Military, KU announce new partnership to enhance learning, opportunities
LAWRENCE — The University of Kansas and the 1st Infantry Division will enter into a formal Partnership Resolution, which supports exchanges and programs that stimulate academic, athletic and research partnerships, and envisions activities such as faculty and student exchanges, joint conferences, speaker series, seminars and curricular development.
Chancellor Bernadette Gray-Little and Maj. Gen. Wayne Grigsby Jr., commanding general of the “Big Red One” and Fort Riley, will sign the resolution at a ceremony 11:30 a.m. Monday, Nov. 23, in the Exhibit Room at the Spencer Research Library.
“We are very excited about formalizing and increasing the ongoing collaboration between KU and the Big Red One,” said Mike Denning, director of KU’s Graduate Military Programs. “We have a proud history of military commitment at KU, and this resolution furthers that commitment.”
Examples of ongoing collaboration include KU’s language and culture training that supported the 2nd Armored Brigade Combat Team’s recent deployment to Southwest Asia, a Strategic Broadening program delivered by the School of Business for junior Army officers and staff noncommissioned officers, and KU Edwards’ programming to support the unique educational needs of soldiers who are transitioning to higher education.
Likewise, soldiers from Fort Riley have supported KU Salute to Service games through the Commanding General’s Mounted Color Guard and the 1st Infantry Division Band. And last academic year, six UH-60 Black Hawk helicopters from the 1st Infantry Division supported the KU Army ROTC Jayhawk Battalion and its Annual Spring Combined Leadership Training Exercise.
The event is open to the public.