Colleagues,
Welcome to "3, 2, One KU," a weekly memo in which I share updates and thoughts for the week ahead. The title of the memo is derived from the format: each edition will include three things to know, two things to share, and one reflection on how our "One KU" initiative is enhancing collaboration across our campuses. I hope you find this weekly communication informative.
Respectfully,
Doug
Three things to know
Federal compact on higher education
On October 1, nine universities were invited by the U.S. Department of Education to join the proposed Compact for Academic Excellence in Higher Education. Following that initial offering, KU and two other universities were invited to participate in an October 17 phone call with federal officials, during which we were not asked to sign the compact but rather to provide input on how federal policymakers can have a productive dialogue with universities moving forward. We remain open to opportunities to engage with leaders from government, peer institutions and industry on matters impacting higher education, and I will continue to provide you updates as they become available.
Teaching awards
Last week, I had the pleasure of hosting our annual University Teaching Awards ceremony, where we honored this year’s recipients of KU’s top teaching awards spanning the Lawrence and KU Medical Center campuses. It was a truly special evening highlighted by heartwarming stories from this year’s honorees, each of whom embody the best of KU through their teaching and mentorship of students. If you haven’t already done so, I hope you’ll take a moment to congratulate this year’s winners.
National leadership
This week, I am honored to begin my term as board chair for the Association of American Universities. While I am grateful for this opportunity on a personal level, I am especially pleased that my role ensures the interests and perspectives of the University of Kansas will be represented in national conversations about higher education. This is an important moment for our nation’s universities, and I look forward to collaborating with AAU peers to ensure that KU and our fellow research institutions are positioned to continue benefiting society.
Two things to share
Economic impact study
As a leading public research university, KU strives to fulfill its mission of education, service and research while also driving economic growth. With this in mind, earlier this year we shared a report that illustrates how KU serves as an economic engine that benefits Kansas families, communities and companies. The report quantifies KU’s annual statewide impact at $7.8 billion, which includes activity in operations, construction and research, as well as the expenditures of KU startups, visitors, students and alumni. This activity supports 88,000 jobs — or one in every 23 jobs in Kansas. You can view the report at impact.ku.edu.
Public opinion of higher education
Approximately 70% of Americans say the higher education system is generally going in the wrong direction, up from 56% who said this in 2020, according to a new Pew Research Center survey. In addition, many give colleges and universities negative ratings across a range of specific areas, ranging from keeping tuition costs affordable to preparing students for jobs in today’s economy.
"One KU"
Earlier today, we launched the search process for our next Provost/Chief Academic Officer for the University of Kansas and Executive Vice Chancellor for the Lawrence campus. I encourage you to visit our leadership search page and view the position description, which emphasizes the opportunity for a visionary leader to advance our "One KU" initiative to foster alignment among KU's campuses. Specifically, this position requires extensive collaboration with the EVC of KU Medical Center and with all multi-campus functional leaders of our University Cabinet.