Chancellor Girod briefed the House Higher Education Budget Committee on how KU drives economic growth, delivers essential healthcare across Kansas, and conducts research that advances society, and he conveyed the same message to the Senate Ways and Means Committee. Later that evening, he also helped present to lawmakers about the financial impact of college athletics on universities. Across all these discussions, his core message remained clear: KU has a unique ability to spur prosperity and serve the state, but continued support from lawmakers is essential to fully realize that potential.

Dola supported the initial engagement of ThrYve Violence Prevention program to begin addressing creating intergenerational mentorship opportunities where youth assist older adults with digital literacy skills in a structured and supportive environment at the Vernon Multipurpose Center in Wyandotte County.

Dola supported the initial engagement of ThrYve Violence Prevention program to begin addressing creating intergenerational mentorship opportunities where youth assist older adults with digital literacy skills in a structured and supportive environment at the Vernon Multipurpose Center in Wyandotte County.

Eighteen KU students participating in the student-led Alternative Breaks program traveled to Colorado Springs over winter break to volunteer with three community-based organizations. Through direct service, they contributed to local programs while developing a deeper understanding of community needs and nonprofit work. Their efforts strengthened KU's long‑standing commitment to community engagement and advanced the program's mission of cultivating lifelong habits of service among students.

Researchers from the KU Center for Community Health and Development advanced global community health efforts by collaborating with the World Health Organization to deliver a digital "toolbox" to partners in 300 countries. This resource supports local health promotion strategies and helps communities strengthen their public health infrastructure. At the same time, lessons learned from this international work are being applied in Kansas, bringing global insights home to improve local health outcomes.

Researchers from the KU Center for Community Health and Development advanced global community health efforts by collaborating with the World Health Organization to deliver a digital "toolbox" to partners in 300 countries. This resource supports local health promotion strategies and helps communities strengthen their public health infrastructure. At the same time, lessons learned from this international work are being applied in Kansas, bringing global insights home to improve local health outcomes.

Researchers from the KU Center for Community Health and Development advanced global community health efforts by collaborating with the World Health Organization to deliver a digital "toolbox" to partners in 300 countries. This resource supports local health promotion strategies and helps communities strengthen their public health infrastructure. At the same time, lessons learned from this international work are being applied in Kansas, bringing global insights home to improve local health outcomes.

Structural engineer Elaina Sutley works with communities, policymakers, and fellow researchers to study how building design influences not only the physical safety of structures but also the social and economic resilience of the people who rely on them. By examining how damage from natural disasters disrupts daily life and how well‑designed engineering can reduce that disruption, she collaborates with partners across Kansas and around the world to strengthen structural systems. Her work ultimately helps create safer buildings, protect communities, and shorten recovery times after disasters, improving resilience locally and globally.

KU launched the Building Bridges global youth academy, a new 10‑day summer program designed to bring together teens from Kansas and around the world for leadership development and cultural exchange. The academy offers an immersive experience that exposes participants to college life while helping them build cross-cultural relationships and global competencies. By engaging youth from diverse backgrounds, the program positions KU as a connector of local and international communities and as a champion of global citizenship.

KU launched the Building Bridges global youth academy, a new 10‑day summer program designed to bring together teens from Kansas and around the world for leadership development and cultural exchange. The academy offers an immersive experience that exposes participants to college life while helping them build cross-cultural relationships and global competencies. By engaging youth from diverse backgrounds, the program positions KU as a connector of local and international communities and as a champion of global citizenship.

Structural engineer Elaina Sutley works with communities, policymakers, and fellow researchers to study how building design influences not only the physical safety of structures but also the social and economic resilience of the people who rely on them. By examining how damage from natural disasters disrupts daily life and how well‑designed engineering can reduce that disruption, she collaborates with partners across Kansas and around the world to strengthen structural systems. Her work ultimately helps create safer buildings, protect communities, and shorten recovery times after disasters, improving resilience locally and globally.

Researchers at the Kansas Geological Survey (KGS) at the University of Kansas, working in cooperation with the Kansas Department of Agriculture's Division of Water Resources (DWR) and building on earlier efforts by the U.S. Geological Survey (USGS), took over and expanded a statewide groundwater‑measurement program to address declining aquifer levels. Since 1996, the KGS has partnered with DWR to collect annual water‑level data from roughly 1,400 wells across the High Plains aquifer. By gathering and analyzing this information, the team supports a more accurate understanding of groundwater conditions and helps Kansas develop sustainable water‑management strategies to combat long‑term over pumping and ensure a more secure water future.