ku alumni travel

• Presidents Club
• Jayhawks for Higher Ed
• Jayhawks Give Back
• Jayhawk Career Network
• Networks & Groups
• Watch Parties
• Driving with Jayhawks
• Flying Jayhawks Travel
• Jayhawk Book Club
• Jayhawk License Plates
• Jayhawk Pet of the Month
• Mission & Vision
• Jayhawks Belong
• Staff Directory
• Board of Directors
• Employment Opportunities
• Student Employment
• Annual Report
• KU Directory Project
• KU Alumni App
• KU Alumni Shop
• Scholarships
• Future Jayhawks
• Business Directory
• Demographics & Profiles
• Advertising Opportunities
• Sponsorship Opportunities
• Corporate Partners
• Pay Invoice
• View Profile
• Update Information
• Registration
• Change Password
• Submit Class Notes
• Email Subscriptions

TRAVEL THE WORLD WITH JAYHAWKS

Welcome to flying jayhawks travel, request a brochure, travel providers, read our faqs, passenger info form, sign up for emails, travel resources, what is flying jayhawks.

The Flying Jayhawks Program offers all graduates, former students, families and friends the chance to travel among the camaraderie of fellow Jayhawks through discovery, adventure and education.

The program provides enrichment through the exploration of other cultures and lifestyles while strengthening loyalty, friendship, commitment and communication among a unique community drawn together by KU.

The Flying Jayhawks Program welcomes anyone interested in travel; graduates, former students, families and friends. You need not hold a KU degree to travel with the Flying Jayhawks, but you must be a member of the KU Alumni Association.

Featured Destinations

Great European Journey by River and Rail

Journey through Switzerland, France, Germany, and the Netherlands, cruising the Moselle and Rhine rivers on this 10-night program, which includes 4 nights in the Swiss Alps—featuring the Matterhorn and Mount Pilatus—and a 6-night river cruise.

Expedition to Antartica

Exploring australia & new zealand, new zealand & cirumnavigating the south island, new zealand & circumnavigating the south island, costa rica's natural heritage, tahiti & french polynesia under sail, tahiti & french polynesia under sail, lengend of the nile, legends of the nile, journey to southern africa, cuba and its people, peru, panama & palms, the masters, experience the victory, cruising the canary islands & morocco, antiquities of the red sea & aegean sea, picturesque mediterranean, ancient traditions of japan's inland sea, dutch waterways, normandy ~ france, celtic lands, monaco grand prix, western gems of the emerald isle, the charm of the amalfi coast, national parks & lodges of the old west, scottish isles & norwegian fjords, flavors of northern italy, italy's magnificent lake district, irish inspiration, circumnavigating iceland, the great journey through europe, dazzling alaska, cuise the rhine & mosel rivers, cruise the rhine & mosel rivers, discover southeast alaska, alpine splendor: switzerland & austria, wonders of peru, the canadian maritimes, passions & pursuits river cruise, romance of the douro, great trains & grand canyons, holy lands, isles & crossroads, the mighty mississippi, grand danube passage, island life: in ancient greece, radiant spain & italy, croatia & the dalmatian coast, legendary pathways, 2023 destinations, holiday markets cruise, polar bears of churchill, paradores & pousadas, the galapagos islands, chilean wonders, the wolves & wildlife of yellowstone, australia & new zealand, costa rica and the panama canal, 2024 destinations, land of the rising sun, cruising from lisbon to barcelona, spain - andalucia in a parador, charismatic mediterranean, across spain & portugal, kentucky derby, america's southwest: a luxury train adventure, classical mediterranean cruise, southern charms, greece - athens & kalamata, ireland & northern ireland, indianapolis 500, flavors of tuscany, croatia & cruising the dalmatian coast, norwegian fjords & midnight sun, easy company: england to the eagles nest, kenya safari, great european journey, cape cod & the islands, northern delights, scandinavia and the baltic sea, scotland: highlands & islands, scotland - stirling, iconic destinations by private jet, provence - featuring art, cuisine & wine, canadian rockies explorer, normandy, 80th anniversary of d-day, autumnal allure, romance of the duoro river, northern lights & the wildlife of northern manitoba, provincial french countryside, venice to athens: adriatic and the dalmatian coast, west coast vines, danube river: vienna to bucharest, the charm of the almafi coast, albuquerque balloon festival, toronto to vancouver by rail, sunsets & cypresses, apulia - undiscovered italy, singapore, bali and the indonesian islands, cruising the red sea & aegean sea, 2025 destinations, great southern lands of australia & new zealan, great southern lands of australia & new zealand, tahiti and french polynesia, tanzania safari, finaland - artic magnificence, hawaii 3 island adventure, pearls of dalmatia, revelations of japan, passage to north africa, village life - italian lakes, istanbul & the turquoise coast, european coastal cruise, island life - greek isles, danube delights with prague, british isles, cultural capitals of spain, enchanting gems of austria, coastal gems of the emerald isle, isles of the north, grand seine river & normandy, mediterranean awakening, southwest national parks, icelandic reaches, celtic classics, around the world by private jet, mysteries of peru, flavors of sicily, tuscany & emilia-romagna, south korea & japan, france - pleasures of provence, cruise the heart of europe, patagonia and chilean fjords, antiquity to anatolia, from oman to dubai, christmas markets along the danube, contact us for more info.

