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Hemenway engages students as a guest speaker in the course "Feminist Theory in Anthropology" in 2001. For nearly 13 years, Hemenway taught English courses on American literature.
Photo courtesy of Spencer Research Library
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chairman of the search committee for the new chancellor, disagreed and said there has been an appropriate balance between athletics and academics.
"All you have to do is go to a football game or Allen Fieldhouse to know that athletics are the front porch of the University," said Jennings, a former football player and a former interim athletics director. "While you shouldn't ignore the other areas, you have to understand that athletics are the window that many people in the world see you through, and it's extremely important."
BUILDING PROJECTS
Those who know him said Hemenway could be a very frugal man.
Several years ago, Hemenway refused to allow new carpet in his office because he did not want to
spend money on it,
even though his old carpet was falling apart. Hemenway's employees waited until he was away on vacation to install new carpet.
Mary Burg. Hemenway's executive assistant both here and at the University of Kentucky, remembers when
Hemenway first went to the University of Kentucky as chancellor of the Lexington Campus. He drove the same beat-up Volkswagen bus he had driven around the country to research Zora Neale Hurston. Hurston was an African-American author who has been at the center of Hemenway's studies. Hemenway's 1977 book, "Zora Neale Hurston: A Literary Biography," is often credited with sparking an interest in African-American female novelists.
When Hemenway discovered he could drive a University of Kentucky car, he sold the Volkswagen to a graduate student for $35.
Although the University has spent nearly $1 billion in building and renovation projects during the years, those close to him said Hemenway had approached the projects with a knack for fundraising. Hemenway led the KU First Campaign, a capital campaign which raised $635.8 million from 1998 to 2004.
Most of the money for University construction has come from student fees, donors and endowment gifts. University Architect Warren Corman credited Hemenway with a talent for explaining the needs of the University to donors and administrators.
Some of the projects that have occurred during Hemenway's tenure include the Robert J. Dole Institute of Politics, the Hall Center for the Humanities, Budig Hall, three new scholarship halls and renovations to Murphy and JRP halls among others.
Another major project was the development of eight buildings on West Campus on more than 400 acres.
When Hemenway arrived, three buildings existed on West Campus: the Simons, Haguchi and Smissman labs. Since then, the University
added the circular Becker Drive to host the Multidisciplinary Research Building, Structural Biology Building, pharmaceutical labs and more than 260,000 square feet of research space. This extra space has helped the University vie for a National Cancer Institute designation.
"He understands building and construction better than all the chancellors I've worked with," said Corman, who has worked for the Board of Regents and helped design the original Malott and JRP halls.
CITY AND THE HILL
"The one thing that I want to make sure that I don't miss is that I sustain the relationships I have with students."
Growth of West Campus has helped the University build cooperation with local officials.
Whether it be the city transit system, cooperation on land use, or the building of Fire Station # 5 at 19th and Iowa streets on KU Endowment
CHANCELLOR HEMENWAY
land, City Manager David Corliss said the Lawrence community has benefited from the University's influence under Hemenway's tenure.
Corliss pointed specifically to the city, county and Lawrence Douglas County Bioscience Authority working with the
University on an incubator facility on West Campus. The collaborative project is the first of its kind in the relationship between the city and University. The city recently made its first payment of $75,000 for the center.
Mike Amys, city commissioner and vice mayor, said the University's influence was mostly beneficial, especially regarding the business that KU athletics attracted to the city.
Amyx has a distinct relationship with Hemenway because the chancellor has been a customer in Amyx's barber shop on Massachusetts Street since he arrived at the University, and the two men often talk about local and University issues.
The biggest conflict between the two men? The location of the Kansas-Missouri football games.
"He's a born teacher," said Maryemay Graham, an English professor who has worked with Hemenway on numerous academic and research projects. "Not only does he continue his interest in the academic side and is a mentor for scholars, he was teaching and working with graduate students and teaching undergraduate students and being chancellor."
"Id rather have it at Memorial Stadium," Amyx said, citing the economic and athletic advantages of a Lawrence game.
After Hemenway retires and finishes his book about intercollegiate athletics, he will return to his first passion: teaching at the University.
Ever since he was an undergraduate student at the University of Kentucky, Hemenway said, he thought it was "the coolest thing" to be paid to read, write and teach.
WHAT'S NEXT
There's more to Chancellor Robert Hemenway than the man who works in Strong Hall.
LIFE AS CHANCELLOR BOB
There's also a parent and grandparent who has watched his family grow and change during his time as chancellor.
That's what motivated him to
When Hemenway and his wife, Leah, came to Lawrence 14 years ago, they moved into The Outlook, the residence for the University's chancellor and a place that they would soon call home.
At the time, Hemenway's two youngest sons — Arna and Zach — were 7 and 11 years old. The two boys grew up on campus, which became their playground.
"Arna rode his bike around campus, and knew all the good hiding spots, especially when his parents were looking for him." Hemenway said.
The Hemenways have celebrated weddings, family reunions, graduation parties and other family events at The Outlook.
Hemenway has six other children — Gina, Jeremy, Robin, Karintha, Matthew and Langston. Four of Hemenway's eight children have received degrees from the University.
The annual graduation lunch on the lawn is one of the family's favorite events, Leah said.
Famous celebrities and politicians, ranging from Danny Glover to Bill Clinton, have visited The Outlook and some have stayed in the guest house.
But there have been rough times as well, such as the death of The Outlook's gardener and Hemenway's surgery to remove a tumor in his prostate in 2001.
