The University of Kansas is a major educational and research institution with almost 28,000 students and 2,100 faculty members.
Research is an integral part of the university's educational process.
KU has more than 40 special research facilities, in addition to those in individual departments and schools. The National Science Foundation classifies KU as a major university receiving substantial research support. Library collections in Lawrence contain more than 3.6 million volumes and many microforms, manuscripts, maps, and photographs. Watson Library houses most of KU's general collections in the social sciences and humanities. Scholars from all over the world use the Kenneth Spencer Research Library's valuable collections of rare and historic material.