News
As National Friendship Day nears, research shows people aren’t lonelier — they’re changing how they spend their time
University of Kansas researcher Jeffrey Hall and American Friendship Project colleagues have conducted studies on how and why people spend time with their friends. As National Friendship Day approaches, the researchers can discuss why people are spending less time in person with friends.
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Thu, 07/30/2026
Book event will bring life, investment lessons home to Lawrence
University of Kansas alumnus David Booth, founder of Dimensional Fund Advisors, will discuss his new book, “Stay Calm: Learn to Embrace Uncertainty in Investing and Life,” at an event Sept. 10 at KU. Booth will be joined by Coach Bill Self and former Jayhawk athlete Mario Chalmers for a panel discussion.
Thu, 07/30/2026
New KU School of Business microcredential helps professionals build in-demand sales skills
The KU School of Business will launch an online Professional Selling Microcredential in September, offering working professionals a fast, flexible pathway to build in-demand sales skills.
Thu, 07/30/2026
Construction begins on accessible entrance to KU Natural History Museum
The KU Natural History Museum has announced the start of construction on the new accessible entrance from Jayhawk Boulevard to Dyche Hall, a donor-funded project designed to benefit all who visit.
Thu, 07/30/2026
KU to host THATCamp 2026, a day of hands-on digital humanities collaboration
The Institute for Digital Research in the Humanities at the University of Kansas will host THATCamp 2026 on Aug. 28. The free event, open to all KU faculty, staff, students and community members, encourages exploration at the intersection of technology and humanities.
Tue, 07/28/2026
As National Friendship Day nears, research shows people aren’t lonelier — they’re changing how they spend their time
University of Kansas researcher Jeffrey Hall and American Friendship Project colleagues have conducted studies on how and why people spend time with their friends. As National Friendship Day approaches, the researchers can discuss why people are spending less time in person with friends.
Mon, 07/27/2026
KU Law student receives Foundation for Natural Resources and Energy Law scholarship
University of Kansas School of Law student Shelby Norman has been selected as a recipient of the 2026-2027 Foundation Scholarship from the Foundation for Natural Resources and Energy Law.
Fri, 07/24/2026
University of Kansas announces 2025-2026 graduates
The names of more than 6,800 graduates at the University of Kansas for summer and fall 2025 and spring 2026 have been announced by the University Registrar. Many graduates and candidates for degree celebrated by participating in KU Commencement, which took place May 17.
Fri, 07/24/2026
KU one of two universities selected to present to Kansas State Board of Education on preparing school leaders
KU’s Department of Educational Leadership & Policy Studies presented to the Kansas State Board of Education on July 14 in Topeka, one of two Regents universities selected to speak on how the state trains school and district leaders.
Wed, 07/22/2026
W.M. Keck Foundation awards $1.2 million to KU team pursuing new theory of Alzheimer’s disease
Michael Wolfe, interim department chair and Mathias P. Mertes Professor of Medicinal Chemistry, will lead a project exploring stalled enzymes in Alzheimer's disease.
Tue, 07/21/2026
New 50 percent tariff on Canadian goods ‘unprecedented, erratic, even desperate,’ international trade law scholar says
Raj Bhala, University Distinguished Professor of Law at the University of Kansas, is available to media to discuss the newly announced 50% tariffs on a range of Canadian goods. The international trade law expert said the unprecedented move is neither wise nor likely to be effective.
Tue, 07/21/2026
Researchers develop velocity-based training guidelines for football, tailored for specific positions
Researchers at KU’s Jayhawk Athletic Performance Lab have published guidelines for using velocity-based training in college football. The approach measures the speed of a barbell during weightlifting and can be used to develop different types of strength and power. The guidelines help develop training regimens for specific athletes and by position group, based on the unique needs of each.
Fri, 07/17/2026
KU Kudos: Faculty and staff achievements, July 2026
It’s time to celebrate Jayhawk colleagues’ achievements: KU News Service accepted submissions and combed websites, social media and newsletters for recent external honors and awards for current faculty and staff at the Lawrence, Edwards and Medical Center campuses and affiliates.
Fri, 07/17/2026
Six KU faculty members selected for 2026-27 Big 12 Faculty Fellowship
The Big 12 program allows tenured and tenure-track faculty on the KU Lawrence campus to expand their research connections within the Big 12 Conference through a variety of scholarly endeavors.
Fri, 07/17/2026
Osage professor helps renovate ‘Little House on the Prairie’
In a new Netflix series, Robert Warrior, the Hall Distinguished Professor of American Literature and Culture at the University of Kansas, served as a story consultant for a fresh adaptation of the beloved books and classic TV show “Little House on the Prairie.”
Wed, 07/15/2026
KU Engineering researcher receives NSF CAREER award for work on reliable healthcare AI
Zijun Yao, assistant professor of electrical engineering & computer science at the University of Kansas, earned a National Science Foundation CAREER award for a project that tackles a major hurdle in healthcare technology: teaching AI to understand a patient’s full medical history without losing sight of human clinical judgment.
