On Jan. 27, Chancellor Douglas Girod visited Topeka to talk about the strengths of KU before the House Higher Education Budget Committee. During the presentation, the chancellor noted KU’s recent achievements in enrollment, initiatives to reduce the university's budget and effectively managing state funds, as well as the need for additional state funding to address infrastructure needs and counter inflation. 

Watch the chancellor’s testimony and review the presentation slide deck to better understand KU’s strengths and how the university serves all Kansans. 

One Day One KU — when Jayhawks from around the world come together to support the University of Kansas — is just 10 days away! Here are four things you should know about this year’s giving day:

Faculty, staff and students will be asked to discuss KU’s institutional values during the HLC site visit from March 3-5. IRISE — Integrity, Respect, Innovation, Stewardship and Excellence —represents our shared commitment to being an exceptional learning community that lifts each member and advances society.   

University Governance leaders worked with KU administrators to develop the IRISE Culture Charter, which articulates the values and agreements of the KU community and how its members engage with one another. All are encouraged to review the IRISE Culture Charter and consider how we demonstrate the values in our daily activities. 

On Feb. 6, Provost Barbara Bichelmeyer and Vice Chancellor for Research Shelley Hooks led a virtual town hall to discuss recent executive orders and answer the community’s questions on the potential impacts on KU’s research enterprise.

Kyle Christian, Associate Vice Chancellor for Federal Relations, joined from Washington, D.C. to share the latest news and perspectives. Charlie Bankart, Senior Internationalization Officer, also joined to address questions and concerns for KU’s international community. Resources and contact information were also provided during the town hall.

KU recently launched its new brand, Towering Toward the Blue, and updated resources for brand messaging and visuals. Visit the KU Brand Center to learn more about KU’s new brand strategy and design and editorial guidelines for university marketing and communication projects. Among the updated resources are branded templates for PowerPoint slides, flyers and agendas.

This month four candidates for dean of the School of Pharmacy will hold public presentations. The presentation schedule has been updated to the following dates:

The name of each candidate will be announced approximately two business days before their respective campus visit. The candidates' public presentations will take place in Room 1020 of the School of Pharmacy building. More information about the search can be found on the School of Pharmacy Dean Search site. 

Thursday, Feb. 20

KU employees are invited to join the Office of the Provost at its next Thank Goodness it's Thursday (TGIT) event from 4-6 p.m. on Thursday, Feb. 20. Hosted in the Hawks Nest in the Kansas Union, relax and connect with colleagues while enjoying free refreshments, snacks, hands-on activities and raffle drawings for prizes. KU Endowment will be on hand as part of One Day One KU events.

RSVPs are encouraged for planning purposes.

Thursday, Feb. 13

New faculty are invited to Building Campus Connections: Design and Support for Academic Success, where they can hear from KU experts in career services, service learning and research on ways in which faculty can partner to build high impact experiences for their students. A panel discussion will provide faculty with partnership examples and answer any questions they might have. This Early Career Faculty Foundations 1.0 event from the Office of Faculty Affairs will be from 3-4:15 p.m. Thursday, Feb. 13 in Room 201 of Summerfield Hall. 

Thursday, Feb. 13

In her inaugural lecture, Lisa Wolf-Wendel, Roy A. Roberts Distinguished Professor of Higher Education, will explore the evolution of academic life over the past three decades. The lecture will be held at 5:30 p.m. Thursday, Feb. 13 in the Alderson Room of the Kansas Union.

Wolf-Wendel will explore the key factors driving change in higher education and how it has affected students, faculty and institutions. Register to attend the event in person or via livestream.

Power outages planned for Feb. 6 and 8 have been rescheduled for later this week. On Saturday, Feb. 15, an all-day power outage is scheduled for Anschutz Library, Chalmers Hall and Marvin Studios. The buildings will be taken out of service at 6 a.m. with power expected to be restored by 8 p.m. A two-hour power outage is scheduled from 6 to 8 a.m. Thursday, Feb. 13. The buildings will be closed during these outages.

Emergency backup power will not be affected and the Hawk Route elevator in Anschutz Library will be accessible and continue to operate.

If your KU unit has an emergency fund or service that assists students experiencing unexpected financial hardship, make sure it is registered with the Emergency Aid Network (EAN). Registering the fund ensures students see all the aid that is available to them. Contact ean@ku.edu or Jacob Isaacson to register funds or services with the EAN.

All students who need financial assistance should be referred to the Emergency Funds webpage. In addition to supporting students, the EAN provides support and resources for faculty and staff.

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.