While outside temperatures in Kansas can vary by more than 100 degrees, inside temperatures for buildings on campus should remain relatively consistent. 

Areas that are too hot or cold should be reported through Maximo or by contacting Facilities Services at facilities@ku.edu or 785-864-4770 so the problem can be addressed. Opening a window or using a space heater to fix the situation causes thermostats to have incorrect readings and interferes with proper heating, cooling or ventilation. Not only does this use more energy and cost money, but it is also harder on the mechanical equipment. 

In warmer months, be sure to turn desk fans off at night. Leaving a fan running overnight throughout the summer wastes enough energy to power a laptop for a year. 

Visit the Energy Conservation website to learn about other ways to lower energy usage on campus.   

Pamela Pearson has been named the new director of the KU Applied English Center, bringing more than two decades of experience in English language instruction and international education. She began her new role last week. 

Pearson most recently served as associate director of Programs for Learning Academic and Community English at Colorado State University, where she oversaw intensive English curriculum development, accreditation and student support.

At KU, Pearson will lead the AEC in advancing its mission to provide high-quality English language instruction to international students preparing for academic study, as well as those engaged in short-term or specialized learning programs. 

For those who missed KU Reads author John Green’s talk at the Lied Center, a recording of the event is available until Oct. 3. Green wrote this year’s common book selection, “The Anthropocene Reviewed: Essays on a Human-Centered Planet.”

By selecting a common book each academic year, opportunities are created for KU faculty, staff and students to join in shared conversations of significance, encourage intellectual engagement across disciplines and build community.  

Nominations for the 2026-2027 common book are being accepted through Sept. 14.  

The KU Reads Advisory Board reviews the nominated books based on appropriateness for college-level reading, critical response, flexibility for inclusion in a variety of courses, cost and availability of the book and author, and potential for co-curricular programming. 

The KU community mourns the death of Todd Rodman. An assistant skilled trades supervisor in the Lawrence campus’ plumbing shop, Rodman died Aug. 28.   

Rodman joined KU as a plumber in 2020. He was promoted to senior plumber in 2021 and skilled trade supervisor in 2022. During his time at KU, he became known not only for his skill and dedication to his work, but also for his energy, quick wit and passion, said Shawn Harding, director of Facilities Services.  

"He was a respected leader who believed in doing it right the first time, and he carried that attitude into everything he did,” Harding said.  

Rodman is survived by his wife, Stephanie, and their two children. 

KU Marketing and KU IT are updating the Sunflower CMS to reflect the Towering Toward the Blue brand. The preview period for site administrators ends the week of Sept. 15, when the new branding goes live. 

Site admins should review their webpages now and note any issues before the update. Changes made in preview mode will save to the live site but won’t appear in the new branding style until Sept. 15. Custom CSS may not carry over with the new styling. 

Closure Set for Saturday and Sunday

Spencer Drive and a section of Mississippi Street will close this Saturday and Sunday as crews work to relocate electrical infrastructure.

With Spencer Drive closed, drivers will not be able to access Lot 91, which sits just north of the Spencer Museum of Art. Additionally, the southbound lane of Mississippi Street will be closed from the entrance of the Mississippi Street Parking Garage to Memorial Drive.  

The Spencer Museum of Art galleries will be closed over the weekend during the electrical upgrade. Spencer Drive, Mississippi Street and Lot 91 are expected to reopen Sunday night.   

This work is weather dependent and, therefore, subject to change. 

Submission Deadline: Oct. 8 

KU International Affairs is now accepting nominations for two competitive awards that recognize faculty who engage in internationalization across campus. Nominations and supporting materials should be submitted by Oct. 8.  

The International Affairs Advisory Board International Research Award recognizes KU faculty who have provided outstanding leadership in international education through research and discovery efforts at KU. The award includes $1,000 in funding for professional activities and is financially supported by the KUIA advisory board.  

The George and Eleanor Woodyard International Educator Award recognizes full-time, tenured KU faculty on the Lawrence campus who have provided outstanding leadership in international education at KU. A $1,000 award is made possible by a generous endowment from George and Eleanor Woodyard.

Visit International Affairs Faculty Awards for Internationalization for more information, criteria and how to submit a nomination. 

Join KU from 9 a.m. to 6 p.m. Sunday in Hutchinson for KU’s first Sunflower Sunday at the Kansas State Fair.

Visit the House of Capper, where Jayhawks will host presentations, hands-on activities and free health screenings. Visitors can try their luck in hourly drawings for Sunflower Showdown tickets or participate in a scavenger hunt that leads around the fairgrounds while highlighting ways KU strengthens Kansas.

Sunflower Sunday celebrates all things Kansas and the mighty community of Jayhawks who serve Kansas every day. Sport crimson and blue and come celebrate with KU.

To view a full schedule of events or buy tickets to the state fair, visit the Kansas State Fair website.

The Office of Civil Rights & Title IX is offering a series of introductory presentations on mandatory reporting for KU staff and faculty. These sessions will provide an opportunity to learn more about the office's work, including the mandatory reporting obligations for staff and faculty, as well as KU policies and procedures regarding harassment, discrimination and sexual misconduct. 

These sessions are open to anyone who is unable to attend unit-level training or who wants to learn more about OCRTIX’s work.  

Upcoming sessions: 

More details and registration are available on the OCRTIX website. 

The Office of Civil Rights and Title IX will explore life in rural Kansas and across the country in its next installment of the Belonging @ KU series. “Rural Life, Culture, and Community” will be presented from 2:30 to 3:30 p.m. Sept. 18.  

This session will offer insight into common perceptions of rural living and unique experiences that define these communities. The event speakers are Tom Mueller, assistant professor of population health and director of the Kansas Center for Rural Health , and Donna Ginther, Distinguished Professor of Economics and director of the Institute for Policy & Social Research.  

Registration is required for this free virtual event. All KU students, staff, faculty and affiliates are welcome to attend.  

Join colleagues for the Third Annual Rock Chalk Run on Oct. 5 at the KU Edwards Campus. The 5K and 10K races will start at 8:30 a.m. Participants will receive a race shirt, bib and finisher medal. A 1K Family Fun Run will start at 8:35 a.m., and participants will receive a T-shirt. 

The event will include live music, local vendors and KU mascot appearances. Prices increase for race registration after Sept. 27.   

The 2025-26 academic year cycle of Academic Program Review and Degree-Level Assessment has begun. These intersecting activities, required by the Higher Learning Commission and the Kansas Board of Regents, are designed to support continuous improvement of KU’s academic departments and programs. To learn more, including a comprehensive schedule for each, visit the Academic Program Review & Assessment website.   

KU employees and affiliates can learn life-saving skills in a Heartsaver CPR and AED training, sponsored by the American Heart Association. The training is from 1 to 3 p.m. Sept. 18 in the first-floor conference room at the Watkins Health Center.

Upon completion, participants will receive a certification card that is valid for two years. The course costs $55. KU Employees can register in MyTalent and KU affiliates can email Heidi Garcia.

KU employees can develop better ways to manage stress at a workshop from 9 to 11 a.m. Wednesday in Room 204 in Joseph R. Pearson Hall.

The workshop, “Stress Less: Effective Techniques to Manage Everyday Stress and Enhance Wellbeing,” will cover how stress affects the body and mind and strategies to manage its impact. Jeff Stolz, director of mental health and wellbeing, will facilitate the workshop. KU employees can register through MyTalent.

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.