Ensuring every voice is valued and respected
Jayhawks,
As we move into finals week, we encourage each of us to reflect on all we have accomplished together in 2023. We hope you are looking forward to a period of rest and rejuvenation so we can come back together in January, ready to continue our important work.
We are fortunate to be part of a vibrant learning community whose diversity of perspective and thought enriches our conversations, deepens our learning, and fuels our innovation and creativity. As a university, we carry a profound responsibility to actively cultivate an atmosphere of continual engagement, intellectual dialogue, and critical thinking within our community and in the wider world.
Our mission, vision and values challenge us to prepare students for citizenship in a global society. The individual members of our community increasingly reflect this global reach, and events thousands of miles away from campus may have very significant effects on our students, colleagues, and their families. The Israel-Palestine conflict and ongoing humanitarian impacts continue to be difficult for many in our community.
We strive to ensure that KU is a place where Palestinian, Israeli, Arab, Jewish, and Muslim identified students, staff, and faculty are safe. We are committed to fostering a culture of safety, inclusivity, and awareness that affirms the humanity of all our community members. We rigorously safeguard rights of free expression and academic freedom while vehemently rejecting hate.
During challenging times, we encourage all to compassionately extend our support to those affected. We encourage anyone in need to take advantage of KU’s wide array of services and educational resources for the mental and physical wellness of our students, staff, and faculty. Information on these services is included at the end of this message.
In our pursuit of knowledge and understanding, let us reaffirm our dedication to cultivating a climate where every voice is valued and respected.
Respectfully,
Douglas A. Girod
Chancellor
Barbara A. Bichelmeyer
Provost and Executive Vice Chancellor for Lawrence and Edwards
Robert D. Simari
Executive Vice Chancellor for KU Medical Center
Mandatory and Safety Reporting
Office of Civil Rights & Title IX
Office of Diversity, Equity, Inclusion & Belonging
Mental Health and Wellness
Counseling and Psychological Services
Human Resources Employee Assistance Program
Free Speech
Kansas Board of Regents Statement on Free Expression
Student Conduct and Community Standards
Faculty Code of Rights and Responsibilities
Combatting Antisemitism and Islamophobia
Office of Diversity, Equity, Inclusion & Belonging guidance