Being chancellor is a demanding job, Leah said, and several times a week Hemenway often goes to work at seven in the morning and has events in the evening until 10 or 11 p.m. The weekends can be filled with athletic events and catching up on office work.
Hemenway admits that the bainience between work and family is difficult, and said he had not always been able to do as much with his family as he wanted.
"It's a seven-day job for him,"Leah said.
"There were times when Arna had a Little League game or something else, and I had to choose between our kids and the students as a whole," Hemenway said. "For most people you learn how to balance that out."
As Hemenway prepares to retire and move into a home near campus, one of his biggest challenges remains: where to put the hundreds and hundreds of books that line the shelves in his office.
teach at the University of Kentucky and to continue teaching as chancellor of the University of Kansas.
"It's a way to continue to have your students challenge you and you get to challenge your students," Hemenway said. "The relationship between faculty and students is a very special relationship."
"I'm going to have to figure out what to do with them," Hemenway said.
For nearly 13 years, Hemenway taught a 7:30 a.m. course on American literature. Students said they remembered his quirkiness in the classroom, whether it be trying his hand at raping, telling stories, or demonstrating a scene from Charlotte Perkins Gilman "The Yellow Wallpaper."
"He has such a depth of knowledge in such a variety of areas," Adam McGonigle, Wichita junior and former student body president,
Throughout his tenure, Hemenway has been known for keeping an open door with students, faculty and staff, inviting their questions and concerns.
"He wasn't one of those professors who spoke from his notes." Cindy Lynn, Lawrence senior, said. "He had a strong command of his topic and you could tell that he loved his topic and he liked his students. He really liked being in the classroom."
Jennifer Torline
said, "He's such a go-to person for me whenever I have any questions."
"The one thing that I want to make sure that I don't miss is that I sustain the relationships I have with students," Hemenway said. "That's really what we're about here, is educating students."
With the 24/7 demands of being chancellor. Hemenway said he was looking forward to retirement and being able to spend more time with his colleagues and students.
"I think it's time for me to step down from the chancellor's position and to get the pleasure of reading and writing and the progress that I think inevitably should accompany any chancellor in what they are doing." Hemenway said.
And though Hemenway will no longer be chancellor, he won't disappear any time soon. He and Leah have bought a house close to campus, and Hemenway plans to maintain the relationships he's built with students by teaching courses and attending athletic events.
He will likely remain a familiar figure in the early mornings on Jayhawk Boulevard for years to come.
— Edited by Jessica Sain-Baird
Dec. 8,2008
Hemenway announces that he plans to step down as chancellor to take time off and write a book on intercollegiate athletics and American values, before returning to teaching. His last day as chancellor will be June 30.
September 2008
The University sees a record-breaking enrollment of 30,102, which Hemenway credits to the University's "high-quality education." The University also has its most diverse student body, with 12.7 percent of the 4,483 freshmen identifying themselves as Hispanic
Asian American.
July 2008
KU is named one of the "Great Colleges to Work For" by the Chronicle of Higher Education. The University is listed among the top five universities in 12 of 27 categories for large universities.The survey is based on responses from more than 15,000 administrators, faculty and staff members of 89 universities
89 universities.
April 7,2008
The men's basketball team wins the NCAA Championship. Hemenway cancels April 8 classes in recognition of the Jayhaws' victory.
Jan.3,2008
The football team wins the FedEx Orange Bowl, making it the first time the University has won a BCS bowl game.
June 28,2007
Kansas Board of Regents approves the tuition compact, which guarantees that freshmen's tuition will not increase during the four years they attend The University. The class of 2007 is the first class it
affects.
Sept. 8, 2005
Hemenay announces that the cancer research program at the Med Center and the Lawrence Campus will pursue National Cancer Institute Designation as a regional cancer center. The NCI has a goal to cure cancer by 2015.
Julv 15.2005
The chancellor imposes a two-year probation on the Athletics Department for violating rules with the men's basketball, women's basketball and football programs. The violations involve housing, gifts for athletes and providing tutoring for athletes, while the penalties include scholarship reductions, additional training rules and placing the department under stronger scrutiny
Feb.7,2005
Hemenway testifies before the State Legislature and advocates a bill to remove KU staff members from State Civil Service. The House Bill 2020, or Senate Bill 74, allows 1,400 employee positions to be managed by the University and Board of Regents. The bill passes.
2003
ry fires Athletics Director Al Bohl, after Bohl refuses to resign. Ray says Bohl, who had been director for less than two years, is an athletics director and says a change in leadership is necessary. Conurrounds the firing, especially since Bohl fired football coach Terry 001 and basketball coach Roy Williams expressed disappointment Bohls says his firing has been influenced by the "hatred and vindicof Williams. Drue Jennings is named the interim athletics director.
Jan. 10,2005
As chairman, Hemenway leads the NCAA Division I Board of Directors in passing a policy to enforce an Academic Progress Rate of 925, an equivalent of 50 percent graduation rate for student athletes. Teams who fail to meet these standards receive financial and scholarship-based penalties.
Jan.21,2005
Hemenway announces the University has raised $635.8 million as part of the "KU First: Invest in Excellence" capital campaign. The six-year campaign is the University's third major fundraising campaign and began July 1, 1998, and ended December 31, 2004. More than 100,000 people donated. The money helps to fund 65 new professorships and the construction of scholarship halls, research programs and the Hall Center for the Humanities, named after the $43.7 million donation from the Hall Family Foundation, the largest single donation in University history
donation in University history.