From the Office of Public Affairs | https://www.news.ku.edu
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National KU-based survey asks adults with disabilities to share their experiences to guide future research and policy
LAWRENCE — The Institute for Health and Disability Policy Studies at the University of Kansas is conducting the National Survey on Health and Disability (NSHD) to ask U.S. adults with disabilities to share their experiences with housing, health care, health insurance, transportation, community participation and other aspects of daily life. NSHD responses help shape resources, policies and practice recommendations aimed at improving the health, employment and overall well-being of people with disabilities in the United States.
KU political science professor to be recognized for excellence in international education
LAWRENCE — Mike Wuthrich, associate professor of political science at the University of Kansas, has been named the recipient of the George and Eleanor Woodyard International Educator Award. He will deliver a presentation on his work in international education during an award celebration and reception at 3:30 p.m. April 22 in the Kansas Union’s Big 12 Room.
AAI’s Center for Evaluation & Educational Leadership expands school support through business partnerships
LAWRENCE — The goal of the Center for Evaluation & Educational Leadership (CEEL), a center within the Achievement & Assessment Institute (AAI) at the University of Kansas, is to help school district leaders navigate challenges to foster effective, well-balanced learning environments for students. One of the primary ways Director Bart Swartz accomplishes this is through a network of business partners that is helping Kansas school districts with their needs.
Full stories below.
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Contact: Jen Humphrey, Life Span Institute, 785-864-6621, jenhumphrey@ku.edu
National KU-based survey asks adults with disabilities to share their experiences to guide future research and policy
LAWRENCE — The Institute for Health and Disability Policy Studies (IHDPS) at the University of Kansas is conducting the National Survey on Health and Disability (NSHD) to ask U.S. adults with disabilities to share their experiences with housing, health care, health insurance, transportation, community participation and other aspects of daily life.
NSHD responses help shape resources, policies and practice recommendations aimed at improving the health, employment and overall well-being of people with disabilities in the United States.
“Obtaining robust data about the experiences of people with disabilities directly from those people is crucial when working to address disparities,” said Noelle Kurth, principal investigator for the project and a research associate at IHDPS, a part of the KU Life Span Institute.
“This is a national survey specifically designed by people with disabilities, for people with disabilities — to center their voices, experiences, and priorities,” Kurth added.
The NSHD gathers information that helps policymakers, researchers and community organizations better understand the barriers and successes people with disabilities experience in their daily lives. These insights guide future research, inform policy and support the development of practical resources to improve health, employment and community participation outcomes.
Funded by the National Institute on Disability, Independent Living, and Rehabilitation Research, the NSHD was originally established in 2018 under the leadership of Research Professor Jean Hall. Kurth said that Hall’s contributions to disability research helped shape the survey into a trusted resource for understanding the experiences of people with disabilities nationwide.
Hall, who is stepping down from directing IHDPS this spring, said that building the survey with input from people with disabilities has always been central to the project.
“I’m proud to see it continue as a tool for amplifying the voices of people whose experiences too often go unheard,” Hall said.
IHDPS is working with disability organizations and other groups to help reach people who may not have had the opportunity to share their voices in this kind of research. A website with outreach materials is available for interested organizations.
Kelsey Goddard, an assistant research professor at IHDPS, said that the survey is open to anyone who has a physical, mental, emotional or health condition — even if they do not identify as having a disability.
“It’s OK if you don’t think of yourself as disabled,” Goddard said. “If you have a condition that impacts your life, your experiences are important and can help improve our communities.”
The survey is available online or by phone (1-855-556-6328) and can be completed in English, Spanish or American Sign Language (ASL). People who need accommodations or have questions can contact the study team at 1-855-556-6328 or healthsurvey@ku.edu.
IHDPS conducts research and evaluation to improve access to and quality of health care services for all people, especially those with disabilities and chronic health conditions.
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Contact: Dan Oetting, KU International Affairs, dan.oetting@ku.edu
KU political science professor to be recognized for excellence in international education
LAWRENCE — Mike Wuthrich, associate professor of political science at the University of Kansas, has been named the recipient of the George and Eleanor Woodyard International Educator Award. He will deliver a presentation on his work in international education during an award celebration and reception at 3:30 p.m. April 22 in the Kansas Union’s Big 12 Room.
The Woodyard Award recognizes Wuthrich’s impact on international education at KU, highlighted by his leadership, mentoring and commitment to fostering global perspectives. His international experience and emphasis, extensive research and dedication to cross-cultural academic engagement have made a lasting mark on the university’s global mission.
Colleagues and students alike praised Wuthrich’s commitment to international education. John James Kennedy, professor and chair of the Department of Political Science, wrote in his nomination letter: “Dr. Wuthrich has transformed the international reach of KU’s political science program. Through his deep engagement with Turkish and Middle Eastern scholars and his leadership in global political research, he has expanded opportunities for both students and faculty to engage with critical global issues.”
Wuthrich brings extensive international experience to KU, having earned his doctorate from Bilkent University in Turkey, where he lived for nearly a decade. His scholarship on Middle Eastern politics has significantly contributed to global studies at KU. As an associate professor in political science and associate director of the Center for Global & International Studies, he has played an instrumental role in shaping KU’s international education landscape. His contributions include curriculum development, organizing global academic events and mentoring students with interests in international affairs.
Asaf Day, doctoral candidate in political science, highlighted Wuthrich’s impact on students, writing, “Professor Wuthrich’s work is not just about teaching international politics; it is about fostering meaningful global dialogue and equipping students with the skills and perspectives necessary to navigate an interconnected world.”
