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Unique Support for Unparalleled Times
Dale Seuferling

Fall on campus always takes me back to my own undergraduate days on the Hill. Although things understandably look different this semester, it is energizing to have students and faculty learning and researching together. The University of Kansas spent months diligently preparing for the return to campus and continues to adapt to the rapidly changing circumstances of the COVID-19 pandemic.

Ongoing communication with Chancellor Girod revealed the necessity for additional resources to support students, faculty and research in light of the significant financial impact of the pandemic. In response, KU Endowment provided an unprecedented $33.1 million grant to the university. Of that total, $10.1 million assisted the university with its reopening in August and supplied much-needed investments in technology upgrades, course revisions and curriculum reviews. The balance is a direct investment in KU’s research enterprise.

The grant is broken down as follows:

  • $7.6 million to create innovative courses, upgrade infrastructure to deliver HyFlex instruction, and revise KU’s academic and financial portfolios to guide them into the future.
  • $2.5 million to facilitate the review and enhancement of all KU courses to ensure they are meeting students’ ever-changing needs.
  • $23 million to grow our robust research enterprise for faculty and students.

KU Endowment is proud to support KU as it works to build a greater community for thousands of students and faculty from Kansas and beyond. We are grateful to the donors who made this possible, knowing we would not be able to provide this unique grant without the unrestricted gifts used to address the university’s greatest needs and opportunities.

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A specific opportunity with much promise for the future is the University of Kansas Alzheimer’s Disease Center (KU ADC) Brain Health Initiative. The initiative aims to impact the lives of patients and families dealing with Alzheimer’s disease and dementia by uniting care, research, education and prevention into a comprehensive destination. The KU ADC is poised for growth and looking to expand its efforts, facility and reach through a network of care providers. Directors of the KU ADC, Dr. Jeff Burns and Dr. Russ Swerdlow, are optimistic a cure for Alzheimer’s is out there — and they would love to be part of the team who finds it. Their positivity and dedication are contagious.

This spirit of hopefulness and resiliency permeates the KU community, bolstered by the generosity of the Jayhawk family. KU’s vital work continues because of your support and trust. Thank you.

—Dale

Current Issue
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Issue 39
Fall 2024
In this Fall 2024 issue, we hear from a KU professor about his new book on edible plants, learn about a KU swim program focused on making aquatics accessible to all, meet KU’s Bob Dylan Fellow and get to know inspiring KU students, faculty and alumni.
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