News

A tradition at Baylor since 1960, Family Weekend strives to help families of Baylor students become better acquainted with the University and its beloved traditions, and I hope you are planning to return to Waco for this special time of connection Sept. 18-19. Preparations are well underway for After Dark, Taste of Waco and the Family Weekend Tailgate, and you can purchase a ticket package to these events plus the Bears’ football game against Louisiana Tech until July 31 – before individual tickets go on sale.

The first session of New Student Orientation and Baylor Line Camp starts Monday, and over the next two months, Baylor will welcome thousands of students and their families to campus to prepare for the fall semester. Attendees get to meet other new Bears, learn about their major, meet with academic departments and take their first steps as part of the Baylor Line. All experiences are available to new first-year and transfer students. Parents or guests are encouraged to attend as well, with special programming for them woven throughout the day.

The Baylor Board of Regents celebrated the University’s second-best fundraising year ever, a growing endowment and continued success of the Extend the Line scholarship initiative.

It seems like just yesterday we began the spring semester, yet here we are – at Commencement! Tomorrow and Saturday, we will celebrate more than 3,100 Baylor University graduates who will walk across the Ferrell Center stage during four ceremonies, including the first-ever graduates from the newly renamed Moody School of Education. While at Baylor you have worked hard, persevered through challenges, and although the end of this chapter in your story is near, there is an exciting next chapter to come.

May is always a little bittersweet across the Baylor campus as we say goodbye to the graduating seniors while preparing to welcome freshmen and transfers in the summer and fall. But in celebration of the graduating class of 2026, a video lookback was created for our Line to Legacy event, and I thought you might enjoy seeing the traditions and hearing the stories that transformed the lives of our more than 3,100 new Baylor Alumni.

Today is the National Day of Prayer, an annual day of observance designated by the U.S. Congress in 1952 in which people are asked to “turn to God in prayer and meditation.” Here are a few things I am praying for throughout the day, and I hope you will join me and millions of others across our country.

I am pleased to announce the members of the Baylor Provost Search Advisory Committee, which is charged with identifying candidates to serve as the University’s next chief academic officer.

It is hard to believe we are nearing the end of another spring semester at Baylor. Commencement is right around the corner on May 15-16 for more than 3,000 Baylor students, and I know many of you are already working diligently on projects, papers and preparing for final exams.

Yesterday evening Baylor students organized two events on our campus that provided the opportunity for attendees to hear from speakers with differing viewpoints. Both gatherings were conducted safely and without incident, and I want to thank each of you for engaging respectfully as a demonstration of Baylor’s Christian mission, our commitment to academic freedom and to civil discourse.

This is the time of the year that we call the “Spring Sprint,” as we move quickly from Diadeloso to so many semester-ending events and activities – all the while finishing up the academic year in the classrooms, libraries and research labs. 

Earlier today, Nancy Brickhouse, Ph.D., shared with faculty and staff that she will step down from her position as Vice President and Provost, effective July 31, 2026. Following a yearlong sabbatical, Provost Brickhouse will return to the faculty here at Baylor University to focus on teaching and investing in our students during the final chapter of her commendable career.

Some of the most meaningful traditions at Baylor are those that tie directly to the University’s mission to educate men and women for worldwide leadership and service by integrating academic excellence and Christian commitment within a caring community.

The Easter story is a beautiful reminder that God’s love for us is complete.

Baylor University has a deep history of prayer that reflects our mission in Christian higher education and our historic Baptist roots. In the spring of 1945, Baylor students prayed for revival for 90 straight days, and in 2015, more than 35,000 attended “The Gathering” service at McLane Stadium.

In a world of increasing discord and conflict, Baylor has an opportunity as a Christian institution to share our expertise and use our faith foundation to bring people together. Whether in our classrooms and labs, with colleagues, or throughout the student experience, we have a responsibility to fulfill our mission to educate men and women for worldwide leadership and service by integrating academic excellence and Christian commitment within a caring community as we live out our scriptural calling to know one another as part of God’s creation.

I know some of you are just returning to campus from time away during Spring Break, but I want to remind you that Baylor University is again participating in the Great Colleges to Work For program this year.

This year’s Pruit Memorial Symposium, Frontiers of Health & Innovation, is happening March 24-25, and it will bring together a wide range of disciplines and experienced researchers to examine how innovation and technology are reshaping health and wellness.

