Agenda and Meeting Notes

All Team Agenda – Sept. 2, 2025

  • KU Family Weekend Review
  • Enrollment Update
  • Budget Update
  • International Affairs Partnership/Engagement Process Overview 
  • Team Check-in
  • Provost Updates

Meeting Notes

KU Family Weekend Review

Tammara Durham, Vice Provost for Student Affairs, shared updates on KU's Family Weekend and Student Affairs initiatives. The revamped Family Weekend program has received an overwhelming response with over 9,000 RSVPs. Durham encouraged individuals to contact her if they and/or their unit want to be a sponsor for Family Weekend. A Sunday brunch is planned for 600 attendees and may be relocated to the Ballroom to accommodate the larger crowd. Deans and VPs have been invited to a Meet and Greet, and branded T-shirts are available. A special event featuring Elise Ahrens, co-founder of Kate Spade, will include a fireside chat on women entrepreneurs and mental well-being; Ahrens and Spade met each other at KU before transferring to Arizona State University. 

Speaking on student health and wellbeing, KU has transitioned to Mantra Health for 24/7 mental wellness support, saving approximately $100,000 compared to the previous provider, TELUS. Durham also raised concerns about a 44% positivity rate for COVID and faculty requiring students to have a doctor's note from Watkins. She asked that faculty refrain from requiring notes from Watkins unless medically necessary, as doing so places undue strain on the clinic. A follow-up note to the deans will be sent.

Enrollment Update

Nick Stevens, Vice Provost for Enrollment Management, provided an unofficial enrollment update with the caveat that official counts are embargoed until the 20th day of classes. Preliminary data suggests total enrollment will remain flat across campuses, though student credit hours (SCH) are up by 1.5%. The incoming freshman class looks like it will be just under 5,000 students, a slight decline from the previous year. The expected decline is primarily attributed to fewer out-of-state students; losses were concentrated among very affluent and low-income students. KU's enrollment for out-of-state students sits at around 45%, making the university unique compared to peers, where in-state enrollment is about 75%. The admission rate has been reduced to 92%, with fewer students admitted in the 2.5–2.9 GPA band. Transfer enrollment is down by about 6%, while undergraduate retention has improved by 1.1%, reaching 87.6%. Graduate student enrollment appears down 5%, and international student numbers have dropped by around 20%. Stevens will present school-specific data to deans after the 20th day embargo is lifted and discuss potential initiatives like the Crimson & Blue Commitment, which if adopted would cover tuition and fees for students from families with an Adjusted Gross Income of $75,000 or less.

Budget Update

Jason Hornberger, Vice Provost for Finance, shared a fiscal update and answered questions from the group. Units are being asked for a 6.5% budget reduction, predominantly through strategic sourcing and supply cuts. Meeting the reduction should allow KU to continue investing in certain initiatives like market pay, particularly addressing wage compression and minima.

Procurement is already involved in most purchases, which may limit additional savings, but units are encouraged to collaborate and seek deeper vendor discounts. Strategic sourcing reports are expected by mid-September, with budget reduction plans due by the end of October. Hornberger confirmed that strategic hiring can proceed once budget plans have been submitted. HR is made aware that plans submitted early have been approved to reduce potential delays in hiring. Responding to a question about the impact of David Booth’s major gift to KU Athletics and whether it will alleviate pressure on budget cuts, Jeff DeWitt, Chief Financial Officer, clarified that the gift is not an immediate lump sum gift, but instead a lifetime donation commitment that will allow Athletics to manage NIL changes. It may reduce some immediate pressure, but not that much. DeWitt also noted that prior to the NIL changes, KU was one of only five universities in the country that were receiving payments from athletics. 

International Affairs Partnership/Engagement – Charli Bankart

Charli Bankart, Vice Provost for International Affairs, presented an overview of KU’s process for international partnerships and engagements. The partnership process has been revamped with a new website, intake procedures, and a formal review team. Bankart outlined five key considerations for prospective partnerships: 

  • mission alignment, 
  • level of control, 
  • institutional reputation, 
  • security and privacy, and 
  • sustainability.

To strategically guide partnerships, International Affairs identified 16 categories of collaboration including study abroad, visiting scholars, collaborative research, and professional development. 

Provost Bichelmeyer emphasized the importance of global engagement and the need for strong, targeted partnerships that yield meaningful returns. Rather than trying to be everywhere and do everything all at once, she encouraged units to leverage existing relationships and areas of strength.

Provost Updates

Provost Bichelmeyer acknowledged the challenges posed by across-the-board budget cuts when the FY25 budget was successfully balanced, but federal uncertainties and NIL changes mark FY26. Following up from the Provost’s Retreat, she encouraged units to identify non-essential activities, consider cross-campus partnerships to improve efficiency, and continue talking about the risks and benefits of implementing AI. Regarding the UAKU contract, Provost Bichelmeyer emphasized the importance of getting it right, as it will fundamentally change university operations moving forward. If unit leaders have questions, they are encouraged to talk to members on the negotiating team.