Greetings faculty colleagues,
|
| |
|
The Office of Faculty Affairs is committed to providing current and impactful faculty programming that supports your career development across all stages of the faculty lifecycle, and we have created a program model that can support faculty as you outline plans for professional development based on your needs, current roles, and various interests.
And a core part of our annual faculty development programming is our Faculty Development Academies Week. As you get ready to start your summer, plan to RSVP by May 12th (next Tuesday!) for some or all of the days we have planned!
|
-
Day 1: Wanting to learn about the research funding landscape and current strategies for funding your research? Join Vice Chancellor for Research Shelley Hooks, team members from the KU Office of Research, Associate Deans Maria Orive and Kevin Leonard, and more to learn about the current changes in research funding priorities, strategies to engage funders with your broader impact, and to be connected with the tools and resources on campus to support your grant development needs.
|
-
Day 2: Ready to rethink the idea of leadership and uncover your personal leadership superpower? Join KU faculty members – and experts in organizational communication, collaboration, and leadership – Angela Gist-Mackey, Associate Professor in Communication Studies, and Heather Getha-Taylor, Professor in the School of Public Affairs and Administration, for a day focused on you and helping you build skills that will deepen your relational superpowers. (book and leadership assessment included!)
|
-
Day 3: Curious about best practices for strengthening the mentoring foundation for your graduate students? We have the ideal workshop designed just for you! From sessions on best practices in setting and aligning expectations, fostering effective communication skills, effectively using individual development plans, and engaging strategies to support graduate students in building resilience and fostering self-efficacy, this day is designed with KU faculty in mind to grow mentorship at KU.
|
-
Also on Day 3: Wanting to create accessible course materials for your summer and/or fall Canvas courses? Accessibility in the classroom is a priority for KU and is an essential mandate from the Americans with Disabilities Act. On Wednesday, the Digital Accessibility team will walk you through the steps for remediating various document types, resolve accessibility issues, and provide deskside coaching to help you deliver a dynamic digital learning experience for all students!
|
-
Day 4: Eager to help develop a global mindset in your students, preparing them for successful careers? Today's professionals are engaging with colleagues around the world bridging boundaries and innovating new and complex ideas. Join International Affairs’ Associate Vice Provost and Professor Megan Greene and Associate Vice Provost Roberta Pokphanh, along with colleagues from International Student Services and KU faculty who are ready to help you develop the foundation of a global mindset with your students!
|
-
Day 5: Looking for a retreat to focus on you and your writing? As we often say, bring your laptop and a project and we’ll provide breakfast, lunch, snacks and great jazz music, giving you the dedicated space and time to launch your summer writing and project development. Our final Academies Day will find us at Watson Library getting a head start on the summer!
|
As the rush of the spring semester begins to wind down, and celebrations commence, the Office of Faculty Affairs is looking forward to what is still in store later this month, after the celebrations end. We know how much time, energy, and care faculty invest in teaching, research, and service, especially at this busy point in the academic year, and we hope Faculty Development Academies Week offers a bit of an escape from the busyness of the spring to reset and focus on your own professional goals.
We hope to see you at one—or several—Academies Days and wish you a successful end to your spring semester.
|
|
|
|
Amy Mendenhall
Vice Provost for Faculty Affairs
Professor, Social Welfare
|
2025 Byron T. Shutz Award Lecture
|
|
|
|
On April 20, Dr. Misty Schieberle, professor of English, presented her 2025 Byron T. Shutz Award Lecture, "Medieval Mysteries: Archival Challenges and Classroom Discoveries.” Find more photos of the event on our Instagram page.
|
Collective bargaining updates |
KU’s first faculty and academic staff collective bargaining agreement was ratified on April 23, with final approval from the Kansas Department of Administration.
As part of the memorandum of agreement between the University of Kansas and United Academics of Kansas University (UAKU), the complete contract (print-ready and full-text searchable) has been posted on the Office of Faculty Affairs website. The Office of Faculty Affairs is preparing training sessions and policy alignment resources in order to assist units in updating their policies as required by the agreement. Please refer to the Policy in Action portion of this newsletter for the latest resources available to faculty.
|
Collective Bargaining Policy Alignment Resources and Training
|
Within one year, all unit and university policies must align with the finalized collective bargaining agreement between KU and UAKU. The Office of Faculty Affairs' collective bargaining website is a source for resources and training sessions related to collective bargaining policy alignment.