The spring storm season in Texas is approaching, and it’s a good time for all of us to make sure we are “Weather Ready.” When we experience severe weather in Central Texas, which can include everything from snow and ice to thunderstorms and tornados, the Baylor Department of Public Safety alerts our campus community through the multi-tiered Baylor Alert emergency notification system.

It’s hard to believe Spring Break is only one week away. Soon many Baylor students, faculty and staff will scatter across the state, nation and world for vacations, mission trips and visits home to see friends and family.

President Linda A. Livingstone, Ph.D., addresses Baylor University’s budget process and implications for Fiscal Year 2026-27 under the framework of the Baylor in Deeds strategic plan. In addition to this video, President Livingstone has posted an e-message to faculty and staff in memo form. 

During its regular February meeting, the Baylor University Board of Regents took several actions that will continue to strategically position the University for the future in areas related to academics and research and value and affordability.

As a Christian research university, Baylor takes great joy in celebrating holidays like Thanksgiving and Christmas. There is something special about expressing gratitude for our blessings and for preparing our hearts for Advent. Now that the Lenten and Easter season has started, I am thrilled to see so many opportunities for the Baylor Family to share in this important time for Christians across the world.

There are so many ways to measure the impact of a college education, and at Baylor we take great pride in our mission to educate men and women for worldwide leadership and service. We know that leading and serving can take many forms, ranging from the corporate sector to military service to public service and the mission field.

One of the things I love about Baylor is that the Baylor Family is made up of many members with different backgrounds and experiences that enable a wide range of contributions to the world. I believe our ability to fulfill our University mission, which is to educate men and women for worldwide leadership and service by integrating academic excellence and Christian commitment within a caring community, is only possible when we embrace those contributions.

This Sunday Baylor University turns 181 – the oldest continuously operating university in the state after being chartered by the Republic of Texas in 1845. 

The spring semester is certainly off and running at a brisk pace! I hope everyone is settling into new routines and becoming acclimated academically, physically and spiritually. 

We are just days away from the start of a new semester, and I am looking forward to seeing everyone back on campus after what I pray was a wonderful holiday season. 

Another spring semester is upon us, and there is great anticipation across the Baylor University campus. Faculty and staff have returned from Christmas break and students begin classes next week. But even as we embark on another year, I am reminded of how faithful the Lord was to us last fall.

Happy New Year! I hope you had a wonderful (and restful) Christmas break and are ready for all 2026 has in store for Baylor University. There is great anticipation across campus as faculty and staff have returned and students prepare to begin classes on Jan. 20. As we embark on another year, I am reminded of how faithful the Lord has been to us.

Christmas marks the coming of the light of Christ into the world. At Baylor, the Christmas season provides us with opportunities to prayerfully reflect upon the work with which God has entrusted us and to strengthen our commitment to transforming the lives of our students and serving the surrounding world.

It’s hard to believe the fall semester is coming to an end, and what an exciting, memorable semester it has been. I cannot wait to see what the New Year has in store for Baylor in 2026! But, before we get to another year, there are a few things we still need to do to finish the semester strong.

Baylor has named experienced media and brand executive and former athletics administrator Doug McNamee as the Bears’ next Vice President and Director of Intercollegiate Athletics.

Christmas is really the most wonderful time of the year at Baylor University. For me, the unity and warmth of the holiday begins with the Baylor Family collectively reflecting on the coming of Christ in our traditional Preparing Our Hearts Advent series. 

As we celebrate Thanksgiving and move through Advent toward the miracle of Christmas, my thoughts often turn to favorite verses in the Bible. Around Thanksgiving in particular, I find my heart centered in the joy of God’s love when I read in Psalms, “Let us come into his presence with thanksgiving” (95:2) and “It is good to give thanks to the Lord” (92:1).

After careful evaluation and consideration, we have decided to retain Coach Dave Aranda as the leader of our football program. We recognize this decision will generate strong opinions. Let me be clear: Baylor expects excellence, accountability and competitiveness at the highest level. We are not complacent, and we are not settling for mediocrity.

I want to share important news regarding the athletics leadership of Baylor University. Mack Rhoades, Vice President and Director of Intercollegiate Athletics, has informed me of his decision to step away from his position at Baylor, effective immediately. While transitions like these are never easy, they provide an opportunity to reflect on the significant impact Mack has had on our University.

