Colleagues,
Welcome to "3, 2, One KU," a weekly memo in which I share updates and thoughts for the week ahead. The title of the memo is derived from the format: each edition includes three things to know, two things to share, and one reflection on how our "One KU" initiative is enhancing collaboration across our campuses. I hope you find this communication informative.
Respectfully,
Doug
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Regents approve tuition, systemwide DEI policy
Last week, the Kansas Board of Regents approved KU's tuition and fees for the 2026-27 academic year and adopted a new policy defining DEI-related classroom content.
Tuition and fees will increase 5% for most Lawrence and Edwards students and 3% for most KU Medical Center students. The increase will help offset inflation and reductions in state funding while supporting market pay enhancements for employees and maintaining core services for students.
The DEI policy and its definitions are a requirement of the Kansas Legislature, which last session required that the state’s universities have a policy in place to receive their full amount of state funding. We’ll continue providing guidance in the weeks ahead. In the meantime, you can get a sense for last week’s Regents discussion by reading recent coverage in the Lawrence Journal-World and Chronicle of Higher Education.
College sports bill clears Senate
A Senate bill that would regulate college sports and provide antitrust protection to the NCAA and major conferences advanced out of a key committee last Thursday. The Protect College Sports Act would establish a national framework for college athletics, including rules governing transfers, eligibility, revenue sharing and conference operations, while also protecting women's and Olympic sports. The bill has the support of the White House and a range of parties across college sports, including the NCAA and the Big 12 Conference. The bill is not perfect, but it would represent a significant improvement over today’s uncertain college athletics landscape.
New approach boosts capacity to diagnose, treat Alzheimer’s, dementia
KU medical researchers have designed a model for delivering dementia care that they have already begun implementing at The University of Kansas Health System. The Brain Health Care Accelerator places primary care at the forefront of dementia diagnoses and treatment to provide care for the growing number of people who need it.
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The continued importance of the humanities
A few weeks ago, I had the honor of speaking at the Hall Center for the Humanities 50th anniversary celebration. It was a wonderful event, and my remarks to attendees were straightforward: At a research university, humanities are not an accessory. Rather, they are foundational. They shape how we think, engage and understand one another. They teach students to ask questions, weigh evidence, and manage an increasingly complex world — all of which are essential skills for leadership and citizenship.
The humanities also strengthen research across the university. They help us understand culture, ethics and identity, providing the context that makes scientific discovery more meaningful and more responsible.
My own education in the humanities proved invaluable throughout my career as a physician. Whether leading medical missions abroad, caring for patients or navigating difficult ethical decisions, my exposure to the humanities shaped how I approached the work.
Certainly, we can’t ignore the broader pressures facing higher education, specifically the emphasis on fields that are seen as more directly tied to workforce. Those are important priorities, and at KU we are proud of our strengths in the sciences, engineering, business and health professions. But we reject the idea that this must come at the expense of the humanities. A great university does not choose between preparing students for careers and preparing them for life. It does both. And it does this when the humanities are fully integrated into the academic mission. At KU, we remain committed to this vision.
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The University of Kansas prohibits discrimination on the basis of race, color, ethnicity, religion, sex, national origin, age, ancestry, disability, status as a veteran, sexual orientation, marital status, parental status, gender identity, gender expression, and genetic information in the university’s programs and activities. Retaliation is also prohibited by university policy. The following person has been designated to handle inquiries regarding the nondiscrimination policies and procedures and is the Title IX Coordinator for all KU and KUMC campuses: Associate Vice Chancellor for the Office of Civil Rights and Title IX, civilrights@ku.edu, Room 1082, Dole Human Development Center, 1000 Sunnyside Avenue, Lawrence, KS 66045, 785-864-6414, 711 TTY. Reports can be submitted by contacting the Title IX Coordinator as provided herein or online and complaints can be submitted with the Title IX Coordinator or online.
© The University of Kansas. 2025.
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