However, undergraduate research is encouraged for all qualified undergraduates considering further academic work of any kind, as well as for those undergraduates who may wish to gain laboratory experience. Not all, but most faculty have one or more undergraduate students within their laboratory. The undergraduate is initially paired with a graduate student, and remains with that graduate student until development of skills allows the undergraduate to begin experiments with less supervision. The University of Kansas is a major educational and research institution with more than 28,000 students and 1,900 faculty members. KU includes the main campus in Lawrence, the Medical Center in Kansas City, Kansas, the Regents Center in Overland Park, a clinical campus of the School of Medicine in Wichita, and educational and research facilities throughout the state.
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. I for its commitment to graduate education and research. The National Science Foundation classifies KU as a major university receiving substantial research support. Library collections in Lawrence contain more than three million volumes and many microforms, manuscripts, maps, and photographs. Watson Library houses general collections in the social sciences and humanities.