Opened in 1866, the University of Kansas is a comprehensive educational and research institution with 29,272 students and more than 2,100 faculty members. KU includes the main campus in Lawrence, a city of about 88,000 in northeastern Kansas; the Medical Center in Kansas City, Kansas; the Edwards Campus in Overland Park; a clinical campus of the School of Medicine in Wichita; and educational and research facilities throughout the state.

The University of Kansas is a major international center for teaching and learning, scholarship, and creative endeavor.The mission of the University of Kansas encompasses teaching, research and service as well as an international dimension and humanitarian values. KU has a long history of commitment to scholarship and service in all their manifestations. The University is committed to excellence in its academic programs and to fostering a multicultural environment that respects the dignity and rights of individuals. Intellectual diversity, integrity, and disciplined inquiry in the search for knowledge are of paramount importance.

Students from every state in the nation and more than 100 countries attend KU. KU's student groups, sports clubs, events and activities reflect the diversity of its student community and add to the richness of academic life here.