Beyond his research and teaching, Wuthrich has helped recruit and support international students, particularly those from the Middle East. He has designed and taught courses such as Politics of the Middle East and Populism and Nationalism, broadening students’ understanding of critical global issues. As coordinator of the Interagency Studies master’s program at Fort Leavenworth, he has also worked closely with military officers, integrating global perspectives into their professional development.
A key contributor to KU’s international academic programming, Wuthrich has helped organize major conferences, including a symposium marking the centennial of the Republic of Turkey, a conference on Middle Eastern and Latin American relations and a symposium on Jewish communities in the Americas. These events have brought together scholars and students from around the globe, fostering interdisciplinary dialogue. His co-authored book, “Beyond Piety and Politics: Religion, Social Relations, and Public Preferences in the Middle East and North Africa,” has further enhanced KU’s scholarly influence in international studies.
The George and Eleanor Woodyard International Educator Award, endowed by the late George Woodyard, KU’s first dean of international studies, and his wife, Eleanor, honors faculty who excel in promoting global education. Coordinated by KU International Affairs, the award includes a $1,000 stipend and recognizes faculty on the Lawrence campus for outstanding leadership in expanding KU’s international reach. This includes contributions to curriculum development, study abroad programs, partnerships with international institutions and collaboration with global colleagues on significant research and publications.
A link for viewing the event live online is available for those unable to be present at the talk.
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Contact: Chance Dibben, Achievement & Assessment Institute, chance@ku.edu
AAI’s Center for Evaluation & Educational Leadership expands school support through business partnerships
LAWRENCE — The goal of the Center for Evaluation & Educational Leadership (CEEL), a center within the Achievement & Assessment Institute (AAI) at the University of Kansas, is to help school district leaders navigate challenges to foster effective, well-balanced learning environments for students. One of the primary ways Director Bart Swartz accomplishes this is through a network of business partners that can help districts with their needs.
In the summer of 2024, Swartz led a professional development course at a conference where he spoke about how businesses could better connect with district leaders. When a few of the businesses reached out to him afterward asking if there would be more professional development opportunities in the future, he realized a partnership with these businesses would benefit CEEL, the businesses and school districts. As a result, Swartz created CEEL Supporters.
“Our business partners allow us to have more supports and opportunities that we can provide to school districts for reasonable prices, and it helps our partners because we can promote them to the schools we work with and offer training,” Swartz said. “Our goal was to make something that was truly beneficial to everybody involved.”
Through its network, CEEL provides business partners with professional development opportunities and connects them to school district leaders. The business partners help fund CEEL and keep costs down for school districts. The school districts receive help from vetted and trusted business experts on different aspects of managing a district.
DCS Services, a general contracting firm in Wichita, is a CEEL business partner that works closely with school districts to offer facility needs assessments, bond planning, budgeting for renovations and more. Taylor Durr, president of DCS Services, said that CEEL’s network has helped them make more connections.
“CEEL is very well connected across the state and in the K-12 market, so when districts need a project done, they call Bart because he’s the trusted adviser, and through our relationship over the years, we became a trusted adviser for Bart,” Durr said. “Making a personal connection with Bart has been very beneficial to our business.”
Through the partnership, CEEL and DCS Services helped form a Facilities and Operations Consortium and brought in superintendents and facilities directors at no cost for professional development trainings on managing facilities and planning for bond issues.
Nikki Flinn, a superintendent for USD 298 in Lincoln, took part in one of those courses to learn how to move forward with renovations for her district’s aging buildings.
“I continued conversations with Bart and DCS Services after the training to find out what these renovations would look within our district,” Flinn said. “They helped us host some community meetings and form a facility committee so we could figure out how we could pay for these necessary updates.”
Flinn said that because rural school districts often do not have the same resources and budgets as urban school districts, partnering with CEEL has been useful because of the reduced costs and the wealth of expertise.
“Being able to participate in these trainings and have this network has been great because they have experience and are able to guide you and help you along the way,” Flinn said. “Without these resources, I wouldn’t know how to even begin looking at our facilities and prioritizing things that we need to fix right now.”
School Specialty, an international school supply company based in Wisconsin, is another one of CEEL’s business partners. Heather Smith, a strategic account leader at School Specialty, said that working together with other business partners has allowed them to better serve school districts.
“When we hear that a school district is taking on a project that a CEEL business partner could be a part of, we send that referral to them, and they do the same for us” Smith said. “CEEL has really helped us, and it has been great to collaborate with other businesses.”
Outside of working with the other business partners, Smith said that working with CEEL has given them insight on the different trends going on in the Kansas education world.
“Bart has been able to share some things that are happening at the state level and even at the district level so that we can prepare ourselves to better meet those needs. He has also met with several of my team members personally to help them understand the state and how to interact with different school districts,” Smith said.
As part of the partnership among CEEL, businesses and school districts, CEEL participates in the Greenbush Superintendent Summit, one of the largest gatherings of superintendents in the state. CEEL assists the conference by helping CEEL business partners be sponsors of the event, connect businesses to districts and provide professional learning opportunities.
“You never know where your next opportunity is going to come from, so getting to network at these events has been a wonderful opportunity, and we are thrilled to be part of it,” Durr said.
Swartz said that although it hasn’t been a full year since he began this network of business partners, he thinks it has a lot of potential and is excited to work with more businesses moving forward.
Businesses interested in partnering with CEEL can reach out to Swartz at bartswartz@ku.edu.
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