KU Football will take on Wagner College at 6:30 p.m. Friday, meaning game day parking restrictions on the Lawrence campus will go into effect at 1 p.m. 

By 1 p.m., students, faculty and staff will need to move from lots 1 (half of Lot 1 will remain open), 36, 39, 50, 52, 54, 56, 57, 58, 59, 60, 65, 72, 91, 92, 94, 97, 98 and the Mississippi Street parking garage. Lots will reopen at 2 p.m. for those with specific game parking permits. 

If the lots are not listed above, faculty, staff and student parking permits are valid in those lots on game day, although parking restrictions will still apply by color. Lots 34, 61 and 62 have been designated as academic parking, and tailgating is not allowed in these lots. After 4 p.m. Friday, free parking will be available in all yellow zones on the south side of campus. 

A map and additional information on game day parking are available on the KU Parking website.

New this year, Fambrough Drive will be closed from Illinois to Maine streets five hours before kick-off, allowing for a safe tailgating experience along 11th Street. A fan guide and policies for the David Booth Kansas Memorial Stadium can be found on the KU Athletics website. 

KU Human Resources will launch a new employee orientation and first-year experience program in September.  

New Employee Welcome & Resources sessions will be held semi-monthly in a hybrid format, making it more convenient for new full-time employees to get connected and started on the right foot. Attendance is encouraged within the first 30 days of employment.   

In addition to orientation, Human Resources will roll out the First-Year Experience Program, an intentional, year-long initiative designed to support new employees beyond their first day. The program offers ongoing opportunities to engage with campus culture, connect with peers, access valuable resources, and grow professionally and personally. The program aims to foster a sense of belonging, build community, and set the stage for long-term success and fulfillment at KU. 

More information can be found on the New Employee Welcome website. 

Academic Affairs has created a new webpage outlining the academic program approval process and documenting approved programs along with the first semester they will be offered. 

All new academic program proposals are reviewed by the Academic Program Coordinating Committee before being submitted to Provost Barbara Bichelmeyer, who serves as the chief academic officer. After the provost’s approval, new programs are forwarded to the Higher Learning Commission and Kansas Board of Regents for action as outlined in each entity’s policies. 

Below are some of the programs that have been approved within the last year.

Visit Academic Affairs to see additional approved programs, including degrees and graduate and undergraduate certificates. 

Two important deadlines mark the end of the 2025 fiscal year staff performance evaluation process.

Detailed instructions for evaluating and acknowledging performance reviews are available on the HR website.

As the fiscal year 2025 evaluation process ends, the Fiscal Year 2026 Goal Plan is now available in MyTalent. Supervisors and staff are encouraged to begin entering their goals for the new fiscal year, which runs from July 1, 2025, through June 30, 2026.

Establishing clear, meaningful goals is a key part of the performance evaluation process. Goal setting is most effective when it’s collaborative. Supervisors should meet with their team, discuss the year ahead, and ensure goals are established and documented in the FY26 goal plan within MyTalent.    

Need help getting started? HR offers a number of resources, including step-by-step instructions and best practices guidelines on the HR website. Please reach out to the Employee Relations team for additional support. 

Jeremy Pennington has been named as the chief information security officer for KU. In this expanded role, Pennington will lead the university’s information security strategy across all campuses as part of the One KU initiative.   

With a strong background in cybersecurity and IT leadership, Pennington brings extensive experience to this position. He previously served as CISO and interim deputy chief information officer for the KU Medical Center, where he played a key role in advancing enterprise IT strategy and strengthening institutional security frameworks.

This appointment reflects KU’s ongoing commitment to safeguarding its digital infrastructure and fostering collaboration across campuses under a unified security vision. 

This week, KU Dining will hold two events to celebrate the launch of a new pizza kitchen and pho bar.  

On Tuesday, KU Dining will hold the grand opening of its new pizza kitchen, Potters Pie, at 1 p.m. in the Market, on the third level of the Kansas Union. Pizza purchased between 1 to 2 p.m. that day will be 30% off.  

On Wednesday, faculty and staff are invited for free pho from 12 to 2 p.m. at the new pho bar at the Wescoe Deli in the Underground. The pho bar has been added alongside the salad and sandwich station.    

The free pho is only available in person and cannot be redeemed through the Grubhub app. A KU ID must be presented at checkout. Gluten-free and vegetarian options will be offered, while supplies last. 

KU’s 113th Homecoming will be held from Oct. 27 to Nov. 2 and culminate in the KU football game against Oklahoma State on Nov. 1. KU’s Homecoming experience aims to celebrate KU history and tradition and instill Jayhawk pride in all members of the KU community. 

KU Alumni is asking campus and community partners to participate in two ways:  

KU Alumni will continue to update its homecoming webpage as more information on the week’s activities becomes available. 

KU Counseling & Psychological Services has partnered with Mantra Health to expand access to mental health and wellness services for KU students — at no additional cost to them. 

Through the Mantra Care Hub, students can connect to support on their schedule, including: 

Please direct students to the Mantra Care Hub — or have them visit the website — if they are seeking remote support. 

More information about the partnership is available on the Student Affairs website. 

Vice Chancellor for Research Shelley Hooks will join Provost Barbara Bichelmeyer for the next virtual town hall for the KU Lawrence and Edwards campuses. The town hall, which will cover changes in the research environment, will begin at 1 p.m. Thursday and will be recorded for later viewing.  

A recording of the Aug. 21 town hall is now available to view behind KU single sign-on. That town hall covered the state legislative budget proviso, KU’s budget challenges and research updates. 

The KU Medical Center AI Steering Committee is providing an opportunity for the KU community to explore the practical applications of AI and engage in discussions and demonstrations. AI Day will be held from 8:30 a.m. to 5 p.m. Sept. 19 at the Leid Auditorium on the KU Medical Center Campus. The event is in person, but a virtual option will be made available.

Registration is required and closes Friday. After registration, the committee will send the day’s schedule, and participants can choose which session to attend. 

Your KU email account is the official channel for important university communications.

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