The Office of Civil Rights & Title IX is offering two trainings to prepare the KU community for World Cup visitors. The courses are open to KU and KU Medical Center students, staff and faculty.  

In the online course Prepare to be a Respectful Host for the World Cup, participants can learn about the four countries with base camps in the Kansas City area. The course includes what residents should consider in being welcoming hosts. Lawrence and Edwards employees can take the voluntary course through MyTalent. The course is also available to KU affiliates through this link.  

In Introductions to Human Trafficking, participants are invited to take an online training to gain a foundational understanding of human trafficking. The course includes definitions, common myths and helpful facts, resources and more. Lawrence and Edwards employees can take the voluntary course through MyTalent. The course is also available to KU affiliates through this link. 

Beginning June 1, most academic and administrative buildings on the Lawrence campus will be closed to the public between 5 p.m. and 8 a.m. The increased security measures are part of KU’s efforts to ensure a more secure environment during the World Cup.  

Faculty and staff who need access to their buildings before 8 a.m. or after 5 p.m. will need to use their KUIDs and enter through doors with key card readers.  

Anyone with a KUID card issued before May 2017 or without a card due to loss, theft or damage will need a new card to access buildings outside of 8 a.m. to 5 p.m. To request a new card, go to the Card Center's website. 

Several campus buildings with high public traffic will offer open access during their regular summer hours, including museums, libraries, summer dining locations, the Jayhawk Welcome Center and the 1502 Building.  

More information can be found in an email that was sent to the KU community on May 11. 

KU’s fellows of the American Association for the Advancement of Science came together on May 4 to network and welcome three newly elected members. Chancellor Douglas A. Girod greeted the group and recognized the new inductees, pictured above with the chancellor, left to right:

The event, sponsored by the Office of Faculty Affairs and attended by numerous academic leaders, provided an opportunity for the group to network, discuss potential collaborations and consider future activities. 

AAAS fellows are among the world’s top scholars. With 35 AAAS fellows at KU, along with hundreds more researchers recognized with prestigious awards for excellence in their fields, the university continues to demonstrate its growing strength as a research institution and its commitment to honoring faculty for innovative work.

The KU AAAS fellows plan to continue meeting semiannually to forge ties, share information and encourage nominations to add to their ranks. To be nominated as an AAAS fellow, researchers are required to have a continuous membership in the organization for at least four years prior to nomination. For more information, contact Robin Lehman, director of faculty recognition and awards, at rlehman@ku.edu. 

Earlier this month, Human Resources launched the Total Rewards Statement to provide a clearer and more complete picture of the full value of employment. The statement pulls pay, benefits and other rewards into one place to increase transparency and highlight the investment KU makes in employees, including contributions toward your retirement fund, health plan, life insurance and more.  

To Access Total Rewards Statement: 

More information about the statement can be found on the HR website.   

The deadline for the next round of submissions for the Employee of the Month award is June 1. Nominating employees for the award is a great way to recognize exceptional university staff members and show appreciation for their contributions.

Winners receive a $750 award, a surprise visit from a member of the Provost’s leadership team and become a candidate for the 2027 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.

KU Memorial Union will host Jayhawk Fridays, showcasing local vendors, now through October. From 10 a.m. to 2 p.m. on the first Friday of each month, vendors will set up booths on Ascher Plaza outside the Kansas Union. A variety of purveyors have been invited, including those who sell baked goods, crafts and art.  

Upcoming Jayhawk Fridays are planned for June 5; July 10, adjusted for Independence Day; Aug. 7; Sept. 4 and Oct. 2. 

The Office of the Provost has webpages documenting agendas and notes for leadership groups that meet regularly.   

Now available to read are notes from spring semester meetings for the Council of Academic Leaders, an advisory body to campus leadership that includes representatives from the College of Liberal Arts & Sciences, the professional schools, KU Libraries, and designated research centers at the Lawrence and Edwards campuses. Council members serve two-year terms. Plans are currently underway to schedule upcoming meetings for the 2026-27 academic year.

Notes from the academic year are also now online for the All Team meeting, which includes KU senior leaders and direct reports of the provost. 

Opening later this summer, the Naismith Club is a new private social club inside Allen Fieldhouse. 

Designed and managed by Oak View Group, club membership will be available to faculty and staff, alumni, professionals, families and fans who want to connect with others while enjoying the traditions and energy of Kansas Basketball. Departments, teams and offices will also be able to secure memberships. The Club’s focal point is the Jayhawk Lounge, offering coffee, light breakfast and lunch in an open, comfortable setting built for both quick conversations and longer stretches of focused work and collaboration.  

OVG managers are working to make the Naismith Club a place where faculty and staff can stop in for coffee before their first meeting, sit down for a working lunch without leaving campus, or reset for an hour in a space that feels removed from the office, but still connected to it. The space will also be a new on-campus venue to host team lunches, candidate visits, small receptions or casual gatherings with colleagues.  

Oak View Group has scheduled open houses today and June 11 to show what’s in store. Register to attend. 

In this KU Marketing video, follow along with the Class of 2026 as they walk through the campanile and down the hill into David Booth Kansas Memorial Stadium. The video captures graduates’ joy and sense of pride on a windy and memorable commencement day.  

Beginning June 4, free yoga sessions will be held once a week this summer on the Lawrence campus. Taught by a certified instructor, the yoga sessions are for all levels, including beginners. View the summer schedule for full details and to register.  

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.