News
Baylor 101 is intended to share insights and information on topics of interest to faculty and staff in easy-to-consume, brief updates throughout the year.
Aero at Baylor, an award-winning student group focused on aerospace engineering, is advancing new frontiers for members.
As the 21st anniversary of the terrorist attacks of Sept. 11, 2001 approaches, Baylor University prepares to remember the countless lives lost in the tragedy and the heroic actions of the nation’s first responders and encourages the Baylor Family to join in prayer for our nation.
With the Fall 2022 semester underway, Baylor University has updated its COVID-19 protocols, most notably on Isolation/Quarantine, as well as face coverings, testing and vaccination. The protocols are based on the latest guidance from the CDC and the Waco-McLennan County Public Health District. Frequently Asked Questions are available on the COVID website.
Baylor’s award-winning iEngage Summer Civics Institute takes place this week, the first since earning a significant recognition earlier this year. In May, the program was named the 2022 recipient of the Sandra Day O’Connor Award for the Advancement of Civics Education. This annual award, presented by the National Center for State Courts, honors an organization, court, program or individual that has promoted, inspired, improved or led an innovation or accomplishment in the field of civics education related to the justice system.
A mammoth sculpture is part of a Mayborn campaign to reignite curiosity through a 10-year, four-phase plan to transform its natural science and cultural history wing—and the first phase of the transformation includes a life-sized mammoth sculpture to welcome guests to the museum.
Summer Faculty Institute Builds Up Participants Through Holistic Approach
Summer can be a time of leisure, but for many Bears, it’s a time to get ahead on their studies. Summer of Discovery offers both current and incoming students the chance to do just that. Through Summer of Discovery, students can attend in-person and online courses to advance toward their academic goals. Courses offered are discounted from regular tuition, and students receive greater discounts as the number of classes taken increases.
As Baylor commemorates Juneteenth, Baylor faculty and staff will again join partnerships within the community and share in events that highlight the meaning of freedom and the struggle to become a more perfect union.
For almost two decades, Baylor Line Camp has been a quintessential component of the new-student experience. Newly minted Bears connect more deeply with the University and each other as they begin their Baylor stories. During the COVID-19 pandemic, Baylor reimagined Line Camp while integrating alternatives that gave incoming students a sense of connection and community.
On Friday, Baylor Regents approved the outline of a plan that will address many of the priorities named by the Commission on Historic Campus Representations last year — recommendations that would more fully tell the history of the university and its early leaders. Many of the details are still in development, but the concepts released […]
Do you and your family have summer travel plans? Take these Baylor podcasts on the road with you. They’re a great way to catch up and stay connected with University news, activities and priorities while on the go and away from campus.
More than 3,000 graduates from ten of the University’s colleges and schools will walk the stage at four Commencement ceremonies on Friday and Saturday, May 13 and 14, 2022, at the Ferrell Center. More than 700 of these graduates will receive their master’s or doctoral degrees.
This spring, a record-shattering number of Baylor University students and their faculty mentors have been honored with some of the most prestigious – and highly competitive – national and international scholarships and awards, reflecting the University’s growing investment in the Office of Engaged Learning (OEL).
Mito Diaz-Espinoza, Ph.D. examines dynamics surrounding gender, power, and misconceptions surrounding sexual assault and interpersonal violence.
It is vital to understand what healthy relationships, stalking and harassment each look like in order to provide the best support to friends or others you are concerned about.
"Moon Man Walk," the final Baylor Theatre production of the year, shares a remarkable story of family and identity amidst loss and features an all-Black cast. Learn more about the play with director Sam Henderson.
Make plans to join the Baylor family on April 21-April 24 for Green and Gold Weekend in Waco! Green and Gold Weekend will feature a first look at the upcoming Baylor Football season during the Green and Gold game.
Discounted Summer Courses help Rising High School Juniors and Seniors Get a Jump Start on College
If you are a high school student or prospective transfer considering Baylor, sign up to attend Baylor Spring Premiere on Saturday, April 9. The event is a chance for students and parents to learn more about what makes Baylor special—without having to leave the house!
At Baylor, we Set the Standard in being part of the solution when it comes to stopping, intervening and preventing interpersonal violence. The University is reminded of this as we recognize Sexual Assault Awareness Month in April.