Resources include:
|
- Our policy alignment resources page includes a suggested policy alignment timeline for submitting policy changes; guidance documents, checklists, and templates related to these policies; policy submission steps; policy alignment FAQs; and more.
|
- We are developing policy alignment workshops that follow our suggested policy alignment timeline. These workshops will allow those within units engaged in policy development to utilize resources, tips, and tools to begin policy revision.
-
We are offering two Annual Evaluations Policy Alignment workshops: one on June 17 and one on June 24. Join us for a two-hour session as we walk through the revisions required to be in alignment and give your unit some time to work through your plan and ask questions. Register at this link.
-
Check your inbox this summer for more policy alignment workshops to come!
|
The Office of Faculty Affairs is [temporarily] moving |
The Office of Faculty Affairs will be working remotely while KU Facilities Services continues its project to update the HVAC system in Strong Hall. Beginning next week, our office space in 145 Strong Hall will be temporarily closed, but we are always available at facultyaffairs@ku.edu and can make arrangements to meet on campus as needed. Facilities hopes to have the portion of their project that impacts our space completed by the beginning of the fall 2026 semester.
|
KU Faculty Development Academies Week
|
|
|
|
Join us for Faculty Development Academies Week. Faculty Development Academies are day-long intensives, focused on a particular topic, giving faculty time to delve deep and develop a core capacity in a chosen area. They take place every May, the week after finals week. Participants are welcome to register for as many dates as they’d like.
This year, choose days related to Research and Discovery, Academic Leadership, Academic Mentorship, Accessibility and Student Learning, and Global Engagement. The deadline to register is May 12! Attend as many dates as you'd like.
Monday, May 18, through Friday, May 22
Kansas Union (Friday's session takes place at Watson Library)
|
|
| |
|
The Faculty Collaborative: FacultyTHRIVE
|
|
|
|
The Office of Faculty Affairs is partnering with HigherEd+, an online professional development platform designed for the higher education community, to offer FacultyTHRIVE this summer!
What is FacultyTHRIVE? This is a new program that will be hosted online across 5 weeks in the summer to help faculty sustain momentum on summer projects and foster community support and connection. The FacultyTHRIVE program will consist of 6 meetings throughout the summer, with a theme for each session and plenty of time to write. Session themes will explore Goal-Setting, Planning, Time Management, Writing Best Practices, and more in a community environment with faculty peers. This experience also includes access to Pomigo, a customizable writing tracker for enhanced productivity. Registration for this program is open through May 15!
Tuesdays, June 9 through July 14, from 10 a.m. to noon
Online
|
|
| |
|
Faculty How To at KU: Accessibility & Learning Series
|
|
|
|
This summer, our upcoming Faculty in Conversation opportunities will help you ensure you have the tools to help you meet Title II of the Americans With Disibilities Act regulations and enhance learning for all of your students.
June 18 and 25, July 9, 16, and 23, and August 6 from noon to 1 p.m.
Online
|
|
| |
|
|
Wednesdays, June 17 and June 24: Join the Office of Faculty Affairs for a two-hour session as we walk through the annual evaluation policy revisions required to be in alignment with the collective bargaining agreement. During this session, you and your colleagues will have time to work through your plan and ask questions. Please invite those working on policy revisions with you to attend! Register for either session at this link.
|
|
|
|
|
Thursday, August 13: If you are preparing for unit and university levels of review for your promotion to full in Fall 2026, save the date for our Associate Professors Preparing for Promotion at Mid-Career Fall Workshop. This is a continuation of OFA's spring Faculty Learning Circle, and anyone seeking promotion to full in the fall is welcome, even if you were unable to join us in the spring. Facilitated by professors Megan Greene and Lisa Wolf-Wendel, this session will focus on supporting faculty as they revise their research statements for the KU audience. Plan to bring a written draft of your research statement to gain the most benefit from the discussion and peer-review process in this session. Register for this session, which takes place from 9:30 to 11:30 a.m.
|
|
| |
Calls you don't want to miss
|
|
| |
|
Thursday, May 7: The University Honors Program is seeking Honors Faculty Fellows to begin terms in fall 2026 or spring 2027. Honors Faculty Fellows teach a one-credit-hour honors seminar each year, serve on program committees, and contribute to initiatives that engage students in experiential learning. Honors Faculty Fellows have helped expand alumni mentoring efforts, co-developed a symposium with students that advances UN Sustainable Development Goals, established research and service activities for students with community partners, and individually mentored students across disciplines.