Thanksgiving has arrived across campus and in our hometown of Waco! This is a wonderful season for rest and reflection with family, but it reminds me that holidays can be challenging times for many. Please join me in praying especially for those who are struggling during the next weeks.

Earlier this week the University launched A Season of Thanksgiving, a month-long initiative that invites the Baylor Family into an intentional time to give thanks for the blessings God has given us. As people of faith, our words and acts of thanksgiving reflect God’s love for us and the grace he has freely given. I am excited that we are putting our faith into action in this way.

Before sharing a few updates from the regular Baylor Board of Regents meeting, we must pause to reflect on another terrific Baylor Homecoming! Also, earlier this morning the Board gathered on Founders Mall to dedicate the Memorial to Enslaved Persons, alongside many of you.

During its regular fall meeting, the Baylor University Board of Regents received a progress report on the University’s Baylor in Deeds strategic plan from Baylor President Linda A. Livingstone, Ph.D., including the plan’s “Bold Pursuits.”

I always enjoy seeing how the Baylor Family returns to Waco to reconnect and celebrate at Homecoming, and I am excited to know that celebratory spirit will continue into the days ahead.

We have a beautiful fall weather forecast, so I’m looking forward to seeing everyone in their green and gold this weekend!

This year’s Homecoming promises to offer something for everyone, from first-year students to alumni who graduated from Baylor 50-plus years ago. 

As a distinctive Christian Research 1 university, we continue our work building a robust research enterprise while developing strength in several areas, including chronic diseases and preventive health. 

Tomorrow is Baylor’s Fall Break, and it is always a much-needed pause in the semester for students as the focus turns to midterms, which are right around the corner. Students, I pray you get the rest you need for your mind, body and spirit over the next few days. 

October is Christian Higher Education Month, and as a Research 1 university with 20,000 undergraduate and graduate students, Baylor is distinct among our faith-based peers. However, like so many other colleges and universities, our mission is built on preparing men and women to lead and serve.

The fall semester is certainly off to a fast start, and the positive news for Baylor University has been wonderful to read. Within the last week we officially announced that Baylor was named to the Great Colleges to Work For Honor Roll in all 10 categories.

The beginning of the academic year is always rejuvenating. There are students everywhere, and each one is brimming with promise. Faculty and staff have a renewed energy and commitment to helping each student reach his or her full potential.

Hispanic Heritage Month is observed each year from Sept. 15 to Oct. 15, and at Baylor we use this opportunity each year to celebrate the rich culture, history and contributions of Hispanic and Latino Americans across our campus. 

On this National Day of Remembrance, we once again find ourselves grieving a senseless loss of life motivated by hate. I am sure that by now you are aware of the fatal shooting of Charlie Kirk during an event at Utah Valley University. Regardless of your stance on Mr. Kirk’s beliefs and politics, there should be no place for such violence in our country, particularly on a college campus.

The fall semester is certainly off and running at a brisk pace! I hope everyone is settling into new routines and becoming acclimated academically, physically and spiritually. 

The kickoff to the 2025 Baylor football season is upon us, and this is a big home opener in prime time for our Bears against an SEC opponent that travels well. Although the Auburn game isn’t until 7 p.m., it will still be warm, and we will be wearing black, so start hydrating today!

Detailed information you need to know to plan ahead for Friday, Aug. 29, including parking lot and garage closures, campus operations and more.

t’s hard to believe, but this was move-in No. 9 for the First Gent and me. Even in the Texas heat, I never tire of this beautiful expression of who we are as a Baylor Family. We care deeply for each other, we bear one another’s burdens (in this case, boxes and belongings!) and we share in the joy of new beginnings. There aren’t enough words to thank the more than 3,100 student, faculty, staff, church and community volunteers who offered an enthusiastic Baylor and Waco welcome to #BU29.

As we prepare for the beginning of the Fall semester, we also are looking ahead to Baylor Football kicking off the 2025 season vs. Auburn in a nationally televised game on Friday, Aug. 29, at 7 p.m. at McLane Stadium.

Allow me to be among the first to congratulate the members of Baylor’s summer graduating class, which includes more than 650 students. This Saturday morning, 562 undergraduates, masters and professional doctorate candidates will receive their diplomas, and in the afternoon, we will confer 102 research doctorates.

