Provost Arash Mafi will deliver the annual State of the Campus address at 3:30 p.m. Wednesday in the Kansas Union Ballroom. All faculty and staff are invited to learn more about the successes, challenges and opportunities for Lawrence and Edwards campuses.   

The event will be livestreamed and recorded. Following the presentation, faculty and staff are invited to a reception to mingle and continue the discussion. An RSVP is requested. 

For those who missed Chancellor Doug Girod’s State of the University address on Oct. 16, a recording can be viewed on the Chancellor’s Office website. 

The KU men’s basketball season is underway, and with it comes game day parking restrictions.  

Parking lots 20, 31, 54, 70, 71, 72, 89, 90, 93, 117, 118, 125 and 127, along with the Allen Fieldhouse and Central District garages, will be used for game parking. All vehicles that do not have a game parking permit must be removed from these lots before 5:30 p.m. for most weeknight games and 4 a.m. or 8 a.m. for weekend games. Lots will close earlier than 5:30 p.m. for several weeknight games around the holidays. 

The parking fine for being in these parking lots after the restricted time is $100, which increases by $10 each time a ticket is issued.   

Students with valid permits who are on campus for academic purposes can park in most parking lots north of Jayhawk Boulevard or in lots 34, 38 and 61, which are off Sunnyside Avenue, after 3:30 p.m. on game days during the week. Faculty and staff with valid permits may also park in lots 6, 7, 17, 35, 37, 41 and 129. See a map of game day restrictions.   

Look for weekly reminders in Campus Insider’s Dates and Deadlines section.

The 2027 undergraduate recruitment season is hitting peak stride. Earlier this fall, KU launched its Kansas Commitment program, which helps make college more affordable for Kansans. Under the program, academically qualified Kansans who meet basic requirements and have a family adjusted gross income of $75,000 or less are guaranteed enough scholarships and grants to cover base undergraduate tuition and required student fees. The Kansas Commitment and other strategies were heavily promoted during the Kansas Board of Regents' Apply Free Days, Oct.5-9.

In addition, teams across campus are working to strengthen connections with prospective students in strategic out-of-state markets such as Texas. Financial Aid & Scholarships is offering a one-time $1,000 visit scholarship for out-of-state prospective students who meet certain requirements, participate in a campus visit and later enroll at KU. Recruitment and communications teams are working to better personalize recruitment communications while also emphasizing the KU difference, including membership in the AAU, the city of Lawrence and the broader Jayhawk community.

Employees have until midnight Saturday to enroll in the 2027 State Employee Health Plan. Information about the 2027 SEHP and Optional Group Life Insurance can be found on the Human Resources website.  

Employees with current coverage or wishing to have 2027 coverage under SEHP must enroll through the Membership Administration Portal (MAP). Review the SEHP Open Enrollment Guide to learn more about changes for 2027 and to select a plan. Employees can also attend virtual open enrollment information sessions on Wednesday or Thursday. Registration is required. 

General information on Optional Group Life Insurance Enrollment can be found on the KPERS website. To enroll, employees must complete the online form and email it to the KU benefits office at benefits@ku.edu for processing. 

By the end of today, faculty and staff are required to complete the following annual compliance training modules: 

Additionally, all employees designated as a Campus Security Authority must complete the Campus Security Authority module. The Fostering Respect and Belonging module is optional but highly encouraged.  

These learning modules strengthen KU’s collective efforts to build and support a safer and more secure campus environment.  

Employees have three ways to navigate to the trainings:  

For questions or help with technical issues, please contact Human Resources at hrdept@ku.edu. 

Nominations for the Faculty Service Award, which was established in 2025, will be accepted until 5 p.m. Dec. 1. 

The Faculty Service Award recognizes high-quality and impactful service activities in a range of areas, including committee or task force work, campus-wide programming or initiatives, mentorship or professional development for colleagues, policy improvement, program creation, program evaluation, faculty governance, and support of student organizations.   

Two awards are presented annually, and each recipient will receive $2,000, less applicable taxes. Additional information about the award and the nomination process can be found on the Faculty Service Award webpage.       

Nominations are also open for the University Teaching Awards and will be accepted until 5 p.m. Feb. 2. The list of awards, criteria and nomination process can be reviewed on the Office of Faculty Affairs website. 

Human Resources has posted recordings from the Staff Leadership Summit, which was held on Sept. 30 in the Kansas Union.   

Recordings include the keynote address by Crystal Nevins, senior director of employee engagement and development for Human Resources, and closing remarks by Paul Mintner, learning and development manager for HR. Additionally, eight breakout sessions were recorded from the event, which aimed to provide staff with tools and information to spur positive momentum.  

John Kelly, professor of ecology & evolutionary biology, has been selected as KU’s 2026-2027 Big 12 Faculty of the Year recipient. The award honors one outstanding faculty member from each of the conference’s 16 schools for excellence in innovation and research.  

Kelly’s research in evolutionary genetics constructs and tests models that predict observable changes in the genetic composition of populations. Working with a variety of subjects, he explores why individuals within the same species differ genetically and why genetic diversity continues. Challenging the misconception that biological evolution happens too slowly to observe, Kelly examines its occurrence in real time, helping scientists better understand how populations adapt. 

In recognition of Kelly’s excellence in research, Chancellor Douglas Girod will present him with a trophy during halftime of the KU men’s basketball game at Allen Fieldhouse on Nov. 2.  

Read the full article about Kelly’s award on the KU News website. 

The power of music to motivate movement is the focus of the final week of Movetober — the KU Employee Wellness movement challenge. Here are several ways that employees can cap off this year’s challenge: 

KU Employee Wellness' next Lunch-n-Learn event will focus on building a sustainable fitness routine from noon to 12:45 p.m. Tuesday. In the virtual program, Taylor Getz, owner of True Barre Lawrence, will explore how consistent movement and healthy habits can support strength, mobility, balance, confidence and overall well-being at every stage of life.

The session will cover how building a sustainable routine can help people age well, reduce injury risk, feel more comfortable and confident in their bodies, and support mental well-being, without requiring hours in the gym or an all-or-nothing approach. Getz will also discuss the fundamentals of barre and Pilates, what makes these movement practices unique and accessible, and how they can fit into even the busiest lifestyles.

Registration is required.

The Employee Tuition Assistance application for the spring semester is due by 5 p.m. Nov. 6. Late applications will not be accepted.    

The Employee Tuition Assistance Program provides eligible employees with assistance to cover tuition for up to 12 credit hours per calendar year. The program is available to faculty and staff with a 48% or greater appointment to a regular position and at least six months of continuous KU service. 

Visit Human Resources’ tuition assistance webpage for more information. 

The global startup accelerator Techstars will bring its Startup Weekend to KU from Nov. 13-15. Open to all KU faculty, staff, students and alumni, the three-day event offers an opportunity to explore new ideas, collaborate across disciplines and experience the entrepreneurial process firsthand.  

Participants will work in teams to identify problems, validate opportunities, develop solutions and present their concepts to a panel of judges. No previous startup experience is required. 

Apply to participate by Nov. 4. 

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.