Austin Johanning

Assistant Director of Membership Email [email protected] Call 785.214.2688

Welcome to the University of Kansas Alumni Association

Your membership in the KU Alumni Association is the single most powerful way to make all of KU stronger, including the value of your own degree. Through your membership, the Association:

• Enhances student recruitment
• Increases the value of your KU degree
• Preserves KU’s distinctive, nationally known traditions
• Provides an avenue through which advocates for KU can voice their opinions
• Grows a larger network of Jayhawks

We Are The KU Alumni Association

Dear Alumni and Friends,

Best Wishes,

Our Mission

The expertise and knowledge to put your mind at ease, photo gallery, hear from fellow travelers.

Who is AHI?

— VIEW OUR 2024 TRAVEL CATALOG —

Dear Friends,

The University of Kansas is pleased to partner with Orbridge to offer our alumni exceptional travel opportunities—a combination of exclusive itineraries, deluxe properties or ships, knowledgeable expedition leaders, and the company of fellow alumni.

With special features and unparalleled access to distinguished locations, you will discover unforgettable places, people, and cultures, and enjoy experiences that will enrich your understanding of our diverse and wonderful world. Whether close to home or far away, on land or by sea, your next adventure is waiting!

Join us and our partner Orbridge—make your reservation today!

Austin Johanning Assistant Director of Donor Relations KU Alumni Association

Upcoming Tours by Departure Date

America's Southwest: A Luxury Train Adventure

Flavors of Tuscany

Kenya Safari: The Big 5

Around the World by Private Jet

Northern Lights and the Wildlife of Northern Manitoba

Toronto to Vancouver by Rail

Antarctica Discovery

The Galapagos Islands – Western Itinerary

Mysteries of Peru and Machu Picchu

Flavors of Sicily

We use cookies to improve your experience on our website. By closing this message or interacting with our site, you acknowledge and agree to this. Learn more

Kansas Alumni Association

The Kansas Alumni Association and Go Next are pleased to offer exceptional travel opportunities available to you, your family, and your friends. Join fellow alumni and experience the camaraderie of exploring the world with like-minded travelers. Each Go Next trip has been thoughtfully selected with you and your alma mater in mind. We take care of the details, so you can relax and enjoy the company of your fellow alumni.

Because of the exceptional value and limited space, we encourage you to make your reservation as soon as possible.

Reservations and Questions

Purchasing travel insurance is highly recommended to protect you, your belongings, and your travel investment. The Kansas Alumni Association will send you information regarding travel insurance.

Kansas Alumni Association Group Programs

Lose yourself in the wonders of the Mediterranean on this 10-night cruise aboard Oceania Cruises’ Marina .

Join us on a spectacular 10-night cruise through the land of the Vikings in Norway and Denmark aboard Oceania Cruises’ Sirena .

Take it easy as you navigate majestic scenery and authentic charm on this 11-night cruise aboard Oceania Cruises’ Insignia .

Experience the beauty of the Southern California coast on a 6-night cruise aboard Oceania Cruises’ Regatta .

• Enroll & Pay
• KU Procurement Services
• KU Center for Research
• KU Endowment Association

Before Travel

Don't forget to complete a Travel Request for travel outside the State of Kansas before booking your travel in the University's online booking tool - Concur Travel, or directly with our contracted travel agency Collegiate Travel Planners (CTP). Also check out the information below about current travel restrictions, the first-time user checklist, IT Security, and International travel before you go!

Current Travel Restrictions

Effective 4/19/21, the University of Kansas is discontinuing restrictions on university-related travel implemented during the pandemic. This means that prior approval by the Provost Office and submission of research fieldwork/travel planning forms to the Office of Research are no longer needed for KU-related travel. Please continue to keep health and safety in mind when making plans, and adhere to all applicable State of Kansas Travel Guidelines and CDC Travel Guidelines . If traveling internationally, please review the University-sponsored Travel to High Risk Locations policy .

For information about conducting academic work in countries with Federal travel advisories, please visit the International Affairs website .

Are You A First-Time Concur Travel User?

Concur Travel Requests

Out-of-State and International travel must have an approved Travel Request (TR) completed in Concur prior to making travel arrangements.  Employees should complete their TRs no later than 14-days prior to domestic and 30-days prior to international travel.

To create a more efficient process, the University is transitioning away from using various department forms and the SSC Travel Request webform in favor of travelers creating their TRs directly in Concur.  If you or your department would like to discuss and set up training on the new pre-trip Travel Request process in Concur, please email [email protected] .

