The state’s Legislative Session is underway, as lawmakers returned to Topeka this week and Governor Sam Brownback delivered his State of the State speech on Tuesday.
 
Kansas continues to face significant budget challenges, and lawmakers will be facing difficult choices. With that in mind, KU will ask state legislators to consider two priorities in the months ahead: restoring $10.7 million in 2016 cuts to KU, and maintaining stable funding for the university.
 
The beginning of the session also serves as a good time for a reminder of our policies and procedures regarding interactions between KU and government officials. For more information, please see a message from Vice Chancellor Tim Caboni.

The Commencement website has been updated for the May 2017 event. Recognition events are posted on the KU Event Calendar and on the Commencement website.
 
Postcards to undergraduate and graduate degree candidates for spring 2017 will be mailed by Feb. 1 directing students to the Commencement website and reminding them to complete their Application for Graduation (AFG) by March 1 to make sure their names are included in the Commencement program.  This communication is intended to supplement direct communication by schools and/or departments.

As a reminder, information about KU’s Central District development project is available at centraldistrict.ku.edu. This major building project in the heart of the KU campus will fundamentally change the way research and education is done at KU.
 
The website contains timelines, information about specific building projects, pictures, a virtual tour, messages from Chancellor Bernadette Gray-Little and more.

Look for the annual Chancellor’s Report, which is scheduled to be published in March. The publication will again highlight ways the university is lifting students and society by educating leaders, building healthy communities and making discoveries that change the world.
 
As in years past, we will provide communicators with assets and social posts from the Chancellor’s Report to help promote the stories that relate to your specific departments. A social media workshop similar to last year’s event will be announced soon.

The University of Kansas Cancer Center’s quest for National Cancer Institute (NCI) Comprehensive designation will reach a major milestone Feb. 9, when the NCI visits to conduct its scientific review of the research program and leadership.
 
As part of its efforts, the center is attempting to grow its Facebook community. You can help the center spread important messages about the latest information on cancer prevention, research breakthroughs, cutting-edge treatments and clinical trials, by liking, sharing and commenting on the KU Cancer Center’s Facebook page.
 
More information, including a message from Cancer Center Director Dr. Roy Jensen, is available on the Cancer Center’s website.

The Youth Programs website will be updated by Jan. 17 with revised forms and information for coordinators planning programs.
 
Those faculty/staff members who were listed as coordinators of programs in 2016 will receive a direct communication about updates, but Communicators are asked to direct this to new staff if appropriate.