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
Advancing our Strategic Framework
We’ve talked a lot in recent months about our Strategic Framework and the process for developing it. Today, I want to offer a quick reminder of what it is and why your input matters.
The Strategic Framework will outline KU’s priorities, supports and targets, serving as a shared playbook for how we make decisions, set priorities and put them into action. Unlike previous strategic plans, it won’t be a finite five- or 10-year plan. Instead, it will be an evolving document with built-in accountability and transparency.
The framework focuses on three mission priorities: student success, healthy communities, and research and discovery.
The process began in January, and we continue to refine the framework based on input from across KU. Feedback from employees is an important part of that work, and the team developing the framework is eager to meet with departments and offices across KU.
Our goal is to finalize the framework in January 2027 and launch it in March. And that won’t be the end of the process. We’ll continue to monitor our progress and adjust as needed throughout the year.
KU researchers advance AI as university prepares to host summit
KU researchers continue to make important contributions to the rapidly evolving field of artificial intelligence. Last week, a KU-led initiative received a $2 million award from the National Science Foundation to expand educational opportunities for low-income students pursuing careers in computing, engineering and emerging technology. Additionally, KU researcher Ilya Vakser and colleagues received a three-year NSF grant to use AI to expand our understanding of macromolecular systems.
That work will be part of a larger conversation at KU next month, when we host the second annual Falling into AI Summit Sept. 22-24. The summit will bring together leaders from KU, Google, Amazon Web Services, Apple and other AI organizations to explore how AI is transforming education, healthcare, research, workforce and society. The summit reflects KU’s commitment to advancing innovation across disciplines while engaging thoughtfully with both the opportunities and responsibilities that come with emerging technologies.
Supporting KU on the field and beyond
Each August, campus comes alive as we welcome students back and begin a new academic year. That energy continues this week as our football team opens its season Friday evening in Lawrence against Long Island University.
Friday night games provide KU with a valuable opportunity for national exposure, helping us tell the KU story to prospective students, alumni and fans across the country. That visibility matters — not only for recruitment and alumni engagement, but also for the financial health of the university and our academic mission.
Later this fall, we’ll have another extraordinary opportunity to showcase KU on an international stage when our football team takes on Arizona State University at Wembley Stadium in London.
I encourage you to come out and support our student-athletes this week. And in the coming weeks, I look forward to continuing our conversation about the ways collegiate athletics strengthen our academic mission.
Two things to share
KU launches website to connect the university with businesses
KU has launched Partner with KU, a new website designed to help industry leaders, employers and entrepreneurs connect with the university. The site serves as a gateway to KU’s business-focused resources, including world-class research, core laboratories, workforce training and talent.
KU researchers continue to address water issues
Too much water. Too little water. From catastrophic floods in the Himalayas to record-low reservoirs in the American West, recent headlines offer a reminder of why we need engineering research to understand and prepare for water’s extremes. With this in mind, I encourage you to read this morning’s KU News article detailing the work of KU engineers to strengthen American dams. You can also explore Mighty Kansas Water, an interactive look at how KU researchers are tackling Kansas’ toughest water issues.
"One KU"
New resources available to keep you informed
Over the past year, many KU community members shared feedback through the One KU Alignment Feedback Form. One clear message was a desire for greater visibility into major initiatives and changes across the university. In response, we established the One KU Integrations Working Group, bringing together leaders and subject matter experts from across KU to share updates, increase transparency and strengthen accountability. To help keep you informed, several resources have been developed:
- The One KU Projects website provides a centralized view of key initiatives underway across KU, highlighting their goals, progress and impact. The list is not yet fully comprehensive. If there is a One KU project that should be included, please reach out to strategy@ku.edu.
- The One KU Alignments website showcases how units are working together across the university and shares examples of alignment that support collaboration and institutional priorities.
Our next step is to develop a list of FAQs to address questions and topics raised in nearly 200 responses to the One KU Alignment Feedback Form.
Bringing the boards into alignment reduces duplication, improves coordination and creates a clearer path for consistent decision making. For KU researchers, this means more streamlined processes and a stronger ability to invest resources strategically to enhance focus on discovery, innovation and impact.