Former Vice President Joe Biden’s future plans with his alma mater are now coming into focus.
University of Delaware announced Tuesday Biden will be the founding chair of a new public policy institute at the school.
The Biden Institute will focus on developing domestic policy solutions for issues ranging from environmental sustainability to civil rights.
UD president Dennis Assanis praised Biden for his 40 years of public service, saying the UD alum will bring vast experience in developing domestic public policy to the new institute.
Assanis also confirmed Biden will be actively involved in the institute, spending one day a week on campus.
“We’re so excited. I can’t tell you the feelings among our faculty and students to have the former vice president spend a day a week with us on campus. That’s really terrific,” Assanis said.
The Biden Institute will be part of the University’s School of Public Policy and Administration. It will initially be located at 44 Kent Way on the main campus in Newark.
Assanis said UD will hire about 15 new faculty to staff the Biden Institute. The school will also expand its education offerings in the areas of smart cities, environment and energy, social justice and disaster management.
The new partnership between Biden and UD is the latest -- and most significant -- connection the school has forged with the longtime U.S. Senator.
And it will continue to ratchet up the school’s academic profile, according to Assanis.
“He’ll be a magnet of attraction for outstanding scholars, faculty, students and staff. It’s really fantastic,” he said.
Biden has spoken at four UD commencement ceremonies and donated his Senatorial papers to the University of Delaware Library in 2011.
