IRISE
Culture Charter for an Exceptional Learning Community
KU Mission
We educate leaders, build healthy communities, and make discoveries that change the world.
KU Vision
We are an exceptional learning community that lifts each member and advances society.
Values and Agreements
Click on each value to see how it is expressed on KU Lawrence and Edwards campuses.
- We are clear about our roles and proactive in carrying out our responsibilities.
- Because knowledge is empowering, we share knowledge and learn from each other.
- We make decisions together – through collaborative, inclusive, transparent processes.
- We embody diversity of cultures, identities, abilities and experiences - and work collectively to advance the success of each Jayhawk.
- We ensure equity for and among all students, staff, faculty, and members of our community.
- Because we each bring our whole and unique selves to KU, we provide flexibility to meet classroom and work needs.
- We value and exercise our rights to freedom of expression and academic freedom through discovery, education, advocacy, and leadership.
- Our research and creative work inform learning and have broad impact on the common good.
- We make education and learning widely accessible - locally, nationally, and globally.
- We are collaborative and creative in service to our community and in stewardship of KU.
- We engage regularly and respectfully with the communities and constituents we serve.
- We embrace an institutional growth mindset and engage in continuous improvement.
- We are driven by curiosity and seek growth through learning and development.
- We celebrate the significant impact of our discoveries, contributions and achievements.
- We are all leaders who engage in, advocate for, and support learning and the advancement of knowledge, skills, and society.
- We are clear about our roles and proactive in carrying out our responsibilities.
- Because knowledge is empowering, we share knowledge and learn from each other.
- We make decisions together – through collaborative, inclusive, transparent processes.
- We embody diversity of cultures, identities, abilities and experiences - and work collectively to advance the success of each Jayhawk.
- We ensure equity for and among all students, staff, faculty, and members of our community.
- Because we each bring our whole and unique selves to KU, we provide flexibility to meet classroom and work needs.
- We value and exercise our rights to freedom of expression and academic freedom through discovery, education, advocacy, and leadership.
- Our research and creative work inform learning and have broad impact on the common good.
- We make education and learning widely accessible - locally, nationally, and globally.
- We are collaborative and creative in service to our community and in stewardship of KU.
- We engage regularly and respectfully with the communities and constituents we serve.
- We embrace an institutional growth mindset and engage in continuous improvement.
- We are driven by curiosity and seek growth through learning and development.
- We celebrate the significant impact of our discoveries, contributions and achievements.
- We are all leaders who engage in, advocate for, and support learning and the advancement of knowledge, skills, and society.
We are learners and scholars, scientists, creators, innovators, problem solvers, artists, doers, educators, mentors, and each other’s champions.
Charter Development Process
The IRISE Culture Charter was developed during our efforts to create more transparency in shared governance practices at KU in the spring of 2023. A Provost committee was co-chaired by Nicole Hodges Persley, Ani Kokobobo and Mike Rounds, with community vision facilitation by Kathleen Ames-Stratton. All community comments were synthesized into the IRISE Culture Charter by Ani Kokobobo in consultation with the committee.
Co-Chairs
| Nicole Hodges Persley | Vice Provost for Diversity, Equity, Inclusion & Belonging |
| Ani Kokobobo | Former University Senate President and Chair of Slavic, German, and Eurasian Studies |
| Mike Rounds | Chief Human Resources Officer and Vice Provost for Operations |
Community Facilitator
| Kathleen Ames-Stratton | Director of Human Resources for Learning & Development |
Tell Us About Your IRISE People
Tell us how the KU values of Integrity, Respect, Innovation, Stewardship and Excellence - IRISE - appear in your KU experience. Nominate a person you work or study with who embodies the five IRISE values.
Follow this link to put us in touch with someone who puts KU Values into action.
Nominees will be celebrated within the KU community.