On Sept. 8, KU will close the sidewalk in front of Ritchie and Lindley halls for seven months as renovation of Lindley Hall continues.  

A detour will move foot traffic to the north side of Crescent Road. To cross to the north side, pedestrians should use the crosswalks west of Chi Omega Fountain and on the west side of the Crescent Road and Naismith Drive intersection. Pedestrians will not be able to use the north entrance of Ritchie Hall, including the walkway and adjacent stairs. 

The project will not close roads, but drivers should be aware of the increase in pedestrians at the crosswalks.  

Expected to be completed in March, the project includes waterproofing the foundation along the north side of Lindley Hall, as well as the northwest corner and the steps into the northeast entrance. Crews will remove landscaping this fall and install new landscaping following the completion of the waterproofing work. 

KU recently published updated policies on public assembly, sidewalk chalking and camping. The chancellor and provost approved these policy changes after an extensive public review and comment period.  

More than 90 new faculty members have joined the KU Lawrence and Edwards campuses for the 2025-2026 academic year. This year’s cohort includes representatives from all 12 academic units across both campuses as well as the KU Life Span Institute. The Office of Faculty Affairs welcomed new faculty on Aug. 11 and 12 during New Faculty Orientation.   

This upcoming fall and spring, the Office of Faculty Affairs will host Early Career Faculty Foundation events, featuring topics such as research and discovery, instruction and innovation, career development, student wellness and support, and personal development and mentoring. Additionally, virtual “OFA’s How to at KU” events will be offered on specific technical topics to help early career faculty become familiar with the tools and resources available to them.   

A list of 2025-2026 new faculty, along with Early Career events, can be found on the Office of Faculty Affairs’ new faculty page. 

Recognized for her work to connect KU and the larger community to East Asian languages and cultures and for fostering belonging at KU, LaGretia Copp has been named an August 2025 Employee of the Month. 

Copp, communications and event coordinator for the Center for East Asian Studies, has organized the center’s Lunar New Year, Kite and Mid-Autumn festivals for the past three years. These events each draw more than 500 attendees and contribute to the Jayhawks Rising goal of increasing engagement with local and global communities, as well as opportunities to volunteer, build community and strengthen belonging at KU.  

Copp has also taken on more project management responsibilities for the joint outreach activities of KU’s five area studies centers. She has developed a centralized calendar, coordinates outreach teams, chairs bi-weekly meetings and oversees marketing materials for recruitment and engagement events. 

“Her vision, leadership and proactive collaboration with other units have been truly remarkable,” her nominator noted. 

Jenine Meston has been named an August 2025 Employee of the Month for her ready assistance, preparedness and detail-oriented problem solving when providing IT support to instructors.   

Meston, who joined the university in 2005, is an educational technologist in KU IT’s Educational Technology department. 

Meston provides faculty support for the use of all Ed Tech tools, handles help requests from instructors and students, and leads training or desk-side sessions to educate users about Canvas and other academic tools.  

As a senior employee on her team, Meston has helped navigate several large obstacles over the last decade, including implementing a new campus learning management system, providing faculty support during the shift to remote teaching during the pandemic, and meeting technology requirements when instructors returned to campus.  

“Jenine has been an invaluable and helpful colleague in IT over the years, always available before, during and after the pandemic,” Meston’s nominator said. 

Read more about Copp and Meston’s work on the Employee of the Month Winners webpage.   

Nominating a colleague for the Employee of the Month award is a great way to recognize exceptional university staff members and show appreciation for their contributions. The deadline for the next round of nominations is today.  

Winners receive a $750 award, a surprise visit from a member of the Provost’s leadership team and become a candidate for the 2026 Employee of the Year Award.    

Eligible nominees must have a half-time or greater appointment in a regular, ongoing position with one year of service at KU or a recognized affiliate. Nominate a colleague using the online nomination form. 

An uptick in respiratory illness, including COVID-19, is common at the beginning of the academic year. Watkins Health Services has reported an increase in COVID-19 cases since the first day of classes.

Now is a timely opportunity to remind students to promptly notifying instructors about absences due to illness. Faculty and staff can also remind students and teams of basic steps to help protect themselves and others from health risks that COVID-19 and other respiratory viruses cause.

