News
KU researchers will evaluate program aimed at supporting adoptive families
Researchers in the University of Kansas School of Social Welfare have received a $1.8 million federal grant to evaluate FosterAdopt Connect, a program that supports adoptive parents and children to prevent disruptions or dissolutions of adoptions among families in Kansas and Missouri.
More news
Mon, 08/31/2026
Four years later, KU researchers continue their work strengthening American dams
Nearly four years after launching a federally funded research initiative to strengthen American dams and levees, University of Kansas engineers are demonstrating how that work is delivering measurable benefits to Kansas infrastructure, workforce development and public safety.
Mon, 08/31/2026
KU-based initiative helps build safer community for Wyandotte County youth
A new study demonstrates effective ways to reduce youth violence, with a 42% decrease in the rate of youth homicide within the catchment area served during the years of the KU-based program.
Fri, 08/28/2026
2026 Honors Convocation marks University Honors Program’s 70th anniversary
The University Honors Program recognized two faculty members and a student for their contributions to the program during Honors Convocation, an annual celebration for first-year honors students, which took place Aug. 23 at the Burge Union.
Fri, 08/28/2026
Second annual Falling into AI Summit will bring experts from Google, Amazon to KU
The University of Kansas is hosting the second annual Falling into AI Summit from Sept. 22-24, bringing together leaders from KU, KU Medical Center, Google, Amazon Web Services, Apple and artificial intelligence industry partners to explore how AI is transforming education, healthcare, research, workforce development and society.
Fri, 08/28/2026
Fall Design Professional Lecture Series brings acclaimed artists and designers to KU
The University of Kansas School of Architecture & Design will welcome seven accomplished artists and designers for the Fall 2026 Design Professional Lecture Series. Now in its fifth decade, the series features leading voices in contemporary art, illustration, product design, furniture design, branding and visual communication, offering students and the public an opportunity to engage with innovative creative practitioners from across the country.
Fri, 08/28/2026
‘Nollywood’ film industry still tethered to patriarchal stereotypes despite progress of female characters, expert says
In a new article, Abisola Akínsìkù, a doctoral candidate in English at the University of Kansas, uses feminism as a conceptual lens to interrogate how female characters are portrayed in the burgeoning “Nollywood” film industry of Nigeria.
Thu, 08/27/2026
KU ROTC will host 2026 KU 9/11 Memorial Stair Climb
The University of Kansas Reserve Officer Training Corps programs will host the 2026 KU 9/11 Memorial Stair Climb on Sept. 11 at David Booth Kansas Memorial Stadium to honor and remember the courage and sacrifice of the firefighters, first responders and service members who responded on Sept. 11, 2001.
Thu, 08/27/2026
KU launches website dedicated to businesses
The website, partner.ku.edu, serves as a gateway to KU’s business-focused resources, connecting employers with world-class research, core laboratories, workforce training and top talent.
Thu, 08/27/2026
KU to host summit on Indigenous food sovereignty
The Office of Sovereign Partnerships & Indigenous Initiatives at the University of Kansas and partners will host a daylong summit Sept. 16 featuring a keynote by alumna Lois Stevens (Oneida Nation) and several panel sessions along with a screening of “Seed Warriors,” a film by KU faculty member Rebekka Schlichting (Ioway Tribe of Kansas and Nebraska).
Thu, 08/27/2026
KU Transportation Center keeps Kansans connected
The KU Transportation Center supports the roads, routes and relationships that strengthen the Sunflower State. Part of the School of Engineering, the center has partnered with transportation professionals, transit providers and local governments throughout Kansas.
Wed, 08/26/2026
Using FDA addiction science, researcher asks: Do salty, high-fat foods act like drugs?
University of Kansas researcher Tera Fazzino is investigating whether “hyperpalatable” foods marketed to Americans — foods formulated with artificially high amounts of fat, salt and carbohydrates — have traits commonly associated with addictive substances. She recently earned a $2.8 million grant from the National Institutes of Health to test the idea using experimental practices standard in the field of regulatory research.
Wed, 08/26/2026
KU Spotlight on Faculty Excellence honorees announced for the 2026-27 year
The University of Kansas has announced the 12 faculty members selected for its 2026-27 Spotlight on Faculty Excellence program, which recognizes outstanding achievements in research, scholarship and creative activity across KU’s Lawrence, Edwards and Medical Center campuses.
Tue, 08/25/2026
NSF awards $2 million grant to KU-led project supporting future AI and computing leaders
A University of Kansas-led initiative has received a $2 million award from the National Science Foundation’s Scholarships in Science, Technology, Engineering and Mathematics (S-STEM) program to expand educational opportunities for low-income students pursuing careers in computing, engineering and emerging technology fields.
Tue, 08/25/2026
$1.5 million NSF grant will support KU research modeling molecular systems using AI
University of Kansas researcher Ilya Vakser and colleagues at Stony Brook University and the Stowers Institute for Medical Research will use a three-year grant from the National Science Foundation to expand knowledge of macromolecular systems using artificial intelligence.
Tue, 08/25/2026
Luciano Tosta selected for KU’s Woodyard International Educator Award
Luciano Tosta, University of Kansas faculty member and director of the Center for Global & International Studies, has earned KU’s top honor in international education for his transformative work across global teaching, research, partnerships and study abroad. KU will celebrate his achievements and hear remarks from Tosta on Oct. 8.