Wed, 07/15/2026
Dorris Mbogo selected as KU’s interim university ombuds
Dorris Mbogo, director of informal resolution in the Office of Civil Rights & Title IX, will serve a part-time position as interim university ombuds. She succeeds Ada Emmett, who retired from KU after nearly 25 years of service in the Ombuds Office and in KU Libraries.
Wed, 07/15/2026
Startups’ co-innovation outcomes depend on venture capitalist type, study finds
Independent venture capitalists tend to trigger more frequent, less impactful but more novel co-inventing outcomes by their portfolio startups, new research finds. KU business researcher Kaushik Gala also found that corporate venture capitalists tend to trigger less frequent, more impactful but less novel inventive outcomes.
Wed, 07/15/2026
National Science Foundation honors KU Engineering researcher for protecting public trust in global supply chains
Sumaiya Shomaji, assistant professor of electrical engineering & computer science at the University of Kansas, is building a secure, high-tech tracking system powered by artificial intelligence. Her project, AuthenTrack, recently earned her a National Science Foundation (NSF) CAREER award.
Wed, 07/15/2026
Study finds effective method to help teachers address gap between finding a good practice and getting started
Researchers at the University of Kansas have documented an approach that helps educators address the “know-do gap.” The gap is when teachers and schools know a practice will benefit the students but it is difficult to get started for any number of reasons. The practice helps anticipate obstacles, plan for them and deliver new practices for students.
Wed, 07/15/2026
Christopher Johnson serving as School of Music interim dean
Christopher Johnson, professor of music education and music therapy, accepted an interim leadership role at the School of Music, effective July 1. The faculty member of 34 years stepped in as former dean Paul Popiel retired to return to Notre Dame University, his alma mater.
Mon, 07/13/2026
Graduates of KLETC’s 359th Basic Training Class take oath of office
Family members, friends and law enforcement leaders gathered July 10 at the Kansas Law Enforcement Training Center to celebrate the graduation of the 359th Basic Training Class as new officers took the oath of office and began their careers serving communities across Kansas.
Mon, 07/13/2026
KU chapter of Phi Beta Kappa initiates new members
The University of Kansas Alpha chapter of Phi Beta Kappa academic honor society has initiated 87 new members. Election to Phi Beta Kappa recognizes a student’s high academic achievement while pursuing a broad and substantive liberal-arts curriculum.
Mon, 07/13/2026
KU Jazz sets record at DownBeat Student Music Awards
The University of Kansas Jazz and Commercial Music program has earned national recognition with a record-setting eight honors in the 49th Annual DownBeat Student Music Awards. The 2026 awards mark the most DownBeat Student Music Awards that KU has received in a single year, underscoring the program's continued excellence and reinforcing its reputation as one of the nation's premier university jazz and commercial music programs.
Thu, 07/09/2026
Dinosaurs probably dined upon a variety of fruits and seeds
Recent research appearing in the journal Science overturns a long-held idea that flowering plants didn’t evolve large fruits and seeds until after the mass extinction of dinosaurs about 66 million years ago, when Earth was smacked by a giant asteroid.
Wed, 07/08/2026
KU autism AI tool launched to provide resources to Kansas families
With a new artificial intelligence chatbot tool developed at the University of Kansas, families can receive vetted information about autism that is specific to their needs in Kansas.
Wed, 07/08/2026
KU Theatre & Dance unveils 2026-27 season
With its message of community and optimism, “The SpongeBob Musical” will conclude a highly inventive season that celebrates contemporary theatre and dance. A reimagined Greek tragedy and a Restoration comedy are also highlights of KU Theatre & Dance's season.
Wed, 07/08/2026
20 KU students receive Undergraduate Research Awards for summer and fall 2026
The KU Center for Undergraduate Research & Fellowships gave out $1,000 awards to 20 Jayhawks pursuing mentored research and creative projects across all disciplines.
Wed, 07/08/2026
KU School of Education & Human Sciences dean delivers address at UN World Cup Diplomacy Summit
Joshua Newman, dean of the KU School of Education & Human Sciences, delivered an address and led a panel on sport, policy and artificial intelligence at the United Nations World Cup Diplomacy Summit in New York. Newman also met with UNITAR leaders to explore future partnerships with the school.
Tue, 07/07/2026
University of Kansas announces spring 2026 honor roll
More than 9,000 Jayhawks were named to the dean's lists for their respective schools for academic excellence in the spring 2026 semester.
Mon, 07/06/2026
Entrepreneurs need partners unless solo founder has broad and deep experience, study finds
In a new scholarly article published in the Strategic Management Journal, a University of Kansas business scholar explored whether entrepreneurs need co-founders, finding disadvantages partially diminished when a solo founder has broad and/or deep experience.