KU EMPLOYEE TRAVELERS :  Please identify funding and gather estimated travel costs before creating their Travel Request directly in Concur (see CREATING A CONCUR TRAVEL REQUEST - for instructions and link to Concur log-in). 

-OR-  

NON-EMPLOYEE STUDENT TRAVELERS and GRAD STUDENTS IN-BETWEEN HR APPOINTMENT or if your department has not yet transitioned to the new TR creation process, submit the following information to your SSC or travel processor so a Concur TR can be created on your behalf:

• Name & contact info of Department Approver
• Trip Location
• Depart & Return Dates
• Personal Time - if applicable
• Trip Business Purpose
• Conference Website - if applicable
• Estimated Business Expenses (e.g., airfare, lodging, rental or taxi, per diem, registration fee, mileage, etc)
• Travel Funding
• Travel Document attachments – if applicable

This information can be provided to the SSC via the SSC Travel Request Form  or SSC TDX Client Portal , forwarded department travel authorization form, or via email directly to your SSC or department travel processor.

The preferred method for creating a travel request is employee travelers creating it directly in Concur.  Please only use the SSC Travel Request Form if you are an non-employee students or if your SSC has instructed you to still use the SSC form at this time.

As needed please reference the Travel Policy & Procedure page for KU, KU Office of Research, and KU Endowment policy guidance on travel.

Concur Travel Request Instructions

Booking Upon TR Approval

IT Security When Traveling

Are You Traveling Internationally?

• Enroll & Pay
• Prospective Students
• Current Students

Once a Business Jayhawk, always a Business Jayhawk.

KU Alumni Association

The University of Kansas School of Business takes a genuine interest in staying connected with our alumni. Throughout the years, we’ve built a strong community of Business Jayhawks living around the world. Some of the most powerful and influential business leaders have come from the business school. More importantly, some of the most generous have come from the school, too.

Explore their stories, read about the latest School of Business news and find ways to share you time, talent and capital with the School of Business.

Giving back

Investments in the business school from alumni and friends are critical in our effort to provide students an excellent business education. You can give to an area of your interest through one of the many giving opportunities that benefit our students, faculty programs, research and facilities.

Our School of Business development staff travel the country, visiting with alumni and friends. If you have questions about giving to the KU School of Business, please contact  Sophie Lamb , senior development director and team lead, at  [email protected] .

Recognition

Each year, the School of Business recognized alumni who have made important lifetime contributions with the Distinguished Alumni Award. We're are also grateful to the many alumni who give back to the School of Business by serving on boards or participating in our Deans Club.

• Distinguished Alumni recipients
• Board members

Become a mentor

Alumni stories

Couple establishes professorship with $1M gift

MBA graduate named CEO of solar and electrical company

Alumna’s gift supports future leaders in finance

• Enroll & Pay
• Prospective Students
• Current Graduate Students

Graduate Student Travel FAQs

To get a better sense of what is needed to travel, please read over the following FAQ and review the travel forms.

Is there support for graduate student travel?

Yes, the department may provide help with reimbursement of eligible expenses to support doctoral students who present original research at professional or academic conferences. For additional information, see the guidelines .

Who is most likely to travel and receive funds?

Year 4 and Year 5 students are most likely to be presenting at conferences and therefore receiving travel funds. Occasionally, a student in Year 3 has a paper accepted and is therefore eligible to receive funds. 

Can you give examples of conferences that students have previously attended?

• AEA Annual Meeting / Allied Social Science Association (ASSA) Conference (January)
• Missouri Valley Economics Association Annual Meeting (October or early November)
• Women in Statistics & Data Sciences Conference (October)
• Southern Economic Association Annual Meeting (November)
• Midwest Economics Association Annual Meeting (March)

What is the process? Start this process 6-8 weeks prior to travel.

• Step 1: Talk with your advisor. Determine which conferences to submit your research to. Get a talk or poster accepted. 
• If you have not travelled before or if your address has changed, you will need to fill out a W-9 (domestic students) or a W8BEN (international). Once complete this form should be delivered to the department’s financial contact (currently Andy Anderson ). Depending on the time of year, processing this form may take up to three weeks. In order to be compliant with KU travel policies, processing must be completed prior to your travel.
• You will need to add your personal credit card to Concur. 
• Step 4: Submit a Travel Request in Concur. See:  https://travel.ku.edu/creating-concur-travel-request
• Step 5: Once your Concur Travel Request is approved, book travel.
• Step 6: Travel and keep receipts.
• Step 7: Within 2 weeks of your return, submit itemized receipts using the Post-Travel Reimbursement form .
• Step 8: Await your reimbursement. Email Andy Anderson if you are waiting longer than 8 weeks.

What is booked in Concur?

