Transportation Services will host an open Parking Forum at 2 p.m. Tuesday in Forum C at the Burge Union to review parking changes and gather feedback. The forum will include a presentation on upcoming adjustments, followed by questions and comments.   

The forum will cover the Parking Commission’s decision to restart the Park & Ride program this fall and to place a limit on the number of yellow zone parking permits sold to students. The changes are intended to improve parking availability during the busiest times of day and better align parking demand with available spaces. 

According to Transportation Services, recent construction and the absence of a Park & Ride option following the pandemic have made parking more challenging in recent years. Yellow parking zones have experienced increased congestion, particularly during late mornings and early afternoons. 

Following a comprehensive study by external consultants, the Parking Commission voted in March to reimplement Park & Ride and limit yellow permit sales as part of a broader approach to improving predictability in finding parking for students, faculty and staff.   

Additional details and other parking updates will be shared at the forum. For those unable to attend the forum, feedback can be provided through an online survey. 

KU’s policy on Professional Development and University Service During Work Time has recently been updated to include time for university-sponsored well-being events.   

For many years, KU has supported the training and professional development of staff to facilitate life-long learning, encourage employee productivity, enhance career development and support participation in campus committee service. The policy had outlined the criteria for staff participation in university coursework, professional development programs, interviews for career change and committee service. The update now includes university-sponsored well-being events, including those sponsored by the Office of Mental Health and Wellbeing.  

Under the change, units are encouraged to support staff members’ requests to participate in university-sponsored well-being events during normal working hours that promote physical, mental and emotional health. Examples include wellness fairs, health and wellness workshops, trainings and classes, and other activities organized by the university. Unit-approved participation in these events should be considered work time. 

The sidewalk in front of Ritchie and Lindley halls is expected to remain closed for most of the summer as renovations to Lindley Hall continue. 

Originally expected to reopen in March, the sidewalk was closed in September so crews could waterproof the foundation along the north side of the building, as well as the northwest corner and steps into the northeast entrance. The project required the surrounding soil to be stabilized and extensive shoring, creating significant delays.  

While the sidewalk remains closed, pedestrians should continue to cross to the north side of the street, using the crosswalks west of Chi Omega Fountain and on the west side of the Crescent Road and Naismith Drive intersections. Drivers are reminded to be aware of the high volume of pedestrians using those crosswalks.  

The sidewalk is expected to reopen before the start of the fall semester, and Lindley Hall is expected to reopen in the 2027 fall semester. 

Faculty and staff are often the first to notice when a student is struggling. Many students face increased stress, feelings of loneliness and emotional instability at the end of the semester. To show support, faculty and staff can proactively encourage students to spend time in relaxation spaces on campus or to engage in upcoming stress-busting events this week: 

Stress-Busting Study Breaks  

Stop Day Eats 

Faculty and staff who have academic, behavioral or interpersonal concerns about a student can take steps outlined on the Be Well at KU website to show support and refer students to the appropriate resources, such as Counseling & Psychological Services and Mantra Health. 

In order to help students arrive on campus in time for 7:30 a.m. final exams, the following transit routes will start early May 11-15: 

Routes 4, 8, 11, 12, 30, 44 and 53 will start at their regular times. All routes will end service at their normal times each day.  

Route 43 will also bypass Stop #277 at GSP and Corbin throughout the week. Riders will need to use Stop #91 on 11th Street. 

Parking restrictions in green and yellow zones will be lifted on Friday and remain open until summer classes begin on June 1.  

Additionally, to accommodate guests during graduation, parking garages will be open from May 15 to May 18. Jayhawk Boulevard will open for drive-through traffic at noon May 15 and will remain open until the fall semester begins.  

Red, blue and gold zone parking lots are restricted year-round.  

Planning is still underway for accommodating parking during the World Cup. During the summer semester, parking permits will be required in all parking lots, including housing zones. Additional information will be sent to the campus community once details are finalized. 

Eligible employees accrue 176 hours of vacation leave each fiscal year. A regular, full-time employee who has been actively employed for the duration of fiscal year 2026 reached the maximum 176 hours on the 22nd pay period, which ended April 11. These employees will not accrue any more vacation hours for the remainder of the fiscal year, which will be reflected in Friday’s paycheck. 

Eligible employees will resume accumulating vacation leave on the first pay period of FY 2027, which will be reflected in the July 2 paycheck. Sick leave accrues every payroll period and does not have a maximum. More information can be found on the vacation accruals information sheet (.docx). 

The staff evaluation process begins on May 15, and before it starts, employees should have their goals in place to help facilitate an accurate and meaningful process. If goals are not added by May 11, Human Resources will add a goal to staff members' goal plan to ensure the required evaluation process can proceed.  

Setting goals is essential for ongoing development and effective performance management. Supervisors are responsible for ensuring staff have clear and documented goals for the evaluation. Goals can be set by either the supervisor or the employee, but they are most effective when employees take a consultative approach with their supervisor to establish mutually agreed-upon goals.  

Resources for Goal Setting: 

KU faculty have the opportunity to take a day, or several, to reflect on their strengths, anticipate challenges, grow their skills and learn something new.  

May 12 is the deadline to register for the Faculty Development Academies, which offer day-long intensive sessions hosted by the Office of Faculty Affairs. Held May 18-22, the sessions will focus on a particular topic, giving faculty time to delve into and develop a core capacity in a chosen area. This year, Faculty Affairs has expanded its offerings to six topic areas:

Join the KU Center for Teaching Excellence for an afternoon of celebration, inspiration and community at the Kansas Union Ballroom from 3 to 5 p.m. Friday.  

Over 80 posters will be on display detailing the discovery and results of learning transformations from CTE programs. Discover more about this and other inspiring faculty stories on the Celebration of Teaching website. 

A copy of the ratified contract between the University of Kansas and United Academics of KU is now available on the Office of Faculty Affairs’ collective bargaining website in a print-ready and full-text searchable format per the terms of the contract.  

The contract is available to view at the top of the collective bargaining site, as well as the bottom of the page under Collective Bargaining Quick Links, by clicking the Collective Bargaining Communications and Documentation link.  

Jayhawks Give a Flock provides students with the opportunity to shape campus culture, support their peers and take an active role in preventing sexual violence at KU.  

On Aug. 16 and Aug. 22, the Sexual Assault Prevention & Education Center will train all incoming first-year students to be empowered and informed bystanders. Faculty and staff can help shape a safer, stronger KU by becoming a flock facilitator. Visit SAPEC’s facilitator website for information about training and expectations.

Cole Robison, the director of IT accessibility for the State of Kansas, will lead a webinar on Digital Accessibility at 2 p.m. May 20. The session is designed for campus leaders, IT professionals, instructional designers and accessibility advocates who are preparing for the Web Content Accessibility Guidelines compliance deadline.   

The webinar will focus on common problem areas, unexpected hurdles, gray zones and frequently asked questions from faculty and staff. Robison will share scenarios, challenges, and lessons learned.

Before flying from the nest, KU graduates and their family and friends are invited to stop by the Jayhawk Send Off. Hosted by KU Alumni on Commencement Day, the graduation party will be held from 8 a.m. to 2 p.m. May 17 at the Jayhawk Welcome Center.  

The Class of 2026 banner will be there for graduates to sign. Graduates and their guests can also enjoy food, win giveaways, take photos, meet alumni and watch commencement from inside. Registration is not required, but graduates are asked to RSVP so KU Alumni can plan accordingly. 

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.