Individuals with a strong commitment to teaching, mentoring, and academic innovation are encouraged to visit our information page, which contains a link to a position description PDF, as well as details on eligibility, compensation, and the application process. Review of applications begins May 7, 2026.
|
|
|
|
|
Tuesday, Sept. 15: The Fulbright U.S. Scholar Program 2027-28 competition is officially open! The program funds research and teaching opportunities in countries around the world. Applications are due Sept. 15, 2026, by 4:00 p.m. The following resources are great places to learn more if you are interested in applying:
|
|
|
|
Did you know, you can set your notification settings to receive updates when new funding opportunities related to your research become available? To update your notification settings, log into Faculty Insight, click on the arrow next to your name and click on Notifications. Once on the Notification Settings site, toggle your Insight Notifications “on.” You can then select “New funding opportunities related to my research” and other opportunities. You may also choose how often you receive these notifications (daily, weekly, or monthly).
|
|
| |
|
|
Claire Willey-Sthapit was selected as this year's KU International Affairs Advisory Board International Research Award recipient. She recentally accepted her award during her talk titled “Webs of Power and Belonging: Practice-based Knowledge for Domestic Violence Prevention and Response in Nepal."
|
|
|
|
Dates to be aware of and share with students
|
-
Friday, May 8: Stop Day, Student Survey of Teaching available for most courses until this date
- Monday, May 11-Friday, May 15: Finals Week
- Friday, May 15: Final graduate student spring graduation deadline – all graduation requirements must be submitted to qualify for a SP26 degree
- Sunday, May 17: Commencement
- Friday, May 22: Grade submission deadline
- Tuesday, May 26: Student Survey of Teaching results are available to instructors for spring 2026 courses
- Monday, June 1: First day of summer classes, last day to add/swap class, first day of late enrollment
- Friday, June 5: Last day to add/change sections or enroll online (summer)
- Tuesday, June 23: Spring 2026 degrees post to transcripts
|
All dates above apply to full semester courses. Some deadlines may exclude certain schools and colleges. See the entire Spring 2026, Summer 2026, and Fall 2026 calendars on the Registrar’s website.
|
|
|
|
Enrollment in the Faculty Academic Year Pay Reserve for Summer Disbursement program for the 2026-27 academic year is now available. Eligible faculty members can enroll in the program at HR AY Reserve until 5 p.m. on August 24, 2026. Sign-up is required annually. Previous or current enrollment into the program will not automatically renew.
The Summer Disbursement program reserves a portion of after-tax pay from every full pay period during the academic year and then evenly disburses those funds to the participating faculty member during the summer. The program will affect an individual’s net pay each payroll period, but does not impact their gross pay, retirement contributions, benefits, tax withholdings, or W2. The university and participating faculty members will continue the practice of pre-paying summer State Employee Health Plan and optional group life insurance premiums during the spring semester.
|
Prepare for coming changes to KU Libraries systems
Big changes are coming to KU Libraries this summer – including the Lawrence campus, Wheat Law Library, and KU Medical Center. Quick Search is moving to a new platform and saved data – including Bookbag and My Favorites – won't transfer automatically. Export your saved items by May 26 before the switch. For more details and FAQs visit the Library System Updates page.
|
The U.S. Department of Justice published an interim final rule recently that extended the compliance deadline for implementing the Americans with Disabilities Act Title II requirements for web content and mobile app accessibility to April 26, 2027, for state and local government entities with a total population of 50,000 or more. The compliance date for public entities with a total population of less than 50,000, or any special district government, has been extended to April 26, 2028.
For resources and help in making web content accessible, visit KU’s Digital Accessibility website.
|
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. 2026.
|
|
|
|
Manage your preferences | Opt Out using TrueRemove™
Got this as a forward? Sign up to receive our future emails.
View this email online.
|
1450 Jayhawk Blvd. | Lawrence, KS 66045 US
|
|
|
|
This email was sent to .
To continue receiving our emails, add us to your address book.
|
|
| |
|
|