We are only 18 days away from the start of a new academic year, and I am looking forward to welcoming the next class of students and their parents into the Baylor Family – starting with this email. 

The start of another academic year is just around the corner, and we want to share an update with you from last week’s annual July retreat of the Baylor Board of Regents. 

Today is the last day of July, which means the countdown to the start of the new academic year officially begins tomorrow. 

Today, Baylor stands as a leading Christian research university with a global voice, unwavering in its commitment to faith, excellence and service. Our mission is clear: to educate men and women for worldwide leadership and service by integrating academic excellence and Christian commitment within a caring community — now and for the future.

I want to provide an important update regarding a recent matter involving a grant awarded to the Center for Church and Community Impact within the Diana R. Garland School of Social Work.

I am writing to you from Brisbane, Australia, where I am attending the Baptist World Congress, but my heart is back in Texas as I stay updated on the tragic flooding and heart-shattering loss of life along the Guadalupe River in the Texas Hill Country and in other areas of the state.

Happy Independence Day from Australia! It’s already July 4 over here in the “Land Down Under,” and the First Gent and I are a little sad that we’ll miss out on the Fourth on the Brazos concert and fireworks at Touchdown Alley next to McLane Stadium, as well as some Texas barbecue and homemade ice cream.

As we move into the heat of the summer in Waco, I am reminded of how blessed we were this past academic year. Amid turbulent times across all higher education, God was gracious to our students, faculty and staff. I am looking forward to seeing how God continues to bless us during the summer as many in the Baylor Family study and serve across the world.

I hope you saw the news earlier this week that Rev. Dr. Charley Ramsey has been named Baylor University’s new University Chaplain and Dean of Spiritual Life, effective Monday, June 9. 

We are in the midst of Baylor’s quarterly Board of Regents meeting, and a dedicated group of men and women are graciously volunteering their time to provide strategic guidance and direction for our beloved Baylor University. 

It seems like just yesterday we began the spring semester, yet here we are – at Commencement! Tomorrow and Saturday, we will celebrate more than 4,000 Baylor graduates, which is the largest class in University history. 

It is hard to believe we are nearing the end of another spring semester at Baylor. Commencement is right around the corner for thousands of Baylor students, and I know many of you are working diligently on projects, papers and preparing for final exams.

Today is the National Day of Prayer, an annual day of observance designated by the U.S. Congress in which people are asked to “turn to God in prayer and meditation.”

Each year, when we select the remarkable men and women who will be honored as Baylor Alumni Award recipients, they remind us that the mission of Baylor University – to educate men and women for worldwide leadership and service – remains at the heart of who we are as a Christian research university. 

He is Risen! What beautiful words for Christians.

We eagerly look forward to this weekend, the beginning of Holy Week for Christians (or as many Christians around the world know it, Pascha) and the beginning of Pesach, or Passover, for our brothers and sisters of the Jewish faith on Saturday evening. In both sets of high holy days, we celebrate a God of liberation. 

I truly enjoy this time of year at Baylor. Two of my favorite spring traditions are Steppin’ Out and Diadeloso (affectionately known as Dia), and they are both great – yet different – examples of how Baylor strives to educate men and women for worldwide leadership and service.

Next Wednesday the entire Baylor Family is invited to join in Giving Day. One day each year – on April 2 for 2025 – we focus our collective attention on giving to support students, programs, schools and colleges and many other areas. Gifts big and small combine to make a significant difference for our University.

NCAA March Madness is here, and for the 10th time in the past 11 postseasons, both the Baylor men’s and women’s basketball teams are going dancing! 

I am pleased to announce that Baylor University is again participating in The Great Colleges to Work For program, sponsored by ModernThink. The cornerstone of the program is a survey distributed to the institution’s faculty, staff, and administrators.

It’s hard to believe it’s already March and Spring Break is next week. I know many of you are looking forward to time away with family and friends and for rest and renewal during this busy time of year.

As a Christian research university, Baylor takes great pride in celebrating holidays like Thanksgiving and Christmas. There is something special about expressing gratitude for our many blessings and for preparing our hearts for Advent. 

During its regular February meeting, the Baylor University Board of Regents took several actions that will provide the foundation for an aggressive implementation of the University’s new strategic plan – Baylor in Deeds. 

