Messages to faculty, staff

American public universities have played a special role ever since the first were chartered in the late 1700s. The founders understood that the United States would prosper only if it had strong universities that could educate the next generation of leaders and create the inventions and ideas that drive progress.

Last Thursday, I had the opportunity to visit with the House Higher Education Budget Committee, which this year includes a number of first-year legislators. It was my second visit in three weeks with this group, and each time, I was heartened to meet with so many thoughtful lawmakers who care deeply about our state and our university.

As has been the case for many years, the start of our spring semester coincides with Martin Luther King Day observances. I re-read my opening messages of the past few years, and I found myself almost wishing that Martin Luther King Day might eventually be “just another holiday” – but it is not yet. This year, more than any I can remember in more than 30 years, King’s call for equal justice and his aspiration to make true democracy a reality for our country are needed.

I remain committed to working with policymakers, elected officials and university leaders nationwide to promote science, research and universities’ central role in driving new discoveries and technologies. At the same time, I call on all of you to continue doing what you do best — that is, making discoveries that improve lives, create prosperity, and help us better understand the world. This is our obligation as a community of scholars.

The Integrated Science Building takes center stage this Thursday when we host a “topping out” ceremony with the Central District development team and construction crew. The event will include a short program and conclude with the ceremonial “raising of the final beam” atop the building.

Nothing is more important than the safety and well-being of our University of Kansas community. With that in mind, I’d like to update you on our efforts to ensure KU is in compliance with state law allowing concealed weapons on university campuses beginning July 1, 2017.

I am delighted to announce this year’s freshman class has grown for the fifth straight year and is the most academically talented class in KU history, according to enrollment numbers released today.

I believe that public research universities play a special role in our society. In addition to educating students and making discoveries, we address society’s most complicated challenges on behalf of the public good. At the University of Kansas, this is reflected in our mission to strengthen communities in areas where our expertise can make a difference, both in Kansas and beyond.

Yesterday we came together for Commencement, and I want to thank all of you who made it such a special day for our graduates and their families and friends. I would also like to take a moment to look back on what has been an historic year for the University of Kansas, thanks to you.

Last week, we announced we will soon be welcoming three candidates for the position of Provost and Executive Vice Chancellor of the Lawrence campus. The search committee received strong applications from candidates across the country who are excited about this opportunity. The truth is, KU is in an excellent position to attract top candidates for this role, thanks to your hard work.

Yesterday afternoon, Governor Sam Brownback announced a 3 percent cut to Kansas Board of Regents universities, totaling $17 million for the current fiscal year, which ends June 30. For the University of Kansas, this reduction amounts to $7.18 million across all our campuses — $3.95 million for KU Lawrence, and $3.23 million for KU Medical Center.

The University of Kansas freshman class has grown for four straight years, a notable achievement that can be attributed largely to the great work being done by Enrollment Management, Marketing Communications and other offices that communicate directly with prospective students.

As we begin this new semester, I would like to reflect on discussions about diversity and inclusion we had last semester and our ongoing work on these issues. This is especially fitting as we celebrate the legacy of Dr. Martin Luther King Jr. this week through various events on campus and in our communities.

As our semester comes to a close and we begin preparations for the holiday season, I want to take a moment to thank you for your efforts and celebrate your achievements over the past few months.

A few weeks ago, we learned that Provost and Executive Vice Chancellor Jeffrey Vitter will be leaving us at the end of the semester to become Chancellor at the University of Mississippi. I am writing today to announce we have established the search committee that will lead our efforts to identify our next provost.

Earlier this year at Convocation, I encouraged our incoming freshmen to use their time at the University of Kansas to begin addressing our society’s great challenges.

Colleagues,

I am writing to let you know that a key member of our executive team will be leaving the University of Kansas for a new leadership opportunity.

This year’s freshman class is already shaping up to be quite special. First, the Class of 2019 grew to 4,187 students — an increase of 2.5 percent from last year — marking the fourth straight year of freshman class growth. More importantly, this year’s freshmen have the highest average high school GPA and second-highest average ACT score in KU history, as well as the second-highest percentage of minority students on record.

As a flagship research university, KU has a special responsibility to make discoveries that improve lives, create prosperity, and help us better understand the world. This responsibility is borne by our community of scholars — faculty, staff and students — who seek out knowledge and then share it. Thanks to your efforts, we are fulfilling this obligation.

Former University of Kansas Chancellor Robert Hemenway passed away Friday evening. He was 73 years old, and we take great comfort in knowing he spent his final days surrounded by his family. He leaves behind his wife, Leah, and eight grown children. While we are deeply saddened to learn of his passing, I hope we can use the coming days to celebrate his life, including the tremendous work he did as the university’s chancellor from 1995-2009.