Celebrating its 90th anniversary as one of Baylor’s oldest traditions, Diadeloso – or “The Day of the Bear” – returns to Baylor campus on April 5, the first on-campus celebration of the annual spring holiday since 2019.
Baylor University will honor and celebrate unsung heroes of Baylor's past and present through Champions of Change.
As the oldest continually operating university in Texas, Baylor University turns 177 years old this year. The Baylor Family will celebrate the University’s birthday with a special Dr Pepper Hour on Tuesday, Feb. 1, from 3-4 p.m. in Barfield Drawing Room.
As football prepares for their Sugar Bowl appearance on New Year's Day as the Big 12 champions, there are two more championship programs that are entering the heart of their schedules over the winter break.
As a Christian university, Baylor boldly celebrates the birth of Christ through campus traditions. One of Baylor's most beloved traditions, Christmas on 5th Street, returns as an in-person event in the heart of campus Thursday, December 2, from 5-10 p.m., featuring live performances, holiday-themed activities, local vendors, food trucks and more.
As a Christian university, Baylor embraces the seasons of preparation and celebration surrounding the birth of Christ. Along with Baylor's Christmas traditions, the observance of Advent has become another Baylor practice that enhances the spiritual significance of the season for the Baylor Family. This Advent, we will once again celebrate together through daily devotionals that lead us to the nativity.
This week marks the finale of Baylor's 2021 United Way campaign to rally faculty and staff to give in support of the health, education, safety and other needs of our neighbors.
One of the things we appreciate about Baylor is the diversity of backgrounds, ethnicities, and experiences of our students, faculty and staff that make up our community. This week, Baylor is celebrating some of the programs that shine a light on the many distinct populations through Know Your Neighbor Week. Students, faculty and staff are invited to learn more about the experiences of our neighbors through a variety of events.
Three years ago this week, Baylor University launched the public phase of the Give Light campaign, a comprehensive philanthropic campaign that supports the priorities of Illuminate. Built on a foundation of gifts from faithful donors who caught the vision for the future of the University, the campaign has raised more than $1.07 billion towards our $1.1 billion goal.
Baylor launches new healthcare options through telehealth resource.
The Baylor Family has closely followed the news updating the health of Judge Lady, one of Baylor's two beloved American black bears, as she continues her recovery and rehabilitation from a successful operation to remove a cyst that developed around her spinal column. The surgery occurred in August 2020 at the Texas A&M Veterinary Medical Teaching Hospital (VMTH) in College Station.
Join the Office of the Provost as they honor the 2020 and 2021 faculty retirees. The event will take place on Friday, October 29 in the Baylor Club at McLane Stadium.
Join the Office of the Provost as they honor the 2020 and 2021 faculty retirees. The event will take place on Friday, October 29 in the Baylor Club at McLane Stadium.
Faculty and Staff have a special opportunity for discounted tickets to watch the Baylor Bears take on the West Virginia Mountaineers on October 9 at 11 a.m. With the code CHAMPIONS Faculty and Staff can buy $10 stadium tickets or $5 berm tickets.
Baylor University faculty are prolific writers, researchers, mentors, and teachers, and we welcome every opportunity to celebrate their accomplishments. "Readers Meet the Author," presented by the Office of the President and Office of the Provost, encourages opportunities for faculty and staff to gather virtually for shared reflection and collegial conversation about big ideas. This is the second year for the popular series.
The morning of September 11, 2001, Baylor's First Gentleman Brad Livingstone spent the drive to the Vanguard College Preparatory School campus in Waco listening to the radio, preparing for another day of teaching history to Vanguard's students.
Sophia Garza, a senior public health major from Brownsville, Texas, closely followed the development and progress of the COVID-19 vaccine, hopeful that its authorization would give her a modicum of peace and protection.
As the 20th anniversary of the terrorist attacks of Sept. 11, 2001 approaches, Baylor University prepares to remember the countless lives lost in the tragedy, to honor and thank the community’s first responders and to offer a prayer for continued healing and hope for our nation.
Sophia Garza, a senior public health major from Brownsville, Texas, closely followed the development and progress of the COVID-19 vaccine, hopeful that its authorization would give her a modicum of peace and protection.
Emily McCollum, a senior social work major from Roanoke, Texas, watched her sister being college last year at another Texas institution. After seeing what her sister and last year's freshman classes around the country had as their introduction to college in the midst of the COVID-19 pandemic, McCollum made the decision to get vaccinated to be part of the solution to ensure the next incoming classes do not have to repeat a similar experience.
