News
Pandemic, election crises mark ‘critical events’ in declining democratic accountability standards, governance scholar writes
Christopher Koliba, University of Kansas public affairs and administration researcher, has published a new study examining how the COVID-19 pandemic response and perpetuation of false claims about the 2020 presidential election were critical events in declining democratic accountability standards. Scholars and others have important work to do in documenting such cases to learn the effects of democratic backsliding, according to Koliba.
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Fri, 10/17/2025
KU Counseling Psychology marks 70 years with 2025 Lichtenberg Lecture featuring Rod Goodyear
The University of Kansas School of Education & Human Sciences will welcome Rod Goodyear, renowned expert on clinical supervision, for the annual Lichtenberg Lecture on Nov. 7. The event coincides with the 70th anniversary celebration of KU's Counseling Psychology program.
Fri, 10/17/2025
School of Engineering to host 57th Annual Geotechnical Engineering Conference
On Nov. 6, the Department of Civil, Environmental & Architectural Engineering within the University of Kansas School of Engineering will host experts — including representatives from the Kansas Department of Transportation, academia and private industry — for the 57th Annual Geotechnical Engineering Conference.
Thu, 10/16/2025
KU Positive Psychotherapy Clinic doubles number of clinicians, provides service across Kansas
The Positive Psychotherapy Clinic in the University of Kansas School of Education & Human Sciences has served Kansans from 48 counties, with plans to continue growing services. Clinicians report seeing improvements in clients as early as the first session.
Thu, 10/16/2025
School of Music to present ‘The Dark Side of Oz: Re-Imagined’
The University of Kansas Department of Jazz and Commercial Music will stage a mind-bending musical journey with “The Dark Side of Oz: Re-Imagined.” The immersive live performance blending iconic rock, classic cinema and cutting-edge student artistry will take place at 7:30 p.m. Oct. 29 at Liberty Hall in downtown Lawrence.
Wed, 10/15/2025
Author Margaret Renkl to give fall 2025 Spencer Lecture
The Commons at the University of Kansas will host nonfiction writer Margaret Renkl for the Kenneth A. Spencer Lecture in conversation with Megan Kaminski, poet and professor of environmental studies, on Nov. 3. A second event that day will offer attendees a chance to visit Akin Prairie with Renkl, Kaminski and area land stewards.
Wed, 10/15/2025
History of Japan’s signature beverage sake shared in new book
Eric Rath, professor of history at the University of Kansas, explores the evolution of Japanese sake from homebrew to flavored varieties, while tracing its cultural significance and global rise, in his new book, “Kanpai: The History of Sake.”
Tue, 10/14/2025
Spencer Museum of Art curator aims to stimulate growing interest in Amazon
A bequest of 20th century Peruvian Amazonian artworks has advanced a Spencer Museum of Art curator’s plan for an exhibition focusing on the rainforest region, bolstering KU’s reputation as center for scholarship.
Tue, 10/14/2025
Study finds group reflective practice beneficial to planning commissions, staff, yet rarely used
A University of Kansas researcher conducted a study on how staffing reports for planning commissions could be improved. The results showed that group reflective practice, or simply making time for elected officials and staffers to discuss why they do what they do, can lead to better practice.
Mon, 10/13/2025
KU Debate wins University of Iowa tournament
The University of Kansas team of seniors Rose Larson, Milwaukee, and Luna Schultz, Houston, won the Baird Debate Tournament, a round-robin invitational for eight of the top teams in the country hosted by the University of Iowa.
Mon, 10/13/2025
Seventeen Dean’s Fellows to mentor first-year students for 2025-2026
Seventeen students from the University of Kansas School of Law have been chosen to be Dean’s Fellows for the 2025-2026 academic year.
Fri, 10/10/2025
New report presented to EPA evaluates future of ‘cumulative impact assessment’ on vulnerable communities
David Slusky, professor of economics at the University of Kansas, was chosen as one of 16 experts by the National Academies of Sciences, Engineering, and Medicine to convene state-of-the-science workshops and develop a consensus report presented to the U.S. Environmental Protection Agency as a means of improving the scientific foundation underlying the practice of cumulative impact assessment.
Fri, 10/10/2025
KU social work training program strengthens mental health workforce in rural Kansas
The Integrated Health Scholars Program (IHSP) at the KU School of Social Welfare recently received a $2.4 million award through the Behavioral Health Workforce Education and Training Program, funded by the Health Resources & Services Administration.
Fri, 10/10/2025
KU distinguished professor will emphasize community partnerships and civic engagement in inaugural lecture
Hyunjin Seo will draw from her interdisciplinary research and long-term collaborations with community partners during her inaugural distinguished professor lecture, “From Digital Literacy to Civic Engagement: University-Community Partnerships for Economic Mobility and Community Capacity Building.” The lecture will take place Nov. 4.
Fri, 10/10/2025
Research gives insight into the effect of neurodegenerative diseases on speech rhythm
By studying in minute detail how amyotrophic lateral sclerosis, or ALS, affects speech rhythm, a University of Kansas researcher hopes to improve personalized treatment. Panying Rong's research found that when subjects tried to speak more slowly than normal, it helped intelligibility more than trying to speak more clearly.
