A group of University of Kansas faculty hosted a virtual town hall meeting Thursday night to "Defend KU" against a new Board of Regents policy that makes it easier to fire, dismiss or suspend university employees, including tenured faculty.

The regents approved the temporary policy last month, citing economic strains caused by the coronavirus pandemic and reduced state aid for higher education.

Five of the six public universities in Kansas said they will not use the policy. Kansas Provost Barbara Bichelmeyer said last week the school will create a framework for implementing the policy but she...