To create a community within the University that crosses disciplinary boundaries. The participants engage in discussions with the people of Kansas, learn what KU means to Kansans, and develop ideas on how KU's resources could be of further assistance to the Wheat State. The tour serves as a public relations project, better familiarizes the University with the needs of Kansans, introduces new KU faculty to their adopted home state, and allows the faculty to enjoy the rare opportunity of interacting with colleagues from other disciplines. Sites have been selected largely on their basis on being otherwise inaccessible to individuals. Several KU professors have accompanied the coach as on-board commentators, discussing interesting aspects of the state.
Participants receive a notebook containing maps, brochures, and readings of interest.
The tour provides a special means of outreach, with participants meeting the state's friendly citizens, discovering the state's beauty, and learning from engaging guides about many aspects of Kansas. The participants also meet persons willing to share their great pride for their communities. Highlights from the tours included a visit to a wheat farm, grain elevator, and rural school in Palco, the hometown of a KU professor who helped everyone gain an understanding of his community. The Wheat State Whirlwind continues to receive highly enthusiastic responses from hundreds of persons touched in some way during these six days. Interaction among the participants remains high.