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Updated: 2/21/2005
This is a working draft. Please email Kelvin Inn with any suggestions or questions.
Mission
The Duke University Network of Entrepreneurs (DUNE) will foster and support entrepreneurial thought, discussion and activity across the entire extended Duke University community.
Membership
Anyone who has an interest in entrepreneurship, and is a part of the extended Duke University community is encouraged to participate. This includes current students, alumni, faculty, staff, and the local business community. DUNE will function largely as a forum through which its members can interact and exchange ideas. No formal membership is required, though interested participants are encouraged to opt-in to the DUNE email list to stay in touch with the group.
Recruiting should occur on an ongoing basis within each school. In addition, a centrailized recruiting effort should take place at the beginning of the academic year to attract new members and to publicize DUNE's mission throughout the University community.
Organization and Leadership
In order to promote the diverse interests of the many constituencies within DUNE, several groups should have representatives who will serve on the organizing committee. These should include (but are not limited to) representatives from each participating school or department within the University (school representatives). Other groups such as alumni and business professionals should also be represented in the committee.
The organizing committee should select a Chairperson who will serve as the director of the group. It will be this person's responsibility to organize group meetings and ensure that DUNE is actively pursuing its mission. The Chairperson is responsible for ensuring that event scheduling and communication needs are addressed. The Chairperson may develop any supporting sub-committees at his/her discretion. The Chairperson should serve a one-year term that will follow the academic year – beginning in late August and ending in May. The new Chairperson should be selected in March to allow for collaborative leadership and smooth transition between academic years.
In the interest of maintaining the University-wide nature of the organization, the Chairperson should not be from the same school/department in any two consecutive years.
School representatives should also follow the same schedule of representation. There is no limit on the length of a representative term, and any representative may remain on the organizing committee after serving as Chairperson.
Faculty Sponsors should be established at each school. Faculty Sponsors should be chosen by school representatives based on their interest and enthusiasm for entrepreneurship within their discipline. Faculty Sponsors may serve as long as they are willing, and will provide an important source of continuity from year to year. If necessary, school representatives may at their discretion recruit a new faculty sponsor at any time. Representatives are encouraged to seek Faculty Sponsors who demonstrate a significant interest in and commitment to entrepreneurship.
Organizing committee meetings will be scheduled by the Chairperson and should be held at least twice per academic term. These meetings are open to all members and representatives of the larger entrepreneurial community are also encouraged to attend.
Activities
DUNE should sponsor and promote at least one activity per calendar month during the academic year. These activities should be sponsored by a different school or department each month. This will limit the administrative burden on any particular school, and it will also serve to support the University-wide nature of the organization.
Schools need not create new events for DUNE (though they certainly may). Instead, organizing committee members are simply encouraged to promote any existing events that relate to entrepreneurship through the DUNE network. Schools should feel free to use the DUNE network to promote events other than “official monthly events.” Organizing committee members are free to organize and promote events as often as they wish through the DUNE network.
Communication
DUNE communication will take place primarily through email and the official DUNE website. Members should take great care not to abuse and devalue this communication channel by using it for matters not related to entrepreneurship. The DUNE website will contain information about the organization, membership, and the organizing committee. It will provide visitors with an opportunity to sign up for email updates, and it will contain an up-to-date calendar of events.
Funding and Budget
Funding will be sought from the Office of Interdisciplinary Studies, and other University-wide groups. This section of the Charter should be updated when the funding situation is secured. Included in this update should be the criteria for a DUNE-funded event. A budget for the organization should be established by incoming leadership at the end of each academic year.
Associations and Partnerships
DUNE is a University-affiliated organization that is independent from other student groups. DUNE should seek to partner with other University-wide organizations whenever synergies exist.
