today." Accessed on 12 Dec 2006.] [ [http://www.dailytarheel.com/home/index.cfm?event=displayArticle&ustory_id=c1a04c09-d41c-40c7-8926-66819df8fb29 Discrimination at Duke] The Daily Tar Heel.] [ [http://www.newsobserver.com/122/story/520569.html UNC outrage spurs Duke rebuke] . News & Observer.]

More recently, questions have been raised about the ability of Duke-based Robertson Scholars to vote in UNC-Chapel Hill student government elections. [ [http://media.www.dailytarheel.com/media/storage/paper885/news/2008/02/13/University/Boe-Lets.Duke.Students.Vote-3206227.shtml BOE lets Duke students vote] . The Daily Tar Heel.]

References

External links

* [http://www.robertsonscholars.org/ Roberston Scholars Program]
* [http://www.robertsonscholars.org/index.php?type=static&source=68 Robertson Express Bus]
* [http://www.robertsonfoundation.org/ Robertson Foundation]