On April 14, KU presented the 2026 University Research Awards to scholars powering breakthroughs at the cellular level and across galaxies.  

The awardees have deepened our understanding of history, communities, health and the universe. Get to know the Jayhawks behind the life-changing research in the latest Created by KU story, which highlights their work through videos and photos. 

More than 150 students will present their research and creative works this week during the 29th Annual Undergraduate Research Symposium.  

Hosted by the Center for Undergraduate Research & Fellowships and part of Undergraduate Research Week, the symposium provides students the opportunity to present their work online and in person to faculty, staff, peers and the public. These students have conducted research or created art throughout the year by working independently, contributing to a faculty member’s project or creating something new with the guidance of a mentor. 

In-person oral student presentations will be held from 2:15 to 4:15 p.m. Thursday on the fifth and sixth levels of the Kansas Union, followed by a closing ceremony at 4:30 p.m. in the Kansas Room, which will honor this year’s mentor award winners. On Friday, two poster sessions will take place from 2 to 3 p.m. and 3:15 to 4:15 p.m. in Gray-Little Hall.   

Online oral and poster presentations are available to view beginning today. Students from a variety of disciplines have pre-recorded their presentations for public viewing. 

From noon April 28 to noon April 29, thousands of Jayhawks around the world will support hundreds of causes that will propel KU forward. Here are three ways to prepare for One Day One KU:  

The next KU Lawrence and Edwards virtual town hall will be 1 to 1:30 p.m.Thursday. Provost Arash Mafi will welcome guests Corinne Bannon, chief strategy and data officer and vice chancellor, and Kristen Kolleda, director of emergency management.

Topics will include preparations for a One KU strategic framework and general preparedness and emergency response for the Lawrence campus. The program will be livestreamed and recorded for later viewing behind single sign-on.  

Members of the KU community can submit a question or comment for discussion through this online form. 

The U.S. Department of Justice published an interim final rule on Friday that extended the compliance deadline for implementing the Americans with Disabilities Act Title II requirements for web content and mobile app accessibility. The compliance date had previously been set for Friday.

Under the new timeline, the compliance date for state and local government entities with a total population of 50,000 or more has been extended to April 26, 2027. 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.

KU Staff Fellows is conducting staff-centered focus groups that will help shape recommendations for employee recognition and appreciation at KU Lawrence and Edwards campuses. Staff and supervisors of staff are invited to take part in virtual sessions to discuss employee engagement, meaningful recognition and appreciation.  

All meetings will be held virtually through Microsoft Teams. The remaining sessions, including one today, are:  

The required network maintenance planned for this week has been rescheduled for May 18 and May 20. KU Information Technology has also scheduled extra workdays on May 22 and May 27-29, which will be used only if necessary.   

The rescheduled network maintenance will disrupt wired Ethernet and Wi-Fi service in all Lawrence campus buildings from 4 to 7 a.m. May 18 and May 20. The downtime will not affect security camera systems, devices using a cellular connection for network connectivity and wireless connections in the residence halls.

Although the network will not be down at a given location for the entire timeframe, those with processes or systems that require an uninterrupted network connection during this timeframe should contact their IT support team or the IT Help Desk at 785-864-8080 to request any needed assistance. 

Employees of the Lawrence and Edwards campuses are welcome to virtually attend the KU Medical Center’s fourth annual Well‑being Conference. The event will offer online professional development opportunities and guest speakers from 7:45 a.m. to 3:30 p.m. May 20.

This year’s theme, Cultivating Connection: The Heart of Well‑being, features keynote speaker Chris Long, co‑founder and co‑owner of the Kansas City Current, who will share insights on building community through sport and intentional design.  

Most of the sessions are available virtually and can be viewed online. Registration is required. For questions, contact well-being@kumc.edu. 

As higher education professionals, KU employees face stress daily. To help, the Office of Mental Health and Wellbeing is offering an interactive workshop on effective techniques to manage everyday stress and enhance wellbeing. The virtual workshop will be held from 9 to 10:30 a.m. May 8.  

Lead by Jeff Stolz, director of mental health and wellbeing, the session will provide a forum to discuss stress and its challenges, cover proven strategies to counteract the body’s stress response through daily practice, and review available resources for KU employees.   

KU employees should register for the session through MyTalent. KU affiliates can email wellness@ku.edu to register.   

Gardeners who feel like they never have enough time, money or labor can learn from the KU Grounds Crew. Joe Fearn, KU landscape manager, will lead the next Move-N-Learn, sharing real-world ideas to assess what participants want from their home landscape and how they might make it easier to achieve. 

The session will be held from 12:10 to 12:50 p.m. April 29 at the Max Kade Center, 1120 W. 11th Street.

KU employees should register for the session through MyTalent. KU affiliates can email wellness@ku.edu to register.   

KU seniors will present their internationally focused research at the Global Scholars Research Symposium from 3 to 5 p.m. Thursday in the Kansas Union’s Alderson Auditorium.  

The event is the culmination of the Global Scholars program, which provides intercultural learning opportunities and faculty-mentored research experiences for highly motivated students with an interest in international studies. The symposium will encompass a wide range of topics from around the world.

Most of the seniors presenting are members of the 2024 cohort of Global Scholars. As sophomores, the students were selected for their demonstrated interest in global and international studies and potential for continued high academic achievement and leadership. 

Beginning today, the City of Lawrence has extended the Ninth Street closure through Mississippi Street as part of the Jayhawk Watershed project.

In the final phase of major utility work along the corridor, Mississippi Street will be closed to northbound and southbound traffic at Ninth Street.

The street closure will allow crews to finish the underground stormwater infrastructure needed to improve drainage and reduce flooding risk in the area. While this work is underway, crews will also begin restoration activities starting at Ninth and Louisiana streets, with the goal of restoring traffic access to Ninth Street in time for the beginning of the KU Football season. More information is available on the City of Lawrence website.

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.