Presidential Perspective - August 12, 2021

Baylor Students, Faculty, Staff and Parents:

We are in the homestretch! Only 11 more days until we begin the fall semester at Baylor. It is an incredibly exciting time for everyone, and I can’t wait to see our students back on campus and throughout the Waco community.

As we plan for a normal fall, schools and universities in our state and throughout the country continue to face uncertainty due to unpredictability of COVID-19 and the impact of the delta variant. We will have additional information related to our COVID protocols for the fall semester to share with you in the coming days. Be sure to monitor your email closely, and confirm your vaccination status if you have not done so already.

Some additional updates for this week:

• It’s exciting when a major building project is completed ahead of schedule, but six months ahead? We are celebrating the earlier-than-expected reopening this fall of the historic Tidwell Bible Building. Tidwell was built in 1954, and nearly every Baylor student since then has taken classes within its walls. As one of our priority capital projects within the Give Light philanthropic campaign, this much-needed renovation has carefully preserved the building’s architectural significance while revitalizing its ability to serve as a place of excellence in Christian higher education. Our religion, history and sociology faculty have been moving into their new offices over the summer, and we can’t wait for students to step inside a modernized and accessible Tidwell for classes, study and community building. Today, I’m excited to share this video for your first look inside the newly renovated Tidwell Bible Building!

• Whether you have been at Baylor for decades or you just arrived on campus last week, you will find that Fridays are special days at Baylor. They are Spirit Fridays! I invite you to join me every Spirit Friday throughout the year by wearing your favorite green and gold apparel wherever you are. It’s a fun and visible way to show our passion and support for Baylor. So put on your favorite Baylor T-shirt or button down, pull on your favorite sweater or scarf – when the fall weather hits, of course! – because wearing green and gold is what we do at Baylor.

• Yesterday Vice President and Athletics Director Mack B. Rhoades IV and I sent an email informing the Baylor Family that the NCAA had finalized its investigation of the University dating back to 2016. We are humbled as we close another chapter of this dark time for our University. While the NCAA decision was well-covered in the media, I want to share yesterday’s post-practice media availability with current head football coach Dave Aranda. I am thankful to have him leading our student-athletes and representing our University and Baylor’s Christian mission and values. I hope you will be as touched as I was listening to it.

• Last month, one of our Waco schools, G.W. Carver Middle School, was severely damaged by fire, and for the upcoming school year, Carver students and teachers will move to Indian Spring Middle School. As you can imagine, the needs are great, but we as a Baylor Family can help by donating school supplies for students at both schools. Look for the blue storage totes in the lobbies of the Bill Daniel Student Center, Foster Campus, Baylor Sciences Building, Moody Library, Bobo Spiritual Life Center, Multicultural Affairs, Pat Neff Hall and Robinson Tower as we Load the Tote with your donations. Speaking of serving, Baylor Missions and New Student Programs have partnered for First Step, an opportunity for our incoming students to serve our hometown of Waco on Saturday, Aug. 21. You can find service opportunities and the school supplies list here.

Thank you for your love and care for our hometown of Waco and for Baylor University.

Sincerely,

Linda A. Livingstone, Ph.D.
President