Graduate Education & COVID-19

Dear Graduate Students, Graduate Faculty, and Graduate Staff Administrators:

The COVID-19 crisis has required us all to change how we live and work. It has altered academic plans, interrupted research, and required the rapid implementation of polices and systems that would normally undergo months of vetting. In the interest of protecting our communities, we are staying physically isolated. Yet what the pandemic underscores is that no matter how far apart we are, or how alone we might feel, we are all in this together. The Office of Graduate Studies is grateful for your contributions and the innovative spirit with which you are tackling these unprecedented challenges. We are also heartened by your care and encouragement of one another as you move into remote learning and teaching. Know that our Office is here to support you—if there are resources and/or information you’re currently missing that we can help provide, please let us know. Together, we will get through this crisis and hopefully emerge all the stronger and more connected on the other side.

With great gratitude,
Jennifer A. Roberts
Vice Provost for Graduate Studies

For an archive of additional communications related to COVID-19 sent by the Office of Graduate Studies, please click here.

For an archive of communications related to COVID-19 sent to KU graduate students by the Office of Graduate Studies, please click here.

Prospective and current graduate students can find answers to frequently asked questions regarding academic degree progress and graduate school applications on our COVID-19 FAQ page. If you don't find the answers or resources you need, please contact us directly. Prospective students should e-mail questions to graduateadm@ku.edu; current students should e-mail graduate@ku.edu. In addition to this list of FAQ, graduate students are encouraged to explore the COVID-19 resource hub on this website (see tiles below), to view the latest information on KU’s COVID-19 website, and to review KU's resources related to remote learning.

As circumstances surrounding COVID-19 evolve, university officials are monitoring the spread of the disease and taking steps to keep our community healthy. Programs must follow the same guidelines for domestic and international travel, which means that university-sponsored visits of graduate students are not allowed. Departments are encouraged to host virtual events so that students can receive pertinent information in a timely manner. Please email graduateadm@ku.edu if you'd like assistance hosting a virtual event.

Prospective students who reach out to our office will be encouraged to contact their program of interest for information about virtual options.

Please continue to visit coronavirus.ku.edu for additional details about campus plans.

Lawrence and Edwards Campus scholars who need to travel domestically for essential work-related purposes may take part in selected inbound and outbound travel, provided individuals follow certain guidelines. Please coordinate with your department chair to request travel authorization in addition to filing a travel request authorization through your SSC. Please note that at this time international travel and all conference travel is not essential.

The Graduate Scholarly Presentation Travel Fund will resume accepting applications July 1, 2020. If you will incur costs by attending and presenting at a virtual conference, please apply through this link.