One KU Project Updates

Goal: Establish a unified One KU Data Strategy and Data Warehouse that serves as the foundational platform for enterprise reporting, analytics, data integration, and decision-making across KULC and KUMC. This strategy also advances modernization of the university's data architecture through alignment with KU's broader cloud and technology strategy. This project is part of AIRE's broader One KU Data and Analytics Modernization initiative.

Update: Stakeholder alignment discussions have been completed across AIRE, IT leadership, Health System IT Leadership, and Research Informatics Leadership. A high-level strategy has been developed. The high-level One KU data warehouse strategy outlines short-term and long-term priorities for creating a unified One KU Data Warehouse. More details will be available on the One KU Data and Analytics Modernization website once that site is published.

Goal: Establish a standardized One KU analytics environment that improves governance, reduces complexity and cost, and provides consistent reporting and self-service analytics capabilities for KULC and KUMC. This project is part of AIRE's broader One KU Data and Analytics Modernization initiative. 

Update: Through the Spring and Summer 2026, AIRE completed a comprehensive evaluation of our business intelligence (BI) tools, data platforms, and future data and analytics needs. This included engagement with AIRE, the University Cabinet, IT leadership, Gartner consulting, and approximately 24 departments across KU. Based on the evaluation, AIRE is now in the process of sharing a summary of the feedback, recommendations, and a proposed multi-year roadmap with all stakeholders. Details about the BI Tool evaluation and next steps are available on a new webpage.

Goal: Establish a unified One KU data governance and stewardship model that provides clear ownership, decision-making, and accountability for institutional data while improving transparency, consistency, and access to trusted information across KU. This project is part of AIRE's broader One KU Data and Analytics Modernization initiative.

Update: AIRE has developed a proposed One KU Data Governance operating model that defines the roles of Data Owners, Data Trustees, and Data Stewards and establishes a structure for coordinating data-related decisions across KULC and KUMC. In August, AIRE leadership met with IT leadership to discuss the framework. The next phase is to introduce the University Cabinet to the proposed One KU Data Governance structure, before engaging key stakeholders and implementing.  

Goal: Develop a website or website-like experience that organizes and displays metadata about the data dashboards available to the KU community. This guide will serve as a centralized, tool-agnostic resource for institutional dashboards, outlining their purpose, recommended use, and key supporting information. This project is part of AIRE's broader One KU Data and Analytics Modernization initiative. 

Update: A centralized guide for institutional dashboards and data products has entered internal review and quality assurance ahead of a broader launch. 

Goal: Develop a comprehensive library of user-facing documentation and metadata, including a data glossary. This project is part of AIRE's broader One KU Data and Analytics Modernization initiative. 

Update: A development environment has been launched and is in development. Metadata is being loaded and methods for adding data to the library are being piloted. The Data Quality and Governance Manager shared a draft for feedback, is developing a future update of the current state, is guiding new development, and is currently working on developing the full proof of concept for review.

Goal: To bring together HR data from both campuses into the AIRE data warehouse and develop standardized data models, analytics tools and reports. The initial phase is focused on simple reports that allow HR leadership to see key data points for employees regardless of campus.

Update: Developing unified HR reporting and dashboards that combine employee and compensation data across campuses, with the first release targeted for fall 2026. 
Second working group session held July 7 - data fields determined and have begun walking through scenarios (contingent workers classifications, org structure representation, etc.).

Goal: To review current campus-specific tools, identify priorities and develop tools that meet the data needs for the One KU Operations leaders. 

Update: Regular coordination between AIRE and Operations leaders has been established to identify and prioritize shared analytics and reporting needs. AIRE is reviewing projects requested by Operations leadership and there is a meeting on Aug 31 to discuss.

Goal: Develop, launch and manage a new University of Kansas Strategic Framework and alignment processes.

Update: 

• Through the spring and summer, the Strategy Office has held engagement sessions designed to gather feedback on the draft One KU Strategic Framework from across the university. So far, around 1,000 faculty and staff from across campuses have been engaged. 
• In summer 2026, design teams formed for mission priority areas (Student Success, Healthy Communities, Research & Discovery). Each team has a design team lead and consists of up to members made up of faculty, staff and students across multiple campuses. Provost Mafi is leading Student Success, Dr. Stites is leading Healthy Communities, and Dr. Salathe and Dr. Hooks are leading Research & Discovery. Design teams will articulate and refine the University Strategic Framework mission priorities into clear, actionable, and measurable goals. Their work ensures alignment across the institution and supports achievement of enterprise-level outcomes and will convene July through the fall of 2026.

Goal: Expand constituent surveys process to all KU campuses. 

Update: 

• AIRE supported the administration of the Great Colleges to Work For survey to all KU staff in spring 2026. An advisory committee has been formed and will meet during the summer months to review the results and plan constituent engagement activities to share insights and gather recommendations.  
• In spring 2027, KU will conduct the Collaborative on Academic Careers in Higher Education (COACHE) Faculty Job Satisfaction Survey. The COACHE survey will include faculty from both KUMC and KULC. This will be the first time this survey is run in the One KU context. 
• In spring 2027, KU will conduct the Grad SERU survey to all KU graduate students. 
• AIRE is currently reviewing the composition of the university constituent survey implementation team and will expand to include representation from all campuses in 2026/27.

Goal: The One KU myResearch Expansion project is extending KU's enterprise research administration software platform to support the full One KU research enterprise. The initiative will bring key research administration functions into a more integrated environment, helping researchers and research support staff navigate activities across the research life cycle more efficiently while improving access to information and reducing reliance on disconnected systems and processes. When fully implemented, myResearch will support a comprehensive suite of research administration functions, including sponsored-project management, compliance activities, agreements and contracts, and other research support services.
 

