In December and January, KU Lawrence and Edwards campuses’ deans, vice provosts and vice chancellors delivered strategic alignment presentations to Provost Barbara Bichelmeyer, other senior leaders, governance leaders and supporting staff. The presentations highlighted how the work in their units connected with KU’s strategic plan and institutional priorities of research and discovery, student success, and healthy and vibrant communities.  

The slide decks from these presentations are available to view online through March 13 (KU login required). Unit leaders are also encouraged to share and discuss these presentations with their faculty and staff.  

Additionally, a summary of 2026 strategies for the strategic plan is available to view online.  

Participants have been selected for the 2026 Staff Fellows Program, which offers KU employees an opportunity to build their leadership skills, gain experience to advance their careers and work together on a strategic campus project that benefits the university.  

The new cohort of fellows will research and evaluate current perceptions and processes for employee recognition and appreciation at KU, drawing on literature, internal interviews with academic and administrative units, and external insights from peer institutions and organizations. At the end of the program, the fellows will develop a summary of their research and findings and provide recommendations.

Read the full article on the KU News website. More information about the program can be found on the Human Resources website. 

The 2026 Staff Fellows:  

Nominations are open to serve on Faculty or Staff senates. Participating in university governance provides an opportunity for KU employees to have a direct voice in university policy and procedures.

For Staff Senate, 24 seats are open across eight categories: academic, administrative, administrative management, operations, research, student services, support and IT.  

All KU staff members are eligible to serve on staff senate and can nominate themselves or another candidate by completing this form. Senators are elected by their job category to ensure proportionate representation.  

The deadline to nominate staff senators is Friday with elections being held March 9 through March 16. More information is available on the Staff Senate website.  

For faculty senate, 13 seats are open for three-year terms. Those classified as faculty with tenure or as faculty or unclassified academic staff with full-time appointments are eligible to serve. Some faculty senators also serve on University Senate. 

Faculty can nominate themselves or someone else by completing this form. All nominees will be contacted regarding their willingness and eligibility to serve.  

The deadline to nominate faculty senators is Feb. 27. Faculty will be emailed an election ballot during the week of March 23. More information is available on the University Governance website. 

“Orbital,” the Booker Prize-winning novel by Samantha Harvey, is the 2026-27 KU Reads: A Common Book Experience selection. The novel follows six astronauts on the International Space Station and their reflections on human existence and connection as they witness the beauty and fragility of Earth from space.  

Faculty and staff have several opportunities this spring to engage with next year’s selection: 

The Association of American Law Schools has announced Stephen Mazza, dean of the School of Law, as the recipient of the 2026 AALS Award for Excellence in Mentoring Future Legal Education Leaders.  

The inaugural award was presented by the AALS Deans Forum Steering Committee during a session at the AALS Annual Meeting in New Orleans in early January. 

The award was established to recognize current law school deans who demonstrate exceptional commitment to mentoring aspiring legal education leaders, with particular emphasis on sustained, high‑quality mentorship and the advancement of broad representation in academic leadership.  

Mazza was selected in recognition of his longstanding and personal mentorship of faculty members and emerging leaders, as well as his demonstrated commitment to advancing inclusivity in legal education leadership. Nomination letters praised his one‑on‑one guidance, advocacy during leadership searches and the creation of opportunities for mentees to gain administrative experience. 

Read the full article on the KU News website. 

Nominations for the KU Team of the Year are being accepted until March 22. Any group of three or more members is eligible for the award. The nomination should be based on a project or assignment that is above and beyond the team’s normal course of duties. Project participants may also be drawn from a cross-section of university departments. 

The Team of the Year will be recognized at the Employee Recognition Ceremony in May and receive a luncheon with the provost. To nominate a team, complete the Team of the Year nomination form.

The International Faculty and Staff Council is hosting its first happy hour of the semester from 5 to 7 p.m. Thursday at Lawrence Beer Company East.  

All faculty and staff are invited to the event, which will offer an opportunity to connect and a bite to eat. Guests will also discuss navigating workplace dynamics and their impact on career growth. Please RSVP to ifsc@ku.edu. 

The group is one of 10 faculty staff councils that bring KU employees together around a common topic, identity or interest. All faculty and staff at KU are welcome to join any faculty staff council. Those interested in joining the International Faculty and Staff Council, can complete the membership form. 

Provost and Executive Vice Chancellor Barbara Bichelmeyer will host a virtual town hall meeting from 1 to 1:30 p.m. Thursday.

She will be joined by Senior Vice Chancellor and Chief Research Officer Matthias Salathe, Vice Chancellor of Research Shelley Hooks, and Associate Vice Chancellor of Federal Relations Kyle Christian to share updates impacting the research community and information on federal relations. Additionally, Corinne Bannon, chief strategy and data officer and vice chancellor, is scheduled to discuss the constituent survey process and its benefits to the KU community.  

To submit a question or comment for a future town hall discussion, please use this form. 

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

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