• Flights. Airfare must be booked in Concur. If you need an exception, email Lori Gutsch ( [email protected] ). If you book your flight before receiving an exception, you risk losing flight reimbursement.
• Car rentals. Anyone interested in renting a vehicle, you must contact Andy Anderson for pre-approval. There are many rules that must be followed in order to get reimbursed for car rentals. Proceed with caution when considering this option.
• Hotels. All hotel accommodation should be booked in Concur; however, there is more flexibility with hotels. For example, conference goers often receive discounted rates. If the conference room rate is lower than Concur, then you can book directly with the hotel. Please take a screenshot and save this documentation. Similarly, if you find a lower rate outside of Concur, then you can book outside of Concur--but document the cost savings with screenshots.
• Trains. Amtrak trains can be booked via Concur. Be sure to consult Andy Anderson before booking a train.

How will I be notified if the request is approved?

If you have submitted the department's conference travel request form and a Travel Request (TR) in Concur, you will learn of approval once the TR is approved via an automated email. You can also check with the department's Graduate Coordinator. In addition, if the department's travel fund is exhausted, an announcement will be made that the fund is closed until the next fiscal year.

Can I share accommodation costs with another student by booking a place together?

Accommodation can be shared, but KU travel rules affect how the expense can be reimbursed. Only the amount that you have paid can be reimbursed to you. If you share accommodation with someone else, you can pay your portion directly to the hotel or to the person who paid. If paying an individual for your portion of the bill, be mindful to get appropriate documentation. For example, in Venmo you can include a "payment note". This note should include what the payment is for and the name of the payer and recipient.

Do I need to submit my meal receipts? 

No, it is no longer necessary because meals are reimbursed per diem. To look up M&IE per diem rates for  Continental United States , visit the  Federal CONUS  site. 

Can I rent a car?

Perhaps, but first contact the department’s financial contact (currently Andy Anderson). There are many details that must be discussed prior to renting a vehicle in order to ensure the expense is reimbursable.

Can I drive my own car?

Driving your own car is permissible, but the total cost of driving must be compared to the cost of flying, and only the lesser of the two amounts will be reimbursed. It is the responsibility of the traveler to document this with screenshots of an airfare search. Only the owner of the car can be reimbursed for mileage. Gas receipts do not need to be collected, as the mileage rate is considered to include the cost of gasoline.

Some locations are considered “border cities” in that they are sufficiently close so air travel is not considered practical. Some examples are Omaha, NE, St. Louis, MO or Wichita, KS. For these cities, travelers are expected to drive and no additional cost-comparison documentation is needed.

On occasion, driving can be cost-effective even to non-border cities. For example, two students sharing a car may be cheaper than the cost of two plane tickets. However, it is generally cheaper for an individual to fly, especially when airfare is purchased far enough in advance of travel.  However, it is generally cheaper for an individual to fly, especially when airfare is purchased far enough in advance of travel.

Can I stay at an Airbnb, VRBO, or similar non-hotel rental?

It's not recommended. KU has a policy in-place that requires you to get a booking exception for this type of accommodation. See a snapshot of the steps involved .

I noticed that students are eligible to receive funds for two trips, can I choose which amount—$250 or $750—I’d like to receive first?

No, the role of the first conference and second conference cannot be interchanged. Students should plan applications for reimbursement accordingly. -    Eligible expenses for the first conference are reimbursed up to $750 -    Eligible expenses for the second conference are reimbursed up to $250

What's needed post-travel?

Please turn in your receipts within two weeks of your return from travel using the Post-Travel Reimbursement form . Please do not upload receipts directly to Concur.

Are there other KU funding opportunities for graduate student travel?

Yes, the Graduate Student Travel Fund provides support for graduate students traveling to conferences and/or professional meetings at which they are presenting their research or creative works. Graduate students are eligible to receive one (1) award during the academic year, with priority given to those who have not been funded previously.

• Traveling Wildcats

View all trips

COVID-19 related travel company protocols Our travel partners have all resumed full operations and are ready to help you see the world. Protocols vary per company. AHI Gohagan & Company Go Next Odysseys Unlimited Orbridge Destination Specialists Premier World Discovery Sports and Entertainment Travel

Terin Walters '05 Assistant Vice President of Development and Communications 785-532-5052

Email Terin  

We can't wait to have you travel with us!

• Upcoming Trips
• Independent Trips
• Request Traveling Wildcats Trip Information
• Resources and Tips
• Share your Trip Photos
• Travel Insurance
• View Trip Photos

Copyright © 2023 K-State Alumni Association  •   For Staff   •   Privacy Policy

Design: New Boston Creative Group, LLC

Michigan Alumni Travel

Whether you’re looking for an adventure close to home or a journey a world away, our travel collection has something for everyone.

Find a Trip

The Michigan Alumni Travel program, an exclusive benefit for Alumni Association members, is ready to help you turn your travel dreams into reality with our diverse lineup of trips. The world is waiting for you…

Michigan Alumni Travel FAQ

Meet your dedicated Michigan Alumni Travel team and get answers to some of the most commonly asked questions about traveling with us.

Travel Insurance

While every effort is made to ensure your vacation is a safe and happy one, unexpected events can occur. Get extra peace of mind with travel insurance.

