The University of Kansas is a comprehensive research and teaching university that serves as a center for learning, scholarship, and creative endeavor. Since 1909, KU has held membership in the esteemed Association of American Universities (AAU), a distinction held by only 71 distinguished public and private universities. Across its five campuses (Lawrence, Kansas City, Overland Park, Wichita, and Salina), KU enrolls nearly 30,000 students and awards over 7,000 degrees and certificates annually.  

Instruction. The University is committed to offering the highest quality undergraduate, professional and graduate programs comparable to the best obtainable anywhere in the nation. As the AAU research university of the state, the University of Kansas offers a broad array of advanced graduate study programs and fulfills its mission through faculty, academic and research programs of international distinction, and outstanding libraries, teaching museums and information technology. These resources enrich the undergraduate experience and are essential for graduate level education and for research.

Research. The University attains high levels of research productivity and recognizes that faculty are part of a network of scholars and academicians that shape a discipline as well as teach it. Research and teaching, as practiced at the University of Kansas, are mutually reinforcing with scholarly inquiry underlying and informing the educational experience at undergraduate, professional and graduate levels.

Service. The University first serves Kansas, then the nation, and the world through research, teaching, and the preservation and dissemination of knowledge. The University provides service to the State of Kansas through its state and federally-funded research centers. KU's academic programs, arts facilities, and public programs provide cultural enrichment opportunities for the larger community. Educational, research and service programs are offered throughout the state. 

International Dimension. The University is dedicated to preparing its students for lives of learning and for the challenges educated citizens will encounter in an increasingly complex and diverse global community. Over 100 programs of international study and cooperative research are available for KU students and faculty at sites throughout the world. The University offers teaching and research that draw upon and contribute to the most advanced developments throughout the United States and the rest of the world. At the same time, KU's extensive international ties support economic development in Kansas.

Values. The University is committed to excellence. It fosters a multicultural, inclusive environment in which the dignity and rights of the individual are respected. Intellectual diversity, integrity and disciplined inquiry in the search for knowledge are of paramount importance. 

*The Association of American Universities (AAU) recently added to its membership and now has 66 members. KU asked for this technical amendment be reflected in its mission statement above.