Tue, 08/25/2026
KU Dining kicks off the 2026-2027 academic school year with updated menus, specials
Jayhawks and visitors on the Lawrence campus will see new menu items at Asian Kitchen in The Underground, located in Wescoe Hall. KU Dining will also offer weekly specials including Macchiato Monday and Taco Tuesday at various locations. Special, limited-time menu items are available until Sept. 25.
Mon, 08/24/2026
Study finds sustainable farming program helps refugees, immigrants boost health while launching agribusinesses
New Roots is a Kansas City-area program that works with resettled refugees, immigrants and English language learners to learn sustainable practices to start agribusinesses. Research from the University of Kansas found the program boosts the mental and physical health of participants while they connect with community, benefiting both the farmers and the areas they serve.
Mon, 08/24/2026
KU institute to publish 60th edition of Kansas Statistical Abstract
The 2025 Kansas Statistical Abstract will be available online Sept. 1. This data compendium is published annually by the Institute for Policy & Social Research at the University of Kansas and includes information on a wide range of topics about Kansas.
Mon, 08/24/2026
KU welcomes more than 70 new faculty members across Lawrence and Edwards campuses
The Office of Faculty Affairs welcomed new full- and part-time faculty to the University of Kansas during orientation, which took place Aug. 17, 18 and 19. This year’s new faculty cohort represents 39 units across the KU Lawrence and Edwards campuses.
Fri, 08/21/2026
KLETC graduates 361st class, sends new officers into Kansas communities
Eleven officers from across Kansas graduated Aug. 21 from the Kansas Law Enforcement Training Center. They are now ready to serve Kansas agencies and communities they represent.
Wed, 08/19/2026
Dole Institute fall programming will include talk by former FDIC chair Sheila Bair
The Robert J. Dole Institute of Politics will host lawmakers, field experts and practitioners in fall 2026 for discussions on topics including midterm elections, bipartisan cooperation, public housing and artificial intelligence’s impact on energy. Guests will include KU alumna Sheila Bair, former chair of the Federal Deposit Insurance Corporation.
Tue, 08/18/2026
KU Libraries opens ‘Ad Astra: A Kansas Story Written in the Stars’ exhibition
“Ad Astra: A Kansas Story Written in the Stars” is now open in Watson Library’s Haricombe Gallery, tracing Kansas’ deep roots in human spaceflight. The public is invited to a reception Sept. 10 featuring a keynote with KU alumnus and astronaut Steve Hawley, who will also sign copies of his new memoir.
Tue, 08/18/2026
Studies find media literacy, social media use can predict trust in institutions, civic engagement
Christopher Etheridge and researchers in KU’s School of Journalism & Mass Communications conducted two studies with citizens of India gauging their media literacy and online behavior. The studies found the higher a person’s media literacy was, the higher their trust in democratic institutions. How and what types of social media they used also predicted how civically engaged they were as citizens.
Tue, 08/18/2026
Class of 2026-27 Senior Administrative Fellows announced
The University of Kansas has named 10 faculty members to its 2026-27 Senior Administrative Fellows cohort, a leadership development program that prepares faculty for administrative and leadership roles in higher education. The yearlong program provides participants with opportunities to learn more about university operations, explore leadership pathways and develop their leadership skills through reflection and professional growth.
Mon, 08/17/2026
Spencer Museum’s ‘Looking After’ exhibition reflects on art’s role in education, learning
A new exhibition at the Spencer Museum of Art, "Looking After: Art and Care in Education Across Kansas," features more than 80 artworks from its collection that are used in education initiatives to inspire creativity while supporting the academic standards of Kansas. Visitors are invited to explore the many ways that art can facilitate and enrich learning.
Mon, 08/17/2026
KU Department of Theatre & Dance celebrates scholarship recipients
Fifty-two University of Kansas Theatre & Dance students, including 34 Kansans, were honored for academic merit and potential for the 2026-27 academic year. Jayhawks were awarded approximately $210,00 in scholarships.
Mon, 08/17/2026
KU Dining expands sustainability efforts with campuswide cutlery change
KU Dining is expanding its compostable bamboo cutlery initiative to all Lawrence campus retail dining locations as part of an ongoing effort to reduce plastic waste and advance sustainability in on-campus dining.
Mon, 08/17/2026
Heavy traffic anticipated Aug. 20, 21 for KU Housing & Residence life move-in
University of Kansas employees and the Lawrence community should anticipate heavy traffic around the Lawrence campus this week during KU Housing & Residence Life’s busiest move-in days for its residence halls.
Mon, 08/17/2026
Bales Choral Society seeks new members for 2026-27
University of Kansas faculty, staff and students who join the Bales Choral Society help build community across all segments of the university and help provide choral music students with real ensemble experience. Singing interviews will take place Aug. 24-26.
Fri, 08/14/2026
KU librarian races to save record of Ngäbe voices, one fragile page at a time
A University of Kansas Libraries project is preserving decades of Indigenous Panamanian history: KU librarian Milton Machuca-Gálvez and architecture graduate student Miguel Ángel Castro Cano have digitized 61 issues of Drü, a hand-assembled bulletin produced from 1988 to 1998 by Acción Cultural Ngäbe documenting the culture, land rights and politics of Panama's Ngäbe people.