Michigan Alumni Travel Community

Talk all things travel with fellow Wolverines. Get tips on an upcoming trip, seek out and share recommendations, and participate in general travel discussions.

Claudia Looi

Touring the Top 10 Moscow Metro Stations

By Claudia Looi 2 Comments

Komsomolskaya metro station looks like a museum. It has vaulted ceilings and baroque decor.

Hidden underground, in the heart of Moscow, are historical and architectural treasures of Russia. These are Soviet-era creations – the metro stations of Moscow.

Our guide Maria introduced these elaborate metro stations as “the palaces for the people.” Built between 1937 and 1955, each station holds its own history and stories. Stalin had the idea of building beautiful underground spaces that the masses could enjoy. They would look like museums, art centers, concert halls, palaces and churches. Each would have a different theme. None would be alike.

The two-hour private tour was with a former Intourist tour guide named Maria. Maria lived in Moscow all her life and through the communist era of 60s to 90s. She has been a tour guide for more than 30 years. Being in her 60s, she moved rather quickly for her age. We traveled and crammed with Maria and other Muscovites on the metro to visit 10 different metro stations.

Arrow showing the direction of metro line 1 and 2

Moscow subways are very clean

To Maria, every street, metro and building told a story. I couldn’t keep up with her stories. I don’t remember most of what she said because I was just thrilled being in Moscow.   Added to that, she spilled out so many Russian words and names, which to one who can’t read Cyrillic, sounded so foreign and could be easily forgotten.

The metro tour was the first part of our all day tour of Moscow with Maria. Here are the stations we visited:

1. Komsomolskaya Metro Station  is the most beautiful of them all. Painted yellow and decorated with chandeliers, gold leaves and semi precious stones, the station looks like a stately museum. And possibly decorated like a palace. I saw Komsomolskaya first, before the rest of the stations upon arrival in Moscow by train from St. Petersburg.

2. Revolution Square Metro Station (Ploshchad Revolyutsii) has marble arches and 72 bronze sculptures designed by Alexey Dushkin. The marble arches are flanked by the bronze sculptures. If you look closely you will see passersby touching the bronze dog's nose. Legend has it that good luck comes to those who touch the dog's nose.

Touch the dog's nose for good luck. At the Revolution Square station

Revolution Square Metro Station

3. Arbatskaya Metro Station served as a shelter during the Soviet-era. It is one of the largest and the deepest metro stations in Moscow.

Arbatskaya Metro Station

4. Biblioteka Imeni Lenina Metro Station was built in 1935 and named after the Russian State Library. It is located near the library and has a big mosaic portrait of Lenin and yellow ceramic tiles on the track walls.

Lenin's portrait at the Biblioteka Imeni Lenina Metro Station

5. Kievskaya Metro Station was one of the first to be completed in Moscow. Named after the capital city of Ukraine by Kiev-born, Nikita Khruschev, Stalin's successor.

Kievskaya Metro Station

6. Novoslobodskaya Metro Station  was built in 1952. It has 32 stained glass murals with brass borders.

Novoslobodskaya metro station

7. Kurskaya Metro Station was one of the first few to be built in Moscow in 1938. It has ceiling panels and artwork showing Soviet leadership, Soviet lifestyle and political power. It has a dome with patriotic slogans decorated with red stars representing the Soviet's World War II Hall of Fame. Kurskaya Metro Station is a must-visit station in Moscow.

Ceiling panel and artworks at Kurskaya Metro Station

8. Mayakovskaya Metro Station built in 1938. It was named after Russian poet Vladmir Mayakovsky. This is one of the most beautiful metro stations in the world with 34 mosaics painted by Alexander Deyneka.

Mayakovskaya station

One of the over 30 ceiling mosaics in Mayakovskaya metro station

9. Belorusskaya Metro Station is named after the people of Belarus. In the picture below, there are statues of 3 members of the Partisan Resistance in Belarus during World War II. The statues were sculpted by Sergei Orlov, S. Rabinovich and I. Slonim.

10. Teatralnaya Metro Station (Theatre Metro Station) is located near the Bolshoi Theatre.

Teatralnaya Metro Station decorated with porcelain figures .

Taking the metro's escalator at the end of the tour with Maria the tour guide.

Have you visited the Moscow Metro? Leave your comment below.

January 15, 2017 at 8:17 am

An excellent read! Thanks for much for sharing the Russian metro system with us. We're heading to Moscow in April and exploring the metro stations were on our list and after reading your post, I'm even more excited to go visit them. Thanks again 🙂

December 6, 2017 at 10:45 pm

Hi, do you remember which tour company you contacted for this tour?

Leave a Reply Cancel reply

You must be logged in to post a comment.

Please go to the Instagram Feed settings page to create a feed.

