The University of Kansas’ chancellor says hiring a new provost and addressing campus concerns about race are among her top priorities.

Chancellor Bernadette Gray-Little was hired by the university in 2009. She says it is expected to take six to nine months to hire a new provost. A national search will be conducted to find a replacement for Provost Jeff Vitter, who is leaving the school to become chancellor of the University of Mississippi.

The chancellor is also looking to make more efforts to address race-related issues at the University of Kansas. She moderated a campus forum on the topic earlier this month.

Gray-Little says addressing retention is a key issue in bolstering diversity efforts, citing the gap between retention rates for black students and all other students.

—

Associated Press information from: Lawrence Journal-World