Thu, 10/09/2025
Kansas Economic Policy Conference to address water policy and its effects on the Kansas economy
Community and industry leaders, policymakers and scholars will gather at the University of Kansas in October to discuss how to share and protect one of Kansas’ most important resources: water. The 2025 Kansas Economic Policy Conference will take place Oct. 23 at the Burge Union with a livestream option.
Thu, 10/09/2025
KU Conference Center now accepting event bookings
The facility at David Booth Kansas Memorial Stadium offers 55,000 square feet of flexible event space for groups of 25 to 2,000 guests.
Thu, 10/09/2025
KU researchers part of project to create Midwest STEM Alliance
Researchers in KU's School of Education & Human Sciences have received grant funding to help create the Midwest STEM Alliance, which will partner with teachers across the state to “educate the educators” in using local climate data relevant to students' lives in work to improve science and literacy simultaneously.
Thu, 10/09/2025
Three KU Debate teams place among top 20 at national British parliamentary tournament
Three University of Kansas teams finished among the top 20 teams at an online British parliamentary tournament that took place Oct. 4-5 at the University of Alaska. There were 108 teams representing 27 colleges and universities at the national tournament.
Thu, 10/09/2025
Kelly Chrisman Jacques to serve as director for University Press of Kansas
Kelly Chrisman Jacques will be the next director of the University Press of Kansas, following an appointment by the UPK board of trustees. Chrisman Jacques will succeed Tim Paulson, whose last day will be Oct. 10.
Thu, 10/09/2025
Words, worlds collide in the ‘The 25th Annual Putnam County Spelling Bee’ at KU Theatre
The University of Kansas’ William Inge Memorial Theatre will be transformed into a space for nervous, sweaty and sometimes ornery junior high spelling bee contestants in the University Theatre’s production of “The 25th Annual Putnam County Spelling Bee.” The production runs Oct. 24 to Nov. 2.
Thu, 10/09/2025
KU Libraries enable ‘once-in-a-generation’ expansion in digital access to primary sources
A new deal negotiated by KU Libraries with information services provider ProQuest has expanded digital offerings exponentially, providing instant access to immense opportunities for research, learning and discovery.
Wed, 10/08/2025
Four Jayhawks will compete for Rhodes and Marshall scholarships
Three KU alumnae and one senior have been endorsed for prestigious fellowships for study in the United Kingdom with the support of the university’s Center for Undergraduate Research & Fellowships.
Wed, 10/08/2025
KU engineering professor wins Blavatnik Award for Young Scientists
Elaina Sutley, associate professor of civil, environmental & architectural engineering and KU Engineering associate dean for impact & belonging, is the laureate of the 2025 Blavatnik National Award for Young Scientists in the Physical Sciences and Engineering category. She is KU’s first-ever laureate.
Wed, 10/08/2025
Get involved with KU Homecoming community service opportunities
The University of Kansas will host its 113th Homecoming from Oct. 27 to Nov. 2. This year, KU Alumni has organized service events aimed at assisting the university community and extending the Homecoming spirit of Jayhawk unity and goodwill beyond Lawrence. All community members are invited to participate.
Wed, 10/08/2025
Study examines ties between criminal charges and mental health among incarcerated youth
New research from the University of Kansas asks if mental health issues like depression and anxiety are associated with specific charges faced by juveniles incarcerated in the United States. Paula Fite's findings were reported recently in Children and Youth Services Review.
Wed, 10/08/2025
KU Law to host Central States Law Schools Association Scholarship Conference
The University of Kansas School of Law will welcome legal scholars from across the country for the annual meeting of the Central States Law Schools Association on Oct. 10-11.
Wed, 10/08/2025
KU to participate in Great ShakeOut Earthquake Drill on Oct. 16
KU students, faculty and staff are invited to practice earthquake response and be counted in the world’s largest earthquake drill. The event will take place at 10:40 a.m. Oct. 16.
Tue, 10/07/2025
Don’t look away: Study shows teenage girls who avoid potentially negative feedback prone to higher anxiety
To better understand anxiety, a psychologist from the University of Kansas studied 90 teenage girls in sessions spanning three years, using wearable eye-tracking glasses as the subjects gave a speech to two judges: one who responded positively and one who responded potentially negatively.
Tue, 10/07/2025
Untold story of AIDS in the Midwest ‘Heartland’ revealed in new book
A new book shares the untold story of AIDS in the Midwest heartland, where unlikely coalitions cultivated their own distinct strategies for survival that became a surprising and lasting blueprint for LGBTQ politics today.
Mon, 10/06/2025
KU awarded $1.5M teacher professional development grant from US Office of Indian Education
The University of Kansas Indigenous Studies Program, Office of Sovereign Partnerships & Indigenous Initiatives and School of Education & Human Sciences have partnered with Haskell Indian Nations University and Native Nations across Kansas, Nebraska and Oklahoma to build collaborative teacher training programs for Indian Country. Their new Southern Plains American Indian Teaching Pathways Project was awarded $1.5 million from the Office of Indian Education in the U.S. Department of Education.