• Articles   >

The Moscow Metro Museum of Art: 10 Must-See Stations

There are few times one can claim having been on the subway all afternoon and loving it, but the Moscow Metro provides just that opportunity.  While many cities boast famous public transport systems—New York’s subway, London’s underground, San Salvador’s chicken buses—few warrant hours of exploration.  Moscow is different: Take one ride on the Metro, and you’ll find out that this network of railways can be so much more than point A to B drudgery.

The Metro began operating in 1935 with just thirteen stations, covering less than seven miles, but it has since grown into the world’s third busiest transit system ( Tokyo is first ), spanning about 200 miles and offering over 180 stops along the way.  The construction of the Metro began under Joseph Stalin’s command, and being one of the USSR’s most ambitious building projects, the iron-fisted leader instructed designers to create a place full of svet (radiance) and svetloe budushchee (a radiant future), a palace for the people and a tribute to the Mother nation.

Consequently, the Metro is among the most memorable attractions in Moscow.  The stations provide a unique collection of public art, comparable to anything the city’s galleries have to offer and providing a sense of the Soviet era, which is absent from the State National History Museum.  Even better, touring the Metro delivers palpable, experiential moments, which many of us don’t get standing in front of painting or a case of coins.

Though tours are available , discovering the Moscow Metro on your own provides a much more comprehensive, truer experience, something much less sterile than following a guide.  What better place is there to see the “real” Moscow than on mass transit: A few hours will expose you to characters and caricatures you’ll be hard-pressed to find dining near the Bolshoi Theater.  You become part of the attraction, hear it in the screech of the train, feel it as hurried commuters brush by: The Metro sucks you beneath the city and churns you into the mix.

With the recommendations of our born-and-bred Muscovite students, my wife Emma and I have just taken a self-guided tour of what some locals consider the top ten stations of the Moscow Metro. What most satisfied me about our Metro tour was the sense of adventure .  I loved following our route on the maps of the wagon walls as we circled the city, plotting out the course to the subsequent stops; having the weird sensation of being underground for nearly four hours; and discovering the next cavern of treasures, playing Indiana Jones for the afternoon, piecing together fragments of Russia’s mysterious history.  It’s the ultimate interactive museum.

Top Ten Stations (In order of appearance)

Kievskaya station.

Kievskaya Station went public in March of 1937, the rails between it and Park Kultury Station being the first to cross the Moscow River.  Kievskaya is full of mosaics depicting aristocratic scenes of Russian life, with great cameo appearances by Lenin, Trotsky, and Stalin.  Each work has a Cyrillic title/explanation etched in the marble beneath it; however, if your Russian is rusty, you can just appreciate seeing familiar revolutionary dates like 1905 ( the Russian Revolution ) and 1917 ( the October Revolution ).

Mayakovskaya Station

Mayakovskaya Station ranks in my top three most notable Metro stations. Mayakovskaya just feels right, done Art Deco but no sense of gaudiness or pretention.  The arches are adorned with rounded chrome piping and create feeling of being in a jukebox, but the roof’s expansive mosaics of the sky are the real showstopper.  Subjects cleverly range from looking up at a high jumper, workers atop a building, spires of Orthodox cathedrals, to nimble aircraft humming by, a fleet of prop planes spelling out CCCP in the bluest of skies.

Novoslobodskaya Station

Novoslobodskaya is the Metro’s unique stained glass station.  Each column has its own distinctive panels of colorful glass, most of them with a floral theme, some of them capturing the odd sailor, musician, artist, gardener, or stenographer in action.  The glass is framed in Art Deco metalwork, and there is the lovely aspect of discovering panels in the less frequented haunches of the hall (on the trackside, between the incoming staircases).  Novosblod is, I’ve been told, the favorite amongst out-of-town visitors.

Komsomolskaya Station

Komsomolskaya Station is one of palatial grandeur.  It seems both magnificent and obligatory, like the presidential palace of a colonial city.  The yellow ceiling has leafy, white concrete garland and a series of golden military mosaics accenting the tile mosaics of glorified Russian life.  Switching lines here, the hallway has an Alice-in-Wonderland feel, impossibly long with decorative tile walls, culminating in a very old station left in a remarkable state of disrepair, offering a really tangible glimpse behind the palace walls.

Dostoevskaya Station

Dostoevskaya is a tribute to the late, great hero of Russian literature .  The station at first glance seems bare and unimpressive, a stark marble platform without a whiff of reassembled chips of tile.  However, two columns have eerie stone inlay collages of scenes from Dostoevsky’s work, including The Idiot , The Brothers Karamazov , and Crime and Punishment.   Then, standing at the center of the platform, the marble creates a kaleidoscope of reflections.  At the entrance, there is a large, inlay portrait of the author.

Chkalovskaya Station

Chkalovskaya does space Art Deco style (yet again).  Chrome borders all.  Passageways with curvy overhangs create the illusion of walking through the belly of a chic, new-age spacecraft.  There are two (kos)mosaics, one at each end, with planetary subjects.  Transferring here brings you above ground, where some rather elaborate metalwork is on display.  By name similarity only, I’d expected Komsolskaya Station to deliver some kosmonaut décor; instead, it was Chkalovskaya that took us up to the space station.

