The Decline and Revival of Liberal Learning at Duke

Colleges and Universities A-Z Duke University
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<p>Another forum member posted a link to this article in Duke 2013. It's an article written in March 2007 and gives an insight into the Focus Program:</p>

<p><a href="http://www.johnlocke.org/acrobat/pope_articles/pope_focus&gerst.pdf%5B/url%5D"&gt;http://www.johnlocke.org/acrobat/pope_articles/pope_focus&gerst.pdf&lt;/a&gt;&lt;/p>

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<p>wow, very interesting paper</p>

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<p>Hehe I do believe I posted that article! It’s a great analysis of Duke’s English department over the years…Plus, it mentions my beloved Focus program: Visions of Freedom! :D</p>

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<p>Yes, it was you who made the original post, hookem168.</p>

<p>I agree with much of what is said in the article including the statement about undergraduate advising being terrible. I do wish the author had interviewed the current Duke University President. Only the former President, Nan Keohane, was interviewed.</p>

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<p>wow, very interesting article, Hookem and singersmom. thank-you. My son counts FOCUS as one of the best things he did at Duke…tremendous experience, incredible trip abroad included in his FOCUS that was a total surprise…and FOCUS clusters being concentrated in East Dorms goes so very well with the cozier more personal aspects of life on East Campus —while putting freshmen into discussion based classes with some of the most senior professors at Duke— who would invite freshmen into their labs and share with them their published works. Enjoy Visions of Freedom!<br>
it was fun to see Dr. G get a shout-out in this article…such an exceptional man in the engineering school, and someone who was incredibly patient, rational and constructive on these boards during the Duke Lacrosse nightmare a few years back.</p>

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<p>Yes, it is an interesting article. I believe all freshmen should sign up for one of the special events before move in as well as be in a Focus cluster. My D did neither and had an absolutely miserable freshman year.</p>

<p>My D has had only ONE professor (not even in her major) who invited students to dinner at his home and made an concerted effort to connect with students.</p>

<p>I have been wondering where Dr. G is these days. He used to answer Engineering questions on this forum. Your description of him is dead on!</p>

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<p>Oops - a different Dr. G!</p>