A collage of two photos. A nurse examines a patient’s hand while another healthcare provider holds a clipboard. The first photo fades into a photo of crops in a field and a row of trees.

The University of Kansas moves your community forward

How does a university in Kansas make your life better? KU’s deep knowledge, world-renowned research, and lifesaving medical treatments reach across the country to serve communities like yours.

A map of the United States with the number of KU alumni living in each state. The highest number is 122,714 in Kansas. The next highest are 26,132 in Missouri and 14,348 in Texas.

Jayhawks get the job done

Every year, thousands of KU alumni strengthen communities as business leaders, IT specialists, healthcare providers, teachers, accountants, scientists, artists, and so much more.

See how KU alumni serve their communities

KU Statistics

400,000+
Alumni worldwide
348
New inventions disclosed by KU researchers in the past five years
#3
Global ranking in developmental disability research

Better access, better treatments, better outcomes

As one of the country’s top producers of graduates who practice medicine in rural and underserved areas, the University of Kansas serves communities across the nation. KU has a legacy of leadership in rural healthcare, and our initiatives serve as inspiration for other states. Improving access to healthcare in rural areas reduces the strain on urban providers, creating a stronger regional healthcare network.
Graduate student Alice Zhang speaks with Dot Nary, Ph.D. Professor Nary is an Assistant Research Professor in the Research and Training Center on Independent Living, where Zhang is working on her graduate studies.

Good jobs for good wages

A nationwide push to employ people with disabilities started in Kansas, made possible by research at the KU Center on Disabilities and the KU Institute for Health and Disability Policy Studies.

In 2011, Kansas was the first  state  in the nation to  establish “competitive integrated employment,” a framework for workplaces to employ people with and without disabilities and to pay both competitive wages. Thirty other states have since followed this model. Initiatives like this allow people with disabilities to lead more independent lives, and states benefit from a larger and more diverse workforce.

New approaches to slowing disease

Lauren Ptomey, research assistant professor in KU’s Division for Physical Activity and Weight Management, studies how diet and physical activity can slow the progress of chronic diseases. She works primarily with people with intellectual and developmental disabilities, including Down syndrome, with a special focus on preventing Alzheimer’s disease.
A close-up image of a sunflower.

A spirit of creativity and service

Thriving communities start at KU. Inventors, healers, leaders, and problem-solvers — KU trains the professionals who move your neighborhood forward.

See how KU serves communities