From social media to research and instruction, the University strongly supports the First Amendment rights of faculty and the freedom of faculty to pursue the independent and uninhibited exchange of ideas.

The month of May is exhilarating on our campus, partly due to the flurry of activity that comes with the end of the semester, and partly due to the anticipation of Commencement. May is also the ideal time to look back on the year and celebrate your achievements. And there are many worth celebrating.

Last month, five new Foundation Distinguished Professors were announced, bringing the total number to eight. Victor Agadjanian, Beth Bailey, James Bever, Cecilia Menjivar, and Dennis O'Rourke represent a major step toward completing the initiative we began with our partners in Topeka three years ago.

During my tenure as chancellor, we have engaged in campus forums dedicated to specific topics ranging from our strategic plan to sexual assault on campus. I have always greatly appreciated the strong participation and open conversations of the KU community at these events.

We are committed to the University of Kansas being an inclusive community where all feel welcome and able to express themselves without fear of discrimination. This value is a foundational one for our university, and KU’s non-discrimination policy includes prohibitions against discrimination based on sexual orientation, gender identity, and gender expression among its protections.

As we start this new semester, I want to continue the discussions we were having toward the end of the fall semester on how to be a more inclusive community. This is all the more appropriate since we are celebrating the life and legacy of Dr. Martin Luther King Jr. through events this week and next.

A reporter from the University Daily Kansan recently asked me, “What is your favorite part about being chancellor?” I told her what I tell everyone who asks: Getting to celebrate the individual and collective accomplishments of our community—your accomplishments.

At the Board of Regents meeting earlier this month, I outlined the progress we’ve made toward achieving our bold aspirations.

The regents were impressed—by you and your accomplishments.

During the past week, we have engaged as a community in an ongoing dialogue about sexual assault and how we can address this difficult issue together. Some of you have shared heartbreaking stories of your own sexual assault, while others have made recommendations about actions we can take to improve our prevention and response efforts.

This is one of my favorite times of the year. The residence and scholarship halls are full of activity. Jayhawk Boulevard has reopened. And students on all five of our campuses are back in classrooms, laboratories, and libraries as we start a new academic year.

Freedom of inquiry and expression are vital to the success of universities, as well as central to the rights and responsibilities we have as university faculty and staff. As with most Regents policies, application of the social media policy will be governed by each individual campus. At the University of Kansas, we will ensure that the application is guided by our commitment to academic freedom and open inquiry and expression as protected by the First Amendment.

Before we gather at Commencement to congratulate our graduates, I want to take this opportunity to thank you for your achievements during the course of the academic year. You have much to be proud of.

During the past several months, we have been working closely with policymakers to secure support for initiatives that will help the University of Kansas achieve its bold aspirations. I’m pleased to report success in several key areas.

Our primary mission at the University of Kansas is to educate students to become leaders in our state and world. As chancellor, nothing is more satisfying than the opportunity to visit with KU graduates who walked down the Hill and went on to prosperous careers and fulfilling lives.

I’d like to thank the staff members on all of our campuses who have been hard at work the past couple days clearing the snow so the university could reopen. It is a cold, difficult job, and our community is grateful for your efforts. I also want to thank those of you who worked through the storm in order to keep our students housed, fed, and safe. The forecast calls for the accumulated snow to stay with us for a while, so please be careful when traveling.

Yesterday, the Board of Regents voted to enact a policy governing social media postings by faculty and staff at all Regents universities. Application of this policy falls to the individual universities. As is the case with other Regents policies governing faculty and staff rights and responsibilities, we will work closely with university governance on how to apply this policy at KU in a way that respects our university’s core values and beliefs, as well as our rights and responsibilities as public university employees.

Four days of classes, then finals, and the semester will be over. But before we begin the winter break, I want to thank you for your achievements over the past semester and year.

This Wednesday we will welcome members of the Kansas Legislature to two of our campuses as part of their tour of the state’s higher education institutions. Members of the House Appropriations and Senate Ways and Means committees will attend, as will members of the leadership of both chambers.

You have probably heard or read that a faculty member at our university used his personal Twitter account to make comments in the wake of the Navy Yard shooting in Washington, D.C., that have understandably generated outrage.

The start of the academic year is a time of renewal. As we welcome new students, faculty and staff to the University of Kansas, we’re also welcoming new ideas, energy and perspectives to our community of scholars.

Over the weekend, by the narrowest of majorities the Kansas Legislature passed the state budget for FY 2014 and FY 2015, which Governor Brownback is expected to sign into law. Despite advocacy that included the work of Jayhawks for Higher Education, legislators cut the University of Kansas budget by $13.53 million over the next two years.