Last week, KU Information Technology announced that Microsoft Teams will become the sole enterprise-supported web-conference platform for virtual meetings, classes and webinars for the Lawrence and Edwards campuses. Effective June 1, KU IT will no longer provide enterprise licensing or provisioning for Zoom Pro or Zoom Webinar. 

To help with this transition, KU IT has created the following resources:

Nominations for the Office of Faculty Affairs Senior Administrative Fellows Program are now open for the 2026-27 academic year.  

Senior Administrative Fellows can meet face-to-face and learn from those with administrative roles at KU, develop their personal leadership skills and understanding, engage with challenges that leaders face in academia, and consider leadership pathways in higher education.  

For the third year in a row, Mary Banwart, associate vice provost for faculty development, mentoring and growth, will lead the Senior Administrative Fellows cohort in twice-monthly meetings to explore leadership approaches directly from KU administrators, discuss major issues in academic leadership, and apply a leadership framework to a year-long project.  

The application deadline is April 6. This program is ideal for tenure-track faculty who are ready to take the next step in their leadership development at KU. More information on the program, application process and time commitment can be found on the Senior Administrative Fellows page. 

The KU Smart Campus map allows users to locate accessible routes, distinct building features, parking zones and other campus resources in Lawrence. Highlighted features include accessible parking spaces, accessible restrooms, single-user and family restrooms, hoteling spaces, lactation rooms, reflection rooms and ablution stations, and bus stops.   

To locate a specific feature or resource, click the menu on the right side of the page and then select the item from the table of contents. Icons will appear on the map where the feature is located on campus. 

Kim LaFever has been selected as a January Employee of the Month for her unmatched work ethic and dedication to collaboratively connecting Academic Success units to benefit students and the university.  

LaFever is the director of Academic Success Operations within Academic Success. It connects students to academic support units through technologies and marketing outreach efforts. 

With her team, LaFever manages the technical systems used by Academic Success staff to communicate with students, including the Jayhawk GPS/Navigate360 Student App, Qtrac and Handshake. The unit also offers marketing and communication services to Academic Success units, such as graphic design support, event promotion and effective student communication strategies. 

“She is the first to step up when a big project or opportunity comes our way,” LaFever’s colleague said. “She wants to provide value and make our work better, not just do the expected.” 

Jennifer Laverentz has been named a January Employee of the Month for the critical role she plays in the success and international recognition of the KU Center for Remote Sensing and Integrated Systems. 

Laverentz is the administrative manager for CReSIS, but her nominators said her work goes far beyond her job title. Among her duties are managing schedules and calendars, organizing field logistics, purchasing items for the office, and assisting in pre- and post-award grant tasks.  

Part of Laverentz’s work includes finding ways to ship large research equipment to remote field sites in Greenland. Recently, she located someone to fly a piece of equipment from Iceland to Greenland in 24 hours, ensuring the equipment was at the field location when researchers arrived. 

“I'm not sure the type of research we do in remote polar regions would be possible without her,” her nominator noted. 

Read more about LaFever and Laverentz’s work on the Employee of the Month Winners webpage. 

Southwest Airlines is offering exclusive promotions to KU employees traveling on university business in 2026. A dedicated Southwest landing page now makes it easy to explore benefits, enroll in limited-time offers and maximize rewards. 

Registration is required for travel promotions. When registering for the A-list travel promotion, put “University of Kansas” in the online form and use your university email address where it asks for a corporate email address.

Make sure your profile in Concur includes your frequent flyer information for relevant airlines, including Southwest. And be sure to book your KU travel through Concur or by contacting Collegiate Travel Planners.

The last pay period includes a two-hour delay for inclement weather. The Inclement Weather and Campus Closing Eligibility Chart (.xlsx) is a helpful guide for employees to know how the Inclement Weather Policy directly relates to their position.   

For questions and/or concerns, visit Human Resources’ Inclement Weather FAQ page or email hrdept@ku.edu. 

KU is launching Building Bridges: KU Global Youth Academy, a 10-day immersive summer program from July 12–22 on the Lawrence campus. The academy will unite high school students from the Lawrence area and around the world for authentic college experiences, leadership workshops, group projects, academic tours and cultural exchange.  

KU employees’ children and dependents are encouraged to join, with a 10 percent discount on registration available.  

Learn more and sign up for an online informational webinar on the Building Bridges website. The first sessions are scheduled for the evenings of Feb. 3 and 5.

Join the Office of Civil Rights & Title IX for Introduction to Mandatory Reporting presentations throughout the spring semester. In this hour-long session, participants will explore the mandatory reporting obligations for staff and faculty; examine KU’s policies and procedures regarding harassment, discrimination, and sexual misconduct; and learn more about OCRTIX’s many facets and responsibilities.  

This session will highlight how collectively, the KU community can continue to create flourishing, healthy and vibrant campuses.

Spring Sessions:

For registration information, visit the OCRTIX training webpage.  

The Office of Civil Rights & Title IX’s next installment of the Belonging @ KU series, Strengthening Community through Kindness, will highlight how intentional practices can strengthen connections and contribute to more compassionate communities. 

Beginning at 4 p.m. Feb. 9, the virtual event will feature Ferial Pearson, associate professor at the University of Nebraska at Omaha and the founder of The Secret Kindness Agents Project. Pearson is a nationally recognized educator with over 25 years of experience, and her work has been featured in Lady Gaga’s Born This Way Foundation, Hallmark, Parents Magazine, Learning for Justice magazine and more.  

For the livestream of the event and more information, visit the OCRTIX website.  

A recording of Thursday’s town hall is available to view behind KU single sign-on. During the town hall, Provost and Executive Vice Chancellor Barbara Bichelmeyer and senior administrators covered research updates, employee compensation and immigration changes. Information was also shared on what to do if an unexpected person visits a classroom or workspace.

The next town hall is set for 1 p.m. Feb. 19. 

Faculty and staff are invited to take a break from the busy start of the semester to attend the Office of the Provost’s TGIT from 4 to 6 p.m. Thursday at the Hawks Nest on the Kansas Union's first floor. Colleagues will have the opportunity to network and enjoy complimentary snacks and beverages. RSVPs are encouraged for planning purposes.  

Be sure to mark the calendar for the next Provost Office TGIT on April 9. 

Students, faculty and staff with a gross household income of below $89,000 can access free tax preparation software.

The program is available through a Volunteer Income Tax Assistance grant. Contact Legal Services for Students, legals@ku.edu, to request the filing link for the program.

The Created by KU storytelling platform highlights brilliant KU creations and the Jayhawks who make them possible. Explore these stories to learn how KU transforms world-class research into real benefits for people in Kansas and beyond. Share them with family and friends, and subscribe to receive future stories. 

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.