KU Office of the Chancellor

Hats Off to Chancellor Hemenway

A CITY ON THE HILL

A hard hat was a frequent accessory for Chancellor Hemenway as KU grew and expanded to meet the needs of students, faculty members, and researchers.

Hemenway forged a new identity for KU’s various campuses, uniting them under the banner of One University and encouraging collaboration and a shared mission.

Physically, KU grew at a remarkable rate. The Dole Institute, Hall Center, Budig Hall, three new scholarship halls and several athletic facilities were among the facilities built in Lawrence. Renovations were made to Murphy Hall, Joseph R. Pearson Hall – now home to the School of Education – and four residence halls.

KU’s Edwards Campus virtually doubled with the construction of Regnier Hall, while a new Nursing Building and research facilities sprang up at the Medical Center.

The growth of KU was made possible by Hemenway’s work with KU Endowment and the KU Alumni Association as he traveled the nation to secure support for the university.

The KU First campaign, for example, secured more than $650 million in contributions from more than 100,000 donors, supporting new facilities and hundreds of new scholarships, professorships, and research efforts.

Not all the work on campus involved new buildings, as maintenance of KU’s existing infrastructure remains a priority for the university and the Regents. Replacement of century-old steam tunnels in Lawrence and energy-efficient enhancements at the Medical Center are all part of a sustained effort to keep KU running.

And in an oft-overlooked accomplishment, Hemenway enabled KU Hospital’s transition to a top-performing academic hospital through his 1998 proposal to create the KU Hospital Authority.