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 announces merger of two College departments, renaming of Engineering department
Last week, we announced the merger of two departments in the College of Liberal Arts & Sciences, as well as a name change for a department in the School of Engineering.
The College will combine the departments of Geography & Atmospheric Science and Geology and the Environmental Studies Program into a new academic unit: the Department of Earth, Energy & Environment. Bringing these disciplines together will create a more collaborative approach to challenges such as energy resource development, water and resource management, and climate resilience.
The Department of Chemical & Petroleum Engineering also has a new name: the Department of Chemical & Energy Engineering. Its two degree programs — chemical engineering and petroleum engineering — will remain unchanged. The new name reflects the department’s growing role in energy research and education and its connection to one of the school’s broader strategic priorities.
KU community invited to State of the University Address on Oct. 15
We are off to another busy semester, with plenty of good news related to our mission of education, service and research. I invite you to join me for my annual State of the University Address at 4 p.m. on Thursday, October 15, at the Jayhawk Welcome Center. We’ll use this time to discuss initiatives, opportunities and strategies for the year ahead. All employees and students from Lawrence and KU Medical Center are invited to attend. For those unable to join in person, the event will be livestreamed at chancellor.ku.edu.
Kansas Law Enforcement Training Center to cut ribbon on new facilities
This Friday, Oct. 2, Provost Mafi and I will travel to the Kansas Law Enforcement Training Center outside Hutchinson to help cut the ribbon on the center’s new training and residence facilities. This will be a special day for KLETC — and for cadets who train there as they work toward becoming certified Kansas law enforcement officers.
Two things to share
KU receives $5.8 million NIH funding for Chemical Biology of Infectious Disease center
The National Institutes of Health has awarded KU $5.8 million for Phase 3 of KU’s Chemical Biology of Infectious Disease center, an NIH Center of Biomedical Research Excellence (COBRE).
The center recruits, mentors and supports investigators across KU, Kansas State, Wichita State and other regional partners as they address challenges in infectious disease and antibiotic resistance using chemical-biology approaches.
Decline in international student enrollment creating major economic loss
America’s colleges and universities are expecting major declines in international enrollment this fall, with one projection estimating there will be 112,000 fewer foreign students on university campuses this year as compared to last.
According to the report, that decline could result in as much as $3.4 billion in lost revenue for the U.S. economy and 40,000 fewer American jobs.
"One KU"
Reminder: Join us Oct. 13 for the University Teaching Awards
Don’t forget to RSVP for our annual University Teaching Awards, where we’ll honor 15 faculty members from the Lawrence and KU Medical Center campuses. The event is at 6:30 p.m. on Oct. 13 at the Jayhawk Welcome Center in Lawrence.
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.