The University of Kansas is a major comprehensive research and teaching university that serves as a center for learning, scholarship and creative endeavor. The University of Kansas is the only state university in Kansas to hold membership in the prestigious Association of American Universities (AAU), a select group of 66 public and private research universities that represent excellence in graduate and professional education and the highest achievements in research internationally

The Union was built as a memorial to the 130 KU alumni and students who died in World War I. Arguably, the Kansas Union is the oldest student union west of the Mississippi River. Today, the building includes more than 250,000 square feet on six levels. People can visit the KU Bookstore, dine at the Market, grab a coffee, or find something to eat at a food court.  The Kansas Union acts as a community center on campus, providing spaces for programs, activities, and services for the University community.