Update: Implementation is underway through a phased, multi-year approach. Major myResearch modules are being implemented between 2026 and 2027, with the current program timeline extending through at least July 2027. Ongoing training and communications efforts will support adoption across the One KU research enterprise. The first module, myAgreements, is scheduled to go live in October 2026. 

Goal: Create a more seamless and consistent research support ecosystem across One KU by aligning research administration, operations and services. The initiative focuses on reducing administrative burden, improving service delivery and strengthening collaboration so researchers can more easily navigate research support across campuses.

Update: Following joint NCURA peer reviews of research administration and operations on the Lawrence and Medical Center campuses, the One KU Research Administration Council is guiding efforts to align research support functions across the university, including sponsored programs, research finance, research development, human research protections, animal research operations, research communications and training, and research systems. Current work focuses on addressing opportunities identified through those reviews while improving processes, strengthening collaboration and creating a more coordinated experience for researchers and research support teams.

Goal: Create a coordinated One KU Research AI ecosystem that enables researchers, staff and students across all KU campuses to responsibly leverage artificial intelligence in research, research administration and innovation. The initiative will align expertise, governance, training, infrastructure and support services to accelerate discovery while reducing duplication and ensuring consistent guidance across the university.

Update: Research, technology and administrative leaders from across KU are collaborating to establish a One KU approach to AI. Current efforts focus on identifying shared opportunities, developing governance and guidance resources, coordinating training and community-building activities, and exploring technology solutions that support research and administrative needs across the institution. By creating a more connected AI ecosystem, KU can better support innovation, strengthen competitiveness and enable collaboration across disciplines and campuses.

Goal: Develop a unified One KU high-performance computing ecosystem that expands access to advanced computing resources, expertise and support across all KU campuses. The initiative seeks to strengthen research capacity, improve operational efficiency and create a more seamless experience for researchers who rely on advanced computing, data-intensive research and artificial intelligence.

Update: KU research and information technology leaders are working to align high-performance computing resources, expertise and strategic planning across the One KU enterprise. Efforts include evaluating opportunities to coordinate infrastructure investments, enhance user support, expand training and improve access to advanced computing capabilities for researchers regardless of campus location. This work will help position KU to meet growing computational research needs, support emerging AI applications and strengthen the university's ability to compete for research funding and partnerships.

Goal: KUL and KUMC project management offices are aligning intake, prioritization, and governance processes to support enterprise-wide decision making.

Update: KUMC 2-tier project prioritization team structure/process in place. Enterprise Project Management Office (EPMO) is working to standardize changes in intake workflow and documentation in support of governance. Planning proceeds for implementation of a strategic portfolio mgmt module in ServiceNow (already licensed). When implementation is complete, this will replace the various KUMC IT project/enhancement intake processes currently in place with a single intake.

KUL: Project & Organizational Change Management (POCM) has aligned prioritization model with KUMC standards.

KUMC/KUL project management offices working to align standard processes and documentation.

Goal: Establish a consistent, enterprise-wide cybersecurity foundation that improves network security, reduces risk, and enables coordinated protection across KUL, KUMC, and UKHS.
 

Update: Purchased Palo Alto (PA) firewalls through establishment of joint KUL/KUMC/UKHS contract with Palo Alto. Initial implementation of firewalls for KUL network is complete, i.e. network traffic is now being routed through firewalls with tuned/refined baseline controls and rule set. Continued improvements being identified and prioritized by team based on network monitoring, incident responses etc. 

Goal: Establish a shared identity management solution that provides secure, consistent, and seamless access to institutional resources while enabling One KU integration, strengthening cybersecurity, improving user experience, and supporting enterprise-wide governance across campuses. 

Update: 
- One KU Password Policy Alignment - alignment of password synchronization process for UKHS & KUMC through IDVault will be complete by September.

- One KU Identity Warehouse - Master user records have been created, merging KUMC & KUL identity information. Next major milestone - replace existing KUMC & KUL identity infrastructure for authentication.

- Single Login Experience Initiative - Working through testing in test environment, developing communication to UKHS/KUMC/KUL about upcoming changes to login experience

- One KU Session Timeout Alignment - Not started

Goal: Develop and implement a comprehensive One KU budget process that aligns policies, practices, procedures, and monitoring practices across all campuses to ensure consistent budget planning, effective variance management, and accountable, data-driven financial decision-making. 

Update: Two cross-campus working groups with KUL and KUMC representation are developing foundational elements of the One KU budget process. One group is creating a standardized quarterly budget report to provide consistent, transparent financial reporting across both campuses. A second group is developing a quarterly variance analysis review process and recommending aligned policies, practices, and protocols for budget monitoring. These efforts will enhance transparency, accountability, and data-driven financial decision-making across One KU.

Goal: Create a comprehensive One KU procurement model to align policies, processes, and purchasing practices across KU-L and KUMC and ensure strategic spend management, operational efficiency, and effective use of the university's collective purchasing power.

Update: Currently integrating KUMC Purchasing staff into the One KU Procurement framework, with a focus on standardizing best practices and deploying established KULC tools, job aids, training materials, and operational resources across KUMC. Concurrently, developing a model for integrating construction procurement following the passage of Kansas House Bill 2560 and evaluating opportunities to transition research-funded procurement activities into the One KU Procurement organization. These initiatives are being advanced as part of the broader Finance Reimagination effort. https://procurement.ku.edu/ 

Goal: The Ombuds Office currently reports to the Office of the Provost for administrative and budgetary purposes only and functions independently with respect to case handling and issue management. A review committee is evaluating the future Ombuds model to ensure it meets the needs of a One KU institution.

Update: The Ombuds Role Review Committee met three times in June and July and the next meeting is scheduled for early August with the goal of having a report complete and submitted in August.