Baylor University today officially launched the Extend the Line Scholarship Initiative, which aims to raise $250 million by 2030 for student scholarships to help ensure a Baylor education remains accessible and affordable for both current and prospective students.

I have said many times before that I believe our ability to fulfill our mission – to educate men and women for worldwide leadership and service by integrating academic excellence and Christian commitment within a caring community – is only possible when we value and embrace our differences. 

Research rooted in Baylor’s Christian mission is more than a catchphrase — it’s a commitment to global impact to serve neighbors around the world.

President Linda A. Livingstone, Ph.D., was the “right leader at the right time” for Baylor. Now she’s elevated her leadership — and Baylor by extension — into the national sphere.

I am thrilled to report we have been notified by the American Council on Education (ACE) that as expected, Baylor University has been reaffirmed as a R1 research university in the 2025 Carnegie Classifications. 

I talk often about the fact that the Baylor Family is made up of many members with different backgrounds and experiences that enable a wide range of contributions to the world. I believe our ability to fulfill our mission – to educate men and women for worldwide leadership and service by integrating academic excellence and Christian commitment within a caring community – is only possible when we embrace those contributions. 

This Saturday Baylor University turns 180 – the oldest continuously operating university in the state after being chartered by the Republic of Texas in 1845. Baylor offers a distinct experience with deep, historic Christian roots, a tradition of innovation and firsts, and a tremendous track record of producing leaders who change the course of our state, country and the world. 

Despite frigid weather in Waco again this week, it’s been a great start to the spring semester. Seeing students on campus reconnecting with friends and faculty is always joyful, and I am so thankful for their safe return – never taking it for granted. 

As we return for the start of another semester, I would like to share with you the news that Kevin Jackson, Ph.D., our Vice President for Student Life, has informed me of his decision to retire from Baylor University, effective June 30. 

It’s become so commonplace that it must be a Baylor tradition – very cold weather to welcome students back to Waco for the spring semester! I’m a frequent checker of several apps on my iPhone, and the forecast for next Monday and Tuesday calls for freezing temperatures and another possible wintry mix of precipitation.

Another spring semester is upon us, and it is a time of great anticipation across the Baylor campus. Faculty and staff have returned from the Christmas break and students begin classes next week.

Happy New Year, Baylor Family! I hope you had a wonderful (and restful) Christmas break and are ready for all 2025 has in store for Baylor University. 

“Therefore the Lord Himself will give you a sign: Behold, the virgin shall conceive and bear a Son, and shall call His name Immanuel.”

Isaiah 7:14 (ESV) 

It’s hard to believe the fall semester is coming to an end, and this will be our last Presidential Perspective of 2024! What an exciting, memorable semester it has been, and I cannot wait to see what the New Year has in store for Baylor in 2025.

Christmas is really the most wonderful time of the year at Baylor University. The unity and warmth of the holiday begins for me with the Baylor Family collectively reflecting on the coming of Christ in our traditional Preparing Our Hearts Advent series. 

Greetings from Baylor University! With students pulling on warmer clothes and the leaves on trees changing color (as best they can in Central Texas), we find ourselves rapidly approaching the Thanksgiving holiday. 

Baylor’s Baptist roots go all the way back to the University’s founding in 1845 when we were chartered by the Republic of Texas through the efforts of Baptist pioneers. For nearly two centuries Baylor and Texas Baptists have labored together for God’s glory. Our relationship was on full display earlier this week as the Baptist General Convention of Texas held its annual meeting right here in Waco.

Earlier this week the University launched A Season of Thanksgiving, a month-long initiative that invites the Baylor Family into an intentional time to give thanks for the blessings God has given us. As a people of faith, our words and acts of thanksgiving reflect God’s love for us and his grace freely given to us. I am excited that we are putting our faith into action in this way.

We have been preparing for our nation’s general election for quite some time, allowing our to remind us of our mission and values as a Christian research university. 

What an awesome time the First Gent and I had welcoming our students to “Dinner with the Livingstones” on Tuesday evening at Allbritton House! It was certainly a fantastic kickoff to Homecoming Week 2024.

Centered by a call to be salt of the earth and light of the world at the center, Baylor University launched a year-long series of campus-wide conversations, trainings and presentations in January focused on civil discourse, an important topic as Baylor strives to be a marketplace of ideas and extend the love of Christ toward others.