One KU Research
The One KU Research initiative will align and enhance research administrative functions across the One KU enterprise in service of growing and sustaining research.
The One KU initiative strives to better align all KU campuses and position us to work more collaboratively in pursuing our mission of research, education and service.
To facilitate this transformation for research administration across KU Lawrence and KU Medical Center, research leaders launched the One KU Research Administration Council in August 2025 and empowered its members to catalyze collaborative research administration excellence across the University of Kansas. The council established a mission, vision and guiding principles/core behaviors at its kickoff retreat that provide a strategic framework for future change.
This framework will serve as the lens through which we study challenges and opportunities, devise solutions and take action — all in collaboration with fellow research community members, whose engagement will be critical to our collective success.
We invite you to explore the framework, which also defines the scope, key goals, planning approach and membership of the One KU Research Council. This site will serve as a repository for these foundational elements and regular updates on One KU research progress, which will be shared in existing newsletters, targeted email messages and elsewhere.
Mission
The One KU Research Administration Council's mission is to align and enhance research administrative functions across the One KU enterprise in service of growing and sustaining research activity. It aims to strengthen operations and deliver consistent, high-quality services while acknowledging the unique structures and needs of all campuses.
Guiding principles
Guiding principles are foundational beliefs and values that shape how we will organize operations and make decisions. They will help us navigate complex situations, prioritize actions, and stay aligned with our mission and vision. These guiding principles will serve as a shared framework for evaluating options, resolving conflicts, and choosing paths that reflect our core commitment to One KU.
Design services and support models that prioritize the needs of researchers while minimizing administrative burden.
Maintain the highest standards of compliance, ethics, and accountability across all functions.
Foster cross-campus partnership to promote clarity, fairness, cohesion, and reliability across the KU system.
Apply uniform policies, messaging, systems, and practices to create a cohesive research administration and client service experience.
Core behaviors
Core behaviors are ways of operating that guide how we execute our mission, vision and guiding principles. They will serve as a compass for the behavior of the One KU Research Administration Council and inform how we engage with our teams and communities.
Ensure open communication and clear processes that build trust and support informed decision-making.
Uphold shared responsibility for actions and outcomes through clear expectations and responsible data collection and reporting.
Commit to ongoing evaluation and enhancement of processes, structures and outcomes.
Everyone should feel valued, engaged and fulfilled/able to thrive.
Scope
The scope of the One KU Research Administration Council encompasses all research administration activities across the KU Lawrence and KU Medical Center campuses.
The ORC represents the following functions from both campuses:
— Animal Operations / IACUC
— Communications/Training
— Finance
— IRB / HRPP
— Research Development
— Sponsored Programs Administration
Key goals
The One KU Research Administration Council serves as a strategic body, reshaping and unifying research administration operations and policies to ensure consistent processes and the achievement of One KU.
Key goals of the council include:
Expand funding sources, research types, and partnerships with non-KU entities.
Create a cohesive and fluid experience for faculty and staff by aligning policies, resources, and support systems, while avoiding unnecessary bureaucracy, over-standardization, and changes that do not serve the organization.
Streamline processes through thoughtful design and automation where possible, balancing efficiency with regulatory and ethical compliance.
Foster cross-campus and interdisciplinary partnerships that build trust and system-wide identity.
Provide consistent access to data, metrics, and administrative resources to support impactful research.
Ensure clear expectations, consistent messaging, and celebration of wins and expertise.
Use feedback and shared definitions of success to refine systems and culture.