The majority of “blue light” emergency call boxes on the Lawrence campus were decommissioned this summer, with the remainder to be removed soon.  

Through a Jayhawks Elevate initiative, an audit of calls showed that nearly 98% of call box activations were prank calls or accidental activations. Each activation requires KU Police to respond, making the officer unavailable for other situations until an investigation is complete. Meanwhile, 99% of individuals age 18 to 29 in the United States have a cell phone. All 911 calls and texts made on the Lawrence campus are routed to the KU Police Dispatch, and cell phones offer geolocation to within 30 feet. 

During the spring semester, representatives from the Provost Office, KU Police and the Finance Office spoke with leaders in Student Senate about the plan to decommission the call boxes and secure their support for the change. Student Senate led the initiative to install the emergency call boxes in 1975, long before the advent of cell phones.

Yellow call boxes also appear in some buildings across campus, although record keeping of locations was inconsistent during installation. Facilities, Planning & Development asks for assistance in locating the remaining yellow call boxes in buildings by sending an email with location information to kudcm@ku.edu. 

KU employees and the Lawrence community should anticipate heavy traffic around the Lawrence campus on Thursday and Friday during KU Housing & Residence Life’s busiest move-in days for its residence halls. 

Traffic around Daisy Hill is expected to be heaviest between 7 a.m. to 3 p.m. The most frequented routes will be along the following streets:

The following streets in West Campus, as well as the Lied Center parking lot, are also along move-in routes: 

More information can be found in this online article. 

Volunteers are still needed to welcome new and returning Jayhawks to the Lawrence campus during Move-In this Thursday and Friday. The greatest need for volunteers is Friday, with shifts open from 7 to 11:30 a.m. and 11 a.m. to 3 p.m.

To sign up for volunteer shifts and for additional information, visit the Student Affairs website. For additional information about volunteering during move-in contact Keesa Shrader, associate director of business and strategic initiatives for Housing & Residence Life, at keesashrader@ku.edu.

Biographies of the incoming 2026-2030 Madison & Lila Self Graduate Fellows are now available online. The incoming cohort brings the interdisciplinary fellowship to 66 current fellows, the largest group in the program’s 37-year history.  

The fellowship identifies and recruits exceptional doctoral students who demonstrate the promise to make significant contributions to their fields and society as a whole. The total value of the four-year doctoral fellowship exceeds $275,000, which covers full tuition and fees, provides graduate research assistant support of $40,000 per year, a $15,000 professional development award, a $5,000 startup award, a $3,000 textbook and technology award, and a robust professional development program.  

The incoming group represents several departments and programs from four schools and the College of Liberal Arts & Sciences, including aerospace engineering, bioengineering, mechanical engineering, chemistry, ecology & evolutionary biology, geography & atmospheric science, geology, molecular biosciences, pharmaceutical chemistry, and accounting, as well as the interdisciplinary graduate program in biomedical sciences at KU Medical Center. 

Learn more about the fellowship on the Madison & Lila Self Graduate Programs website. Academic departments can nominate eligible students for the next academic year by Jan. 27. 

Anschutz Library’s second-floor west restrooms will be closed throughout the fall semester for renovations. On Friday, work will begin on the men and women’s restrooms to convert the space into three single-user restrooms and a lactation room.  

While the west restrooms will be closed on the second floor, the north men and women's restrooms on that level will remain open. Construction will also periodically affect access to the second floor from the west stairwell and west elevator. The east elevator will remain available throughout construction. Signage will direct people to alternative routes and restroom locations.  

The project is expected to be completed by the start of the spring semester. 

Visit the KU Smart Map to find locations across the Lawrence campus for single-user restrooms, lactation rooms, accessible parking, ablution stations and more.

Eligible faculty members have until 5 p.m. Aug. 24 to enroll in the 2026-27 Faculty Academic Year Pay Reserve for Summer Disbursement program. Those who participated last year must re-enroll to participate in the coming academic year. 

The program reserves a portion of after-tax pay from every full pay period during the academic year and then evenly disburses those funds to the participating faculty member during the summer. All academic year faculty and unclassified academic staff who are hired for the upcoming academic year are eligible for the program. 

Eligible faculty members can enroll at HR AY Reserve. More information is available on the Human Resources website. 

The Bales Choral Society is looking for new members for the 2026-27 school year. By joining the society, KU faculty, staff and students become a part of a vibrant volunteer choir that builds community across all segments of the campus and provides music students with real ensemble experience. 

Led by Wolfgang Reisinger, visiting professor of organ and church music, Bales is starting its third season this fall and will present concerts at the end of the fall and spring semesters. 

Singing interviews for anyone interested in joining the choir will be conducted from 3:30 to 6:30 p.m. Aug. 24-26. Singers should prepare a song of their choice and bring that music to the interview. Interviewees will also be asked to sight read. 

Rehearsals for the fall begin Sept. 14 and will be held from 6 to 8:15 p.m. Mondays when classes are in session in the Murphy Hall choral rehearsal room.  

In February, several members of the Bales group traveled to Austria to participate in an international musical festival and tour Vienna. Members will again have an opportunity to make a musical trip to Austria this spring.  

To schedule a singing interview or for more information on the choral, email Reisinger at wreisinger@ku.edu. Check out the group’s spring 2026 concert on YouTube.  

Oak View Group invites faculty and staff to learn more about opportunities at the Naismith Club, a private social club in Allen Fieldhouse. 

OVG managers are holding an open house at 4:30 p.m. Aug. 25, RSVP requested, as well as scheduling hard hat tours so individuals can learn more about the concept and its offerings.  

Club membership is 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.  

The Naismith Club is expected to open at the end of August. 

The KU Edwards campus invites its staff and faculty to join a special edition of Thursdays@3 in partnership with the Office of Civil Rights & Title IX from 3 to 5 p.m. Aug. 27 at the Regents Center Patio. 

Enjoy a summer afternoon with sweet treats from the Melt Box Ice Cream truck, including dairy-free options, while connecting with OCRTIX staff, catching up with colleagues and celebrating community in a relaxed, welcoming atmosphere.

Join colleagues for the Rock Chalk Run on Oct. 4 at the KU Edwards campus for a 10K, 5K and 1K fun run or walk. The event will include a family fun zone, interactive sponsor booths with giveaways, food trucks and a KU Bookstore pop-up shop.  

Participants will receive a race shirt and finisher medal. The event supports scholarships for Edwards campus students. Prices increase for race registration after Sunday. 

Traffic on Mississippi Street near the David Booth Kansas Memorial Stadium will be intermittently impacted as crews install water lines as part of the stadium renovation project. The work will cause partial lane closures, and work crews with flags will direct traffic through the area. 

This work will not occur every day.  Drivers should use caution when traveling through the area, particularly during weekend and overnight hours, as steel road plates may be used to keep the roads open to traffic. This work is expected to be completed by Sept. 18. View map and additional information online.

A project on private property between the parking garage and HERE will also impact the sidewalk and curb parking along Mississippi. More details will be shared when available.

The sidewalk in front of Dyche Hall is closed this week with pedestrian traffic rerouting to the other side of Jayhawk Boulevard. Pedestrians are asked to follow directional signage around the construction area and use the designated crosswalks. 

Crews are working to improve the storm sewer system and add an accessible ramp at the main entrance. The sidewalk is expected to reopen before classes begin on Aug. 24 but could close for short periods throughout the project for construction work and deliveries. View map and additional information online.

As part of the work, the Natural History Museum’s main entrance will close in mid-September with access available through the north entrance. The project should be completed by January. 

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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.

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