KU's mission guides all University endeavors. Institutional rankings provide evidence of KU's reputation of academic excellence in the larger educational community. The university fact book, or KU Profiles, is a comprehensive source of information about KU as institution as well as the university community of students, faculty, and staff.

KU is a comprehensive public research institution with a complex array of teaching sites, research centers, and affiliated corporations. A minimalist administrative structure and a shared governance system enable the University to actively address the changing needs of students, faculty, staff and the people of the state of Kansas. The University of Kansas and the other five state universities are governed by the Kansas Board of Regents, a nine-member body appointed by the Governor and confirmed by the Senate.

At KU, research and teaching are mutually reinforcing, with scholarly inquiry underlying and informing the educational experience at the undergraduate, professional, and graduate levels. A talented and dedicated faculty are actively engaged in fulfilling the KU's research, teaching, and service missions. Student international experience is emphasized and KU ranks fourth among public research institutions in the proportion of its students studying abroad.

KU's commitment to undergraduate academic achievement was nationally recognized by KU's inclusion in the book Student Success in College, which describes policies, programs, and practices from 20 exemplary institutions as part of the Documenting Effective Educational Practices (DEEP) project.

KU traditionally has attracted talented and ambitious students. KU's average 24.4 student ACT score for Fall 2005 is well above the national average of 20.9. KU students have a strong record of prestigious fellowships, including Fulbright Fellows and Rhodes Scholars. During the past decade, overall student retention rates have increased and the 2005 senior survey reported that 91 percent of students were satisfied with their overall education at KU.

Research at the University of Kansas is a thriving, dynamic enterprise. Sponsored project expenditures have more than doubled since 1995, reaching $182 million in FY 2004. KU's recent research success has been built on traditional strengths and by recognizing and taking advantage of research opportunities and trends at the national level. Research collaboration is promoted at KU through designated, multidisciplinary research centers focused on common themes. KU is home to six national research centers funded by the National Institutes of Health (NIH) and the National Science Foundation (NSF).

As a public research university, KU provides service and outreach in ways that stem directly from its research capacity and expertise, as well as its educational and cultural centers. Continuing education programs serve the professional and academic needs of individuals across the state of Kansas and throughout the nation. KU prides itself on a tradition of active and meaningful student involvement through both curricular and co-curricular activities.

Every ten years KU undergoes an extensive self-study to prepare for a university-wide re-accreditation review by the Higher Learning Commission (HLC) of the North Central Association of Colleges and Schools (NCA). KU was granted a full 10-year accreditation, without stipulations, on June 24, 2005. In addition to providing information essential for re-accreditation, the self-study report paints a comprehensive picture of KU's many accomplishments and provides rich details on what makes KU truly distinctive.

Planning activities at KU typically include students, faculty, and staff. One of the most visible and enduring of KU's planning efforts is Initiative 2001, its name acknowledging the beginning of the 21st century. Launched in 1997, the plan continues to guide the University.

The Lawrence campus master plan provides a framework for the physical development needed to effectively support KU's academic mission. Over the past decade, more than $300 million in new building projects have been funded.

A major change in state funding support for Kansas universities occurred in 2001. The University of Kansas is now funded by block grants and full tuition ownership, allowing all tuition paid by KU students to remain at KU. A five-year tuition plan was developed to generate $43 million over five years for educational enhancements and $8.6 million in scholarships for students with unmet financial need as a result of the tuition increases.

The overarching philosophy that guides planning and budgeting decisions at KU is to protect and enhance the academic core and mission. The budgeting process includes discussions among administrators and faculty that focus on the relationship between unit and institutional goals. KU Administration and Finance sustains and advances the University's mission to create, preserve and disseminate knowledge through leadership and innovation in business strategy and processes.

Providing access to information through the innovative use of technology is crucial to support the teaching, research, and service mission of KU. A complex, integrated information system was recently implemented to more effectively serve student, faculty, and institutional data needs. Management information systems provide timely operational and managerial data allow campus leaders to make data-informed decisions.