KU News Release

KU offers assistance to Kansans affected by tornadoes

LAWRENCE — As residents start recovering from the tornadoes that struck parts of Kansas last night, Chancellor Robert Hemenway said the University of Kansas was extending offers of assistance to those impacted by the storms.

“Our hearts go out to those who lost loved ones in these storms and to those who face the task of rebuilding their homes and businesses. Many in the KU family have connections to Chapman, Manhattan and the other communities affected by these storms,” said Hemenway.

There are 13 KU students from Chapman and several hundred from Manhattan. KU’s Office of the Vice Provost for Student Success is reaching out to them to find out how it can help.

The university is also offering affected KU students from Dickinson, Jackson and Riley counties the ability to defer summer or fall tuition payments until later in the year. To qualify for the waiver and payment extension, affected KU students can complete a form that will be posted on the University Bursar’s Web site. For more information, contact the University Bursar at (785) 864-3322 or e-mail bursar@ku.edu.

“The last thing we want students impacted by the storms to have to worry about now is their tuition payments. This is the same sort of assistance we provided after the Greensburg tornado and after the flooding in southeast Kansas last year,” said Hemenway.

Affected KU students who need additional assistance with emergency or unanticipated financial issues may also contact the Office of Student Financial Aid at (785) 864-4700.

In addition to help for students, this morning KU officials offered Kansas State University whatever resources the university is able to provide. For example, the Public Safety Office has offered police officers, abd Design and Construction Management and Facilities Operations have offered personnel and equipment for damage assessment and recovery.

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The University of Kansas is a major comprehensive research and teaching university. University Relations is the central public relations office for KU's Lawrence campus.