Policy development grants awarded to support faculty policy development in the coming year

LAWRENCE — The Office of Faculty Affairs awarded 41 policy development grants to academic units this past spring. The grants will be used to support the alignment of unit-level policy with the collective bargaining agreement between KU and the United Academics of KU (UAKU). Per the terms of the agreement, which took effect April 15, 2026, many unit-level policies such as annual evaluation, promotion and tenure and progress toward tenure review must align with the contract within one year. 

Faculty Affairs has created additional resources related to the terms of the contract for faculty and university leadership. KU Lawrence and Edwards campus chairs, directors and associate deans have been invited to attend sessions about the faculty collective bargaining agreement that feature representatives from Human Resources and General Counsel. These workshops outline the collective bargaining agreement, provide policy implications to consider and offer time for questions and answers. 

Additionally, Faculty Affairs has outlined a suggested policy timeline for those working on policy revisions and continues to update their policy alignment resources website with guidance resources and templates. The Office of Faculty Affairs, in partnership with UAKU, will offer workshops on each policy timeline item throughout the summer and into the upcoming academic year for faculty who will be revising their unit-level policies. 

“The policy development grants were created to recognize and support the additional policy work that will take place over the next year," said Amy Mendenhall, vice provost for faculty affairs. Mendenhall shared that ideally faculty will utilize the policy grants, along with the additional resources, to not only meet the requirements of the contract, but also incorporate changes that will benefit their units long term. “This revision process offers an opportune moment for units to really consider how their policies can more concise, clear and accessible.”