As the fall semester begins, the fight against COVID-19 continues in our world and in our community. Health experts have consistently reported that vaccinated individuals are better protected from severe illness than unvaccinated. As a member of the Baylor Family, you have convenient access to vaccines on our campus.
Baylor sophomores have many ways to prepare for postgraduate success. It is important for students to begin planning for a career or graduate school as early as possible, and the Baylor Career Center is equipped to help sophomores get that jump start.
With so much misinformation about the COVID-19 vaccine populating online news and social media, it can be hard to know what is myth and what is truth. We asked Baylor experts, Benjamin Ryan, Ph.D., Clinical Associate Professor and noted public health researcher and Sharon Stern, M.D., Medical Director of Baylor Health Center, to address some of the most common vaccine myths.
Jonah Shaw, a sophomore religion major from DeSoto, Texas, knew he wanted the COVID-19 vaccine when it was available to protect himself and his community from the novel coronavirus.
As the University shared in a recent update to the campus community, Baylor is preparing for a normal fall with classes and events at 100% capacity. Although COVID-19 vaccinations are not required for students, faculty and staff for the fall semester, Baylor's medical team strongly encourages everyone to get vaccinated as soon as possible.
Baylor program fosters welcoming, caring community for Latino Students.
Baylor Health Services has COVID-19 vaccination appointments available this week, including the one-shot option, and will continue to offer vaccines each week throughout the summer for students, faculty and staff as vaccine availability continues to increase. Why should you get vaccinated, and what difference will it make for you and your family and friends and Baylor University in the fall?
We put some of the most frequently asked COVID-19 vaccination questions to Dr. Sharra Hynes, associate vice president for Student Life; Dr. Sharon Stern, medical director of Baylor Health Center; and Dr. Ben Ryan, clinical associate professor of environmental sciences focusing on public health. They also are members of the Baylor Health Management Team, which is responsible for continually assessing community COVID-19 trends to make recommendations to University Administration about the health and safety of campus.
We at Baylor remain “BearAware” by avoiding and reporting phishing attempts, maintaining secure passwords, and protecting the university’s information resources. Here are a couple of tips that will help keep Baylor strong when it comes to cybersecurity.
As of April 19, all adults in every U.S. state, Washington, D.C., and Puerto Rico are now eligible for a COVID-19 vaccine, especially important with the emergence of new and more contagious variants. To date, approximately 13.77% of our campus community has reported they are fully vaccinated. Baylor students, faculty and staff are strongly encouraged to pursue vaccination as soon as possible and then report when they are fully vaccinated to Baylor Health Services, so all of us in our campus community are protected and the University can continue planning for a return to normal campus operations and activities in the fall.
Beginning April 24, 2021, anyone calling a number in the 254 area code (the area code assigned to Waco) is advised to dial all 10 digits of the phone number (area code + telephone number) for all calls, including local calls. This change is necessary to accommodate emergency calls to 988 as a new abbreviated three-digit dialing code for the National Suicide Prevention Lifeline. Because some numbers within the 254 area code contain 988 in their prefix, the transition from seven-digit phone numbers to 10-digit phone numbers for local dialing is necessary.
Vaccination against COVID-19 is a safe and effective way to protect the Baylor community and provides a vital step toward a return to more normal campus operations in the fall. Members of the Baylor Family who have been fully vaccinated against COVID-19 are asked to share their vaccination status with the Baylor Health Center. By reporting your status, you help the University more accurately understand how well our community is protected.
With all individuals age 16 and older eligible for COVID-19 vaccines in Texas, we have an important opportunity as the Baylor Family. We can take the shot and take the next step toward a return to more normal campus operations in the fall. Sign up to get the COVID-19 vaccine on campus or elsewhere in the community and then report your vaccine to the Baylor Health Center. By reporting when you are fully vaccinated, you help the University know how well-protected we are as a community.
During Black History Month, Baylor continues recognition of the many significant contributions of the Black community within Baylor, in our community and beyond. The campus and Waco communities have pulled together videos, events, readings and more that provide opportunity for the Baylor Family to engage in the month’s recognition.
For the past several months, all faculty, staff and students have received Baylor News Digest each Wednesday. The Digest consolidates content from a variety of sources into a single, concise email, reducing the volume of emails and event invites you receive in your inbox.
