Agenda and Meeting Notes
Council of Academic Leaders – March 6, 2026
- Faculty union negotiations
- Title II accessibility
- Emergency planning on campus
- Additional Council topics
Meeting Notes
Faculty Union Negotiations
Vice Provost Amy Mendenhall shared that a tentative agreement between the University of Kansas and the United Academics of KU (UAKU) has been reached on all 37 articles of collective bargaining on Thursday, March 5. The next steps to finalize the contract will include a ratification vote by UAKU and a review by KBOR for final approval. The timeline for when this will occur is still to be determined.
Title II Accessibility
Mary Banwart, Associate Vice Provost for Faculty Development, Mentoring, and Growth and Assistant Vice Provost of Academic Success, Andrew Shoemaker shared an overview on the Title II ADA compliance law, and requirements taking effect in April 2026. Title II updates include alignment with WCAG guidelines and includes all course materials and social media posts among other things. A pilot program was conducted at KU to assess current course accessibility and identify areas where instructors may need more support. Academic Affairs, Faculty Affairs, the Center for Online and Distance Learning, and KU IT Academic Technology have plans in place to help departments and KU instructors in ensuring compliance. This spring, summer, and fall, the Office of Faculty Affairs will host Faculty How to at KU sessions and CODL and Academic Technology will hold office hours and offer deskside coaching. Other campus events are also being developed. Academic Affairs is working to acquire tools to help instructors ensure compliance. Several resources, such as Panorama/Yuja, Microsoft accessibility tools, ReadSpeaker, and an Accessibility ticketing system, are already available for instructors to use now.
Emergency Planning on Campus
The Council inquired about emergency preparedness and requested hearing more about campus communication and protocol when planning for potential emergencies. Provost Mafi shared that he will work with his team to bring in a representative from Emergency Management during the next Provost Town Hall to address these questions and provide further guidance for faculty and staff.
Additional Council Topics
The Council discussed university strategic communications, especially related to emergency messaging and personnel information that managers would like to receive in advance (such as salary notifications). Provost Mafi also updated the Council on current dean searches. The School of Education and Human Sciences dean search is currently underway with candidates visiting the Lawrence campus in the coming weeks. The School of Journalism and Mass Communications dean search is also in progress, with candidates visiting campus in late March through mid-April.