photo by: Chad Lawhorn/Journal-World

University of Kansas Provost Barbara Bichelmeyer discusses KU's 10-year master plan with the Kansas Board of Regents on Sept. 18, 2024.

UPDATED 4:15 P.M. OCT 14

The No. 2 leader on the University of Kansas’ Lawrence campus is stepping down to return to the university’s faculty.

Provost and Executive Vice Chancellor Barbara Bichelmeyer is resigning both positions after serving in the university’s leadership for the last six years, KU Chancellor Douglas Girod said in a message to the university community on Tuesday.

As provost and executive vice chancellor, Bichelmeyer oversees many of the day-to-day operations of the university’s academic mission.

Girod said Bichelmeyer will remain in the positions until the next provost and executive vice chancellor is chosen. After a transition period, Bichelmeyer will remain at KU and return to its faculty.

“We have accomplished amazing things during the past several years, and the firm belief that KU is in a better situation than when I arrived, I am choosing to leave the role,” Bichelmeyer said in a message to KU faculty and staff members.

Girod said in his campus message that he plans to conduct an internal search to find the next provost and executive vice chancellor.

“I am confident that KU has the outstanding and visionary talent within our community to continue our upward trajectory of academic leadership and excellence,” Girod said. “Therefore, in the days ahead, I will launch an internal search, with an intended goal of having the selected leader in place by the beginning of the spring 2026 semester.”

Bichelmeyer, who has four KU degrees, said in her message to colleagues that she was proud the university had achieved during her tenure record enrollment and student retention rates and has added to the diversity of the student population.

She also highlighted improved academic advising, changes to the university’s leadership structure, and improvements in wages and benefits for faculty and staff, among other items.

“I am so thankful to you all for all you have done for me, as well as for KU,” Bichelmeyer said in her statement. “It is knowing you will carry on in this great work that gives me immense hope and confidence in the future of the University of Kansas.”

Girod praised Bichelmeyer for her role in helping KU garner record research grants, the launch of KU’s online education programs, and her “stewardship” that was “instrumental in guiding KU out of persistent structural budget deficits,” among other items.

“Her tireless work, valued counsel and unwavering devotion to KU have strengthened our university and better positioned it for the opportunities and challenges ahead,” Girod said.

Bichelmeyer joined KU as provost and executive vice chancellor in February 2020, just days before the COVID-19 pandemic caused KU to shut down campus operations. She previously had served as the provost and executive vice chancellor at the University of Missouri-Kansas City. Before that she had held multiple leadership roles at Indiana University.

Bichelmeyer, a Kansas City native, earned undergraduate degrees from KU in journalism and English and graduate degrees from KU in educational policy and administration and educational communications and technology.

Academically, Bichelmeyer has been recognized as an expert in how technology is incorporated into classrooms and how to design courses and instruction to improve performance.

KU’s messages on Tuesday said Bichelmeyer would return to KU’s faculty, but didn’t specify the role she would have on the faculty.

photo by: Mike Yoder

University of Kansas Provost and Executive Vice Chancellor Barbara Bichelmeyer speaks during an interview March 4, 2020.