All faculty, staff and students are invited to attend Chancellor Doug Girod's annual State of the University address at 4 p.m. on Thursday, Oct. 10, at the Jayhawk Welcome Center. For those unable to attend in person, the event will be livestreamed at chancellor.ku.edu.

The Chancellor will highlight our accomplishments over the past year and discuss the coming year's challenges, opportunities and priorities. After the address, the Chancellor invites everyone to a "Thank Goodness It's Thursday" get-together at The Pub in the Jayhawk Welcome Center.

Registration is not required but highly encouraged for planning purposes. You can RSVP here.

Current and former KU Libraries employees are invited to raise a glass to 100 years of memories, community and the enduring legacy of Watson Library at an upcoming Library Employee Reunion. 

The reunion and free happy hour will take place on Tuesday, Oct. 15 from 4:30 - 6 p.m. in Watson Library, 3 West. RSVPs are strongly encouraged and greatly appreciated.

Health insurance premiums for the coming plan year rose 7.5% for all state employees, however the decision was made to hold employee premium contributions level and for agencies like the University of Kansas to absorb the increases as part of fringe benefits. 

As a reminder, SEHP Open Enrollment runs from Oct. 1 - 31. After Oct. 31, you will not be able to make changes to your plan elections until the following Open Enrollment period unless you have a qualifying life event. For questions about enrollment, contact hrdept@ku.edu.

The news that KU has set enrollment, retention and graduation records is only part of the plan. The Student Success Model is the foundation for the Jayhawks Rising Student Success priorities and goals for 2024-2025. All faculty and staff should understand the loss-momentum framework that supports our collective efforts toward student retention and completion at KU.

Units can request a workshop or Success Model overview at academicsuccess@ku.edu to help their teams understand how they are daily momentum-makers through engaging activities. 

Join Chancellor Doug Girod as he hosts the University Teaching Awards on Tuesday, Oct. 8, at the Jayhawk Welcome Center. This prestigious annual ceremony celebrates educators who exemplify excellence in teaching. Learn more about the 2024 honorees and their teaching awards here.

All KU community members, families and guests are invited to attend. RSVP today!

Thanks to the generosity of donors, the Chi-Omega Fountain will undergo reconstruction starting the week of Oct. 7, with completion set before the 2025 commencement. Phase one includes installing new plumbing systems and recasting the fountain's concrete. Phase two includes setting fountain stone along with a bronze center fountain and bowl.

Construction will not disrupt traffic or campus access. Drop-offs and pick-ups are not allowed in the circle drive around the fountain.

In recognition of Ombuds Day, we want to spotlight KU's Ombuds Office, which has served as an essential resource for faculty, staff and students for nearly five decades. The Ombuds Office offers confidential and informal guidance in a private setting not part of formal KU processes, allowing individuals to explore their experiences and options.

Individuals can contact the office at ombuds@ku.edu using a KU or non-KU email address or by phone at 785-864-7261.

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 persons have been designated to handle inquiries regarding the nondiscrimination policies and are the Title IX coordinators for their respective 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 (for the Lawrence, Edwards, Parsons, Yoder, and Topeka campuses); Director, Equal Opportunity Office, Mail Stop 7004, 4330 Shawnee Mission Parkway, Fairway, KS 66205, 913-588-8011, 711 TTY (for the Wichita, Salina, and Kansas City, Kansas medical center campuses).

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