University of Kansas facts for kids

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The University of Kansas

Latin: Universitas Kansiensis
Motto	Videbo visionem hanc magnam quare non comburatur rubus (Latin)
Motto in English	"I will see this great vision in which the bush does not burn." (Exodus 3:3)
Type	Public Flagship
Established	March 21, 1865 (1865-03-21)
Affiliation	Kansas Board of Regents
Academic affiliation	AAU, APLU, EDUCAUSE
Endowment	$1.61 billion (2017)
Chancellor	Douglas Girod
Provost	Carl W. Lejuez (interim)
Academic staff	2,663
Students	28,510 total (Fall 2018)
Location	Lawrence, Kansas, U.S. 38°57′29″N 95°14′52″W / 38.95806°N 95.24778°W / 38.95806; -95.24778
Campus	College town, Urban, 1,100 acres (450 ha)
Colors	Crimson and Blue
Nickname	Jayhawks
Sporting affiliations	NCAA Division I – Big 12
Mascots	Big Jay and Baby Jay

The University of Kansas, often called KU, is a public university located in Lawrence. Lawrence is a city in northeastern Kansas. KU first opened its doors for classes in 1866. As of 2011, more than 30,000 students were studying there.

Discovering KU's History
Learning at KU: Academic Programs
Sports at KU: The Jayhawks
Other KU Locations
Student Life and Activities
Images for kids
See also

Discovering KU's History

Old North College, the first building on KU Campus, 1867.

People first thought about building a university in Kansas in 1855. But it wasn't until Kansas became a state in 1861 that the idea really took off. The Kansas government had to choose where to build the new university. The main choices were Manhattan, Emporia, or Lawrence.

On January 13, 1863, Kansas State University was built in Manhattan. This left Emporia and Lawrence as the remaining options. A man named Amos A. Lawrence helped by giving $10,000 and over 40 acres of land for a university in Lawrence. The Kansas government was very happy with this gift, so they chose Lawrence.

On February 20, 1863, Kansas Governor Thomas Carney signed a law to create the state university in Lawrence. This law said that Lawrence had to provide a gift of $15,000 and a place for the university. The land needed to be at least forty acres (16 ha) and located in or near the town.

By November 2, 1863, Governor Carney announced that Lawrence had met all the requirements. In 1864, the university was officially set up. The university welcomed its first students on September 12, 1866. The first group of students graduated in 1873.

Learning at KU: Academic Programs

KU School of Business

The KU School of Business is a public business school. It is located on the main campus in Lawrence. The school started in 1924. It has more than 80 teachers and about 1,500 students.

The Princeton Review named it one of the best business schools in the Midwest. The Association to Advance Collegiate Schools of Business (AACSB) has recognized the KU School of Business for its excellent programs in business and accounting.

Lippincott Hall - Offices of Study Abroad and The Wilcox Museum

KU School of Law

The University of Kansas School of Law began in 1878. It was known as the top law school in Kansas. In 2016, U.S. News & World Report ranked it as the 65th best law school in the United States. Classes are held in Green Hall, which is named after a former dean, James Green.

KU School of Engineering

The KU School of Engineering is a public engineering school on the main campus in Lawrence. It was officially created in 1891. However, students were earning engineering degrees as early as 1873.

U.S. News & World Report's 2016 "America’s Best Colleges" issue ranked KU's School of Engineering as the 90th best in the United States.

Many famous people have studied engineering at KU. These include Alan Mulally, who used to be the CEO of Ford Motor Company. Also, Lou Montulli, who helped create Netscape, and Brian McClendon, a Vice President of Engineering at Google.

KU Edwards Campus

The KU Edwards Campus is located in Overland Park, Kansas. It was created in 1993. This campus helps adults get college degrees and continue their education. About 2,000 students attend classes there. The average age of students at this campus is 31. The Edwards Campus offers programs in subjects like psychology, public administration, and engineering management.

Tuition and Fees

As of August 2019, the university estimated that a freshman taking 30 credit hours would pay about $10,182 per year for tuition. This amount does not include the cost of living on campus or buying food. Students taking 6 or more credit hours also pay a yearly campus fee of $888. Some specific schools, like architecture or law, charge extra fees.

Sports at KU: The Jayhawks

A basketball game at Allen Fieldhouse at the University of Kansas

Kansas' sports teams are called the Jayhawks. KU has 16 different varsity teams. All of these teams compete in the Big 12 Conference. The university is especially famous for its men's basketball team. This team most recently won a national championship in 2008.

Other KU Locations

The Chi Omega Fountain at the University of Kansas

The KU Medical Center is one part of the University of Kansas. It is located in Kansas City, Kansas, which is east of Lawrence. Another branch of KU, called the Edwards Campus, is in Overland Park, Kansas.

Student Life and Activities

Debate Team Success

The University of Kansas has a very successful debate team. They have had more teams (70) compete in the National Debate Tournament than any other university. Kansas has won this tournament 6 times: in 1954, 1970, 1976, 1983, 2009, and 2018.

Campus Media

The student newspaper at the University of Kansas is called The University Daily Kansan.

Student Housing Options

Potter Lake, with Joseph R. Pearson Hall in the background

KU Student Housing	Year opened	Year closed	Students	Accommodations
Battenfeld Hall	1940		50	Men only
Corbin Hall	1923		900	Women only
Douthart Hall	1954		50	Women only
Ellsworth Hall	1963		580	All Students
Gertrude Sellards Pearson Hall (GSP)	1955		380	All Students
Grace Pearson Hall (GP)	1955		50	Men only
Guest House			2	Visiting Guests
Hashinger Hall	1962		370	All Students
Jayhawker Towers			200	Non-traditional, Upperclassmen, Transfer students
K.K. Amini Hall	1992		50	All Students
Krehbiel Hall	2008		50	Men only
Lewis Hall	1962		260	All Students
Margret Amini Hall	2000		50	Women only
Marie S. McCarthy Hall	2015		38	Men Only: Upperclassmen/Non-Traditional Students
McCollum Hall	1965	2015	976	Razed November 25, 2015
Miller Hall	1937		50	Women only
Oliver Hall	1966		660	All Students
Oswald Hall	2015		350	Freshmen only
Pearson Hall	1952		47	Men only
Rieger Hall	2005		50	Women only
Self Hall	2015		350	Freshmen only
Sellards Hall	1952		47	Women only
Stephenson Hall	1952		50	Men only
Stouffer Place	1957	2015		Graduate Students, Couples, Non-Traditional
Templin Hall	1959		280	All Students
Transition Housing			19	KU Faculty and Staff (temporary)
Watkins Hall	1925		50	Women only
Total			4,534 students