Eleven new degrees and certificates will launch at the start of the fall semester. Academic Affairs maintains a webpage documenting approved programs, including the first semester they will be offered, and outlining the process for developing new programs. 

Visit Academic Affairs to see recently approved programs, including degrees and graduate and undergraduate certificates.  

Below are some of the programs that were approved in spring 2026.

The Academic Program Coordinating Committee reviews all new academic program proposals before being submitted to Provost and Chief Academic Officer Arash Mafi. After the provost’s approval, new programs are forwarded to the Kansas Board of Regents then the Higher Learning Commission for action as outlined in each entity’s policies.

Beyond welcoming visitors to browse its collection of ancient to contemporary art, the Spencer Museum of Art provides a number of teaching and research support resources, as well as spaces for classes to meet. 

Museum staff can collaborate with instructors to create tailored experiences aligning their collections and resources with course goals. 

Classes can incorporate museum resources in various ways, including: 

Instructors interested in arranging a class session at the museum should submit a visit form three weeks in advance.  

Find more information on the Spencer Museum’s website.

KU Libraries’ A to Z guide of databases highlights the ever-evolving collection of digital materials that the campus community can access. Below are just a few of the millions of items available to faculty and staff.

The Office of Faculty Affairs has created a Faculty and Academic Staff Classification and Job Titles webpage to better understand classification types and make informed decisions regarding hiring, evaluation and adherence to related policies.  

The page is a supplementary resource to Article 15 of the collective bargaining agreement, which clearly outlines faculty classifications, job series and titles at KU.

Additionally, Human Resources will be utilizing this information to update its job title table. 

The Office of Family Engagement invites all departments and units to welcome families back to campus in the fall. Those interested can participate in Family Weekend on Oct. 2 by showcasing their spaces, highlighting resources and connecting with families.

Departments that would like to host events or activities can submit a program description on the Family Engagement site by Aug. 31 for a chance to be included in the official Family Weekend schedule.

Contact Nikita Haynie, director for the Office of Family Engagement, at nhaynie@ku.edu for questions on how to get involved.

A new digital service available in Canvas will help students manage and stay current on course content. 

KU Information Technology has deployed ReadSpeaker in KU’s learning management system, Canvas, to help ensure accessibility. ReadSpeaker is a free, user-friendly, assistive technology text-to-speech tool that reads content aloud from web pages, Canvas or PDFs. 

The technology includes three unique tools: TextAid, webReader, and docReader, which make PDFs, Canvas and webpages more accessible. Files can also be converted to MP3 files and downloaded for offline listening. ReadSpeaker can also highlight words and sentences to follow along with the audio, and users have the ability to change reading speed, voice, text color and background, allowing for a customized experience.  

This new tool is one of many ways KU is helping ensure compliance with Title II digital accessibility requirements. To learn more about ReadSpeaker, visit the ReadSpeaker in Canvas page.

Road work at West Campus Road and 11th Street is ongoing and is expected to last through Friday. At some point this week, a section of West Campus Road between 11th Street and Stratford Road will be closed for one day, though the specific date is yet to be determined. During that time, detour traffic will be rerouted via West Hills Parkway and Stratford Road. 

Check the Construction Information & Closures page for the most up-to-date details.

When a KU tech service or vendor-based platform — such as ku.edu, email, Wi-Fi and HR Pay — isn’t working, faculty, staff and students should check the IT Alerts Status page to see if a known issue exists.

The page can also be monitored for real-time updates. 

Consider bookmarking the page, so the site is easy to access when technology goes down. 

Your KU email account is the official channel for important university communications.

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 is a public institution governed by the Kansas Board of Regents.