2020 Chancellor's Updates

DECEMBER 16, 2020 -- The Chancellor and Provost discuss lessons learned from the fall semester and plans for the spring. Topics include: our CFO search; the reorganization of units related to public safety and budgeting; and the restructuring of diversity, equity and inclusion efforts.

DECEMBER 9, 2020 -- Chancellor Girod visits with Kris Krishtalka, director of the KU Biodiversity Institute and Natural History Museum, and Saralyn Reece Hardy, director of the Spencer Museum of Art, to discuss how their units are continuing outreach and research during the pandemic.

DECEMBER 2, 2020 -- Chancellor Girod visits with Dale Seuferling, president of the KU Endowment, and Heath Peterson, president and CEO of the KU Alumni Association, to discuss how their organizations have adapted to the pandemic to continue supporting KU's mission.

NOVEMBER 24, 2020 -- Chancellor Girod is joined by Mike Rounds and Callie Long from KU Operations to discuss campus operations during the winter break. Specific topics include building access, security and signage; classroom and common area configuration and cleaning; PPE access; medical-grade air filtration; and touchless technology.

NOVEMBER 18, 2020 -- The Chancellor and Provost are joined by Andrew Foster, emergency management coordinator for KU, and Dr. David Wild, vice president for performance improvement at The University of Kansas Health System, to discuss the regional surge in COVID-19 cases.

NOVEMBER 11, 2020 -- Chancellor Girod is joined by four guests to discuss how KU is serving students both inside and outside the classroom during the pandemic. Guests include Jason Krone from Recreation Services, JJ O’Toole Curran from the Memorial Union, Sarah Waters from Student Housing, and Paige Freeman from the Office of First-Year Experience.

NOVEMBER 6, 2020 -- Chancellor Girod visits with Vice Chancellor for Research Simon Atkinson, as well as Associate Vice Chancellors for Research Belinda Sturm and Kathleen Lynne Lane, to discuss efforts to keep the university’s research enterprise moving forward during the pandemic.

OCTOBER 28, 2020 -- Chancellor Girod looks ahead to the spring semester, with a focus on enrollment, COVID-19 testing, course adaptations, and the on-campus experience. The Chancellor and Provost also share updates on the Bioscience and Technology Business Center’s expansion and our efforts with lawmakers to renew the University Engineering Initiative Act.

OCTOBER 21, 2020 -- In this week's episode, Chancellor Girod and Provost Bichelmeyer visit with Alex Barajas, a psychologist with KU Counseling and Psychological Services, to discuss mental health issues and resources available to the community.

October 14, 2020 -- Chancellor Girod and Provost Bichelmeyer visit with Kevin Smith, dean of KU Libraries, to discuss how that unit is serving students and faculty this year.

OCTOBER 7, 2020 -- Chancellor Girod visits with Jamie Shew, county clerk and county election officer, and Logan Stenseng, the Student Senate's government relations director, to discuss voting in the upcoming election. Specific topics include registration deadlines, methods to vote, polling locations, and resources for additional information about voting.

SEPTEMBER 30, 2020 -- In this week's episode, Provost Bichelmeyer visits with Stuart Day, dean of the Edwards Campus and the School of Professional Studies, to discuss the latest developments at the Edwards Campus.

SEPTEMBER 23, 2020 -- The Chancellor visits with Jeff Long, director of Kansas Athletics, to discuss how the pandemic has impacted Kansas Athletics, college athletics and individual student-athletes. The two leaders discuss student-athlete eligibility, KU's record-high student-athlete GPA, and gameday experience.

SEPTEMBER 16, 2020 -- Chancellor Girod visits with Chris Wilson and Dr. David Wild from The University of Kansas Health System to discuss KU's recently released dashboard and other data-sharing tools.

SEPTEMBER 9, 2020 -- Chancellor Girod visits with three deans - Paige Fields, Ron Ragan, and Rick Ginsberg - to discuss planning, successes and challenges in their respective schools.

SEPTEMBER 2, 2020 -- The Chancellor and Provost are joined by Dr. Pavika Saripalli, chief of staff for Watkins Health Services, to answer questions about testing protocols. Topics include: the difference between quarantine and self-isolation; close contacts; and nasal swab tests versus saliva tests.

August 27, 2020 -- The Chancellor and Provost are joined by Susan Klusmeier, vice provost for academic success, and Tammara Durham, vice provost for student affairs, to discuss academic success, Hawk Week and additional topics related to the student experience.

AUGUST 19, 2020 -- The Chancellor and Provost discuss KU's new mask policy, mandatory testing for staff and students, and plans for football. Additionally, they discuss the new Task Force on Community Policing and the Diversity, Equity and Inclusion Advisory Council.

AUGUST 12, 2020 -- The Chancellor is joined by Mike Rounds, vice provost for operations, to discuss KU's efforts to reopen campus and prioritize health and safety. Mike discusses personal protective equipment, testing and contact tracing, sanitation, reconfiguration of spaces, masks, and personal responsibility.

AUGUST 5, 2020 -- Provost Bichelmeyer is joined by Chris Brown, vice provost for faculty development, and Dea Greenhoot, director of the Center for Teaching Excellence, to discuss KU's efforts to provide high-quality learning opportunities this fall in hybrid, face-to-face and remote settings.

July 29, 2020 -- Chancellor Girod and Provost Bichelmeyer are joined by Simon Atkinson, vice chancellor for research, to discuss the university's Research and Discovery design team and, more generally, efforts to enhance KU's research enterprise.

JULY 22, 2020 -- The Chancellor and Provost are joined by Mary Walsh, chief information officer, and Chris Gregory, senior director of strategic alignment & marketing, to discuss the Jayhawk Cloud and other KUIT resources.

JULY 15, 2020 -- Chancellor Girod and Provost Bichelmeyer discuss masks, testing and contact tracing, plans for students to self-isolate, and local hospital capacity.

JULY 8, 2020 -- Chancellor Girod and Provost Bichelmeyer discuss the Protect KU plan and describe the role of the Pandemic Medical Advisory Team. Additionally, the two leaders discuss possible scenarios for the fall semester, as well as recent state and county orders regarding masks.

JULY 1, 2020 -- The Chancellor is joined by Vice Provost for Operations Mike Rounds and Emergency Management Coordinator Andrew Foster to discuss the Protect KU plan -- which will serve as our roadmap for a thoughtful, science-based return to campus -- and two new planning teams to inform decision-making in the weeks ahead.

JUNE 24, 2020 -- The Chancellor and Provost discuss fiscal recovery plans, including the temporary salary savings plan for employees making more than $50,000 per year. The Chancellor and Provost also discuss an AAU survey of student preferences for fall 2020, as well as updates on state and federal funding and how they impact our projected $120 million shortfall for the upcoming fiscal year.

JUNE 17, 2020 -- Chancellor Girod and Provost Bichelmeyer discuss the university's recently announced VSIP program, changes to the fall academic calendar, contact tracing and technology, and expectations for instructors designing courses for the fall.

JUNE 10, 2020 -- Chancellor Girod and Provost Bichelmeyer discuss the challenges we face heading into the fall, as well as recent national and campus protests related to racism, inequality and injustice.