Colleagues,
Welcome to "3, 2, One KU," a weekly memo in which I'll 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
KU reaches agreement with UAKU
The University of Kansas and the United Academics of KU (UAKU) reached tentative agreement on all 37 articles of the collective bargaining agreement on Thursday, March 5. The next steps in finalizing the contract include a ratification vote by UAKU, and a review by KBOR for final approval. This accomplishment represents enormous dedication and time spent by everyone involved in the negotiation process and sets the foundation for continued partnership and support for faculty moving forward.
Four top scholars named recipients of University Scholarly Achievement Award
Four midcareer faculty members have been named recipients of our annual University Scholarly Achievement Award. This year’s honorees are:
Katie Batza — Department of Women, Gender and Sexuality Studies
Anthony Fehr — Department of Molecular Biosciences
Bret Freudenthal — Department of Biochemistry and Molecular Biology
David Slusky — Departments of Economics and Speech-Language-Hearing
Please mark your calendars to celebrate these four scholars – along with the winners of our other annual research awards – at the University Research Awards on April 14. The event is open to the KU community, and RSVPs are appreciated.
KU research growth boosts Kansas communities and economy
Research and development expenditures spanning all KU campuses climbed to $610.6 million in fiscal year 2025 — a 12% increase over the previous record and the culmination of a decade of sustained research growth. These data demonstrate that, as one of America’s leading research universities, KU is tackling the toughest challenges of our time and doing so in ways that strengthen communities and fuel the state’s economy. Learn more in our recent announcement.
Two things to share
Public perceptions about college diverge from views of students, graduates
New findings from Gallup and the Lumina Foundation find that current students and graduates feel much more positive than the general public about their campus experiences and the value of their degrees.
Celebration of Barbara Bichelmeyer set for April 15
Please join us for a celebration honoring Barbara Bichelmeyer as she transitions from her leadership role as provost and executive vice chancellor. The event will be held Wednesday, April 15, from 3:30–5:30 p.m. at the Lied Center Pavilion. We look forward to reflecting on Barbara’s contributions to KU and spending time with colleagues. RSVPs are appreciated for planning purposes.
"One KU"
New electronic device travel policy, procedures in effect
International travel with electronic devices can expose KU to risks, including export control violations, data loss, and unauthorized access to university systems. To help mitigate these risks, our Office of Global Risk and Security has launched the Loaner Laptop/Azure Virtual Desktop (AVD) program, which enables employees to securely access KU resources, research storage, specialized software, and high‑performance computing through a U.S.-based virtual environment. The Electronic Device Travel Policy and Loaner Laptop/Azure Virtual Desktop Procedure have also been added to the KU Policy Library as “One KU” items covering all campuses.