Elektrozavodskaya Station

Elektrozavodskaya is full of marble reliefs of workers, men and women, laboring through the different stages of industry.  The superhuman figures are round with muscles, Hollywood fit, and seemingly undeterred by each Herculean task they respectively perform.  The station is chocked with brass, from hammer and sickle light fixtures to beautiful, angular framework up the innards of the columns.  The station’s art pieces are less clever or extravagant than others, but identifying the different stages of industry is entertaining.

Baumanskaya Statio

Baumanskaya Station is the only stop that wasn’t suggested by the students.  Pulling in, the network of statues was just too enticing: Out of half-circle depressions in the platform’s columns, the USSR’s proud and powerful labor force again flaunts its success.  Pilots, blacksmiths, politicians, and artists have all congregated, posing amongst more Art Deco framing.  At the far end, a massive Soviet flag dons the face of Lenin and banners for ’05, ’17, and ‘45.  Standing in front of the flag, you can play with the echoing roof.

Ploshchad Revolutsii Station

Novokuznetskaya Station

Novokuznetskaya Station finishes off this tour, more or less, where it started: beautiful mosaics.  This station recalls the skyward-facing pieces from Mayakovskaya (Station #2), only with a little larger pictures in a more cramped, very trafficked area.  Due to a line of street lamps in the center of the platform, it has the atmosphere of a bustling market.  The more inventive sky scenes include a man on a ladder, women picking fruit, and a tank-dozer being craned in.  The station’s also has a handsome black-and-white stone mural.

Here is a map and a brief description of our route:

Start at (1)Kievskaya on the “ring line” (look for the squares at the bottom of the platform signs to help you navigate—the ring line is #5, brown line) and go north to Belorusskaya, make a quick switch to the Dark Green/#2 line, and go south one stop to (2)Mayakovskaya.  Backtrack to the ring line—Brown/#5—and continue north, getting off at (3)Novosblodskaya and (4)Komsolskaya.  At Komsolskaya Station, transfer to the Red/#1 line, go south for two stops to Chistye Prudy, and get on the Light Green/#10 line going north.  Take a look at (5)Dostoevskaya Station on the northern segment of Light Green/#10 line then change directions and head south to (6)Chkalovskaya, which offers a transfer to the Dark Blue/#3 line, going west, away from the city center.  Have a look (7)Elektroskaya Station before backtracking into the center of Moscow, stopping off at (8)Baumskaya, getting off the Dark Blue/#3 line at (9)Ploschad Revolyutsii.  Change to the Dark Green/#2 line and go south one stop to see (10)Novokuznetskaya Station.

Check out our new Moscow Indie Travel Guide , book a flight to Moscow and read 10 Bars with Views Worth Blowing the Budget For

Jonathon Engels, formerly a patron saint of misadventure, has been stumbling his way across cultural borders since 2005 and is currently volunteering in the mountains outside of Antigua, Guatemala.  For more of his work, visit his website and blog .

Photo credits:   SergeyRod , all others courtesy of the author and may not be used without permission

• Enroll & Pay
• Prospective Students
• Current Students
• Degree Programs

International Application Processing and Transfer Credit Specialist

Position overview, job description.

• In accordance with state and university guidelines and university enrollment objectives, determines eligibility of applicants for admission to KU based on analysis of the admission application, transcripts, standardized tests, and supplemental documentation.
• Utilizes professional judgement in order to analyze the complete student file to determine full admission, admission by exception, denial or to send the application on for further review, and review final high school transcripts for curriculum requirements.
• Prioritizes admissions applications based on deadlines established by International Admissions and academic departments.
• Codes transcripts and enters educational and demographic data into PeopleSoft using Perceptive Content/ImageNow Document Imaging, requiring a thorough understanding of multiple screens in PeopleSoft and Perceptive Content/ImageNow workflow and their impact across the office and the computer system.
• Assigns appropriate admission status (admit, deny, pending, waitlist, incomplete, not coming) according to University of Kansas and International Admissions standards, within the established time benchmarks and service delivery protocols.
• Responds, within established time benchmarks and service delivery protocols, to inquiries regarding admission status from prospective and current students. Provides assistance to prospective students and their parents regarding curriculum, standardized tests, grade point average, transfer of credit, enrollment, admission status (including denial, admission by exception and waitlist) and general information about KU and the admissions process.
• Works closely with Undergraduate Admissions Processing and Office of the University Registrar Transfer Credit staff and other academic departments by interpreting and explaining current KU admission guidelines and policies and verifies applicant information for other offices and academic departments.
• Contacts other educational institutions to verify and clarify information provided by applicants.
• Evaluate transcripts using Perceptive Content/ImageNow and post transfer credit into PeopleSoft requiring a thorough understanding of multiple tabs within PeopleSoft, Perceptive Content/ImageNow workflows, and the impact of posting credit on KU’s Degree Auditing System.
• Calculate KU Admission GPA based on transferability of coursework in keeping with KU policy and procedure.
• Research incoming courses using the descriptions from the transferring school’s college catalog to evaluate and use professional judgement to determine the equivalency according to the policies and procedures of transfer credit.
• Perform a regular review of completed course equivalencies to ensure evaluations are current.
• Identify issues and provide solutions that ensure evaluations are accurate and consistent.
• Exercise a high level of attention to detail in data entry and examination of documents to determine the transfer credit equivalency.
• Analyze and understand the impact of transfer credit on KU Core and degree requirements.
• Respond, within established time benchmarks and service delivery protocols, to inquiries regarding transcript entry status from prospective and current students. Addresses issues regarding transfer of credit, and general information about KU and the admissions process.
• Correspond and provide superior customer service when working with students and prospective students via email, phone and in person.
• Act as a liaison with departments and provide superior customer service in answering questions as the subject matter expert and help them gain an understanding of the evaluation of credits and transfer credit appeal process.
• Contacts other educational institutions or organizations to verify and clarify information provided by applicants.
• Maintains a thorough knowledge of current KU admission policies. Responsible for creating and maintaining procedures throughout the year.
• Special projects and other duties, including virtual recruitment support, as assigned by the Assistant Director of International Admissions.