Watkins is available to assist students with testing and managing symptoms, but faculty and staff should refrain from sending students to Watkins simply for the purpose of documenting their illness.

Visit Watkins Health Services’ COVID-19 information page, which includes information on prevention strategies, treatment, testing, vaccinations and other resources. 

KU has 10 faculty staff councils that bring KU employees together around a common topic, identity or interest. Anyone is welcome to join these self-governing bodies, which the Office of Civil Rights & Title IX supports. Currently, KU has Asian and Asian American, Black, Disability Inclusion, First-Generation, International, Jewish, Latinx, Native, and Sexuality and Gender Diversity faculty staff councils, as well as the Women of Color Support Network.  

Those interested in joining an existing faculty staff council should complete an interest form, which will allow councils to connect interested members to their communication channels.  

Anyone interested in starting a new faculty staff council that would bring KU employees together around a common topic, identity or interest, should email belonging@ku.edu. Examples of potential new faculty staff councils could center around caretakers, working parents, religion and spirituality, artists, veterans, and young professionals. 

KU faculty and staff who care deeply about wellbeing and building a healthier KU community should consider becoming a wellness ambassador. A spirited squad of over 50 employees, wellness ambassadors care about supporting their wellness and encouraging others to do the same. 

Responsibilities of an ambassador include:  

From curious newcomers to seasoned advocates, KU Employee Wellness is excited to welcome ambassadors to the team. Learn more about the role and apply to become an ambassador on the Wellness Ambassadors webpage.  

This fall KU faculty and staff will have an opportunity to reduce stress and improve their health with a series of weekly free yoga sessions. Provided by KU Employee Wellness and taught by a certified instructor, the yoga sessions are for all levels, including beginners.  

Times, locations and instructors will change from week to week. View the fall schedule for full details. Mats will be provided or participants can bring their own.   

KU employees should register through MyTalent and KU affiliates can email wellness@ku.edu to register.  

As one of the world’s foremost international trade law scholars and teachers, Raj Bhala in the School of Law has earned the title of University Distinguished Professor.

Bhala is renowned for his scholarship in trade law, law and literature, and Islamic law, and he has written 13 books and over 100 law review articles. 

Bhala will focus on aspects of his international trade law scholarship during his inaugural University Distinguished Professor lecture, “Deceitful Destruction of International Trade Law: America First and Xenophobic Autarky,” which will take place at 5:30 p.m. Sept. 15 in the Kansas Union’s Kansas Room on the sixth level. Individuals can register to attend the lecture in person or via livestream, and a recording of the lecture will be posted afterward on the Office of Faculty Affairs website.  

During the lecture, Bhala will explore how international trade law is being destroyed, why it is happening and whether it is worth preserving. 

Family Weekend, which will be from Sept. 26-28, gives parents, families and supporters the opportunity to spend time with their students, experience life at KU and explore the city of Lawrence.

The Office of Family Engagement has a number of volunteer opportunities that help faculty and staff connect with students and their guests during this weekend of events. Interested faculty and staff can sign up to volunteer by Sept. 15. 

Join KU Athletics for the KU versus Missouri football watch party in the reimagined David Booth Kansas Memorial Stadium. Attendance is free. Doors open at 1:30 p.m. Saturday.

The watch party will include a fun zone on the turf, open field seating and appearances by the KU Spirit Squad and Band.

RSVP to the event.

Faculty and staff can watch the most recent town hall on the Provost's website.  

During the town hall, Provost and Executive Vice Chancellor Barbara Bichelmeyer spoke with Kyle Christian, associate vice chancellor of federal relations, and Shelley Hooks, vice chancellor of research, about changes in research and the higher education environment.   

This fall, town halls are scheduled for Sept. 18, Nov. 20 and Dec. 18. Questions or topic suggestions can be submitted through the anonymous online form. 

The KU Edwards Campus will host a TEDx event at 7 p.m. Friday in Regnier Hall Auditorium. TEDx events are independently organized and focus on the value of discovering and sharing thought-provoking ideas with the community.  

The speakers for TEDxKUEdwards will explore topics such as navigating information overload in a media-saturated world and valuing and investing in children to help them grow.

This event is open to the public. For more information and to purchase tickets, visit the TedxKUEdwards website. 

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.

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