Use of Unmanned Aircraft Systems (UASs or Drones)
To articulate the university’s requirements and procedures to collect approval for the use of Unmanned Aircraft Systems (otherwise known as UASs or drones) for hobby, recreational, or commercial purposes on or over campus. This policy does not apply to UASs used for university educational or research purposes.
Students, faculty, staff, and visitors to the Lawrence campus and its reporting units, including affiliated corporations.
The operation of UASs is regulated by the Federal Aviation Administration (FAA). The university has established procedures to ensure that proper approvals are made prior to UAS flights on or over campus for hobby, recreational, or commercial purposes.
UAS flights on or over campus for hobby, recreational, or commercial purposes must receive prior university approval. Requests for approval shall be directed to KU Marketing (marketing@ku.edu), and shall be made no less than three (3) business days before the proposed flight.
UAS operators must comply with all applicable FAA, state, and local laws and ordinances, including flight altitude restrictions.
For reference see See FAA UAS Data on a Map: https://faa.maps.arcgis.com/apps/webappviewer/index.html?id=9c2e4406710048e19806ebf6a06754ad
UASs shall not be used to photograph, monitor, or record areas where there is a reasonable expectation of privacy in accordance with accepted social norms. These areas include, but are not limited to, restrooms, residential rooms, changing or dressing rooms, and health treatment rooms.
The FAA bans aircraft flights, including flights by unmanned aircraft and remote controlled aircraft, over and around stadiums holding more than 30,000 people during division one football games. This ban begins one hour before the game begins and ends one hour after the game ends. Accordingly, UAS flights over and around Memorial Stadium during KU football games are not permitted, from one hour before until one hour after the game, without an FAA airspace waiver. Additionally, flights above or within 300 feet of any outdoor university athletic event or practice (excluding flights by or for Kansas Athletics, Inc.) are prohibited.
The university has the right to immediately terminate the operation of a UAS if it interferes with campus operations, poses hazards to any person or university facilities, equipment, or other property, has not received the proper approvals, or otherwise violates this policy. Individuals who do not have the proper approvals will be referred to the appropriate authorities.
KU Marketing
marketing@ku.edu
Office of Public Affairs
publicaffairs@ku.edu
785-864-7100
UAS means an unmanned aircraft system, sometimes called a drone. It is an aircraft without a human pilot onboard; the aircraft is piloted by remote control or onboard computers.
Hobby, recreational, or commercial purposes is defined by Federal Aviation Administration guidelines: Unmanned Aircraft Systems (UAS)
05/28/2024: Updated Contact section.
05/10/2024: Updated Marketing Communication to KU Marketing; Updated approved by from Public Affairs to Strategic Communications and Public Affairs.
08/23/2018: Policy approved and uploaded to the Policy Library.