While traditional Faculty/Staff ticketing policies for Baylor home basketball games have been suspended to account for limited 25% capacity requirements, Baylor Athletics has launched the Ticket Return and Standby Program to help ensure every available seat (up to 25% capacity) is used throughout the remainder of the Men's and Women's Basketball seasons.
The annual Baylor McNair Research Conference draws students from more than 50 different universities nationwide and is one of the ways the program provides students with an opportunity to put their hard work on display while simultaneously gaining invaluable experience.
As President Livingstone shared in a previous message to the Baylor community, the University is requiring a negative COVID-19 test of all students before returning to campus for the Spring 2021 semester, which is scheduled to begin on Tuesday, Jan. 19, 2021.
Advent is an important time of waiting and focus ahead of Christmas. To celebrate, Baylor has prepared daily devotionals for each week of Advent. Join the Baylor Family as we prepare to celebrate the birth of our Savior.
As we near the completion of on-campus instruction on Wednesday, Nov. 25, Baylor University is offering voluntary COVID-19 rapid testing (Nov. 23-25) at no cost for all students, faculty and staff before departing campus for the Thanksgiving holidays and the rest of the Fall semester. We encourage you to take advantage of this testing opportunity, especially if you plan to travel or gather with family or friends.
Adley Vahue, a Baylor student veteran, shares about why he chose Baylor and his academic experience. Vahue has been able to find community with other veterans through the Baylor VETS program, Veterans of Baylor and volunteering at the Veteran’s One-Stop in Waco.
Participating in an election and the days and weeks following can be exciting, but an election also can be emotional and even stressful. Amidst any uncertainty, it is important to focus on the steadfast nature of God; spiritual, mental and emotional well-being; and fostering a caring campus community.
To help address the growing needs in our community, Baylor University has once again joined United Way of Waco-McLennan County in the "United Way Workplace Campaign," which runs until Nov. 20.
"The idea for a homecoming celebration at Baylor was pioneered in 1909 by professors seeking a way to connect alumni to each other and to their beloved university. In a time when on-campus events are adapting to protect Baylor and the surrounding Waco community from the spread of COVID-19, it’s only fitting that the University that hosted the first recognizable collegiate homecoming celebration in the United States would creatively find a way to re-imagine a longstanding tradition."
October is one of the busiest times of the year for university counseling centers across the nation. In recognition of daily mental health struggles, difficulties due to the COVID-19 pandemic and World Mental Health Awareness Day Oct. 10, Baylor University will focus on sharing information and engagement opportunities related to mental health and wellbeing, including resources available to students, faculty and staff.
With flu season around the corner and COVID-19 still prevalent, Baylor University continues the work to keep students, faculty, staff and the Waco community healthy. To fight the flu on Baylor’s campus, this year’s flu shot is available at no cost to the Baylor community.
Baylor University is committed to ensuring that students have the necessary resources and opportunities for eager and informed civic participation. This year provides students two major chances for national civic engagement: the census and the general election.
Undergraduate Admissions would like assistance in identifying prospective students interested in Baylor to provide the best admissions experience for dependents and referrals of the Baylor Family.
Students who are preparing to graduate or begin internships in their field of study will find invaluable resources and contacts through a Virtual Career Fair to be held on Wednesday, Sep. 23.
Baylor recently held virtual versions of the annual Faculty Meeting and Staff Forum via Zoom to provide important Baylor Community updates and kick off the fall semester. The Faculty Meeting and Staff Forum were both recorded and are available for viewing.
Play Freerice from September 21 through 24 to support the World Food Programme. Help Baylor raise more rice than TCU and Texas Tech!
To combat COVID-19 constraints and conditions, new students are being placed in newly created Baylor Family Groups. Upper-class student leaders assist new students in building connection, finding belonging within the Baylor community, reflecting on chapel content and more.
With the semester underway and as allergy, cold and flu seasons approach, members of the Baylor Family are asked to closely monitor their health and behavior. For COVID-19 prevention and mitigation, faculty, staff and students should get a flu shot, monitor symptoms daily, limit risky behavior, and stay home if you don't feel well.
As we begin the fall semester, Baylor University is required to send an Emergency Notification* under the Clery Act to all students and employees to ensure you are informed about where to access information regarding COVID-19 positive cases on our campus, important personal health and safety precautions and essential sources of information about the coronavirus.