Position Requirements

Required qualifications.

• High School diploma or completion of G.E.D. equivalency and two years of office experience or two years of post secondary education.
• Three years’ experience in skilled clerical, accounting, auditing and/or administrative support work, including one year of experience with basic office computer systems.

Preferred Qualifications

• One year experience with a student information system (or similar people management database system).
• Strong organizational skills and attention to detail as evidenced by application materials.
• Customer service experience.
• Experience working independently and in team-based environments.
• Excellent written and interpersonal communication skills, as evidenced by application materials and interview.
• Experience utilizing Microsoft Office suite (e.g., MS Word, Excel, Outlook) or equivalent office software.
• Experience working with ImageNow or other document imaging software.

Additional Candidate Instructions

• A cover letter addressing how required and preferred qualifications are met.
• Resume or curriculum vitae.
• Contact information for three professional references.

Contact Information to Applicants

Advertised salary range, work schedule, application review begins, anticipated start date, search jobs, posting information.

• Posting ID:  27544BR
• Department:  Office of Admissions
• Primary Campus:  University of Kansas Lawrence Campus
• Assignment:  Hybrid
• Reg/Temp:  Regular
• Employee Class:  U-Unclassified Professional Staff
• Review Begins:  12-Apr-2024

Jobs by Type

• Faculty, Lecturers, and Academic Staff

Other Employment at KU

• KU Dining & Memorial Unions
• Off-Campus Student Employment

Related Links

• Employment Posters
• Human Resources
• Immigration Related Notices
• Civil Rights and Title IX
• KUMC Human Resources

• Enroll & Pay
• Prospective Students
• Current Students
• Faculty & Staff

KU Law wins back-to-back national transactional law competitions

LAWRENCE –  For future litigators, the University of Kansas School of Law’s highly respected, top-10 ranked moot court program provides valuable opportunities to sharpen advocacy skills in a variety of national competitions. For law students pursuing careers outside the courtroom, there are now similar opportunities on the transactional law side – and KU Law has been achieving excellent results.

In preparation, Jeschke and Baden spent months drafting and revising an agreement and then competed in two live negotiations. They were coached by Anna Kimbrell, 2014 graduate, a partner at Husch Blackwell and leader of the firm’s national energy and natural resources practice.

“The opportunity to participate in a transactional law competition was a goal of mine since beginning law school,” Jeschke said. “The real-life experience of gathering deal information, drafting an agreement and negotiating with the other side further solidified that being a deal lawyer is the right career path for me.”

“We were honored and excited to win both Best Drafting Counsel and Best Negotiation Counsel for the buyer’s side,” Baden said. “Credit for our success goes to our coach, Anna Kimbrell, who provided us with valuable advice on how to approach drafting and how to effectively convey our deal points during the negotiations.”

This is the second consecutive national transactional competition victory for KU Law. In February, KU Law students traveled to California for the UCLA Transactional Law Competition,  where they took home the competition’s top award, best overall for the second year in a row . KU Law was also well represented at Baylor University’s “The Closer” Transactional Law Competition in January by Abbey Brower, third-year student, who won three out of four negotiation matchups.

Student participation in these competitions is supported by the  Polsinelli Transactional Law Center , a partnership between KU Law and Polsinelli, which also offers transactional law courses, symposia and other programming to arm students with the practical skills necessary for successful careers in transactional law.

“Polsinelli’s support in creating the Polsinelli Transactional Law Center enables students who are interested in transactional law an opportunity to travel to these competitions without worrying about travel expenses,” Jeschke said. “Instead, we can focus our attention on learning practical skills that will make us better attorneys.”

Learn more about the  transactional law programs  at KU Law.

Read this article from the KU News Service