As part of Baylor’s Family First campaign to mitigate the risk of COVID-19 on campus, all Baylor students, faculty and staff will receive a Family First Welcome Care Kit as part of your return to our Waco campus.
Baylor is requiring a negative COVID-19 test of all students, faculty and staff coming to campus for the fall semester. The mandatory COVID-19 test kits will be mailed to students, faculty and staff beginning the first week of August.
As Baylor’s Summer of Discovery — the innovative collection of discounted summer course bundles for current students, incoming freshmen and rising high school seniors in an online environment — nears an end, faculty are reflecting on the student benefits of the experience.
Baylor News Digest is a new email communication to all faculty, staff and students that will be sent weekly on Wednesdays.
During this time of stress and uncertainty due to COVID-19, it is understandable to be dealing with feelings of stress, anxiety, depression and more. As a reminder that support and resources are available, Baylor University provides full-time faculty and staff — and their dependent family members — with an Employee Assistance Program (EAP) and telehealth coverage through MDLIVE to encourage and support their holistic wellbeing.
As the challenges of the COVID-19 pandemic developed, Baylor University had to take quick action to protect students, staff and faculty. The health and safety of the campus community, the ongoing continuity of our academic mission and the continuity of business operations were top priorities of the University.
Keeping Baylor students at the forefront of operations, the University is making the necessary arrangements to ensure current and future student success. Baylor also developed interactive and unique ways to move campus tours, Orientation and other spring and summer events online.
For most of the Baylor faculty, staff and students, preparations for moving to online working and classes seemed to happen in the blink of an eye. For Jon Allen, Baylor’s chief information security officer, the process of transitioning Baylor’s tens of thousands of students, faculty and staff to remote work was a blur.
The Ignite project, which is bringing transformation to Baylor business processes and resource management strategies, continues on track for a June 2020 release. As we start the year, the Ignite Team is eager to share updates and progress with the campus community.
Baylor researchers recently released early findings from the Spirituality and Character Study administered among Baylor students and alumni.
Go Gold! offers local businesses a variety of ways to engage the campus community, most notably through the Go Gold! Discount program.
In early December, President Linda A. Livingstone, Ph.D., announced in a letter to the Baylor Family that one of the University’s beloved live American black bears mascots, Lady, was receiving treatments for a benign cranial mediastinal mass, or thymoma, in her chest.
In October, Baylor Media and Public Relations honored more than 90 faculty members during the second annual Newsmakers Luncheon.
Begins February 10
Full-time Baylor faculty have the opportunity to complete the COACHE Faculty Job Satisfaction Survey which will be used to obtain actionable data about the conditions, environment, policies and practices that support the best faculty work.
The recipients of the 2019-20 Baylor Alumni Awards were announced January 23. The awards recognize those who achieve remarkable success in a manner that embodies the distinctive mission of the University.
Baylor has named Mark and Paula Hurd recipients of the 2019-2020 Baylor University Founders Medal.
Mayborn exhibit celebrates Baylor’s 175th anniversary and invites visitors to gaze into the future.
As Baylor University celebrates its 175th anniversary in 2020, the Baylor Family has provided tremendous momentum for the University’s $1.1 billion Give Light comprehensive philanthropic campaign.
Nearly 600 Texas business leaders responded to a recent survey conducted by Texas Business Journals and Baylor University on topics related to the state’s business landscape, growth projections, concerns facing businesses and the role of higher education in preparing the workforce and partnering to find solutions to industry challenges.
Baylor Continuing Education is working on an extensive project to create and implement a customized Motivational Interviewing training curriculum designed for those who provide services to children and youth who have been sexually exploited.
baylor.edu/risk/policy
Baylor University’s policy process, once decentralized, is now coordinated through University Compliance and Risk Services, providing a central point for the development, review and approval for University policies.
The Equity Office will now be working closely with the Title IX Office, combining efforts to ensure the Baylor campus is a safe and non-discriminatory learning, living and working environment for all members of the University community.
Recent changes in Texas law affect how employees interact with Title IX. Texas Senate Bill 212 was put into effect at the start of 2020.
Baylor’s Texas Hunger Initiative announced the official launch of the Baylor Collaborative on Hunger and Poverty which will act as an umbrella entity for efforts to end hunger and poverty in Texas and elsewhere.
Baylor has used a proprietary CMS that was developed in-house in 2003, but now is on course to launch a new content management system on the Drupal web environment.